Patents Assigned to Kerr
  • Publication number: 20150320530
    Abstract: A curing light device includes a body with a tip portion that has a plurality of elements for providing electrical energy to the distal end of the tip and for removing heat from the distal end of the tip. A light engine includes at least one light emitting element operable for emitting light and is positioned on the distal end of the tip portion. A power supply is positioned in the body and is rechargeable and includes at least one ultracapacitor element. Spring electrical contacts are positioned in the body and electrically coupled with the ultracapacitor element. The spring electrical contacts are spaced along the length of the body and configured for electrically engaging the tip portion along its length for delivering power to the light engine and for provide a spring alignment of the tip portion in the body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2015
    Publication date: November 12, 2015
    Applicant: Kerr Corporation
    Inventors: Owen J. Gill, Ruth Barry, Stacy Lee Wyatt, Gopikrishnan Soundararajan
  • Publication number: 20150297328
    Abstract: A curing light device for curing a compound includes a housing and a tip structure configured to be removably coupled with the housing. A light emitting device operable for emitting light in a wavelength range suitable for curing a light curable compound is positioned at the distal end of the tip structure. Electrical components are positioned at the proximal end of the tip structure and coupled with the at least one light emitting device and are configured for engaging complementary electrical components positioned in the housing for providing power to the light emitting device. A portion of the tip structure extends beyond the proximal end of the tip structure and is configured to be received by a feature in the housing for physically aligning the tip structure in the housing and for aligning the electrical components. A power supply circuit is rechargeable and includes an ultracapacitor element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2015
    Publication date: October 22, 2015
    Applicant: KERR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Owen Gill
  • Patent number: 9103815
    Abstract: An apparatus (100) for testing electrical activity from a biological tissue sample comprises a body (1) provided with a well (4), stimulating means (8) for stimulating a sample located in the well (4), and detecting means (9) for detecting electrical activity in the sample. In one embodiment the apparatus has a fluid inlet means (10) and a fluid outlet means (16) in fluid communication with the well (4). The inlet means (10) comprises an electrically conductive conduit (11A) which is in fluid contact with a fluid flowing, in use, though the outlet means (16). In some embodiments the apparatus is provided with an electrically conductive member (19) which is in electrical contact with a fluid contained, in use, in at least one of the well (4), inlet means (10) and outlet means (16). The stimulating means (8) and detecting means (9) are engaged with the body (1) by a gripping means (32) which comprises an electrically conductive gripping member (36). Related methods and apparatus are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: Kerr Scientific Instruments Limited
    Inventors: David Lovegrove, Douglas Steven Kerr, David James Haughey, Michael Paul Ronayne, Darryl John Best
  • Patent number: 9072572
    Abstract: A light device includes a body and a tip structure configured to be removably coupled with the housing. The tip includes a light engine that is operable for emitting light positioned at a distal end of the tip. A power supply circuit is positioned in the housing and coupled to the light engine. The power supply circuit is rechargeable and includes at least one ultracapacitor element. A non-imaging element is coupled with the light engine at the distal end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: Kerr Corporation
    Inventors: Owen J. Gill, Ruth Barry, Stacy L. Wyatt, Gopikrishnan Soundararajan
  • Patent number: 9066777
    Abstract: A light device includes a housing and a tip structure configured to be removably coupled with the housing. The tip structure includes a light emitting device that is operable for emitting light positioned at a distal end of the tip structure and a body for housing the light emitting device. The housing is formed of an autoclavable material capable of withstanding autoclaving. A power supply circuit is positioned in the housing and coupled to the light emitting device to power the device when the tip structure is coupled with the housing. The power supply circuit is rechargeable and includes at least one ultracapacitor element for being charged and the power supply circuit configured to discharge the ultracapacitor as a current source to drive the at least one light emitting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: Kerr Corporation
    Inventor: Owen Gill
  • Patent number: 8822564
    Abstract: A dental restorative composition is provided that includes a polymerizable resin, a substantially translucent structural filler, a nanofiller having a mean particle size less than 100 nm, and at least one rheology-modifying additive. In one embodiment, the structural filler has a refractive index substantially similar to that of the polymerizable resin, a coarse particle fraction, and a fine particle fraction having a mean particle size greater than 0.1 ?m and smaller than the mean particle size of the coarse particle fraction. The relative ratio of the coarse particle fraction to the fine particle fraction is in the range from about 12:1 to about 2:1 by volume, the particle size distribution of each fraction is essentially monomodal, and the D(90) of the fine particle fraction is less than or equal to the D(10) of the coarse particle fraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Kerr Corporation
    Inventor: Ulf Drechsler
  • Publication number: 20140228474
    Abstract: The dental resin modified glass-ionomer composition includes an acidic polymer; an acidic polymerizable monomer selected from 4-(meth)acryloxyalkyltrimellitic anhydride, 4-(meth)acryloxyalkyltrimellitic acid, and a combination thereof; a non-acidic polymerizable monomer; a fluoroaluminosilicate glass filler; water; and at least one polymerization initiator system. The dental resin modified glass-ionomer composition is useful for a dental restorative composition, an endodontic composition, and/or an orthodontic composition, and provides significantly enhanced adhesive property toward tooth structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2013
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: KERR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Xuejun Qian, Xiangxu Chen
  • Publication number: 20140218646
    Abstract: An optical loupe assembly includes mechanical or electromechanical apparatus for varying the magnification of objects viewed through the loupe and or varying a working distance of the loupe. In another embodiment, an optical loupe may include a lens system comprising one or more liquid lens assemblies or liquid crystal lens assemblies for providing variable magnification.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2013
    Publication date: August 7, 2014
    Applicant: KERR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Brian L. Wilt
  • Publication number: 20140051031
    Abstract: A hand held dental instrument for curing light-curable compounds including a housing with a handle portion and a barrel portion configured for being manipulated for positioning a tip end of the barrel portion proximate to a curing site. A plurality of solid state, light-emitting elements are mounted in a collective array to collectively form a beam of light. The array of elements is operable for collectively emitting a beam of light having wavelengths within a band of wavelengths and at a power to cure a dental compound. The array of elements is positioned proximate to the tip end of the barrel portion and the emitted light beam from the array illuminating a curing site. A radiation focusing device is positioned proximate the array of elements at the tip end of the barrel portion to focus the beam of light before it illuminates the curing site.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2013
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Applicant: Kerr Corporation
    Inventors: Jozef Kovac, Raymond L. Knox
  • Publication number: 20140050043
    Abstract: A universal dental impression material system uses a programmable device having containers for separately housing two or more components that form a dental impression material when mixed. A mixing chamber and a dispensing means respectively receive/mix the components and dispense the dental impression material. One or more viscosity modification zones are configured to apply viscosity manipulation to a component prior to mixing, to the components in the mixing chamber during mixing, and/or to the dental impression material in the dispensing means after mixing. A user interface accepts user input of desired properties, such as viscosity, color, work/set time and/or extrusion rate. A controller operatively coupled to the user interface is configured to control dispensing of the components to the mixing chamber, activation as needed of the viscosity modification zones, and dispensing from the dispensing means in response to the user input to achieve the desired properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Applicant: KERR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mehdi Durali, Vahik Krikorian
  • Publication number: 20140038125
    Abstract: An instrument for curing light-curable compounds curable in the mouth of a patient, including a housing including a handle portion and a barrel portion removably secured with respect to the handle portion. A plurality of solid state, light-emitting semiconductor junction elements form an array on a substrate, and collectively emit light having wavelengths within a narrow band of wavelengths suitable for curing a compound. The array of light-emitting elements are positioned proximate to the distal end of the barrel portion, and an elongated heat-conducting element extends from the distal end of the barrel portion toward the proximal end for conducting heat away from the array. A generally clear layer extends on the substrate and over the plurality of light-emitting semiconductor junction elements, and a non-imaging optical focusing device is positioned at the distal end of the barrel portion to collimate the emitted light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2013
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: KERR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Joseph N. Logan, Raymond L. Knox
  • Patent number: 8609741
    Abstract: A dental adhesive composition comprising (i) at least one non-acidic polymerizable monomer having at least one ethylenically unsaturated group, (ii) optionally one or more acidic compounds, (iii) at least one photoinitiator, (iv) at least one solvent, and (v) about 0-40% by weight of one or more fillers; wherein the weight ratio of non-acidic polymerizable monomers/acidic compounds in the adhesive composition is more than about 4.5; the viscosity of the adhesive composition is less than about 350 centipoise (cP) at 25° C.; and the adhesive composition excluding solvent and filler has an acid number of less than about 0.75 mmol NaOH/g. The dental adhesive composition is used with a dental primer composition, which may be provided together in a kit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Kerr Corporation
    Inventor: Xuejun Qian
  • Publication number: 20130203011
    Abstract: A dental paste dispensing device having a modified dispensing end for atraumatic contact with soft tissue is disclosed. The dispensing device includes a needle having a dispensing end with a terminal edge for dispensing the dental paste to a location in a patient mouth containing soft tissue, wherein the dispensing end includes an atraumatic modification. The modification comprises one of a non-metal coating on an outer surface of the dispensing end, a plastic tip member over the dispensing end, or a decreasing diameter at the terminal edge from a first point on the outer surface to a distal-most point of the outer surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Applicant: Kerr Corporation
    Inventor: Kerr Corporation
  • Publication number: 20130183630
    Abstract: A thermoplastic-based polymer adhesive for use in dentistry includes a thermoplastic polymer and an additional polymer or additive including at least one moiety, monomer, or prepolymer capable of changing at least one property of the thermoplastic-based polymer adhesive when exposed to an activation energy. The activation energy may be heat energy and/or sonic or ultrasonic energy. Bonding a dental component to a tooth includes placing the thermoplastic-based polymer adhesive between the dental component and the surface of the tooth and compressing the dental component against the adhesive, and, while compressing, applying an activation energy to cause crosslinking of the additional polymer or additive with the thermoplastic polymer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2013
    Publication date: July 18, 2013
    Applicant: KERR CORPORATION
    Inventor: KERR CORPORATION
  • Patent number: 8430432
    Abstract: A pipe coupling with an anchoring arrangement for locking the pipes together axially. The anchoring arrangement comprises a tubular casing, a frusto-conical gripping ring with inwardly projecting gripping teeth and tensioning bolts for tightening the casing about the frusto-conical gripping ring. The frusto-conical gripping ring is formed of a plurality of arcuate segments which overlap to form a complete ring. By forming the gripping ring of segments, the gripping ring is able to adapt to pipes that are not truly circular in cross section and a better grip on the pipe may be achieved than with a single-piece gripping ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Taylor Kerr (Couplings) Limited
    Inventors: Ian Richard Webb, Neil John Thornton Taylor
  • Publication number: 20130045465
    Abstract: A dental adhesive composition comprising (i) at least one non-acidic polymerizable monomer having at least one ethylenically unsaturated group, (ii) optionally one or more acidic compounds, (iii) at least one photoinitiator, (iv) at least one solvent, and (v) about 0-40% by weight of one or more fillers; wherein the weight ratio of non-acidic polymerizable monomers/acidic compounds in the adhesive composition is more than about 4.5; the viscosity of the adhesive composition is less than about 350 centipoise (cP) at 25° C.; and the adhesive composition excluding solvent and filler has an acid number of less than about 0.75 mmol NaOH/g. The dental adhesive composition is used with a dental primer composition, which may be provided together in a kit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2012
    Publication date: February 21, 2013
    Applicant: KERR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kerr Corporation
  • Publication number: 20130023600
    Abstract: The dental composite includes a resin base and a combination of a short-cut fiber filler and a particulate filler. The short-cut fibers may be made of a glass or a polymer, and may have an average length of about 2 mm to about 6 mm. The particulate filler includes a ground structural filler, which consists of particles having an average particle size of between about 0.05 ?m and about 0.5 ?m, and a microfiller, which consists of particles having a mean particle size of about 0.04 ?m or less. The cured dental composite provides high strength, an improved wear resistance, a dramatically improved fracture resistance and a high gloss retention in simulated extended clinical wear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2012
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Applicant: KERR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Alvin I. Kobashigawa, Vy Phuong Bui, David A. Tobia, Hector G. Garza
  • Publication number: 20120302662
    Abstract: A dental restorative composition is provided that includes a polymerizable resin, a substantially translucent structural filler, a nanofiller having a mean particle size less than 100 nm, and at least one rheology-modifying additive. In one embodiment, the structural filler has a refractive index substantially similar to that of the polymerizable resin, a coarse particle fraction, and a fine particle fraction having a mean particle size greater than 0.1 ?m and smaller than the mean particle size of the coarse particle fraction. The relative ratio of the coarse particle fraction to the fine particle fraction is in the range from about 12:1 to about 2:1 by volume, the particle size distribution of each fraction is essentially monomodal, and the D(90) of the fine particle fraction is less than or equal to the D(10) of the coarse particle fraction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2012
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: KERR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Ulf Drechsler
  • Patent number: 8297976
    Abstract: A dental adhesive composition comprising (i) at least one non-acidic polymerizable monomer having at least one ethylenically unsaturated group, (ii) optionally one or more acidic compounds, (iii) at least one photoinitiator, (iv) at least one solvent, and (v) about 0-40% by weight of one or more fillers; wherein the weight ratio of non-acidic polymerizable monomers/acidic compounds in the adhesive composition is more than about 4.5; the viscosity of the adhesive composition is less than about 350 centipoise (cP) at 25° C.; and the adhesive composition excluding solvent and filler has an acid number of less than about 0.75 mmol NaOH/g. The dental adhesive composition is used with a dental primer composition, which may be provided together in a kit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Kerr Corporation
    Inventor: Xuejun Qian
  • Patent number: 8231383
    Abstract: The present invention provides a handheld portable, efficient instrument for curing light-curable compounds. The instrument comprises a housing, a light emitted structure supported in the housing, and a reflector configured to interface with the light emitting structure such that light emitted is captured and directed by the reflector onto a light-curable compound. The reflector maximizes the amount of light transferred and contacting the light-curable compound thereby reducing the instrument=s power requirements and improving efficiency. The light emitting structure comprises state of the art, energy efficient, light generating dies. The curing light instrument may also have a self-contained power supply lending portability and convenient of use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Kerr Corporation
    Inventors: Owen Gill, John Klinger, Alex Lippay