JPH0698900A - Small dental light irradiator - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable the polymerized hardening of an inlay by filtering infrared rays and ultraviolet rays from a light source of a dental light irradiator to output light having visible light as main component. CONSTITUTION:A visible light transmission cell 3 filled with a liquid 4 is arranged on the side of an output light of a halogen lamp 1. After the filtration of infrared rays and ultraviolet rays with the cell, light having visible light as main component is introduced to a light guide 6 to be outputted at the tip thereof. The efficient filtration of the infrared rays enables increase in the output of a light source thereby allowing the hardening of an inlay in an oral cavity. The removal of the ultraviolet rays eliminates possibility of adversely affecting tissues even when an oral tissue is irradiated with light.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a compact dental light irradiator used for curing a composite resin, especially in dental treatment, and for curing an inlay in the oral cavity.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In dental treatment, a method is known in which a photocurable resin such as a composite resin is filled in a cavity formed by removing the erosion portion of a tooth and irradiated with light to cure the cavity. A small light illuminator is used for such a treatment method, and such an illuminator is known (for example, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 2-36).
491).

[0003]

A halogen lamp is often used as the light source of the light irradiator. A halogen lamp outputs visible light and is suitable as a light source for this kind of light irradiator because of its large amount of light, but it outputs a large amount of infrared light and heats the lamp itself and its peripheral region to a high temperature. There's a problem. Conventionally, as seen in the above-mentioned publicly known example, an infrared light filter is arranged on the output side of the light source, and an exhaust fan is arranged at the rear side to cool the lamp itself and the entire device by air. However, such a structure does not have a sufficient cooling effect. Therefore, it is possible to use only a halogen lamp having a low output which practically provides a cooling effect, and such a lamp cannot photo-cure an inlay, particularly a CR inlay, in the oral cavity. Further, since the light from the halogen lamp also contains ultraviolet light, there is a problem that when it is directly irradiated on the oral tissue, it causes a harmful effect.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances and has a large output that enables not only the polymerization and curing of the conventional composite resin but also the polymerization and curing of the inlay.
Moreover, a small light irradiator that is not heated is realized.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a light source which outputs visible light, infrared light and ultraviolet light, and which has a substantially bowl-shaped reflecting mirror for condensing at least visible light in the predetermined direction. A visible light transmissive cell arranged on the light output side of the light source for absorbing infrared light and ultraviolet light, and transmitted light of the visible light transmissive cell entering from one end side and being directed in a predetermined direction. The light guide extending from the end side, the light source and the visible light transmitting cell are housed, and the light guide is supported at the tip, and the case has a handle portion. The visible light transmitting cell is hollow inside. It has a space, and a liquid is enclosed in the hollow space.

The visible light transmitting cell in the present invention may be connected to a pump and a heat exchanger via a tube so that the liquid can be circulated.

The visible light transmitting cell in the present invention can be composed of a hollow disk-shaped cell body and two liquid circulation thin tubes communicating with the hollow portion fixed to the cell body. .

Further, the visible light transmitting cell in the present invention comprises a hollow cone-shaped cell main body and two liquid circulation thin tubes communicating with the hollow portion fixed to the cell main body. The cone bottom faces the light source,
The conical body may be arranged so that the tip of the cone faces one end of the light guide.

Further, in the present invention, the visible light transmitting cell is integrally formed with the reflecting mirror, and the reflecting mirror has a double structure to form a space communicating with the hollow space of the transmitting cell. The space may be filled with the liquid.

Further, in the present invention, a part of the tube is wound in contact with the outer surface of the reflecting mirror, and is made of a metal pipe having good thermal conductivity for absorbing the heat of the reflecting mirror. You can

Still further, according to the present invention, the pump and the heat exchanger may be housed in the case.

Furthermore, in the present invention, the pump and the heat exchanger may be arranged outside the case.

[0013]

With respect to the light from the light source that has entered the visible light transmitting cell, most of the infrared light and the ultraviolet light are removed and the light having visible light as a main component is output. The light containing the visible light as a main component enters the light guide and is output from the tip thereof.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows a compact light irradiator, 1 is a light source, for example, a halogen lamp, which outputs visible light, infrared light and ultraviolet light. In addition to halogen lamps, xenon lamps, metal halide lamps, etc. can be used as the light source. Reference numeral 2 denotes a substantially bowl-shaped reflecting mirror having the halogen lamp 1 fixed at its center, which transmits infrared light and reflects visible light. Reference numeral 3 is a visible light transmission cell arranged on the opening portion of the reflecting mirror, that is, on the light output side.
Liquid 4 is enclosed inside. The transmission cell 3 functions as an infrared light and ultraviolet light filter. That is, this cell 3
About 80% or more of the infrared light contained therein and most of the ultraviolet light are absorbed by the liquid 4. Reference numeral 5 is another reflecting mirror arranged outside the transmission cell 3. Liquid 4
As water, ethylene glycol or silicone oil can be used.

Reference numeral 6 denotes a light guide formed of glass fiber, and the visible light transmitted through the transmission cell 3 enters from one end side thereof and is led out from the other end side directed in a predetermined direction. The light guide 6 is rotatably and detachably supported on the case. Reference numeral 7 is a case made of plastic and has a handle 8. A power switch 9 is attached to the handle 8.

Reference numeral 10 denotes an exhaust fan housed in the case 7, which is driven by a motor 11. The air is supplied from the air supply port 12 and exhausted from the exhaust port 13 by driving the fan 10. Reference numeral 14 is a heat exchanger which is disposed in the vicinity of the fan 10 and is blown with wind, and is formed by bending the tube 15 in a zigzag manner. The tube 16 is connected to the permeation cell 3 and the pump 16. The pump 16 is also housed in the case 7. The pump 15 may have a structure including a tank (not shown) that stores the liquid 4. With this structure, the liquid 4 in the transparent cell 3 is circulated by the pump 16 and cooled by the heat exchanger 14. That is, the liquid 4 heated in the transparent cell 3 by absorption of infrared light is cooled by the heat exchanger 14 and supplied again to the transmission cell 3. The power switch 9 operates to turn on / off the motor 11. The lamp 1, the motor 11, the pump 16, and the power switch 9 are connected by a cord (not shown). Further, the motor 15 and the motor for driving the pump 16 may be combined into one motor. The tube of the heat exchanger 14 portion is preferably formed of a metal pipe having a good thermal conductivity such as a copper tube, and the other portion may be a silicon tube having elasticity.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, two transparent glass plates 17 and 18 are fixed to the transmission cell 3 with a space of about 3 mm, and the space 19 between the glass plates 17 and 18 is filled with the liquid 4. Be done. The two glass plates 17 and 18 can be adhered with an adhesive 20 to seal the space 19. 21,
Reference numeral 21 is a thin tube that communicates with the space 19, and is supplied with water from one side and drained from the other side. The transmission cell 3 can be made of heat resistant glass or heat resistant plastic. Further, the thickness of the glass plates 17 and 18 of the transmission cell 3 may be changed to form a convex lens. The light output from the lamp 1 is directly or reflected by the reflection mirror 2 and transmitted through the transmission cell 3 to be condensed at a point F in the light guide 6.

4 and 5 show a modification of the transmission cell 3, which is a hollow disk-shaped cell body 22 integrally formed of heat-resistant glass such as Pyrex (registered trademark) glass, and the diameter of the cell body 22. It is composed of two glass capillaries 23, 23 which are welded in the direction and which are connected to the cell hollow portion. The glass thin tubes 23, 23 are also made of heat resistant glass. The size of the cell body 22 may be such that the diameter of the disk is about 5 cm, the thickness of the entire disk is about 10 mm, and the thickness of the glass is about 1 mm. The glass thin tubes 23, 23 are used for injecting and discharging the liquid 4.

FIG. 6 shows a modification of the light source, which is a reflecting mirror 24.
Is a double structure, and the front surface is also integrated with the transmission cell 3. A hollow space 25 inside the reflecting mirror 24 and the transmission cell 3 is formed to communicate with each other, and two thin tubes 2 are provided in this space 25.
The liquid is supplied and drained through 6, 26.
A vapor deposition surface 27 that transmits infrared light and reflects visible light is formed on the inner wall surface of the reflecting mirror 24.

FIG. 7 shows another embodiment of the present invention, in which a visible light transmitting cell 27 is a hollow cone-shaped cell body 28 integrally formed of heat-resistant glass, and a hollow body fixed to the cell body 28. Two liquid circulation thin tubes 29, 2 communicating with the part
It is composed of 9. In the hollow space inside the cell body 28,
The liquid 4 similar to the above is filled. A mirror surface 40 is formed on the side wall surface of the hollow space inside the cell body 28 so as to reflect light. The bottom of the conical body of the cell body 28 faces the opening of the reflecting mirror 2, and the tip of the conical body faces one end of the light guide 6. Therefore, the light emitted from the light source 1 is incident on the transmission cell 27, most of the infrared light and the ultraviolet light are removed by the liquid 4, and the light is emitted from the inside of the light guide 6 while being reflected by the mirror surface 29. It gathers at the point F and is guided by the light guide 6. The light incident on the light guide 6 is a light whose main component is visible light, and is output from the other end.

Reference numeral 30 denotes a cooler composed of a metal pipe having a good thermal conductivity such as copper and wound in a substantially bowl shape in contact with the outer surface of the reflecting mirror 2. One end of the cooler is connected to the thin tube 29, and the other end. The end side is connected to the silicon tube 15 and is led out of the case 7. Silicon tube 15 for other thin tubes 29
Are connected and similarly led out of the case 7. Figure 8
As shown in FIG. 3, 31 is a heat conductive filler filled in the gap between the metal pipe and the reflecting mirror 2 constituting the cooler 30, and aluminum powder hardened with epoxy resin or silicon resin can be used. Reference numeral 32 denotes a heat exchanger provided outside the case 7, which includes a pump 33, a spirally wound metal pipe 34 with good heat conductivity, and a fan 35. The pump 33 and the metal pipe 34 are connected to the tube 15 in series. The fan 35 blows cold air onto the metal pipe 34 to cool it. That is, the liquid 4 is delivered by the pump 33,
It passes through the permeation cell 27 in the case 7 through the tube 15, the cooler 30, the metal pipe 34 through the tube 15, and returns to the pump 33. Liquid 4 heated by absorbing infrared light in the transmission cell 29 and the cooler 30
Are cooled while passing through the metal pipe 34.

9 and 10 show C directly in the oral cavity.
This shows an example of polymerizing and curing the R inlay. In this case, a small light guide 36 made of thin glass fiber is attached to the tip of the light guide 6. The tip of the small light guide 36 is formed in a triangle. The light that has passed through the small light guide 36 is directly output to the outside (downward in the figure). Further, the light that is output from the light guide 6 to the outside of the small light guide 36 and that enters the cavity 37 is reflected by the triangular portion and scattered sideways. still,
The triangular portion may be spherical. Teeth 38
After the photo-curable adhesive is applied to the inner surface of the cavity 37, the side surface is filled with the CR inlay 39, the small light guide 36 is inserted, and the CR inlay 39 is exposed to light and cured. 9). Subsequently, the CR inlay 39 is filled in the entire cavity 37, and light is emitted from the ride guide 6 with the small light guide 36 removed. This way,
Even in the cavity 37 having an undercut, the CR inlay 39 can be polymerized and hardened in the oral cavity.

[0023]

According to the present invention, the light output from the light source passes through the visible light transparent cell filled with the liquid, the infrared light is removed, and the visible light component is output through the light guide. The output light does not contain heat, and the affected area is not heated even when the cavity of the tooth is irradiated. Therefore, the patient does not feel pain due to heat, and can be given a pleasant treatment.

Further, according to the present invention, since the ultraviolet light is removed by the visible light transmitting cell, the tissue in the oral cavity is not exposed to the ultraviolet light, and the irradiation of the ultraviolet light does not adversely affect the human body.

Further, according to the present invention, since the cooling efficiency of the light source is extremely high, it is possible to use a high-power lamp as compared with the conventional one, and therefore, it is difficult to cure the inlay in the oral cavity, which was difficult to cure due to insufficient light quantity. It is possible to carry out the process, and at the same time, it is possible to shorten the polymerization time of the photopolymerization resin and improve the work efficiency. By the way, while the conventional light irradiator having the air-cooling structure required a polymerization time of 3 to 4 minutes, the light irradiator according to the present invention can complete the curing in about 30 to 40 seconds.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a transmission cell.

3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line I-I of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a modified example of a transmission cell.

5 is a sectional view taken along line II-II of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a modified example of the light source.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing another embodiment of the present invention.

8 is a cross-sectional view showing the main parts of FIG.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view for explaining a usage state.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view for explaining a usage state.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Halogen Lamp 2, 5 Reflector 3 Transmission Cell 4 Liquid 6 Light Guide 7 Case 10 Exhaust Fan 11 Motor 14 Heat Exchanger 15 Tube 30 Cooler 33 Pump 34 Metal Pipe

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A light source that outputs visible light, infrared light, and ultraviolet light, and has a substantially bowl-shaped reflecting mirror that focuses at least visible light of the light in a predetermined direction, and a light output side of the light source. A visible light transmissive cell that absorbs infrared light and ultraviolet light disposed in, and a light guide that enters the transmitted light of the visible light transmissive cell from one end side and guides it from the other end side that is directed in a predetermined direction. , The light source and the visible light transmitting cell are housed,
The light guide includes a case having a handle supported at the tip, and the visible light transmitting cell has a hollow space therein, and a liquid is enclosed in the hollow space. Small dental irradiator 2. The miniature dental light irradiator according to claim 1, wherein the visible light transmitting cell is connected to a pump and a heat exchanger via a tube, and the liquid is circulated. 3. The visible light transmitting cell comprises a hollow disk-shaped cell body, and two liquid circulation thin tubes communicating with the hollow portion fixed to the cell body. Item 1 or 2 compact dental light irradiator 4. The visible light transmitting cell comprises a hollow cone-shaped cell body and two liquid circulation thin tubes communicating with the hollow portion fixed to the cell body. The dental compact light irradiator according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the bottom of the body faces the light source, and the tip of the cone faces the one end of the light guide. 5. The visible light transmitting cell is integrally formed with the reflecting mirror, and the reflecting mirror has a double structure to form a space communicating with a hollow space of the transmitting cell, and the liquid is provided in both spaces. The small dental light irradiator according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein 6. A part of the tube is wound in contact with the outer surface of the reflecting mirror and is made of a metal pipe having good thermal conductivity that absorbs heat of the reflecting mirror. Small dental light irradiator according to claim 2. 7. The compact dental light irradiator according to claim 2, wherein the pump and the heat exchanger are housed in the case. 8. The compact dental light irradiator according to claim 2, wherein the pump and the heat exchanger are arranged outside the case.