The other ADLI Patent -- I happened to find it by doing a web search,, Here it is.
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ABSTRACT: An apparatus for removing dental enamel and dentin. This apparatus is also capable of cutting soft tissue. The apparatus includes a laser which, when activated, produces a laser pulse
having a wavelength of between 1.5 and 3.5 microns, a beam diameter at the target site in the range of 10 to 5,000 microns, a pulse duration of between several picoseconds and several milliseconds, an energy level of between 0.1 millijoules and five joules per pulse, and pulse repetition rates from one pulse per second to 10,000 pulses per second. The pulse is focused on the dental enamel or dentin thereby reaching high enough energy densities to vaporize the material. In the case of soft tissues, a special tip is used to concentrate the laser on the tissue so that cutting action can be easily executed.
15 CLAIMS:
We claim:
1. Apparatus for removing dental enamel, dentin and/or soft tissue, sterilization in a mouth and/or for endodontic applications at a target site comprising: a laser, means for activating said laser so that said laser produces a pulsed output having a wavelength of between 1.5 and 3.5 microns, a beam diameter at the target site in the
range of 10-5000 microns, and an energy of 0.1 millijoules to five joules, means for delivering said pulse to dental enamel, dentin and/or soft tissue and/or sterilization site and/or endodontic treatment area to thereby eradicate the dental enamel, dentin and/or soft tissue and/or sterilization and/or perform endodontic procedures.
2. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein the laser has a pulse repetition rate of 1 to 10,000 pulses per second.
3. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said laser is a yttrium-aluminum-garnet (YAG)laser.
4. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said laser is a Holmium doped laser.
5. The invention as defined in claim 4 wherein said laser has a wavelength of substantially 2.06 microns.
6. The invention as defined in claim 4 wherein said laser is a glass laser.
7. The invention as defined in claim 4 wherein said laser is a crystal laser.
8. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said laser is an Erbium doped laser.
9. The invention as defined in claim 8 wherein said laser has a wavelength of substantially 2.94 microns.
10. The invention as defined in claim 8 wherein said laser is a glass laser.
11. The invention as defined in claim 8 wherein said laser is a crystal laser.
12. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said delivering means comprises means for focussing said pulse on one end of an optical fiber strand.
13. The invention as defined in claim 12 and comprising a contact tip adjacent the other end of said strand.
14. The invention as defined in claim 13 Wherein said tip is conical in shape.
15. The invention as defined in claim 12 wherein at least a portion of said optical fiber strand is flexible.
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