JP3270269B2 - Light irradiator - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a light irradiator, and more particularly to a light irradiator for photopolymerization for curing a light-curable resin used in a dental treatment, for example, as a restoration material after forming a tooth. About.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In dental treatment, a light-cured resin is used as a restorative material after forming a tooth. When this light-cured resin is used as a restorative material for a tooth, for example, it is adhered to a damaged portion of the tooth. It is cured by irradiating light, and after curing, cutting, polishing and the like are performed to integrate with the original tooth and restore the tooth before damage with aesthetics.

FIG. 2 is a view for explaining how to restore the tooth as described above. In the figure, reference numeral 20 denotes a tooth having a damaged portion A (original tooth).
A photopolymerized resin is adhered to the damaged portion. At this time, the resin is excessively bonded so as to include the damaged portion A (up to the region B). In this manner, after bonding the resin to the damaged portion of the damaged tooth, the resin is cured by irradiating light with the light irradiator 10 and then the B portion is removed by cutting, polishing, etc., and the A portion is removed. Only the resin is left, thereby restoring the original tooth including the part A.

FIG. 3 is a schematic structural view for explaining an example of a conventional light irradiator. In the figure, 11 is a light source, 12 is an elliptical mirror, 13 is a filter, and 14 is a light guide (light tube, optical fiber bundle). , A fiber rod, etc.), 15 is a cable containing a lead wire, and as is well known, a light source 11.
Is located at the focal position of the elliptical reflecting mirror 12 and reflects the light from the light source 11 on the elliptical reflecting mirror 12. This reflected light is introduced into a light guide 14 whose light receiving end is disposed near the other focal position paired with the focal point of the elliptical reflecting mirror, transmitted through the light guide 14, and transmitted as described above. Irradiates the photopolymerized resin. The filter 13
Transmits only light having a wavelength component necessary for photopolymerization, out of the light from the light source 11, and transmits only a wavelength component near 480 nm, for example.

[0005]

As described above, the conventional light irradiation device for photopolymerization uses a lamp as a light source.
Lamps have problems such as containing only a small amount of wavelength components necessary for photopolymerization, discarding excess light in the form of heat, and shortening the life of the lamp. There is a problem that heat generated by light must be released by means such as cooling.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and in particular, by effectively utilizing a light emitting diode that generates light having a wavelength of about 480 nm, a conventional lamp-type photopolymerizer can be used. An object of the present invention is to provide a light irradiation device for photopolymerization that eliminates the above-mentioned problems and that is more convenient to use.

[0007]

According to the present invention , a plurality of light emitting diodes are arranged in a microlens array.
Formed in an airtight package
These microlens-shaped packages are mounted on a flat substrate.
A light source, an optical system for condensing light from the light source, and a light guide into which the light condensed by the optical system is introduced, and the light emitted by the light emitting diode is emitted by the light emitting diode. that you were introduced to the light guide so as to emit from the discharge end of the light guide is obtained by the features.

[0008]

As a light source, a plurality of light emitting diodes that emit light having a wavelength of about 480 nm are used, light from the plurality of light emitting diodes is effectively introduced into a light guide, and light emitted from the light guide is used as a resin. Used as a light source for photopolymerization.

[0009]

1 is a cross-sectional view for explaining an embodiment of a light irradiator for photopolymerization according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a light emitting diode (LED) plate, 2 denotes a light emitting diode driving circuit, Is a condenser lens, 4 is a light guide, 5 is a battery,
Reference numeral 6 denotes a charge control circuit, 7 denotes a charging coil, and a plurality of light emitting diodes having an emission frequency of about 480 nm are disposed on the light emitting diode plate 1. Light generated from each light emitting diode is collected by a condenser lens. Light guide 4 focused on 2
And is radiated from the tip of the light guide 4 to harden the resin for, for example, restoring teeth as described above.

As described above, the light source is formed by integrating a plurality of light emitting diodes into a microlens-shaped airtight package to obtain airtightness and light directivity in order to obtain a predetermined amount of light. These microlens-shaped packages are mounted on a flat substrate.
Although not shown, an adjustment function of the light amount, a feedback function for stabilizing the light amount, an irradiation time timer, and the like can be added as necessary.Although the figure shows an example having a charging function by coil coupling, It can be easily understood that the charging function can be provided separately, and that a dry battery can be used.

[0011]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, the life of the lamp is longer than that of the lamp-type irradiator, and the filter and the mirror required for the lamp-type irradiator are not required. Furthermore, it is possible to provide a very easy-to-use, hand-held type photopolymerization light irradiator that does not require a heat countermeasure.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view for explaining one embodiment of a light irradiation device for photopolymerization according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view for explaining an example of use of a light irradiation device for photopolymerization.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining an example of a conventional lamp-type photopolymerization light irradiator.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Light emitting diode plate, 2 ... Light emitting diode drive circuit, 3 ... Condensing lens, 4 ... Light guide, 5 ... Battery, 6 ... Photoelectric control circuit, 7 ... Charging coil.

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] A plurality of light emitting diodes are microlens.
Formed in an airtight package
These microlens-shaped packages are mounted on a flat substrate.
A light source, an optical system for condensing light from the light source, and a light guide into which the light condensed by the optical system is introduced, and the light emitted by the light emitting diode is emitted by the light emitting diode. A light irradiator, which is introduced into a light guide and emits light from an emission end of the light guide.