DE2201308A1 - Device for irradiating a limited area with ultraviolet radiation - Google Patents

Description

Patent attorneys Dipl.-Ing. F. Weickmann,

Dipl.-Ing. R ^ eickmann, Dipl.-Phys. Dr. K. Fincke Dipl.-Ing. F. A. ¥ eickmann, Dipl.-Chem. B. Huber

8 MUNICH 86, DEN «- * · ^ ' ^w

PO Box 860 820

MÖHLSTRASSE 22, NUMBER 48 39 21/22

<983921/22>

Sclra / th

GMRAD PRECISION INDUSTRIES, INC.,

629 Fifth Avenue, PEIHAM, EEW YOEK, V.St.A.

Device for irradiating a limited area with ultraviolet radiation

Summary:

A device is specified for irradiating a limited area in a demarcated room with ultraviolet radiation, such as a device for a dentist to treat a limited area within the human mouth. The device will hand held and includes a bracket to which a source of ultraviolet light is attached. An elongated one Light alignment assembly is carried by the bracket and extends from the light source beyond the bracket, see above that it has a free end that can be inserted into the mouth in order to direct the light onto a limited area, to radiate ultraviolet energy onto this surface. One

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^ 201308

Manually operated control is provided by the operator can be operated to control the transmission of light and thus the irradiation of ultraviolet energy to control.

The present invention relates to devices to emit ultraviolet radiation to be aimed at a limited area which is in a delimited space.

The present invention is particularly applicable to an apparatus for a dentist that can be used to apply ultraviolet radiation to a limited area of the mouth.

It is only recently that there have been significant advances in development the protection against tooth decay, especially in children, has been made that a sealant or cover means on the Teeth is applied and that the sealant or cover is hardened so that it hardens to form a protective cover, through which holes and cracks are sealed or closed. The sealant has the property of hardening, when exposed to ultraviolet light. The sealant can thus be in the form of an adhesive composed of a relatively stable, thick liquid, the main components of which are three parts by weight of the reaction product Contains biphenol Λ and glycidyl methacrylate and one part by weight of methyl methaerylal monomer. Right before use 2.0 ^ benzoin methyl ether are dissolved in the adhesive liquid, so that an ultraviolet light sensitive composition is formed which is applied to the tooth surface with a fine camel hair brush is applied. The teeth can be prepared beforehand to receive the sealant, after which Sealant is applied, it becomes a long wave ultraviolet Exposed to radiation for a period of 15 to 30 seconds; whereby the sealant is cured and becomes hard · Thus, the formation of cavities or holes

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by the adhesive sealant prevents the chewing surfaces of the teeth against food particles that cause holes, and protects against harmful bacteria in the mouth. The protective sealant has proven particularly useful for eroded areas and cracks on the chewing surfaces of the molars, where such teeth are particularly at risk.

One of the particular problems encountered with this latter type of treatment occur, consists in the development of a suitable device to the sealant with an ultraviolet radiation to irradiate. So it is necessary to restrict the ultraviolet radiation to the limited area on which the sealant is applied is applied, and this limited area itself lies in a limited tree that runs through the inside of the human mouth is formed. The person performing the treatment must have a device available to provide the required ultraviolet Radiation can radiate precisely onto the relatively limited area where the sealant is applied. Since the sealant is sensitive to ultraviolet radiation, it is necessary to limit this light from a suitable source to the Surface area, and this requirement has raised problems with keeping parts cool as well as the To limit radiation to a desired range of wavelengths.

Furthermore, it is of course extremely desirable to have a device that can be conveniently handled by a dentist, for example in such a way that the desired treatment is quick and expedient with a minimum of discomfort for the patient as can also be carried out for the operator of the device.

Furthermore, it is highly desirable to keep the cost of the device low enough to allow the possibility that the Device finds widespread use.

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Accordingly, the present invention seeks to provide an apparatus which satisfies the above needs.

Thus, according to the present invention, a relatively simple, inexpensive device is to be created that the operator can comfortably hold with one hand and with which at the same time an ultraviolet radiation of a selected wavelength range exactly on a relatively limited area in a delimited space, such as the area of the molars inside a human mouth.

The present invention further aims to provide an apparatus of the above Specify type that reliably remains in a relatively cool state while taking safety precautions which prevent the device from overheating.

The present invention further seeks apparatus of the above Art, which is relatively light in weight and housed in a relatively small space while at the same time it can produce the power required to be the source of the ultraviolet To feed radiation.

Furthermore, a device "should be provided with which the operator can control the radiation of the ultraviolet radiation very precisely.

According to the invention, the device comprises a handle which the operator can hold in his hand and a holder, which is carried by the handle. This bracket carries a source of ultraviolet light. A light directing device is carried by the holder and extending from the light source beyond the holder device, wherein the light directing device ends in an elongated free end portion which can be inserted into the mouth. This light directing device serves to direct the ultraviolet light from the light source onto the surface that will absorb the ultraviolet energy

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target. A manually operated control device is held by the holder in the area of the handle so that it is for the hand of the operator holding the handle is accessible. This control device works with the light directing device together to control the passage of ultraviolet radiation therethrough.

In the following the invention will be described in more detail with reference to one in the drawing illustrated preferred embodiment are explained. In the drawing shows:

1 shows a simplified perspective illustration of an embodiment of a device designed according to the invention, the device being shown in Figure 1 in the position it occupies when not in use;

Pig · 2 explains how the hand-held part of the device lifted off the base when the device is in use;

3 shows a longitudinal section through the hand-held part of the device;

Pig. Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of the optical components of the device;

Pig. Figure 5 is a partial sectional view taken along line 5-5 in Figure 3> seen in the direction of the arrows, the manually operable control device of the device being shown in this view is;

Pig. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 in Pig. 3, seen in the direction of the arrows, this sectional view in FIG larger detail shows the way in which the components, especially the optical components, in which by hand held part of the device are arranged;

Pig. Figure 7 is a cross section taken along line 7-7 in Pig. 1, seen in the direction of the arrows, this cross section showing details of the basic arrangement and the hand-held one lying on it Part shows taking from this Pig. 7 in particular the type is visible in which cooling air is supplied and wherein at the same time Parts of the energy supply device are shown;

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Pig. 8 is a circuit diagram.

Like first from Pig. 3 includes that according to the invention trained device a hand-held part 10. This part 10 contains a handle 12 that the operator in a similar way to holding the handle of a pistol. Like from Pig. 3 it shows owns the entire The hand-held arrangement shown here takes the general shape of a pistol and, in fact, the whole can be made in Pig. The arrangement shown can be regarded as a gun for irradiating ultraviolet light.

The handle 12 carries a holder 14 in the form of a hollow Housing. In this way, these components 12 and 14 can be molded integrally from a suitable plastic. For example, the handle 12 and housing 14 may initially be in the form of two hollow halves that are put together so that the interior of the handle 12 and the interior of the housing 14 are formed, these interiors directly with one another stay in contact. The right end of the housing 14 is closed by a suitable closure element 16, such as it in Pig. 3 is shown. At the left end is the housing 14, as it is from Pig. 3 can be seen through a cap assembly 18 completed, which is made of two plastic closure halves that are connected to the left end of the housing 14 and which close this left end and which cooperate to form an elongated tubular connecting member 20 is formed which is threaded on its outside. The threaded tubular part 20 is at its right end with the interior of the housing 14 in connection. This part 20 carries several from one piece herewith formed elongated gripping jaws 22, which resiliently against the axis of the tubular part 20 to and from this axis can be moved away and which are arranged distributed around the axis that an arrangement is formed which is similar to the Jaw a chuck is.

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The two plastic elements that form the shutter 18 "are held together by a plastic ring 24 which may have a kind of bayonet connection with the parts that make up the closure 18 ". The threaded tubular portion 20 takes an internally threaded one Gripping member 26 which is screwed onto the tubular part 20 and which has an inner tapered surface which cooperates with the jaws 22 so that this are pressed inwardly so that they releasably grip an elongated rod 28 which is part of the Light directing device formed according to the invention Device forms.

The elongated rod 28 forms part of the elongated light directing device and is designed in the form of a quartz rod, which forms a light guide to guide the ultraviolet light inside the rod 28 so that it is at the end 30 of the Rod can emerge. The left end of the rod 28 can be bent as shown in Fig. 3, but one can remove one rod 28 by removing the gripping nut 26 of the chuck and replace it with another rod. on in this way, any variously shaped rods 28 can be used in the device. These rods can be of various lengths have and they can have free ends with different curvatures and also with different lengths, so that it is easy to use a wand 28 that is particularly suitable for a given patient and for a given purpose is.

When the two plastic elements that form the closure 18, and the tubular part 20 are assembled taking them into an internal groove at the right end of the lock 18 is formed, as shown in Fig. 3, a filter 32, and it can be seen that the right end of the rod 28 is in the immediate vicinity of the filter 32. The elements of the arrangement 18 are thus held together by the ring 24, while the rod 28 is held by the gripping nut 26, the the jaws 22 of the chuck against the outside of the rod 28

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presses.

The light transmitted through the interior of the rod 28 is obtained from a source 34 of ultraviolet light. This exists from a conventional source of ultraviolet light that is turned on when a circuit in which it is located is closed. The source 34 for ultraviolet light is connected to a voltage supply via suitable lines 36 in FIG Connected way, as will be described in detail below.

The ultraviolet light source 34 generates light over a range of wavelengths including shorter wavelengths that are undesirable. Thus, for the particular application of curing an adhesive sealant in the mouth of a patient, as described above, wavelengths below 3200 Å are undesirable. The properties of the filter 32 are chosen so that it absorbs these unwanted wavelengths so that the light directing means transmits at least 60 i "of the radiation at 3600 A and longer wavelengths and at least 90% of the

ο wavelengths in the band from 5000 to 6000 A absorbed.

Between the source 34 and the rod 28 comprises the light directing means a condenser in the form of an elongated cylindrical body 38, which can also be made of quartz can. This condenser 38 thus receives the light directly from the light source 34 and forwards it to the rod 28. Naturally Components 28 and 30 can be used instead of a filter, which have such properties that they the undesired Absorb wavelengths, but the filter 32 is preferably used for the sake of simplicity and low cost.

A gap 40 is created between the filter 32 and the condenser 38 educated. A manually operable, designed according to the invention control device 42 operates in the gap 40 to the To control light transmission. The manually operated control device 42 comprises a pivotable trigger member 44 »that for the Hand holding the handle 12 is accessible. This trigger

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member 44 is formed in the form of an elongated plate made of any suitable plastic, wherein This plastic consists of the same material as the material used for the housing 14 and for the arrangement 18 and elements 24 and 26 and closure cap 16 are used. The pivotable Irigger member 44 is on a relative short shaft 46 which is journalled in a bearing 48 which passes through the assembled halves of the housing 14 is formed. Above the bearing 48, the shaft 46 is attached to an elongated lever 50 which, at its left end, like it in Pig. 3 is shown, the substantially L-shaped Light blocking element 52 carries. This element 52 can, for example, be made of a suitable metal, and it is opaque so that light cannot pass through this element. The locking element 52 is inserted into the gap 40 pivoted to block the passage of light and it is pivoted out of the gap 40 to block the passage of light from the Condenser 38 to filter 32 and rod 28 again.

As best seen from Pig. 5, the lower wall of the housing 14 carries two lateral ribs 54 which extend down below the lever 50. The lever 50 has on its underside a protruding stop 56 which is arranged between the free ends of the transverse ribs 54. In this way, the lever 50 can be switched between the solid lines and the dashed lines in Pig. 5 are pivoted position shown. In the position shown in dashed lines, the light blocking element 52 is located outside the gap 40, so that the light is not blocked, while the light blocking element of the manually operated control device 42 in the Pig. 5 is in the gap shown in solid lines position, so that a transmission of the radiation from the condenser 38 to the pilter 32 is prevented. The inner free ends of the ribs 54, which form the gap which receives the projection 56, thus form stops which limit the pivoting of the lever 50 by the trigger element 44. To the right of shaft _A 4; 6 _i ^ seen in 'Pig. 5, owns the lever

50 a substantially pointed free end portion 58 which lenient under friction against an elongated, curved spring 60 presses. The spring element 60 is generally U-shaped and has two inwardly extending tabs 62, which are provided with openings for receiving fastening screws 64. These screws 64 are used to attach the spring 60 the lower surface of an inner mounting assembly 66 disposed in the housing 14.

The mounting assembly 66 has an elongated wall 68 that extends inside the housing 14 adjacent a wall 70 of the housing extends in the longitudinal direction. The wall 70 of the housing 14 has a plurality of sprues formed from one piece therewith 72 formed in one piece with the housing, and one of these sprues is shown in FIG. Suitable Bolts 74 extend through openings in wall 68 into threaded bores of sprues 72 to provide attachment inclination arrangement 66 to hold inside the housing 14. The mounting assembly 66 includes components 76 to support the condenser 38 to keep. The fastening arrangement 66 also has a base 78 for the light source 34. The inner fastening arrangement 66 can be made of aluminum and basically forms an inner housing around the light source 34 and the inner end of the condenser 38 to enclose. The parts that make up the mounting assembly 66 are held together by a nut 80 which sits on a screw 82 which is fastened so that it protrudes from the wall 68. This screw 82 is passed through an opening in a cover 84 through the Nut 80 is held in the assembled state with the other parts, and this screw serves to hold all of the components of the fastening assembly 66 to hold together.

Fig. 6 shows the locking element 52. It is in Fig. 6 in solid lines Lines shown in its locking position and in dashed lines in its Ficht locking position. The lines 36 are passed through a suitable opening in the cover 84 of the fastening arrangement 66.

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It can also be seen that the lower wall of the mounting assembly 66 carries an elongated shaft 86 which protrudes into the hollow shaft 46. The components of the fastening arrangement 66 can be made of aluminum or some other metal that has good thermal conductivity.

The trigger element 44 can be made in one piece with the hollow shaft and the lever 50 may be formed so that it is attached to the shaft part not only through the outer bearing 48 »but also internally through the shaft 86 which is threaded into a Bore is screwed, which is formed in the lower wall of the inner housing, the mounting assembly 66 and which is held in place by an adjusting nut 88.

The wall 70 of the housing 14, like the opposite wall 90 (Pig. 7), is provided with elongated openings 92 which extend in the longitudinal direction of the housing 14 over substantially more than half the length of the entire housing 14, so that cooling air can flow transversely through the interior of the housing 14 through these openings.

Appropriate ribs inside the handle 12 and housing 14 hold a thermally responsive switch 94. This Switch 94 is directly connected to the interior of the housing 14 at the transition between this housing and the handle 12. This switch 94 is of a known construction, the switch responding when a given Temperature is reached to automatically assume an open state while the switch is below this temperature in remains in its normally closed state. The lines 36 from the light source 34 are led to a plug 96, which receives the connector pins of a second connector 98. These plugs are suitably fastened inside the handle 12. The lines 100a and 100b of the connector 98 provided with connector pins are to the switch 94 and to the voltage supply cable, respectively 102 led. This cable contains a conductor 100c which is led directly to the switch 94. A third leader

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10Od the voltage supply line 102 forms for safety reasons an earth conductor. In this way, the thermally responsive switch 94 is connected in series with the light source 34, so that it is automatically cleared when the temperature in the housing 14 rises to a predetermined value.

The power supply cable 102 is led out of the handle 12 at the lower end of the handle 12, like it in Pig. 3 is shown, and this cable is connected to a suitable voltage source, which is described below shall be.

From Fig. 1 it can be seen that the hand-held part 10 of the device constructed according to the invention, when this part is not used, rests on a base or lower part 104. When the device is to be used, the one in hand becomes too holding part 10 removed from the lower part 104, as shown in FIG. A recess 106 is thus shown in FIG. 2 can be seen that the housing 14 receives. This recess 106 comprises a wall part 108 of the base or lower part 104, and Elongated openings 110 are formed in this wall part itself.

As can be clearly seen from FIG. 7, the elongated openings 110 of the recess 106 with the openings 92 of the wall 70 aligned. A blower or fan 112, which is driven by a motor 114, is arranged in the hollow base part 104 will. The motor 114 along with the blower or fan 112 is in any suitable manner in the hollow Base 104 arranged so that cooling air goes up through the openings 110 and then through the interior of the housing 14 through the openings 92. That way, the entire, from Hand-held part are effectively cooled while it rests on the base part 104.

The base part 104 thus itself has the shape of a hollow housing, and it houses various components of the voltage supply arrangement in its interior. The tension can be

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Entire device are fed through a cable 116, the one may have a suitable plug which can be plugged into any suitable wall outlet, for example. I'm left out Part 118 of the base has a connector pin provided element, so that this element can receive a cooperating plug element 120 that is connected to the free end of the voltage supply cable 102 is arranged.

The hollow base 104 also has a raised wall portion 122 which is provided with openings 124 through which cooling air can enter so that it flows over the motor 114 and is discharged upwards through the openings 110 by the fan 112. The base member 104 includes a circumferential side wall to which the top wall is attached, the 10 of the unit carrying the part as well as the connector, which receives the member 120 _β is the part 122 is formed with the openings 124 in this upper wall. Also attached to the peripheral wall is a bottom wall 126 (Figure 7) which carries suitable feet 128 which may be provided with pads 130 so that there is sufficient clearance so that the cable 116 can extend under the base 104 .

The electrical circuit of the device constructed in accordance with the invention is in Pig. 8, in which the base part 104 is shown schematically as a unit, in the interior of which the voltage supply arrangement can be accommodated while the hand-held part 10 is shown schematically as a second unit containing the electrical components this part of the device carries. The elements in Pig. 8, which correspond to those elements already described above are denoted by the same reference numerals. The power supply cable 116 has a conductor 100d that is grounded as described above. The conductors 100b and 100c are connected to a transformer 132 which is arranged in the interior of the base part 104. This transformer owns different taps, which by a voltage tap / echsler 134 elected. One of the conductors of the feeder cable 116 is equipped with a fuse 136 in series with

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a main switch 138 is located, which must be depressed, so that it is switched on, and which in turn must be depressed so that it is switched off in the known manner. Of the Circuitry also includes an indicator light 140 which, when illuminated, indicates that the device is on. The switch 138 may be attached to the front portion of the base 104, as shown in the Pig. 1 and 2 is shown, and a depressible element of the switch can be transparent so that it illuminates when the lamp 140 is illuminated.

In this way it is relatively simple with the one described above Arrangement possible in a precisely controlled manner ultraviolet radiation on a limited area in a demarcated Room to judge. The quartz rod 28 can easily be inserted into the patient's mouth, so that the end regions 30 Radiation exiting the rod can provide the necessary ultraviolet radiation for the desired area.

To operate the device, the operator simply closes switch 138. This puts motor 114 in continuous operation is set and the lamp 34 is illuminated at the same time. The transmission of ultraviolet light becomes easy by the operation the manually operable device 42 is locked or unlocked. The part that can be hand-held becomes effectively cooled while it rests on the base 104, but it is also cooled during operation because the air can freely flow through the openings 92 even when the portion 10 is removed from the base portion 104. It should it can be determined that when the switch 94 opens, the extinction of the lamp 34 results in rapid cooling, so that switch 94 quickly closes again to re-establish the circuit. The part 10 is very light and easy to use handle and can be guided by the operator with one hand and press v / earth. The base part 104 is also relatively small and can easily be attached to the surface of a suitable table, adapted to a shelf or the like.

Due to the simple structure and the "reliability, with dor

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the device works, almost no maintenance work needs to be carried out, but when parts or the like are replaced are to be, the assembly itself can be quickly disassembled and reassembled, so that such Replacement of parts can be done very quickly.

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Claims (19)

Claims ./Device for irradiating a limited area in a delimited Space, such as the inside of a human mouth, is labeled with ultraviolet radiation by a handle (12) that an operator of the Device (10) can hold in hand through a holder (14) »carried by the handle, through a source (34) for ultraviolet light, which is held by the holder, by an elongated light directing device (28), which is carried by the bracket and which extends from the light source beyond the bracket so that it is insertable into the delimited space to irradiate ultraviolet light on the delimited area, and through from Hand-operated control devices (42) which are held by the holder and are arranged in the area of the handle are so that they are operable by the operator to the passage of light through the light directing device steer. 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized z e Ine t that the light-directing device (28) with the Light source (34) cooperates so that only light in a selected wavelength range is transmitted. 3. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that that the light-directing device interacts with the light source in such a way that it is relatively short Wavelengths are absorbed while longer wavelengths be let through. 4. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the light-directing device (28) cooperates with the light source (34) in such a way that short Wavelengths below 3200 A are absorbed while at least 60 $> of radiation at 3600 A as well 209839/0656 longer wavelengths are allowed to pass through. 5. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the light-directing device (28) has an elongated light directing rod (28) which forms a light guide "to guide light inside of the rod and the light to emerge at the free end (30) of the rod at a distance from the holder (14) permit. 6. Apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that that the rod (28) is made of quartz. 7. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the light-directing device a! filter (32) which is arranged at one end of the rod facing the light source (34), in order to allow only light within a selected wavelength range to pass through this rod. 8. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a condenser (38) forms part of the lighting device and is adjacent is arranged on the light source between this and the rod (28). 9. Apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that that the condenser (38) is made of quartz. 10. Apparatus according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that that the condenser (38) and the rod (28) are arranged at a distance from one another, so that the light passes through a gap (40) between the condenser and the rod of the light directing device, and that the light control device (42) includes a light blocking member (52) movable into the gap to provide light slack to the To prevent rod, and movable out of this gap 209839/0656 is to transmit light from the condenser to the rod. 11. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the light control device (42) comprises a pivotable trigger member (44), which is in operative connection with the Mcht blocking element (52), in order to pivot the latter in and out of the gap (40). 12. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the holder (14) comprises a housing in which openings (92) are formed through which cooling air can flow to the interior of the housing to cool, and that the light source (34) as well as part of the light directing device (28) and part of the light control device (42) are arranged in the housing of the holder so that they can be cooled by air passing through the openings the housing flows. 13 · Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an electrical Device is carried by the holder and is in operative connection with the light source to this of a To feed voltage source from, and that this electrical device a safety switch (94) to automatically open the circuit to this light source when a given temperature is reached in the area of the safety switch, the safety switch being arranged in a room whose temperature corresponds to the temperature inside the housing. 14. Apparatus according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that that a base (104) supports the housing and the parts carried by it when the device is not is used. 15. The device according to claim 14, characterized 2 09839/0656 indicates that the base (104) has a power supply contains to supply energy to the light source. 16. The device according to claim 14 or 15 »characterized in that that the base part (104) has a wall (106) which is provided with openings (110) which are in communication with the openings (92) of the housing (10) when this housing rests on the base part, so that cooling air through the openings of this wall part of the base part and through the openings of the housing can flow to the To cool inside of the case. 17. The device according to claim 16, characterized in that that in the base part (104) on the side of the wall opposite the housing, a fan (112) is arranged is to blow cooling air through the openings of this wall (110) and the openings (92) of the housing to the interior to cool the housing. 18. Device according to one of claims 11 to 17 »d a through characterized in that a pivotable lever (50) carries the light blocking member (52) and with the Trigger member (44) is connected so that it is pivotable with this that the lever has a free, substantially has tapered end portion (58) which ends in a point, and that with this point a spring (66) in frictional engagement stands while the lever with the trigger link is pivoted, 19. Device according to one of claims 2 to 18, characterized in that the light directors cooperate with the light source in order to further absorb at least 90 % of the wavelengths in the 5000 to 6000 A band. 209839/0656 Blank page