US5401171A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Dental laser device and method
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1992-07-20
•
Granted: 1995-03-28
•
Expires: 2012-07-20
Abstract
Abstract A dental laser apparatus and method are disclosed, wherein the laser energy is generated within a handheld handpiece. When the laser is activated, pulsed laser energy generated within the handpiece is focused by a lens, also situated within the handpiece, onto the tissues in the mouth. The laser is preferably an Erbium:YAG laser, which can cut soft tissue, hard tooth tissue such as enamel and dentin, and bone, without causing structural or pulpal damage to the teeth or other tissues in the mouth.
Inventors
- 👤 Abid F. Paghdiwala
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 19:10
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61C; A61C1/00; A61C1/0046; B; B23; B23K; B23K26/00; B23K26/0096; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B2017/00017; A61B2017/00137; A61B2017/00154; A61B18/00; A61B2018/00005; A61B2018/00011; A61B2018/00023
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
145 words
A method of performing surgical procedures on tissues in an oral cavity, said tissues including, but not limited to, oral soft tissue, bone, sound dentin, intact enamel, decayed tooth material, tooth root and tooth material overlaying the tooth pulp chamber, comprising the steps of: positioning a hand-held device in proximity to said tissues; generating from within said device a pulsed Er:YAG laser beam capable of cutting said soft or hard tissues which are healthy or decayed by vaporization of the cellular contents and disruption of the cells while avoiding undesirable damage to said tissues and surrounding tissues; reflecting and controlling the direction of said laser beam in said device after said laser beam has been generated; converging said laser beam with a converging means; focusing said laser beam onto said tissues through an elongated removable cylinder attached to said device; and cooling said device internally.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
145 words
A method of performing surgical procedures on tissues in an oral cavity, said tissues including, but not limited to, oral soft tissue, bone, sound dentin, intact enamel, decayed tooth material, tooth root and tooth material overlaying the tooth pulp chamber, comprising the steps of: positioning a hand-held device in proximity to said tissues; generating from within said device a pulsed Er:YAG laser beam capable of cutting said soft or hard tissues which are healthy or decayed by vaporization of the cellular contents and disruption of the cells while avoiding undesirable damage to said tissues and surrounding tissues; reflecting and controlling the direction of said laser beam in said device after said laser beam has been generated; converging said laser beam with a converging means; focusing said laser beam onto said tissues through an elongated removable cylinder attached to said device; and cooling said device internally.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said laser beam has a pulse duration of approximately 100 to 300 microseconds, a pulse repetition rate of between 1 and 50 Hertz, and energy per pulse between 0.1 millijoules and 1 Joule.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as set forth in claim 2 wherein the wavelength of said laser beam is approximately 2.94 to 3.0 microns.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4539987A
Cited
US4849859A
Cited
US4913132A
Cited
US4856512A
Cited
US5074861A
Cited
US4940411A
Cited
US5123845A
Cited
US5055048A
Cited
US5118293A
Cited
US5151029A
Cited
US5151031A
Cited
US5169318A
Cited
US5020995A
Cited
US5199870A
Cited
US5192279A
Cited
US5151096A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-03-27 | 1998-09-26 | 1999-03-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-03-27 | 2002-09-26 | 2003-03-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-03-27 | 2006-09-26 | 2007-03-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |