Heraeus Kulzer Gmbh

Peter Fischer

Steffen Oppawsky

The present invention is an improvement upon a known apparatus for polymerization of a body from dental plastic material by irradiation of the body with radiation of a selected wave length in the range between about 350 nm and about 550 nm. To achieve a desired degree of polymerziation of the dental plastic, a specific amount of radiation must be applied to the body. In order to achieve reproducible irradiation results in spite of fluctuations in supply voltage, alterations in lamp characteristics, burn out of one or more lamps, shifting of spectral outputs, replacement of defective or superannuated lamps, soiling of lamps and reflector surfaces and/or changes of operating temperatures in the irradiation area, a supplemental detection system in provided. Upon beginning of irradiation, a photocell measures a percentage component of the radiation within the selected wave length range from each irradiation source, generates an electrical signal therefrom and the electrical signal is integrated and compared to a predetermined value corresponding to the desired degree of polymerization. When the predetermined value is reached, the irradiation is interrupted.

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Zurich, Switzerland

Peter Fischer