Optical source method

Abstract

An optical device includes a diode light source which is preferably in the form of an array of diode elements such as laser diodes or light emitting diodes (LEDs). The light emitted from the diode elements is directed towards a reflector which directs the emitted light through a heat sink member for controlling the temperature of the diode elements. The heat sink member preferably has a plurality of fins for dissipating heat, and the emitted light passes through these fins and away from the optical device. An optical lightguide may be integrated with the optical device to give the user better control over how the emitted light is imaged. The diode elements preferably emit in either the blue or ultraviolet region of the optical spectrum. In one embodiment of the invention, the output from the diode elements has a cross section that is variable in shape, permitting a composite material within a cavity of a tooth to be cured in such a way that microgaps between the tooth and the composite are not formed.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A medical apparatus, comprising: 
 an array of optical sources; and    a housing to which said array is mounted, wherein said optical sources are connectable to a power supply and individually addressable to produce at least two different output intensity patterns, and wherein optical output from said optical sources can be directed onto tissue by orienting said housing by hand.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said optical sources are located at positions within said housing that are fixed with respect to each other.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said array produces an annulus of optical radiation.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a heat sink member in thermal contact with said optical sources.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a reflector for receiving optical radiation emitted by said optical sources, said reflector directing the emitted optical radiation towards and through said heat sink member, and away from said reflector.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , comprising a battery.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the light emitted from said diode light source is absorbed by teeth.  
     
     
         8 . A dental method for use on a tooth having a cavity that is at least partially filled with a dental composite, so that the composite contacts the tooth tissue that forms the cavity, comprising: 
 providing a first optical beam having an intensity distribution in cross section that concentrates energy at the periphery of the cross section;    using the first optical beam to cure the composite contacting the tooth tissue at the sides of the cavity without curing composite that is interior of the cavity;    providing a second optical beam having an intensity distribution in cross section that does not concentrate energy at the periphery of the cross section; and    curing the composite within the interior of the cavity with the second optical beam.    
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the optical beams are transmitted through an optical lightguide.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the optical beams are transmitted sequentially through the optical lightguide.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the beams are of the same wavelength.  
     
     
         12 . A method, comprising: 
 utilizing an optical source to produce an optical beam with a cross section having a first intensity pattern;    utilizing the optical source to produce an optical beam with a cross section having a second intensity pattern different from the first intensity pattern;    transmitting the optical beams along a common optical path to a target area without substantially varying the respective patterns of the cross section;    grasping the optical source in a hand of a user;    moving the user's hand to position the optical source; and    directing the optical beams onto the target area.    
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the target area comprises tissue.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , comprising directing the optical output onto hard tissue.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the hard tissue is tooth tissue.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the optical beams are transmitted through an optical lightguide.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the optical beams are transmitted sequentially through the optical lightguide.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the beams are of the same wavelength.  
     
     
         19 . A dental apparatus for use on a tooth having a cavity that is at least partially filled with a dental composite, so that the composite contacts the tooth tissue that forms the cavity, comprising: 
 means for producing a first optical beam having an intensity distribution in cross section that concentrates energy at the periphery of the cross section;    means for producing a second optical beam having an intensity distribution in cross section that does not concentrate energy at the periphery of the cross section; and    means for directing the first and second optical beams towards the tooth, wherein the first optical beam cures the composite contacting the tooth tissue at the sides of the cavity without curing composite that is interior of the cavity, and the second optical beam cures the composite within the interior of the cavity.    
     
     
         20 . The dental apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the first and second optical beams are directed towards the tooth along a common optical path.  
     
     
         21 . The dental apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein said directing means comprises an optical lightguide.  
     
     
         22 . The dental apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the optical beams are of the same wavelength.  
     
     
         23 . A method of curing an optically curable material filling in a tooth, comprising: 
 using optical energy to cure filling material that is adjacent to tooth tissue at a periphery of the filling prior to curing filling material that is interior to the periphery.    
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , comprising transmitting the optical energy through an optical lightguide.