The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 06, 1989
Filed:
May. 06, 1983
Donald I Gonser, York, PA (US);
Dentsply Research & Development Corp., Milford, DE (US);
Abstract
Apparatus is provided for generating a condensed beam of light having a limited degree of scatter, or deviation, comprising light collimating means for providing a source of collimating light and light condensing means operatively connected to the collimating means, such as a truncated cone with a reflective inner surface, the condensing means providing a light beam output having a light divergence limited to about 30.degree. or less. The low divergence beam generating apparatus might be incorporated into larger dental apparatus which can be operator manipulated to provide different modes of light output, which modes include the condensed beam with and without a bandpass of visible wavelengths. In practicing the method of this invention, particularly with respect to dental applications such as curing restorative materials placed in one or more teeth of a patient's oral cavity, the low divergence beam is directed at the teeth from a distance of about 1 cm, enabling reduced operator dependence in the process of curing the restorative materials.