JP3645149B2 - Resin curing device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a resin curing device that irradiates a curing target with light of a predetermined wavelength for curing a photocurable resin, that is, a photopolymerizable resin, and particularly used for dentistry, and protects a cut portion in the oral cavity. The present invention also relates to a dental resin curing device for curing a resin used for moisture prevention in a short time.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As a dental resin curing device, one having a power supply device, an LED, an optical fiber, and a light irradiation head is known as disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-30275.
[0003]
The resin curing device (resin curing light source device) disclosed in the above publication uses a plurality of LEDs that emit light having a wavelength of 455 nm as a light source, and supplies the light to a light irradiation head via an optical fiber. The light irradiation head emits light to a predetermined position (irradiation target) in the oral cavity.
[0004]
In addition, according to the above-mentioned publication, there is a description that about 20 LED chips having a light output of 1200 μW are arranged in the LED as the light source.
[0005]
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-28719 discloses a polymerization apparatus which uses a battery as a power source and is integrated with a solid radiation emitter and an optical transmission line so as to be easy to handle.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the resin curing device, the wavelength of light emitted from the LED chip is blue of 430 to 480 nm due to the curing characteristics of the resin. However, as is well known, the light output of an LED that emits blue light is still a fraction of that of, for example, red (wavelength 680 nm) or orange (wavelength 580 nm). It takes several tens of seconds to completely cure the photopolymerization type resin located in (1).
[0007]
For this reason, there is a problem of requiring a cramped posture so as not to close the mouth for a relatively long time with respect to a patient who is visiting a treatment in the oral cavity, particularly a dental caries treatment.
[0008]
Also, for doctors who are trying to cure the resin, similarly, until the resin cures, the part where the resin is located is irradiated with light at a predetermined wavelength in the same posture. There is a problem of requiring a specific light irradiation posture so as to irradiate light.
[0009]
This has the problem of making the working conditions (treatment postures) harsh for doctors and increasing the perception that dental treatment is difficult for patients with long treatment times.
[0010]
An object of the present invention is to provide a resin curing apparatus capable of curing a photopolymerization type resin in a short time (several seconds) after irradiation with resin curing light.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention has been made on the basis of the above-described problems, and has a plurality of light emitting elements, arranged so that the traveling directions of light emitted from the respective light emitting elements are the same direction, and having a predetermined wavelength. A light source that emits the light, a first curved surface in which the light emitting elements of the light source are arranged in close contact with each other, a light emission area that is narrower than the first curved surface, A second curved surface that emits light incident on the first curved surface in a predetermined direction, and is filled between the first curved surface and the second curved surface, and each of the light emitting elements emits light. The light source is made of a material that is optically transparent with respect to the wavelength of the light, and the traveling direction of the light source from the respective light emitting elements changes the traveling direction of light in the same direction and enters the first curved surface. traveling direction and parallel to, and narrow in comparison to the cross-sectional area at the time of the incident surface of the Collected, condenser device having a light refractive member for guiding said at be emitted from the second curved surface is condensed to the first curved surface area smaller than the time which is incident on the second curved surface And a guide member for guiding the light condensed by the light condensing device to a predetermined position.
[0012]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0013]
FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating a resin curing apparatus according to the present invention.
[0014]
As shown in FIG. 1, the resin curing device 1 is connected to the apparatus main body 2 via an apparatus main body 2, a light guide connecting portion 3 provided at one end of the apparatus main body 2, and a grip portion 2 a of the apparatus main body 2. Power supply line 4. The light guide connecting portion 3 includes a coupler 3a, and a light guide (an optical fiber assembly in which optical fibers are assembled into a predetermined shape) 11 having an arbitrary opening cross-sectional shape is detachably formed. . Thereby, according to a use and the age of a patient, the light guide 11 of a different magnitude | size can be replaced | exchanged arbitrarily.
[0015]
Further, as will be described later with reference to FIG. 2, a power supply device for taking out a predetermined voltage and current from a commercial power supply supplied via the power supply line 4 is housed inside the grip portion 2 a of the device body 2. ing. It should be noted that when one of the two switches or two sets of switches for energizing the power supply and turning on / off the light source is turned on, the other is turned on, and one of them is shut off after a predetermined time has elapsed. Switches 5a and 5b with timed functions are provided at arbitrary positions on the grip portion 2a.
[0016]
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating the internal configuration of the resin curing device shown in FIG.
[0017]
As shown in FIG. 2, individual LED elements 13 a,..., 13 n of the LED array 13 radiate in the vicinity of one end of the light guide 11 at a predetermined interval or in close contact with the light guide 11. A condensing device 12 is provided for condensing the light in a region having a diameter smaller than the diameter defined by the individual LEDs 13a,.
[0018]
Each of the LEDs 13a,..., 13n of the LED 13 is connected to an LED driving unit 14 that is transformed to a predetermined voltage by the power supply circuit 15 and can supply a predetermined LED driving current, and the switches 5a and 5b are turned on. Thus, a current having a predetermined magnitude is supplied at a predetermined voltage. The power supply circuit 15 and the LED driving unit 14 are formed in a predetermined shape that can be accommodated in the grip portion 2a of the apparatus main body 2 shown in FIG. 1, for example, and apply an appropriate load to the grip portion 2a. 2 is easy to handle. The switches 5a and 5b are dual switches or two sets of switches, one of which is turned on when one is turned on, and the other is a timer switch with a time function (not shown) that is shut off after a predetermined time has elapsed. Then, after the switches 5a and 5b are turned on, it is possible to cut off the power supply to at least the LED drive unit 14 side after a lapse of a predetermined time, for example, 5 seconds.
[0019]
The power supply circuit 15 is connected to a DC motor or an AC drive fan motor 16 and a cooling fan 17 formed integrally with the fan motor 16. The fan 17 is accommodated, for example, on the side of the exhaust port 2b away from the fiber connection portion 3 of the apparatus main body 2 shown in FIG. 1, and the fan motor 16 is rotated so that the longitudinal direction of the apparatus main body 2 is increased. Cooling air is taken in from the air inlet 2c provided in the substantially central portion, and the LEDs 13a,..., 13n of the LED array 13 and the motor 16 are cooled to generate cooling air that escapes to the exhaust port.
[0020]
FIG. 3 shows a condensing light emitted from each LED element of the LED array in the resin curing device shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. It is the schematic explaining the principle of an apparatus.
[0021]
As shown in FIG. 3, the light incident on the portion 12-1 whose incident surface is orthogonal to the incident light (indicated by an arrow) is emitted as it is with respect to the condensing device 12 connected with a plurality of parallel plates. .
[0022]
On the other hand, the light incident on the parallelogram-shaped portions 12-2 and 12-3 so that the incident surface has a predetermined angle with respect to the incident light is a parallelogram-shaped portion. It is bent at a predetermined angle according to the law of refraction, and is returned parallel to the incident light when it is emitted from the parallelogram portion. Thereby, the light emitted from the condensing device 12 is collected in a narrow area compared to the cross-sectional area at the time of incidence. Further, the light intensity can be increased compared to the incident time even if the loss due to the light collecting device is excluded.
[0023]
The degree of light collection by the light collector 12 can be arbitrarily set depending on the material and thickness of the light collector 12.
[0024]
FIG. 4 is a schematic view for explaining a light collecting device applied to the resin curing device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.
[0025]
As shown in FIG. 4, the condensing device 12 includes a first curved surface (incident surface) 12a in which the individual LEDs 13a,..., 13n of the LED array are closely contacted or arranged at a predetermined interval, A second curved surface (outgoing surface) 12b from which light incident from one curved surface is emitted, and a condensing member transparent to the wavelength of the light emitted from each of the LED elements 13a,. ) 12c, and the optical path of the light incident on the first curved surface 12a is changed by the main body 12c to be condensed on the second curved surface 12b narrower than the first curved surface 12a. The light collecting member (main body) 12c is formed of, for example, optical glass, quartz glass, acrylic, or the like.
[0026]
Further, as shown in the figure, the first curved surface 12a is arranged along the first curved surface 12a so that light emitted from the LEDs 13a,..., 13n of the LED array 13 is in the same direction. The predetermined curvature is given so that most of the light from the respective LEDs 13a,..., 13n is refracted toward the center of the main body 12c.
[0027]
On the other hand, as shown in the figure, the second curved surface 12b condenses light for efficiently entering the light guide 11 into the light guide 11 (coupling light that has passed through the light condensing device 12 to the light guide 11). A curvature for functioning as a lens (convex lens) is given.
[0028]
The first curved surface 12a has an antireflection film (reflective) (not shown) that reduces light from the individual LEDs 13a,..., 13n from being reflected by the first curved surface and returning to the outside of the light collector 12. Similarly, the second curved surface 12b has an antireflection film (antireflection coating) that reduces light that has passed through the main body 12c from being reflected by the second curved surface and returned to the main body 12c. Each is formed.
[0029]
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram for explaining the arrangement of LED elements of an LED array that is used as a light source in the resin curing device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.
[0030]
As shown in FIG. 5, the individual LED elements 13 a,..., 13 n of the LED array 13 are arranged in such a manner that the largest portions of the cylindrical or tapered outer peripheral portions of the LED elements are in contact with each other. The elements 13a,..., 13n are arranged in close-packed packing so that the line segment connecting the centers of the elements 13a,.
[0031]
Further, the area in which the LED elements 13a,..., 13n are arranged is defined, for example, in a substantially circular shape. If the diameter of each LED element 13a,..., 13n is, for example, 3 mm, the size (diameter) of the LED array 13 required by all the LED elements in the arrangement shown in FIG. Become.
[0032]
In addition, the wavelength of the light which each LED element 13a-13n light-emits is 430 nm-480 nm, for example.
[0033]
As a result, the LED array 13 can be obtained that has a large output power that can cure, for example, a predetermined amount of a photopolymerization resin that is put into the oral cavity in a few seconds.
[0034]
FIG. 6 is a schematic view for explaining the flow of cooling air in the resin curing device shown in FIGS.
[0035]
As shown in FIG. 6, the fan motor 16 accommodated on the side of the exhaust port 2b on the side of the apparatus main body 2 away from the fiber connecting portion 3 of the apparatus main body 2 shown in FIG. The cooling air taken in from the air inlet 2c provided in the substantially central portion of the apparatus main body 2 cools the LEDs 13a,..., 13n of the LED array 13 and the motor 16 and exits to the air outlet 2b. It becomes cooling air. Thereby, stable light emission operation | movement is attained, without the apparatus main body 2 and the LED array 13 being heated by the heat_generation | fever of the LED array 13. FIG.
[0036]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the resin curing device of the present invention has a plurality of light emitting elements, each light emitting element is arranged so that the traveling direction of light emitted is the same direction, and has a predetermined wavelength. A light source that emits the light, a first curved surface in which the light emitting elements of the light source are arranged in close contact with each other, a light emission area that is narrower than the first curved surface, A second curved surface that emits light incident on the first curved surface in a predetermined direction, and is filled between the first curved surface and the second curved surface, and each of the light emitting elements emits light. The light source is made of a material that is optically transparent with respect to the wavelength of the light, and the traveling direction of the light source from the respective light emitting elements changes the traveling direction of light in the same direction and enters the first curved surface. traveling parallel to the direction of, and narrow in comparison to the cross-sectional area at the time of the incident Collect the area, condenser and a light refracting member for guiding said at be emitted from the second curved surface is condensed to the first curved surface area smaller than the time which is incident on the second curved surface The device collects the light from each light emitting element in a region narrower than the time when it is incident on the first curved surface and guides it from the second curved surface toward the light guide, so that the light intensity is high, There is provided a resin curing device capable of curing a dental resin in a few seconds.
[0037]
According to this resin curing device, the time required to take the light irradiation posture required of a doctor who performs treatment in the oral cavity is shortened, and even in a patient receiving treatment, a cramped posture is required so as not to close the mouth. Time is reduced.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a resin curing apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram for explaining the internal configuration of the resin curing device shown in FIG. 1;
3 is a light condensing device that converts the light emitted from each LED element of the LED array into a narrower region than that at the time of incidence and increases the light intensity to be emitted in the resin curing device shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. Schematic explaining the principle of the apparatus.
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a light collecting device applied to the resin curing device shown in FIGS.
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram for explaining the arrangement of LED elements of an LED array that is used as a light source in the resin curing device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;
6 is a schematic diagram for explaining the flow of cooling air in the resin curing device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 ... Resin curing device,
2 ... the device body,
2a ... grip part,
2b ... exhaust port,
2c ... intake port,
3 ... Light guide connection part,
3a ... coupler,
4 ... Power supply,
5a ... switch,
5b ... switch,
11: Light guide,
12 ・ ・ ・ Condenser,
12a: Incident surface (first curved surface),
12b... Exit surface (second curved surface) backup roller,
13 ... LED unit (light source),
13a to 13n ... LED elements,
14 ... LED drive unit,
15 ... Power supply circuit,
16 ・ ・ ・ Fan motor,
17: Cooling fan.

Claims (5)

A light source having a plurality of light emitting elements, arranged so that the traveling directions of light emitted by the respective light emitting elements are the same, and emitting light of a predetermined wavelength;
Light having a first curved surface in which the respective light emitting elements of the light source are arranged in close contact or close to each other and a light emission area narrower than the first curved surface, and incident on the first curved surface And a second curved surface that emits in a predetermined direction, and is filled between the first curved surface and the second curved surface, and is optical with respect to the wavelength of light emitted by each of the light emitting elements. The light source is made of a transparent material, and the traveling direction of the light source from the respective light emitting elements changes the traveling direction of the light in the same direction , and is parallel to the traveling direction when incident on the first curved surface , and By gathering in a small area compared to the cross-sectional area at the time of incidence and emitting from the second curved surface, the light is condensed in a region narrower than the time when it is incident on the first curved surface, and becomes the second curved surface. A light condensing device having a light refraction member for guiding;
A guide member that guides the light collected by the light collecting device to a predetermined position;
A resin curing device comprising: The resin curing device according to claim 1, wherein the light source, the light collecting device, and the guide member are integrally formed. 2. Each of the light emitting elements of the light source is an LED element that emits light having a wavelength of 430 to 480 nm, and the light source is an LED array in which a plurality of the LED elements are arranged. Or the resin hardening apparatus of 2. The said 1st curved surface of the said condensing device directs the light which each said light emitting element of the said light source radiates to the curvature center side of the said 1st curved surface, The Claim 1 or 2 characterized by the above-mentioned. Resin curing device. 3. The resin curing device according to claim 2, wherein a power supply device for driving the light source is further integrated.

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