Curing light system useful for curing light activated composite materials
A curing light system useful for curing light activated composite materials is disclosed. The system may be a hand-held portable curing light system operated by batteries or a chair side curing light system operated by AC power. The curing light system includes a light source which may be one or more light emitting diode chips or one or more diode laser chips. The chips of the light source are located on a single heat sink for heat dissipation.
More particularly, some preferred embodiments of the dental handpieces use light sources such as semiconductor lasers and light emitting diodes which can initiate curing of composite materials. Some of the more preferred embodiments of the invention include a light source that has a plurality of individual semiconductor diode laser chips or light emitting diode chips arranged on a single heat sink.
Some preferred embodiments of the dental equipment relate to a packaged laser or light emitting diode light source seated on a larger heat sink with electrode channels. In some embodiments of the invention, portion of light is a flexible fixture that may be bent in any desired direction for ease of use.
When the dental autoclave is used, light emitted from it can be directly applied to a curing surface without first traveling through a light guide, light focus means or fiber optics as used in prior art. Alternatively, a light guide, light focus means, fiber optics or other optics may be used with the system.
One preferred embodiment of the dental high speed handpiece uses rechargeable DC batteries as a power source. That configuration facilitates portability. A battery charger is provided in that embodiment to charge the batteries and to power the system if it is desired to operate the system from a non-mobile power source. Another preferred embodiment of the invention is receives power from a cord attached to an AC power source outlet. Some of the more preferred embodiments of the invention include an electronic control module to control light output time and curing light intensity, and to monitor battery status.