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Curing light having a detachable tipRelated Patent Categories: Dentistry, Apparatus, Having Means To Emit Radiation Or Facilitate Viewing Of The WorkCuring light having a detachable tip description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20080057463, Curing light having a detachable tip. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent applications Ser. No. 60/585,224, filed Jul. 2, 2004, entitled "Dental Light Devices With Phase Change Heat Sink"; 60/664,696, filed Mar. 22, 2005, entitled "Curing Light Having A Detachable Tip"; 60/594,297, filed Mar. 25, 2005, entitled "Curing Light Having A Detachable Tip"; 60/658,517, filed Mar. 3, 2005, entitled "Apparatus and Method For Radiation Spectrum Shifting in Dentistry Application"; 60/631,267, filed Nov. 26, 2004, entitled "Curing Light Having A Reflector"; and 60/594,327, filed on Mar. 30, 2005, entitled, "Curing Light"; the contents of all of which are hereby incorporated by reference. [0002] The present application includes claims that may be related to the claims of co-pending U.S. patent applications Ser. No. 10/XXX,XXX, to be concurrently filed, entitled "Illumination System for Dentistry Applications"; Ser. No. 10/XXX,XXX, to be concurrently filed, entitled "Voice Alert System for Dentistry Applications; Ser. No. 10/XXX,XXX, to be concurrently filed, entitled "Light Guide for Dentistry Applications"; Ser. No. 10/XXX,XXX, to be concurrently filed, entitled "Retracting Devices"; and Ser. No. 10/XXX,XXX, to be concurrently filed, entitled "Support System for Dentistry"; the contents of all of which are hereby incorporated by reference. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0003] This invention relates to curing light devices for use in dentistry. Specifically, this invention relates to curing light devices for activating the curing composites and/or adhesives in dentistry. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0004] In the field of dentistry, tooth restoration and repaired, dental cavities are often filled and/or sealed with compounds that are photosensitive, either to visible and/or ultraviolet light. These compounds, commonly known as light-curable compounds, are placed within dental cavity preparations or onto dental surfaces and are cured when exposed to light from a dental curing light device. Many light-curing devices are configured to be handheld devices. Some are equipped with a light guide. [0005] Some techniques employed by dental professionals include an initial partial curing followed by a complete cure. Some curing lights can be equipped with a removable tip for this partial cure. The size of the curing light spot can also be changed by attaching removable tips with different-sized translucent portions for performing the partial cure. Some of these tips are also made to be disposable so that the tip can be disposed of if it is contaminated with curable material during a curing process, as is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,709,128, incorporated herein by reference. [0006] In some dental procedures, the curing light can be equipped with an attachment, to manipulate the curable compound before and during irradiation of the compound with radiant energy suitable for curing the compound, to compress the compound within the treated tooth to get rid of air pockets before the compound is completely cured and to obtain the desired restoration effect, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,702,576. This contact is useful because it generally enables the practitioner to ensure that the dental compound is properly applied within the dental restoration. A transparent attachment for such manipulation may be detachably connected with the curing light device. The transparent attachment has at least a transparent tip through which light passes during the light-curing procedure. The transparent attachment may be color tinted or treated for creating a desired effect, such as, for filtering undesirable wavelengths of light. The transparent attachment may also include optical focusing, collimating, or dispersing attributes for directing the light to the desired application site in a desired manner. [0007] However, the tip in the art is constructed so that if a lens cover or protector is used without the tacking tip, the lens cover will have to be removed prior to attaching the tacking tip. [0008] In another manner, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,835,064, a curing light has 2 sets of LEDs: one set emitting light at a wavelength spectrum having partial overlap with the absorption spectrum of the composite activator or sensitizer, and another set emitting light at a wavelength spectrum that substantially overlaps with the absorption spectrum of the composite sensitizer. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0009] The present invention relates to a curing light having a detachable tip for spot curing of light sensitive composites. [0010] The present invention also relates to a curing light having a detachable tip for effecting partial curing of light sensitive composites. [0011] One advantage of the tip of the present invention as compared to prior art tips is that it is adapted to be securely fitted over the end of a curing light device until actively removed, without the need to remove any protective cover, focusing lens, reflector, light guide, clear cover, dome or similar structure that may be mislaid or lost. The tip of the present invention also offers the added advantage of a simplified design without the necessity of having built-in complex optical properties normally served by the protective cover. At the same time, the presently disclosed tip retains the advantages offered by prior art tips. In one embodiment, the portion of the tip that envelopes the portion of the lens cap may be made of the same material. In another embodiment, the portion of the tip that envelopes the portion of the lens cap may be made of different materials having similar coefficients of thermal expansion. [0012] The curing light includes a light module housing having a substantially hollow interior, a proximal end and a distal end. Portions of the light module housing serve as a handle. A light module is housed in a desired position within the interior of the module housing. The light module includes at least one light source and at least one heat sink. The heat sink serves to divert heat away from the light source. [0013] The light module housing further includes a lens cap (which may be open or closed), which may be a reflector, a focusing lens, a dome, a lens cover, a light guide or similar structure, or combinations thereof. The lens cap is located near the proximal end of the housing. A detachable tip, adapted to envelope at least a portion of the lens cap, includes a conical-shaped body having an open aperture at the apex of the conical-shaped body. The tip may be opaque, either colored or white, and, except for the aperture, substantially blocks all light. [0014] The present invention also relates to a curing light device suitable for curing of light curable dental composite material. The curing light device includes a distal end and a proximal end, with the proximal end of the housing being the light emitting end. The curing light includes a molded reflector, a lens cap and a tip adapted to securely envelope the cap until actively removed. The lens cap may be a lens cover, a dome, a light guide, a focusing lens or a similar structure, or combinations thereof. The molded reflector and at least a portion of the housing to which the reflector is attached may be made of similar materials or materials having similar coefficients of thermal expansion. [0015] The present invention further relates to a tip adapted to securely envelope at least a portion of the lens cap until actively removed, the tip including a conical-shaped body having an exterior, an interior, and an aperture at the apex of the conical-shaped body. The tip may be opaque, for example, white or colored, and except for the aperture, substantially blocks all light. The tip also includes at least one protrusion on the interior of the body for repeatably positioning of the tip onto the lens cap. [0016] The present invention still further relates to a series of tips having apertures of varying diameters for effecting spot curing of composites with varying sizes. [0017] In one embodiment, the reflector may be of a substantially cylindrical shape having a hollow interior, a proximal end, a distal end, an inside and an outside surface. The reflector may be an integral part of the proximal end of the housing, at the extension of the housing. The interior surface of the reflector has a reflective surface, for example, the reflective surface includes a thin coating of metal. [0018] In another embodiment, the reflective surface is concave and is adapted for directing and/or focusing the light from the light source to a desired location, such as the detachable tip. [0019] In yet another embodiment of the invention, the tip, the lens cap, the reflector and the portion of the housing on which the tip is mounted may be formed of the same material or different materials having similar coefficients of thermal expansion. This minimizes stress to the assembled curing light device that may otherwise result due to thermal effects during use. [0020] In a further embodiment of the invention, the lens cap and the tip may be attached as a unit and the entire unit is detachable. The attachment may be permanent or removable. In some embodiments, the tip enveloping the lens cap and the lens cap may also be integrally molded together. Continue reading about Curing light having a detachable tip... Full patent description for Curing light having a detachable tip Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Curing light having a detachable tip patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Curing light having a detachable tip or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Dental alginate impression material composition Next Patent Application: Light guide for dentistry applications Industry Class: Dentistry ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Curing light having a detachable tip patent info. 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