Patents by Inventor Joseph W. Shaffer

Joseph W. Shaffer has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 5324200
    Abstract: A dental laser assembly is disclosed for use in eradicating carious lesions in teeth, the treatment of sensitive teeth, as well as the removal of soft tissue, the incising of the frenum, opurculum, anestesia of the tooth, etching enamel for restorations or orthodontic appliance fixation, the welding of fixed prosthesis, removal of bacterial flora periodontal pockets, removal and/or vaporization of healthy or necrotic pulp, the vertical and/or horizontal condensation of gutta percha or any other root canal sealant, the cauterization of blood vessels in the oral cavity, vaporizing bone tissue, removing tartar, apical fusion of foramina, enlarging and shaping root canal, removing carbon from surface of teeth, removal of enamel, bleaching teeth, etching dentin, separating orthodontic brackets, merging hydroxyapatite to bone and enamel, amalgam removal and undercutting of carious and/or healthy dentin and/or cementum. The laser assembly includes a housing having a cavity in which a pulsed laser in contained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 28, 1994
    Assignee: American Dental Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Arthur Vassiliadis, Joseph W. Shaffer, David J. Fullmer, Michael H. Brewer, David R. Hennings, Terry D. Myers
  • Patent number: 5310344
    Abstract: A dental laser system is disclosed having an erbium doped YAG laser which is excited so that the YAG laser produces a plurality of laser pulses. A novel delivery system for the YAG laser is disclosed which includes an elongated sapphire strand which consists of a single crystal. The sapphire strand has a diameter between 10 and 1000 microns so that it maintains its flexibility and the sapphire strand is encased within a flexible protective coating. The sapphire strand is also essentially devoid of water content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1994
    Inventors: Arthur Vassiliadis, Joseph W. Shaffer, David J. Fullmer, Michael H. Brewer, David R. Hennings, Terry D. Myers, William D. Myers
  • Patent number: 5275564
    Abstract: A dental laser assembly is disclosed for use in eradicating carious lesions in teeth, the treatment of sensitive teeth, as well as the removal of soft tissue, the incising of the frenum, opurculum, anesthesia of the tooth, etching enamel for restorations or orthodontic appliance fixation, the welding of fixed prosthesis, removal of bacterial flora periodontal pockets, removal and/or vaporization of healthy or necrotic pulp, the vertical and/or horizontal condensation of gutta percha or any other root canal sealant, the cauterization of blood vessels in the oral cavity, vaporizing bone tissue, removing tartar, apical fusion of foramina, enlarging and shaping root canal, removing carbon from surface of teeth, removal of enamel, bleaching teeth, etching dentin, separating orthodontic brackets, merging hydroxyapatite to bone and enamel, amalgam removal and undercutting of carious and/or healthy dentin and/or cementum. The laser assembly includes a housing having a cavity in which a pulsed laser is contained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 4, 1994
    Assignee: American Dental Laser, Inc.
    Inventors: Arthur Vassiliadis, Joseph W. Shaffer, David J. Fullmer, Michael H. Brewer, David R. Hennings, Terry D. Myers
  • Patent number: 5232367
    Abstract: A dental laser assembly is disclosed for use in eradicating carious lesions in teeth, the treatment of sensitive teeth, as well as the removal of soft tissue, the incising of the frenum, opurculum, anesthesia of the tooth, etching enamel for restorations or orthodontic appliance fixation, the welding of fixed prosthesis, removal of bacterial flora periodontal pockets, removal and/or vaporization of healthy or necrotic pulp, the vertical and/or horizontal condensation of gutta percha or any other root canal sealant, the cauterization of blood vessels in the oral cavity, vaporizing bone tissue, removing tartar, apical fusion of foramina, enlarging and shaping root canal, removing carbon from surface of teeth, removal of enamel, bleaching teeth, etching dentin, separating orthodontic brackets, merging hydroxyapatite to bone and enamel, amalgam removal and undercutting of carious and/or healthy dentin and/or cementum. The laser assembly includes a housing having a cavity in which a pulsed laser is contained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1993
    Assignee: American Dental Laser, Inc.
    Inventors: Arthur Vassiliadis, Joseph W. Shaffer, David J. Fullmer, Michael H. Brewer, David R. Hennings, Terry D. Myers
  • Patent number: 5207576
    Abstract: A dental laser assembly having a housing with a first and second laser cavity. The housing also includes an optical output port and a dental optical delivery system optically connected to the port. A first laser is contained within a first laser cavity which, when activated, generates a first laser beam while, similarly, a second laser is contained within a second laser cavity which, when activated, generates a second laser beam. Only one laser, however, is activated at a given time and the output beam from the activated laser is directed to the optical output port in the housing for use in dental applications. The first laser has optical qualities sufficient to perform a first set of dental procedures while the second laser has optical qualities sufficient to perform a second and different set of dental procedures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1993
    Assignee: American Dental Laser, Inc.
    Inventors: Arthur Vassiliadis, David R. Hennings, Joseph W. Shaffer, Terry D. Myers
  • Patent number: 5180304
    Abstract: A dental laser assembly is disclosed for use in eradicating carious lesions in teeth, the treatment of sensitive teeth, as well as the removal of soft tissue, the incising of the frenum, opurculum, anesthesia of the tooth, etching enamel for restorations or orthodontic appliance fixation, the welding of fixed prosthesis, removal of bacterial flora periodontal pockets, removal and/or vaporization of healthy or necrotic pulp, the vertical and/or horizontal condensation of gutta percha or any other root canal sealant, the cauterization of blood vessels in the oral cavity, vaporizing bone tissue, removing tartar, apical fusion of foramina, enlarging and shaping root canal, removing carbon from surface of teeth, removal of enamel, bleaching teeth, etching dentin, separating orthodontic brackets, merging hydroxyapatite to bone and enamel, amalgam removal and undercutting of carious and/or healthy dentin and/or cementum. The laser assembly includes a housing having a cavity in which a pulsed laser is contained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1993
    Assignee: American Dental Laser, Inc.
    Inventors: Arthur Vassiliadis, Joseph W. Shaffer, David J. Fullmer, Michael H. Brewer, David R. Hennings, Terry D. Myers
  • Patent number: 5123845
    Abstract: A dental laser assembly is disclosed for use in eradicating carious lesions in teeth, the treatment of sensitive teeth, as well as the removal of soft tissue, the incising of the frenum, opurculum, anesthesia of the tooth, etching enamel for restorations or orthodontic appliance fixation, the welding of fixed prosthesis, removal of bacterial flora periodontal pockets, removal and/or vaporization of healthy or necrotic pulp, the vertical and/or horizontal condensation of gutta percha or any other root canal sealant, the cauterization of blood vessels in the oral cavity, vaporizing bone tissue, removing tartar, apical fusion of foramina, enlarging and shaping root canal, removing carbon from surface of teeth, removal of enamel, bleaching teeth, etching dentin, separating orthodontic brackets, merging hydroxyapatite to bone and enamel, amalgam removal and undercutting of carious and/or healthy dentin and/or cementum. The laser assembly includes a housing having a cavity in which a pulsed laser is contained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1992
    Assignee: American Dental Laser, Inc.
    Inventors: Arthur Vassiliadis, Joseph W. Shaffer, David J. Fullmer, Michael H. Brewer, David R. Hennings, Terry D. Myers
  • Patent number: 5122060
    Abstract: A dental laser assembly is disclosed for use in eradicating carious lesions in teeth, the treatment of sensitive teeth, as well as the removal of soft tissue, the incising of the frenum, opurculum, anesthesia of the tooth, etching enamel for restorations or orthodontic appliance fixation, the welding of fixed prosthesis, removal of bacterial flora periodontal pockets, removal and/or vaporization of healthy or necrotic pulp, the vertical and/or horizontal condensation of gutta percha or any other root canal sealant, the cauterization of blood vessels in the oral cavity, vaporizing bone tissue, removing tartar, apical fusion of foramina, enlarging and shaping root canal, removing carbon from surface of teeth, removal of enamel, bleaching teeth, etching dentin, separating orthodontic brackets, merging hydroxyapatite to bone and enamel, amalgam removal and undercutting of carious and/or healthy dentin and/or cementum. The laser assembly includes a housing having a cavity in which a pulsed laser is contained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1992
    Assignee: American Dental Laser, Inc.
    Inventors: Arthur Vassiliadis, Joseph W. Shaffer, David J. Fullmer, Michael H. Brewer, David R. Hennings, Terry D. Myers
  • Patent number: 5055048
    Abstract: A dental laser assembly is disclosed for use in eradicating carious lesions in teeth, the treatment of sensitive teeth, as well as the removal of soft tissue, the incising of the frenum, opurculum, anesthesia of the tooth, etching enamel for restorations or orthodontic appliance fixation, the welding of fixed prosthesis, removal of bacterial flora periodontal pockets, removal and/or vaporization of healthy or necrotic pulp, the vertical and/or horizontal condensation of gutta percha or any other root canal sealant, the cauterization of blood vessels in the oral cavity, vaporizing bone tissue, removing tartar, apical fusion of foramina, enlarging and shaping root canal, removing carbon from surface of teeth, removal of enamel, bleaching teeth, etching dentin, separating orthodontic brackets, merging hydroxyapatite to bone and enamel, amalgam removal and undercutting of carious and/or healthy dentin and/or camentum. The laser assembly includes a housing having a cavity in which a pulsed laser is contained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1991
    Assignee: American Dental Laser, Inc.
    Inventors: Arthur Vassiliadis, Joseph W. Shaffer, David J. Fullmer, Michael H. Brewer, David R. Hennings, Terry D. Myers
  • Patent number: 4940411
    Abstract: A dental laser assembly is disclosed for use in eradicating carious lesions in teeth, the treatment of sensitive teeth, as well as the removal of soft tissue. The laser assembly includes a housing having a cavity in which a pulsed laser is contained. The laser is excited so that the laser emits a laser beam along a predetermined axis that is in line with a fiber optic delivery system and at a pulse rate of one to 10,000 pulses per second and an average power variable from zero to 50 watts. A handpiece is dimensioned to be inserted into a human mouth while an optical fiber optically connects the laser output to the handpiece. The laser assembly also includes a continuous output aiming laser which, upon activation, provides a continuous laser aiming beam coaxial to the treatment beam. Both beams are then introduced into a fiber optic delivery system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 10, 1990
    Assignee: American Dental Laser, Inc.
    Inventors: Arthur Vassiliadis, Joseph W. Shaffer, David J. Fullmer, Michael H. Brewer, David R. Hennings, Terry D. Myers