KR200374815Y1 - Lighting apparatus for tooth whitening - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a dental whitening light source device for irradiating a wide blue light, comprising a water jacket in which circulating water is stored on the optical path from the light source to block hot and harmful rays and to efficiently cool the light source. Make it available. This improves the teeth whitening effect and enables a cheap and quick procedure.

Description

Light source device for teeth whitening {LIGHTING APPARATUS FOR TOOTH WHITENING}

The present invention relates to a light source device for whitening teeth, and more particularly to a light source device for teeth whitening using a wide blue light.

As the interest in dental cosmetology has exploded, various kinds of medicines and techniques for teeth whitening have emerged.In addition to conventional whitening silicone molds or vigorous teeth whitening in addition to conventional whitening specialists in dentistry, except for self-healing drugs In recent years, attention has been focused on light whitening.

First, look at the whitening using normal light, using a high concentration of 30% hydrogen peroxide applied to the teeth and hot light such as incandescent or halogen light to the teeth for about an hour to whiten teeth usually about once a week 3 to 6 weeks to go to the dentist to be treated. To prevent gingival damage, apply a gingival protector to the gingival or apply a device to protect the gingival with a rubber membrane called rubber dam before whitening. This method is more effective than whitening using a silicone mold for whitening, but it is disadvantageous in that it causes a lot of teeth, expensive and time-consuming due to heat.

As a result, the so-called blue light whitening method using blue light appeared, but the whitening using the conventional light is hot because the teeth are whitened by using the heat of the normal light, so the tooth is often soaked and more than 3 treatments are performed. On the contrary, the whitening using blue light has no heat, so the teeth are not sore even when exposed to strong light, and the effect is high, so the treatment can be finished once or twice. In addition, the concentration of the drug applied to the teeth is also safer because it uses a lower concentration than normal light whitening.

The whitening method using the blue light is divided into the plasma whitening method and the broad blue light whitening method. First, the plasma whitening method is the whitening method using the plasma blue light. Do not whiten all at once. Usually whitening teeth for about 10 minutes, whitening the upper teeth one day, whitening the lower teeth another day. Although it is a very effective whitening method, it is disadvantageous in that the equipment is expensive and it takes a long time and the treatment cost is high.

On the other hand, the wide blue light whitening method is the most effective whitening method to compensate for the shortcomings of the plasma whitening is a whitening method that can whiten all teeth at the same time because the light reflecting area of the blue light is wide. Most recently developed, whitening is usually accomplished by shining a beam for 30 minutes to an hour.

The principle of the broad blue light whitening method is to prepare a whitening paste in the form of a gel containing a photoinitiator that reacts to blue light around 470 nm in a bleaching component such as hydrogen peroxide. After application to the blue light of the above wavelength (照 査) by the photoactive agent activates the bleaching component to whiten teeth.

FIG. 1 shows an example of a conventional light source device used for such a wide blue light whitening. In FIG. 1, light generated from a light source 101 such as a halogen lamp or a xenon lamp is concentrated to the front through the reflector 102, and only a blue light beam is transmitted through the blue filter 103, and then a beam spot Formed through the molded part 104 is irradiated to the teeth (T) of the patient to be whitened.

The beam spot forming unit 104 forms a circular radiant light into a rectangular beam spot to irradiate several teeth T of the patient at the same time. In this example, the comb spot forming unit 104 is a bundle of optical fibers. It is configured, but it can play the same role as a lens and a shutter. In addition, a light source device without the beam spot forming unit 104 is also used by using a light source in which LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) are arranged in a rectangular array.

The remaining reference numeral 105 is a cooling fan. In the case of a light source device using a low output light source, a configuration without the cooling fan 105 is also used.

By the way, the wide blue light whitening method does not depend on heat but depends on the photoactive response, so it is possible to use a low power light source. However, in actual clinical treatment, the irradiation time is extended or repeated except in patients with a small degree of tooth damage. Even though the whitening is not happening well.

The inventors judged that such a problem was due to insufficient photoactive reactions caused by low-power light sources. Simply increasing the power of the light source not only caused heat transfer to the patient's teeth, but also caused optical filters or beams on the optical path. Damage to the spot molding may occur.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a light source device that can implement a high power blue light source.

The present invention is characterized in that a light-transmissive water jacket is provided on the optical path of the light source device.

Since the water jacket is located on the optical path, it absorbs harmful rays such as infrared rays and ultraviolet rays and performs cooling to prevent problems on the teeth of the patient even when using a high power light source. The problem of damage or lifespan of the optical filter accompanying the use can also be solved.

Accordingly, the whitening efficiency of the blue light whitening method can be improved by using a high power light source without damaging the patient's teeth or components of the light source device.

1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a conventional light source device.

2 is an external perspective view showing the overall configuration of a light source device according to the present invention.

3 to 6 are schematic cross-sectional views showing various embodiments of the present invention, respectively.

♣ Explanation of symbols for the main parts of the drawing ♣

1: light source 2: reflector

3: blue filter 4: beam spot molding

5: casing 6: inner container

7: water jacket 8: outer wall

9a, 9b: floodlight 10a, 10b: conduit

11: floodlight H: light source device

L: Optical Path V: Cavity

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail. In the following description, if it is determined that the detailed description of the related known function or configuration may unnecessarily obscure the subject matter of the present invention, the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

2 is an external perspective view showing an example of the light source device of the present invention. In FIG. 2, the light source device H of the present invention is provided at one end of an arm M on a carriage K, and at the other end of the arm M, the center of gravity of the post M is adjusted. A weight is provided. In this embodiment, a water reservoir W for storing circulating water circulating in the light source device H serves as a weight. To this end, the water tank (W) is composed of a steel plate (鋼板) of a predetermined thickness or to accommodate a separate weight in the water tank (W). The symbol F in the upper portion of the water tank W is a cooling fan for promoting cooling of the circulating water.

The lower portion of the post (P) is preferably provided with a caster (C) for convenience of movement, it may be composed of a tripod or a fixed post, if necessary. Reference numeral N denotes a console for adjusting the time and intensity of the light source device H and observing necessary information. In this embodiment, the console N is configured at the connection of the arm M and the post P. However, it may be provided on the light source device (H) or the water tank (W) as needed.

3 is a schematic cross-sectional view for explaining the characteristics of the light source device of the present invention. The light source 1, the reflector 2, and a blue filter for transmitting only blue light are inside a casing 5 of the light source device H. (3) and a beam spot forming portion 4 for shaping the light from the light source 1 into a rectangular beam spot. Although the beam spot forming part 4 is shown in the form of a lens in this embodiment, the present invention does not interfere with the configuration of the optical fiber bundle, shutter, or slit as shown in FIG. 1.

On the light path L of the light source device of the present invention, a transparent water jacket 7 is provided according to the features of the present invention. In the embodiment of FIG. 3, the water jacket 7 has a configuration in which two floodlights 9a and 9b are provided before and after the light-shielding outer wall 8, in which the mouth portion of the light source device is a patient's dentition form. Since it is configured in a curved shape according to the front light emitting window (9b) is preferably to have a curved shape inward.

Cavity (V) formed by the outer wall (8) and the front and rear light emitting windows (9a, 9b) is filled with circulating water, the circulating water is a name for convenience, other liquids such as alcohol or ethylene glycol may be used. It may be stored in the cavity V in a fixed state without circulation. Preferably, the circulating water is formulated to contain the necessary components with water as a base and circulated between the water tanks W of FIG. 2 through two conduits 10a and 10b.

The basic role of the circulating water is to block heat rays and harmful rays. The heating rays that heat the patient's teeth are mainly infrared rays, and the harmful rays are ultraviolet rays that have a bactericidal effect and can damage the gums. Although it depends, it can be seen that only a layer of water having a thickness of 3 to 4 cm can block approximately 70 to 80% of infrared and ultraviolet rays.

On the other hand, the radiant heat generated from the light source 1 is transmitted to the casing 5, since the water jacket 7 is attached to the casing 5, circulating the circulating water in the water jacket 7, the light source device (H) itself The cooling effect of can be achieved simultaneously. Accordingly, even when the light source 1 having a higher output is used than the conventional one, the external temperature of the light source device H can be lowered.

In addition, the water jacket 7 in which the circulation water is stored may serve as a lens according to its shape. In this embodiment, the water jacket 7 has a concave lens-shaped cross section and thus serves as a diffuser lens to evenly distribute blue light. Will be able to.

Here, the necessary components that may be included in the circulating water are, for example, scale inhibitors that can prevent the formation of scales, and in particular, in the case of containing a blue dye, replace the blue filter 3 or the blue filter 3 It can serve as a filter to complement the action of) will constitute another feature of the present invention.

4 shows another embodiment of the present invention, in which the blue filter 3 is housed inside the water jacket 7 and is configured to be cooled by the circulating water. Although shown as remaining outside the water jacket (7), it may be housed inside the water jacket (7) with the blue filter (3), the shape of the mouse of the light source device (H) to have a rectangular shape or with a separate slit In this case, the configuration except for the beam spot forming unit 4 is also possible.

Meanwhile, another embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 5. In the embodiment of FIG. 3, the blue filter 3 and the beam spot forming part 4 are positioned on the light source 1 side, so that the high power light source 1 is provided. In this embodiment, the water jacket 7 may cause damage such as deformation due to heat. In this embodiment, the water jacket 7 is located upstream of the blue filter 3 and the beam spot forming portion 4, that is, the light source 1 Since the light is transmitted in a state in which the heating wire is removed and cooled once, the blue filter 3 and the beam spot forming part 4 are not damaged by heat.

According to the configuration of FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, the required quality such as heat resistance of components of the light source device H such as the blue filter 3 is reduced, so that the light source device can be configured at low cost, and the durability of the parts can be improved. . In this embodiment as well, the blue filter 3 can be replaced or supplemented by including a blue dye in the circulating water.

In another embodiment shown in FIG. 6, a water jacket 7 is formed between the inner container 6 and the casing 5 surrounding the light source 1. Although the inner container 6 is shown in the figure as the inner wall of the water jacket 7 and the casing 5 constitutes the outer wall, the inner container 6 is a water-tight water jacket 7. It is natural that the configuration can be configured to accommodate in the casing (5).

In this embodiment, since the water jacket 7 completely surrounds the light source 1, when the circulating water is circulated through the conduits 10a and 10b, the temperature of the outer surface of the casing 5 does not exceed the temperature of the circulating water. When the temperature of the circulating water is lowered by cooling the water tank W, most of the heat generated from the light source 1 can be efficiently discharged to provide a safe user environment for the user or the patient.

In the embodiment of FIG. 6 the requirement is that at least the bottom face 6a located on the optical path in the inner container 6 should be transparent, so that an additional floodlight 11 for sealing the water jacket 7 is required. Will be. According to this structure, both the blue filter 3 and the beam spot shaping part 4 can be arrange | positioned outside the water jacket 7, and it becomes possible to prevent thermal damage more efficiently.

As described above, the present invention can effectively block the problems caused by heat and harmful rays, thereby enabling the use of a high power light source, and the whitening procedure can be effectively performed within a short time even if the degree of staining is severe by the high power blue light source. It is possible to configure a light source device at an inexpensive price and to increase the durability of the parts, thereby reducing the maintenance cost, which in turn reduces the cost of the procedure.

The embodiments described above are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention for the purpose of mere illustration. Various modifications and improvements will be possible to those skilled in the dental appliance industry or the light source device industry based on the description of the present invention, but all of them fall within the scope of the present invention as claimed below.

Claims (3)

In the dental whitening light source device including a light source (1) and a blue filter (3) for irradiating blue light to a patient's teeth, Light source device for dental whitening, characterized in that the water jacket (7) for receiving the circulation water on the optical path from the light source (1). The light source device for dental whitening according to claim 1, wherein a blue dye is included in the circulating water to perform a function of the blue filter (3). The light source device for dental whitening according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the water jacket (7) consists of an inner container (6) surrounding the inside of the casing (5).