Dental laser treatment device

Abstract

Described are a handpiece, a coupling, and a device with a laser source and handpiece for emitting a laser beam for dental treatment. In order to avoid damage to the healthy tooth tissue, an improved determination of the tooth temperature by measurement of at least part of the heat radiation emitted from the treatment area using a temperature sensor, preferably an infra-red sensor, is carried out. Upon reaching or exceeding a temperature threshold, the emission of the laser beam to the treatment area is interrupted or the power output of the laser source reduced or the user made aware of the violation of the threshold value using an acoustic or visual signal. The temperature sensor can be located, e.g., on the handpiece or on the coupling, such as on the coupling tube.

1 . A device for emitting a laser beam for dental treatment with a laser source, the device comprising:
 a handpiece having an exit aperture through which the laser beam is directed toward a treated tooth;   a coupling for connecting the handpiece to the laser source, wherein the coupling is arranged between the exit aperture of the handpiece and the laser source, the coupling comprising a temperature sensor that detects heat radiation emitted by the treated tooth;   wherein the coupling and the temperature sensor are detachable from the handpiece.   
     
     
         2 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the temperature sensor comprises an infrared sensor. 
     
     
         3 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the temperature sensor is located inside the coupling or on the coupling. 
     
     
         4 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the temperature sensor is located in an optical path of the laser beam. 
     
     
         5 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the temperature sensor is located outside of an optical path of the laser beam. 
     
     
         6 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the handpiece comprises a mirror which is configured to deflect the heat radiation emitted by the treated tooth towards the temperature sensor in the coupling. 
     
     
         7 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the handpiece comprises a mirror which is configured to deflect the laser beam towards the treated tooth and to deflect the heat radiation emitted by the treated tooth towards the temperature sensor in the coupling. 
     
     
         8 . The device according to  claim 1 , comprising an evaluation and control circuit, which receives signals from the temperature sensor, processes the signals and, if a preset temperature threshold is reached or exceeded, interrupts the laser beam to the treatment area or reduces the power output of the laser source or brings the violation of the threshold value to the attention of the user through an acoustic or visual signal. 
     
     
         9 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the temperature sensor detects wavelengths greater than 5.0 μm or wavelengths in the range from about 9.0 μm to about 9.4 μm or wavelengths in the range from about 9.10 μm to about 9.35 μm. 
     
     
         10 . The device according to  claim 1 , comprising an inner sleeve in the coupling for shielding the temperature sensor from heat radiation across an outer sleeve of the coupling. 
     
     
         11 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the coupling comprises a rotary coupling for rotating the handpiece relative to the coupling. 
     
     
         12 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the coupling further comprises one of a supply tube or an articulated mirror arm. 
     
     
         13 . A device for emitting a laser beam for dental treatment with a laser source, the device comprising:
 a handpiece for transmitting the laser beam, the handpiece having an exit aperture through which the laser beam is directed toward a treated tooth and a temperature sensor that detects heat radiation emitted by a treated tooth.   
     
     
         14 . The device according to  claim 13 , wherein the temperature sensor comprises an infrared sensor. 
     
     
         15 . The device according to  claim 13 , wherein the temperature sensor is located on an outer perimeter of a distal end of the handpiece. 
     
     
         16 . The device according to  claim 13 , wherein the temperature sensor is located in the vicinity of the exit aperture through which the laser beam is directed toward the treated tooth. 
     
     
         17 . The device according to  claim 13 , wherein the temperature sensor is located in an optical path of the laser beam. 
     
     
         18 . The device according to  claim 13 , wherein the temperature sensor is located outside of an optical path of the laser beam. 
     
     
         19 . The device according to  claim 13 , wherein the handpiece comprises a grip part for manually holding the handpiece and a head part having the exit aperture through which the laser beam is directed toward the treated tooth, wherein the temperature sensor is located in one of the grip part and the head part. 
     
     
         20 . The device according to  claim 13 , wherein the temperature sensor is located between the exit aperture through which the laser beam is directed toward the treated tooth and the nearest optical element for the laser beam. 
     
     
         21 . The device according to  claim 13 , wherein the handpiece comprises a mirror which is configured to deflect the laser beam towards the treated tooth and to deflect the heat radiation emitted by the treated tooth towards the temperature sensor. 
     
     
         22 . The device according to  claim 21 , wherein the mirror has a front surface and a rear surface with different coatings for selective reflection of the laser beam and the heat radiation emitted by the treated tooth. 
     
     
         23 . The device according to  claim 13 , wherein the handpiece comprises a semi-transparent mirror which is configured to deflect the laser beam and which is transparent to heat radiation emitted by the treated tooth, wherein the temperature sensor is located at the rear of the mirror and the heat radiation gets to the temperature sensor through the mirror. 
     
     
         24 . The device according to  claim 13 , wherein the handpiece comprises a first mirror configured to deflect the laser beam and a second mirror configured to deflect the heat radiation emitted by the treated tooth towards the temperature sensor. 
     
     
         25 . The device according to  claim 13 , comprising an evaluation and control circuit, which receives signals from the temperature sensor, processes the signals and, if a preset temperature threshold is reached or exceeded, interrupts the laser beam to the treatment area or reduces the power output of the laser source or brings the violation of the threshold value to the attention of the user through an acoustic or visual signal. 
     
     
         26 . The device according to  claim 13 , wherein the temperature sensor detects wavelengths greater than 5.0 μm or wavelengths in the range from about 9.0 μm to about 9.4 μm or wavelengths in the range from about 9.10 μm to about 9.35 μm. 
     
     
         27 . A method for determining the temperature of a tooth which is irradiated with a laser beam, the method comprising:
 emitting a laser beam towards the tooth,   interrupting the laser beam emission,   measuring at least a part of the heat radiation emitted from the irradiated tooth by means of a temperature sensor or an infra-red sensor to determine the temperature of the tooth,   emitting a laser beam towards the tooth if a given temperature threshold of the tooth is not reached or exceeded.