American Dental Laser, Inc.

American Dental Technologies, Inc.

Xanar, Inc.

Sunrise Technologies, Inc.

Other

Rodenstock Instruments Corp.

Arthur Vassiliadis

Terry D Myers

David R Hennings

Michael H Brewer

David J Fullmer

Joseph W Shaffer

William D Myers

Robert E Myers

Joseph W Schaffer

A dual wavelength laser is disclosed for use in dental therapeutic applications. The dual wavelength laser includes a laser cavity in which a laser crystal is disposed and preferably the laser crystal is an Nd:YAG laser, which, upon excitation, lases at two different wavelengths, each of which has a different gain. A shutter, or alternatively an optical filter, is selectively disposed within the optical path of the laser crystal whereupon the higher gain wavelength is selectively suppressed. Thus, with the shutter or optical filter removed from the optical path, the laser lases at its higher gain wavelength. Conversely, with the shutter or filter positioned within the optical path, the higher gain wavelength is effectively suppressed so that the laser crystal lases at the lower gain wavelength.

Dental laser

A fiber optic probe and its use in performing a sclerostomy (forming a small hole in the sclera of an eye) as a treatment for glaucoma. The minimally dimensioned probe is designed to direct laser light out of its side and, as a result, allows a sclerostomy procedure to be performed with minimal trauma to the conjunctiva and other surrounding ocular tissues of the patient. A series of pulses of infrared laser radiation delivered through the side of the probe forms the hole in the sclera.

Optical fiber probe and laser sclerostomy procedure

An apparatus for removing dental enamel and dentin. This apparatus is also capable of cutting soft tissue. The apparatus includes a laser which, when activated, produces a laser pulse having a wavelength of between 1.5 and 3.5 microns, a beam diameter at the target site in the range of 10 to 5,000 microns, a pulse duration of between several picoseconds and several milliseconds, an energy level of between 0.1 millijoules and five joules per pulse, and pulse repetition rates from one pulse per second to 10,000 pulses per second. The pulse is focused on the dental enamel or dentin thereby reaching high enough energy densities to vaporize the material. In the case of soft tissues, a special tip is used to concentrate the laser on the tissue so that cutting action can be easily executed.

A dental laser assembly is disclosed for use in eradicating carious lesions in teeth, the treatment of sensitive teeth, as well as the removal of soft tissue, the incising of the frenum, opurculum, anestesia of the tooth, etching enamel for restorations or orthodontic appliance fixation, the welding of fixed prosthesis, removal of bacterial flora periodontal pockets, removal and/or vaporization of healthy or necrotic pulp, the vertical and/or horizontal condensation of gutta percha or any other root canal sealant, the cauterization of blood vessels in the oral cavity, vaporizing bone tissue, removing tartar, apical fusion of foramina, enlarging and shaping root canal, removing carbon from surface of teeth, removal of enamel, bleaching teeth, etching dentin, separating orthodontic brackets, merging hydroxyapatite to bone and enamel, amalgam removal and undercutting of carious and/or healthy dentin and/or cementum. The laser assembly includes a housing having a cavity in which a pulsed laser in contained. The laser is excited so that the laser emits a laser beam along a predetermined axis that is in line with a fiber optic delivery system and at a pulse rate of one to 10,000 pulses per second and an average power variable from one tenth to 50 watts. A handpiece is dimensioned to be inserted into a human mouth while an optical fiber optically connects the laser output to the handpiece. The laser assembly also includes a continuous output aiming laser which, upon activation, provides a continuous laser aiming beam coaxial to the treatment beam. Both beams are then introduced into a fiber optic delivery system.

Method for enlarging and shaping a root canal

A dental laser system is disclosed having an erbium doped YAG laser which is excited so that the YAG laser produces a plurality of laser pulses. A novel delivery system for the YAG laser is disclosed which includes an elongated sapphire strand which consists of a single crystal. The sapphire strand has a diameter between 10 and 1000 microns so that it maintains its flexibility and the sapphire strand is encased within a flexible protective coating. The sapphire strand is also essentially devoid of water content.

Dental laser system

A dental laser assembly is disclosed for use in eradicating carious lesions in teeth, the treatment of sensitive teeth, as well as the removal of soft tissue, the incising of the frenum, opurculum, anesthesia of the tooth, etching enamel for restorations or orthodontic appliance fixation, the welding of fixed prosthesis, removal of bacterial flora periodontal pockets, removal and/or vaporization of healthy or necrotic pulp, the vertical and/or horizontal condensation of gutta percha or any other root canal sealant, the cauterization of blood vessels in the oral cavity, vaporizing bone tissue, removing tartar, apical fusion of foramina, enlarging and shaping root canal, removing carbon from surface of teeth, removal of enamel, bleaching teeth, etching dentin, separating orthodontic brackets, merging hydroxyapatite to bone and enamel, amalgam removal and undercutting of carious and/or healthy dentin and/or cementum. The laser assembly includes a housing having a cavity in which a pulsed laser is contained. The laser is excited so that the laser emits a laser beam along a predetermined axis that is in line with a fiber optic delivery system and at a pulse rate of one to 10,000 pulses per second and an average power variable from one tenth to 50 watts. A handpiece is dimensioned to be inserted into a human mouth while an optical fiber optically connects the laser output to the handpiece. The laser assembly also includes a continuous output aiming laser which, upon activation, provides a continuous laser aiming beam coaxial to the treatment beam. Both beams are then introduced into a fiber optic delivery system.

Dental laser assembly

An apparatus for removing dental enamel and dentin. This apparatus is also capable of cutting soft tissue. The apparatus includes a laser which, when activated, produces a laser pulse having a wavelength of between 1.5 and 3.5 microns, a beam diameter at the target site in the range of 10 to 5,000 microns, a pulse duration of between several picoseconds and several milliseconds, an energy level of between 0.1 millijoules and five joules per pulse, and pulse repetition rates from one pulse per second to 10,000 pulses per second. The pulse is focussed on the dental enamel or dentin thereby reaching high enough energy densities to vaporize the material. In the case of soft tissues, a special tip is used to concentrate the laser on the tissue so that cutting action can be easily executed.

Method for sterilizing and closing accessory canals of a tooth

A dental laser assembly having a housing with a first and second laser cavity. The housing also includes an optical output port and a dental optical delivery system optically connected to the port. A first laser is contained within a first laser cavity which, when activated, generates a first laser beam while, similarly, a second laser is contained within a second laser cavity which, when activated, generates a second laser beam. Only one laser, however, is activated at a given time and the output beam from the activated laser is directed to the optical output port in the housing for use in dental applications. The first laser has optical qualities sufficient to perform a first set of dental procedures while the second laser has optical qualities sufficient to perform a second and different set of dental procedures.

Dental laser assembly with dual lasers

Method for apical fusion of the foramina

A fiber optic probe and its use in performing a sclerostomy (forming a small hole in the sclera of an eye) as a treatment of glaucoma. The minimally dimensioned probe is designed to direct laser light out of its side and, as a result, allows a sclerostomy procedure to be performed with minimal trauma to the conjunctiva and other surrounding ocular tissues of the patient. A series of pulses of infrared laser radiation delivered through the side of the probe forms the hole in the sclera.

Laser sclerostomy procedure

Method for creating an etch in dentin

A dental laser assembly is disclosed for use in eradicating carious lesions in teeth, the treatment of sensitive teeth, as well as the removal of soft tissue, the incising of the frenum, opurculum, anesthesia of the tooth, etching enamel for restorations or orthodontic appliance fixation, the welding of fixed prosthesis, removal of bacterial flora periodontal pockets, removal and/or vaporization of healthy or necrotic pulp, the vertical and/or horizontal condensation of gutta percha or any other root canal sealant, the cauterization of blood vessels in the oral cavity, vaporizing bone tissue, removing tartar, apical fusion of foramina, enlarging and shaping root canal, removing carbon from surface of teeth, removal of enamel, bleaching teeth, etching dentin, separating orthodontic brackets, merging hydroxyapatite to bone and enamel, amalgam removal and undercutting of carious and/or healthy dentin and/or camentum. The laser assembly includes a housing having a cavity in which a pulsed laser is contained. The laser is excited so that the laser emits a laser beam along a predetermined axis that is in line with a fiber optic delivery system and at a pulse rate of one to 10,000 pulses per second and an average power variable from one tenth to 50 watts. A handpiece is dimensioned to be inserted into a human mouth while an optical fiber optically connects the laser output to the handpiece. The laser assembly also includes a continuous output aiming laser which, upon activation, provides a continuous laser aiming beam coaxial to the treatment beam. Both beams are then introduced into a fiber optic delivery system.

A dental laser assembly is disclosed for use in eradicating carious lesions in teeth, the treatment of sensitive teeth, as well as the removal of soft tissue. The laser assembly includes a housing having a cavity in which a pulsed laser is contained. The laser is excited so that the laser emits a laser beam along a predetermined axis that is in line with a fiber optic delivery system and at a pulse rate of one to 10,000 pulses per second and an average power variable from zero to 50 watts. A handpiece is dimensioned to be inserted into a human mouth while an optical fiber optically connects the laser output to the handpiece. The laser assembly also includes a continuous output aiming laser which, upon activation, provides a continuous laser aiming beam coaxial to the treatment beam. Both beams are then introduced into a fiber optic delivery system.

Growing community of inventors

Mountain View, CA, United States of America

Arthur Vassiliadis