Patent ID: 6799967
Filing Date: 2004-10-05
Classification: A61C,A61N,B23K,Y10S

Abstract:
A light for activating a light-activated material comprising:a light module capable of emitting light useful in activating a light-activated material, a heat sink in said light module, said heat sink having heat conductance qualities, a plurality of light emitting single chip arrays, said single chip arrays being mounted to said heat sink, at least some of said light emitting single chip arrays being capable of emitting light of a wavelength that is useful in activating a light activated material, the actual number of said plurality of light emitting single chip arrays being a positive integer â€œnâ€ , where n is greater than or equal to 2, each of said light emitting single chip arrays emitting light of a certain peak wavelength &lgr;i, where â€œiâ€  is an integer between 1 and n, a first of said light emitting single chip arrays having the lowest peak wavelength light emission of said plurality of light emitting single chip arrays, said lowest peak wavelength light emission being referred to as â€œ&lgr;1â€ , a last of said light emitting single chip arrays having the highest peak wavelength light emission of said plurality of light emitting single chip arrays, said highest peak wavelength light emission being referred to as â€œ&lgr;nâ€ , the wavelength of &lgr;1 being less than &lgr;n, each of said light emitting single chip arrays peak wavelengths &lgr;i being greater than or equal to &lgr;1 and less than or equal to &lgr;n, &lgr;1 and &lgr;n serving to define the lower and upper wavelength limits output by said plurality of light emitting single chip arrays, said peak wavelength limits &lgr;1 and &lgr;n being selected to define a wide light spectrum profile capable of activating various light-activated materials having sensitivities to various light wavelengths in the range of &lgr;1 . . . &lgr;n, each of said light emitting single chip arrays emitting light of an intensity Ii, where â€œiâ€  is an integer between 1 and n, a first of said light emitting single chip arrays having the lowest intensity of light emission of said plurality of light emitting single chip arrays, said lowest intensity light emission being referred to as â€œI1â€ , a last of said light emitting single chip arrays having the highest intensity of light emission of said plurality of light emitting single chip arrays, said highest intensity light emission being referred to as â€œInâ€ , the intensity of I1 being less than or equal to the intensity of In and the intensity of light emitted by a particular chip â€œiâ€  being designated I1 where Ii is greater than or equal to I1 and where Ii is less than or equal to In; wherein the intensity of Ii of at least some of said plurality of light emitting single chip arrays is sufficient to cause activation of a light-activated material sensitive to activation by light of the wavelength &lgr;i.