AU681671B2

AU681671B2 - Light-filter

Info

Publication number: AU681671B2
Application number: AU68942/94A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Peter John Cunningham; Raymond Abraham Leggo
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1993-08-20
Filing date: 1994-08-08
Publication date: 1997-09-04
Anticipated expiration: 2014-08-08
Also published as: AU6894294A

Description

4 11/00/0I11 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 6* 9 9* 0* COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATE NT

ORIGINAL

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0* 000 0 *900 Name of Applicant: Actual Inventors: Address for Service: Invention Title: TO BE COMIPLETED BY APPLICANT PETER JOHN CUNNINGH-AM and RAYMOND ABRAHAM LEGGO Peter John Cunningham; Raymond Abraham Leggo CALLINAN LAWRIE, 278 High Street, Kew, 3101, Victoria, Australia LIGHT-FI LTER The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me:- The present invention relates to a light filter. Many tooth fillings nowadays use what are known as visible light-curable dental composite materials. The composite materials typically comprise a plastics material, a filler and a visible light sensitive compound which will cause the material to cure upon exposure to visible light.

Typically, a tooth is filled with the dental composite material in viscous paste form. The filling is then worked by the dentist to the desired configuration. Subsequently, the filling is cured by the dentist by means of a *4 4 special light which emits visible light.

10 However, it has now been discovered that the dental composite material can cure prematurely because of radiation emitted by the dental lamp which generally illuminates patients' mouths during dental procedures. It has now been discovered that the premature curing is brought about because the dental composite material is sensitive to radiation at the lower end of the visible part 44 a 15 of the electromagnetic spectrum, for example, in the range from 400 to 520 nm, preferably 450 to 470 nm, most preferably about 460 nm, and the dental lamp 0. 06 emits radiation in this wavelength range.

Dentists have been attempting to avoid this problem by turning off the dental lamp or turning it away whilst working with dental composite materials.

However, this is unsatisfactory because the dentist then has insufficient light for correct working practices, The present invention provides a light filter which avoids the need to turn off the dental lamp and reduces the degree of premature curing of the dental composite material.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a light filter for dental use comprising: a transparent planar member colored so as to filter-out visible radiation in the range of 400 nm to 520 nm, said range being that to which dental composite materials are sensitive; and an attachment device configured to detachably secure said transparent planar member to a dental lamp such that said planar member is placed in front of the dental lamp, said attachment device including, an attachment member for attachment to the dental lamp, said attachment member having at least one longitudinally extending rib extending upwardly therefrom, and an arm having an outer end for receiving said planar member, said arm hingedly coupled to said at least one rib.

15 The present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figure 1 is a front elevation of a light filter in accordance with the present invention; 0Figure 2 is a side elevation of the light filter of Figure 1; and 20 Figure 3 is a front perspective view of E light filter in accordance with the 0090.9 present invention as attached to a dental lamp.

In Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings there is shown a light filter comprising a transparent planar member 12 which is generally, as shown, relatively thin and of rectangular shape when viewed from the front. In the embodiment shown, the planar member 12 is flat, but it could be of arcuate configuration. Also, the rectangular shape could be replaced by a circular or other suitable shape. The transparent planar member 12 can be of any suitable dimensions.

The transparent planar member 12 can be formed of any suitable -3- 1019196JB7834NP,3 material such as a sheet of plastics material or a layer of gel laminated between two flat sheets. In any event, the transparent member 12 has to be coloured so that it will filter out visible light having wavelengths to which dental composite materials are sensitive, for example, in the range from 400 nm to 520 nm, preferably 450 nm to 470 nm, most preferably about 460 nm.

Attached to the transparent member 12 by any convenient means is an L-shaped bracket 14. As can be seen, the L-shaped bracket 14 is attached to the member 12 along at least part of one edge of the member 12 by a relatively short arm 16.

*to 10 Further, the product 14 has a relatively long arm 18 which extends away from the member 12 at about 90°. At the end thereof remote from the member 12, the arm 18 has provided at one side thereof an attachment means The attachment means 20 can take many forms but it has to be such that 9* the light filter 10 can be readily attached to and detached from a dental lamp.

15 Preferably, the attachment means 20 is in the form of one half of a Velcro o** fastener with the other half being securely attached to the dental lamp.

4 In use, when a dentist wants to work with a dental composite material he first secures the light filter 10 to the dental lamp by thi attachment means so that the transparent member 12 is interposed between the dental lamp and the patient's mouth. In this way, visible light to which the dental composite material is sensitive is filtered out and premature curing of the dental composite material is reduced. When the dentist has finished working with the dental composite material he can simply remove the light filter 10 from the dental lamp until the light filter 10 is required again.

To refer now to Figure 3 there is shown a second embodiment which comprises a light filter generally designated as 110 and comprises a transparent planar member 112 which is the same as the transparent planar member 12 of Figures 1 and 2. A bracket 114 is used which attaches to a dental lamp 122.

The bracket 114 has an attachment member 124 which is secured to the lamp 122 by means of "Velcro" 126 or other like attachment means. For example, screw holes 128 may be provided in case of screw attachment being 10 required. An alternative would be gluing. On the upper surface of the attachment means 124 are two ribs 130 which form a hinged connection with connecting members 132 of arm 134. At its outer end 136, arm 134 has a tablike member which is easily gripped or contacted by the finger of the dentist to i: move the arm 134. Underneath arm 134 is a channel member 138 into which the transparent planar member 112 can be securely but releasably placed.

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15 As can be seen, the attachment member 124 can be either releasably or a securely attached to the dental lamp 122, By virtue of the hinged connection at the junction of the ribs 130 and the connecting members 132, the arm 134 of the bracket 114 can be moved to be in front of, or above, the lamp. In this way, the transparent planar member 112 will be in front of the lamp when required when the dentist is working on the composite material in a patient's mouth, or above the lamp so that full light is available at other times.

Claims

1. A light filter for dental use comprising: a transparent planar member colored so as to filter-out visible radiation in the range of 400 nm to 520 nm, said range being that to which dental composite materials are sensitive; and an attachment device configured to detachably secure said transparent planar member to a dental lamp such that said planar member is placed in front of the dental lamp, said attachment device including, an attachment member for attachment to the dental lamp, said attachment member having at least one longitudinally extending rib extending upwardly therefrom, and an arm having an outer end for receiving said planar member, said arm hingedly coupled to said at least one rib.

2. A light filter for dental use as claimed in claim 1, wherein said outer *g :o 15 end has a tab-like projection which is finger engageable by a user.

3. A light filter for dental use as claimed in claim 1, wherein said arm has extending therefrom a channel-like member which is adapted to securely but releasably receive said transparent planar member.

4. A light filter for dental use substantially as hereinbefore described 20 with reference to the accompanying drawings. l DATED this 10th day of September, 1996, PETER JOHN CUNNINGHAM and RAYMOND ABRAHAM LEGGO By their Patent Attorneys: CALLINAN LAWRIE C^JlL YfC. -6- 10/9i98JB7834.NP,6 ABSTRACT A light filter for dental use having a transparent planar member (12) which is coloured so as to filter-out visible radiation in the range 400 nm to 520 nm, said range being that to which dental composite materials are sensitive, the filter being arranged to be fitted in front of a dental lamp by means of an attachl means (20) arranged to detachably secure the transparent planar member (12) to the dental lamp. *o *ee *9 9 C. a, 9 S 9,,