Photopolymerization apparatus

US6159005A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• ESPE Dental AG · DE

Inventors

• Wolf-Dietrich Herold · Hechendorf, DE
• Ralf Kuerschner · Gauting, DE
• Peter Koran · Weilheim, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: May 15, 1998
• Grant date: Dec 12, 2000
• Expiry date: May 15, 2018

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61N2005/0651
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

An apparatus for photopolymerizing synthetic materials, specifically dental materials containing camphor quinone or phosphine oxide as a photo-initiator, includes a light source constituted by a semiconductor base solid-state radiation emitter 12 which emits in the blue spectral range. Since the radiation emitter emits in a small useful spectral range only, any heat radiation is avoided. The overall device is formed as a small, light-weight and handy device with a built-in battery 15. The solid-state radiation emitter 12, which is preferably operated in the light emitting diode (LED) mode, may be arranged directly on the tip 20 of the apparatus which can be directed toward the treatment site.