Abstract: A dental illumination apparatus includes a lamp system mounted on a support structure. The lamp system includes a light source. A control system is provided for controlling the activation of the lamp system. A light guide shields soft tissues local to teeth of a subject from effects of ultraviolet radiation. The light guide includes a lamp attachment formation coupled to the lamp system, and a recording device in communication with the control system, the recording device including memory which stores the amount of time that the light source has been on since the beginning of a treatment procedure. A lip retractor, coupled to the light guide, is adapted to receive the lips of a patient.

Abstract: The present invention relates to multi-compartment devices having a pre-applied dispensing element. The device is adapted for dispensing multi-component compositions that are kept separate prior to use. Supplying a pre-applied dispensing element facilitates and simplifies the dispensing operation during use and reduces the chance of misuse due to improper application of the mixing element, loss and/or damage of the component.

Abstract: A respirator mask and a method of making the respirator mask that includes a lens member and a plurality of buckle members spaced around the lens member. A flange member is overmolded to the lens member and to the spaced buckle members at the same time by the following method. A mold member is provided to have individual mold supports to individually receive and support the lens member and to individually receive and support the buckle members at the spaced positions around the lens member. The mold member forms a flange cavity around the lens member and extending to the buckle members. The lens member is positioned within its individual mold support and the buckle members are positioned within their individual mold supports at the spaced positions around the lens member. The molding material is then injected into the flange cavity to form a flange that overmolds to the lens member while at the same time overmolds to the buckle members to form the respirator mask.

Abstract: A dental illumination apparatus includes a lamp system mounted on a support structure. The lamp system includes a light source. A control system is provided for controlling the activation of the lamp system. A light guide shields soft tissues local to teeth of a subject from effects of ultraviolet radiation. The light guide includes a lamp attachment formation coupled to the lamp system, and a recording device in communication with the control system, the recording device including memory which stores the amount of time that the light source has been on since the beginning of a treatment procedure. A lip retractor, coupled to the light guide, is adapted to receive the lips of a patient.

Abstract: A dental illumination system includes an adjustable self-supporting frame and a lamp head coupled to the frame. The lamp head includes a housing and a spacer having formations that is adapted to removably mechanically couple the lamp head to a reference device, again having formations, for facilitating illumination of a tooth by a light source contained within the lamp head. The spacer and lamp head may be formed integrally. If formed separately, both the lamp head and the spacer may include formations.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a light guide for a lamp for dentistry procedures. The light guide provides an optical channel between a light source and a dental substrate. The light guide may be a one-patient use light guide including a recording medium to record the time used. The light guide further provides protection for a patient's soft tissues during treatment.

Abstract: A respirator mask and a method of making the respirator mask that includes a lens member and a plurality of buckle members spaced around the lens member. A flange member is overmolded to the lens member and to the spaced buckle members at the same time by the following method. A mold member is provided to have individual mold supports to individually receive and support the lens member and to individually receive and support the buckle members at the spaced positions around the lens member. The mold member forms a flange cavity around the lens member and extending to the buckle members. The lens member is positioned within its individual mold support and the buckle members are positioned within their individual mold supports at the spaced positions around the lens member. The molding material is then injected into the flange cavity to form a flange that overmolds to the lens member while at the same time overmolds to the buckle members to form the respirator mask.

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.

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 compare 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.

Abstract: An ultrasonic dental insert having at least one light source. A first transducer generates ultrasonic vibrations. A connecting body has a proximal end and a distal end having a tip attached thereto. The proximal end is attached to the first transducer so as to receive the ultrasonic vibrations therefrom and to transmit the ultrasonic vibrations toward the tip attached to the distal end. A second transducer is disposed substantially proximate to the connecting body for generating a voltage signal in response to movement of a portion of the connecting body according to the ultrasonic vibrations. A magnetic material including a source of a magnetic field is present in close proximity to the insert. At least one light source substantially proximate or distal to the tip is connected to and receives the voltage signal from the second transducer to generate light.

Abstract: The present invention relates to multi-compartment devices having a pre-applied dispensing element. The device is adapted for dispensing multi-component compositions that are kept separate prior to use. Supplying a pre-applied dispensing element facilitates and simplifies the dispensing operation during use and reduces the chance of misuse due to improper application of the mixing element, loss and/or damage of the component.

Abstract: A dental illumination system includes an adjustable self-supporting frame and a lamp head coupled to the frame. The lamp head includes a housing and a spacer having formations that is adapted to removably mechanically couple the lamp head to a reference device, again having formations, for facilitating illumination of a tooth by a light source contained within the lamp head. The spacer and lamp head may be formed integrally. If formed separately, both the lamp head and the spacer may include formations.

Abstract: A dental lamp includes a control system adapted to control operation of a light source within the dental lamp. The control system requires that an unexpended light guide including a recordable medium be coupled to a lamp head of the dental lamp, in order to illuminate the light source. The control system records a first data signal on the recordable medium during illumination of the light source indicating that the light guide has been expended. The control system also records a second data signal onto a second recordable medium so that a particular duration of use of the light source may be indicated.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a curing light suitable for curing light curable dental composite materials. The curing light device has a light module housing having at least one heat sink located therein. The heat sink has at least two mounting platforms arranged in different geometric arrangements. More than two light sources may be used, emitting at least two different wavelengths. The curing light includes at least one heat sink having various geometric shapes, which facilitate the arrangement of the light sources in the curing light and minimizing the concentration.