Dental light devices having an improved heat sink

Abstract

The present invention relates to a heat sink material that can more efficiently remove or divert heat from a light source or sources with a given weight of heat sink material when compared to a heat sink made of a solid block of thermally conductive material such as metal. It further relates to a heat sink that can more efficiently remove or divert heat from a curing light device when a reduced weight of heat sink material is used. The inventive heat sink has at least one suitable phase change material including organic materials, inorganic materials and combinations thereof. These materials can undergo substantially reversible phase changes, and can typically go through a large, if not an infinite number of cycles without losing their effectiveness.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates to any device suitable for photocuring, or photobleaching in general. Particularly, it relates a photocuring, or photobleaching device suitable for curing dental composites or acting on a whitening gel, respectively, having an improved heat sink.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Composite resin fillings have become the standard for filling cavities in dentistry today. These composite fillings use resins that must be cured after application. Handheld curing lights have been extensively used for this curing purpose. The lights can be held in close proximity to the composite resin materials residing in patients' mouths. The exposure times required for curing the composite materials depend on the types of composite resins used. Thus, the lighter the handhelds, the easier it is for the dental professionals who have to hold such devices in place to effect curing.[0003]At the same time teeth bleaching is also routinely done by dental...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008]The present invention relates to a heat sink material that can more efficiently remove or divert heat from a light source or sources with a given weight of heat sink material when compare to a heat sink made of a solid block of thermally conductive material such as metal.

[0009]The present invention further relates to a heat sink that can more efficiently remove or divert heat from a curing light device when a reduced weight of heat sink material is used.

[0010]The present invention includes a heat sink having at least one suitable phase change material including organic materials, inorganic materials and combinations thereof. These materials can undergo substantially reversible phase changes, and can typically go through a large, if not an infinite number of cycles without losing their effectiveness.

Problems solved by technology

Heat generated by any curing lights during operation can be problematic.

This same kind of problem is also encountered in photobleaching lights.

Blocks of metal can be efficient, but they can also add significant weight to any hand held curing light.

The added weight can in turn contribute to increased fatigue of the dental professional using the curing light.

When a fan is also used in the same curing light, it adds additional weight, can be noisy and can contribute to reduced battery life and reliability of the device.

The noise also adds to the anxiety of the patients who are often reluctant and fearful of dental procedures.

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