Abstract:
A device ( 10 ) and method for determining and controlling the degree of polymerization of polymerizable dental material ( 14 ), which device includes a light and/or heat source ( 18  or  20 ), with which the dental material ( 14 ) is impinged. The device further includes a control device ( 26 ) and a sensor ( 24 ) connected to the control device ( 26 ), whereby the sensor ( 24 ) detects radiation (natural radiation) emitted from the dental material ( 14 ) of a predetermined wavelength.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims foreign priority benefits under 35 U.S.C. §119 from German patent application Ser. No. 10 2005 019 386.2 filed Apr. 26, 2005.  
       TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0002]     The invention relates to a system for determining and controlling the degree of polymerization of polymerizable dental material, and more particularly in a preferred embodiment to a system which includes a light and/or heat source for polymerization and a sensor which detects mid wavelength infrared radiation. emitted by the dental material during polymerization.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     It has long been known to impinge materials with suitable radiation, for example thermal radiation, and to detect the reflected amount of light from the respective material via a sensor. One example of this is the solution disclosed in European patent application 0 563 953 A2. A disadvantage of this solution is that the light detections depend heavily on the surface characteristics of the material. Such a solution is not suitable for the impingement of dental materials, because the existing degree of moisture of the dental materials would greatly affect the degree of reflection and lead to errors in measured values.  
         [0004]     In order to provide a reliable detection of the energy impingement in every case, that is, the impingement by means of a light and/or heat source, U.S. Pat. No. 5,922,605 discloses the use of a sensor as a light sensor. The sensor is arranged outside of the actual radiation area and measures the brightness and/or heat in the outer field of the dental material, so that the disadvantages of the previously noted solution are avoidable.  
         [0005]     On the other hand, the polymerization of the dental material used depends heavily on numerous factors. For example, polymerization of typical surface layers is faster than deeper layers of the dental material, which is used in dental restoration, for example.  
         [0006]     For determining which polymerization time is favorable, it has been proposed already to determine the mass of the polymerization material and to adjust the polymerization time in dependence thereon. Also, numerous further features have been proposed in order to prevent a release of monomers with free radicals, caused by incomplete polymerization, as well as the formation of edge gaps of the dental restoration caused by an excessive polymerization time.  
         [0007]     Not only different dental materials, but also, for example, parameters in individual cases affect the polymerization process, such as for example the storage time of the dental material before the application. In order to achieve an optimal polymerization result, one must realize practically an assay-polymerization with precisely the same form from the same charge of the polymerization material. This then will demonstrate and determine how the polymerization time should be adjusted. This method, naturally, is not practical.  
       OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     Therefore, the present invention is based on the object of providing a device for determining the degree of polymerization of polymerizable dental material, as well as a corresponding method, which offers an optimal polymerization result, without requiring additional expense.  
         [0009]     According to the invention, it is particularly favorable that the radiation emitted from the dental material itself is detected. Therefore, errors caused by reflections and the like are excluded from the start, whereby it should be understood that by a suitable selection of the optical axis of the detection radiation and the impingement radiation, it can be ensured that errors in the measurement results do not occur from other radiation effects, such as, for example, interferences or the like.  
         [0010]     According to the invention, it is particularly favorable that the selection of the wavelengths and wavelength ranges of the detection radiation and the impingement radiation is adaptable in broad ranges to the requirements. For example, the impingement radiation can cover the range of long range ultraviolet and violet light and/or near infrared light, while the wavelength range of the radiation detected by the sensor, for example, can lie above 3000 nm in the mid wavelength infrared range, so that a defined distance between the wavelengths and the frequencies exists.  
         [0011]     According to the invention, it is especially favorable that by means of the photo-thermal detection of the polymerization material, the polymerization degree can be determined exactly, and indeed, pattern-specific, that is, as a function of the actual impinged dental mass.  
         [0012]     Therefore, despite the elimination of an assay-polymerization, it is possible to determine the degree of polymerization and therewith, the switch-off timepoint and/or the polymerization cycle, that is, to determine exactly the temporal course of the energy impingement for the polymerization.  
         [0013]     The energy impingement with the polymerization radiation can be adapted in broad ranges to the requirements or the desired polymerization results. For example, the light or heat source can be modulated in the temporal course with a square-wave pulse signal, which can readily be represented by LED- or laser diodes.  
         [0014]     According to the present invention, it is especially favorable that the interference effects, which can produce different polymerization results, can be compensated: if for example in a moist surface, the surface of the dental material is heavily reflective for the impingement radiation, so that the polymerization radiation contacting the dental material has less intensity, then the detection radiation emitted from the dental material likewise is less in a corresponding manner, so that the actual degree of polymerization can be determined in-situ.  
         [0015]     The detection radiation can be conducted in any suitable manner to the sensor. When using a hand-held device, the impingement radiation and the detection radiation can be conducted by a photo conducting rod and then with a suitable separating device, such as a mirror, which is inclined at an angle of approximately 45° and is penetrable by the impingement radiation, is reflected for the detection radiation to provide a beam division. With a stationary device, it is favorable to arrange the light and/or heat source of the sources at a location that is spatially offset relative to the sensor or sensors. For example, a sensor can be oriented perpendicular to the surface, while two radiation sources impinge the surface of the dental material at an angle of 30°, for example.  
         [0016]     It should be understood that it is expedient if the sensor is protected from interference effects, or these are compensated. With pressure-sensitive sensors, for example, a reference sensor can be provided, which is not impinged by the detection radiation, and which is arranged in a measurement bridge together with the active sensor, in order to prevent measurement errors. It also should be understood that the sensor can be calibrated in a suitable manner when exact results are desired.  
         [0017]     According to the present invention, it is particularly favorable that the polymerization is determinable exactly as an exothermic reaction and that this effect can be used in a surprisingly simple manner for determining the degree of polymerization.  
         [0018]     In a further advantageous embodiment, it is provided that the wavelength range of the polymerization radiation and the detection radiation emitted from the dental material differ at least fractionally from one another.  
         [0019]     In a further advantageous embodiment, it is proposed that the polymerization radiation emitted from the light and/or heat source on the dental material lies at least partly in a wavelength range between 350 nm and 450 nm and that the sensor radiation during a polymerization cycle is detectable.  
         [0020]     In a further advantageous embodiment, it is provided that with the sensor, the temperature of the detection radiation can be determined and with the control device, its temporal course can be determined; in particular, the temperature increase and/or temperature decrease can be evaluated.  
         [0021]     In a further advantageous embodiment, it is provided that the optical axes of the source and the sensor extend at an angle deviating from zero relative to the dental material, and in particular is sensitive in an intra-oral area and is oriented on the dental material.  
         [0022]     In a further advantageous embodiment, it is provided that the sensor and/or the control device is integrated in the device and that the device has multiple polymerization areas, in which dental material can be polymerized, and that a sensor, in particular, multiple sensors, are oriented onto each polymerization area.  
         [0023]     In a further advantageous embodiment, it is provided that the polymerization areas are spatially separated from one another and that in each polymerization area, at least one light and/or heat source is disposed.  
         [0024]     In a further advantageous embodiment, it is provided that between at least one sensor and the dental material, at least one photo conducting element is arranged, with which detection radiation from the dental material area can be conducted to the sensor and/or with which impingement radiation can be conducted from the light and/or heat source to the dental material.  
         [0025]     In a further advantageous embodiment, it is provided that at least one optical fiber extends over a part of the entire length of the photo conducting element, and in particular, has a light outlet on the side, which faces the sensor.  
         [0026]     In a further advantageous embodiment, it is provided that the photo conducting element arranged between the dental material and its polymerization area, on the one hand, and the sensor and/or the light and/or heat source, on the other hand, has at least one optical fiber, which extends over the entire length of the photo conducting element.  
         [0027]     In a further advantageous embodiment, it is provided that the light conducting element has at least one optical fiber, with which the detection radiation can be conducted, and that the detection-optical fiber is arranged in a central region or in a peripheral region of the photo conducting element. It is proposed further that the photo conducting element has multiple optical fibers, and that with at least one optical fiber, the detection radiation can be conducted. The detection-optical fiber is arranged, in particular, in the peripheral region of the photo conducting element.  
         [0028]     In a further advantageous embodiment, it is provided that the light conducting element has at least one optical fiber, which is penetrable in the wavelength range of the impingement radiation, in particular, in the wavelength range of 350 to 550 nm, and that the photo conducting element has at least one optical fiber, which is penetrable in the wavelength range of the detection radiation from 800 nm to 10,000 nm, in particular from 3000 nm to 5000 nm.  
         [0029]     In a further advantageous embodiment, it is provided that the photo conducting element is formed as a photo conducting rod, which extends between the light source and the dental material, and that the device is formed as a hand-held device. The device can be connected with an external current supply source and/or the device can have an exchangeable current supply source.  
         [0030]     In a further advantageous embodiment, it is proposed that the light and/or heat source is formed by at least one semiconductor-energy source.  
         [0031]     The determination of a slope of a heating curve can be recognized by the sensor. If this is steep, then the signal also could be used to reduce the light power during the polymerization cycle. If this is flat, then one could raise the light power with a corresponding signal of the sensor.  
         [0032]     In a further advantageous embodiment, it is provided that the sensor emits a signal to the control device when the gradient of the actual parameter of the dental material changes, in particular the heating increases, and that the control device processes the output signal of the sensor and for controlling the device, in particular for controlling the light and/or heat source.  
         [0033]     In a further advantageous embodiment, it is provided that a control signal emitted from the control device is a shut-down signal, with which the device is switched off and the polymerization process is terminated.  
         [0034]     It is provided further that the sensor detects radiation emitted from the dental material with a wavelength of 800 nm to 10,000 nm, in particular from 3000 nm to 5000 nm.  
         [0035]     In a further advantageous embodiment, it is provided that for detecting the radiation emitted from the dental material, the light and/or heat source is switched off temporarily by the control device during a polymerization cycle at least once.  
         [0036]     Further advantages, details, and features are provided in the following description of several embodiments with reference to the accompanying figures.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES  
       [0037]      FIG. 1  shows a schematic view of a first embodiment of a device for polymerization of polymerizable dental material, according to the present invention;  
         [0038]      FIG. 2  shows a second embodiment of the device of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0039]      FIG. 3  shows a representation of the emission maximum of the impingement radiation and the sensitivity curve of the sensor;  
         [0040]      FIG. 4  shows a diagram of the temporal course of the control of the present invention;  
         [0041]      FIG. 5  shows a diagram representing a modified control of the present invention;  
         [0042]      FIG. 6  shows a third embodiment of a device according to the present invention;  
         [0043]      FIG. 7  shows a fourth embodiment of a device according to the present invention;  
         [0044]      FIG. 8  shows a fifth embodiment of a device according to the present invention;  
         [0045]      FIG. 9  shows a representation of a part of the photo conducting element of the present invention;  
         [0046]      FIG. 10  shows the arrangement of the impingement-optical fibers in a photo conducting rod of the present invention;  
         [0047]      FIG. 11  shows the arrangement of the detection-optical fibers in a photo conducting rod of the present invention; and  
         [0048]      FIG. 12  shows a schematic representation of the device of the present invention as a hand-held device. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0049]     The device shown in  FIG. 1  has a housing  12 , which is provided for accommodating the dental material  14 , which takes place on a support pedestal  16 .  
         [0050]     For the polymerization of the dental material  14  in a polymerization area, which is open and impinged with radiation, a plurality of light sources  18  and/or heat sources  20  are provided, which irradiate the polymerization area with electromagnetic waves of the corresponding frequency range in the embodiment shown. The light sources  18  as well as the heat sources  20  are mounted inside on the side walls of the housing  12  in the embodiment shown. Thus, the radiation emitted from these sources does not contact the surface of the dental material perpendicularly, rather laterally at an angle from above. By the angular impingement, any large reduction of the degree of the polymerization effect of the emitted radiation by reflections is avoided.  
         [0051]     In many cases, the surface of the polymerization area of the dental material is not flat, that is, horizontal, but is wavy, for example, or has another form. By the arrangement of multiple sources, marked negative effects on the polymerization results from reflections are prevented.  
         [0052]     Also, when heat sources  20  and light sources  18  are shown merely on two sides of the housing, namely, right and left, as shown in the principle section in  FIG. 1 , it should be understood that actually a plurality of sources can be provided distributed circumferentially, and indeed, in any suitable distribution. A representation of such a distribution can be seen in U.S. Pat. No. 5,922,605 which is incorporated herein by reference.  
         [0053]     In the embodiment shown, a sensor  24  is suspended above the dental material  14 . The sensor  24  is connected with a control device  26 , which controls the device  10  and in particular determines when the sources  18  and  20  are switched off or when their power should be reduced.  
         [0054]     The sensor  24  detects the detection radiation  28  emitted from the dental material  14 . In order to prevent an effect by the sources  18  and  20 , the sensor is surrounded by a shield  30  in the style of an apron, whereby it should be understood that the shield  30  should not prevent the entry of the impingement radiation to the polymerization area.  
         [0055]     The device  10  is connected via a known current supply terminal  32  and the embodiment shown forms a stationary device  12 . Alternatively, it is also possible to provide an energy storage medium in the device  12 , for example an accumulator, which is rechargeable via the current supply terminal  32 .  
         [0056]      FIG. 2  shows a modified form of the device  10  of the present invention. Here, the same reference numerals as used in the other figures designate the same or corresponding parts and require no further explanation. With the solution of  FIG. 2 , a plurality of support pedestals  16  with corresponding dental materials and polymerization areas  14  adjacent one another are provided, above which, respectively, a sensor  24  is arranged.  
         [0057]     Above each, respective sensor  24 , a light source  18  is arranged. With this arrangement, no screen or apron as shown in  FIG. 1  is necessary; however, the individual polymerization areas  24  are screened from one another via intermediate walls  4 .  
         [0058]     It should be understood that instead of the linear arrangement with three intermediate walls, also in practice a two-dimensional arrangement is possible, so that, for example, a total of  16 , that is four times four, dental restorations can be polymerized at the same time.  
         [0059]     For the light sources  18  and the sensors  24 , switching off can be realized depending on the existing degree of polymerization via a single central control device  26 .  
         [0060]     According to the present invention, the degree of polymerization of the dental material to be polymerized is monitored continually during the polymerization. The switching-off or the reduction of the radiation, which is supplied to the polymerization area, is controlled depending on how far the polymerization has advanced. For measurement of the degree of polymerization, surprisingly in a very simple manner, the natural radiation of the dental material is used during the polymerization.  
         [0061]     If, for example, poly-methyl-meta-acrylate (PMMA) is used as the primary component of the dental material to be polymerized, a highly exothermic reaction during the polymerization is provided, which can be monitored easily in this regard. With such dental material, a heating exists, that is, an output of thermal radiation in the infrared region, which is detectable with the sensor of the present invention.  
         [0062]     In  FIG. 3 , a diagram for an exemplary representation of the wavelengths used is shown. The light exiting from the light sources  18  is either UV-A and/or violet and has an emission maximum  36  of approximately 400 nm in the embodiment shown. In contrast, the thermal radiation emitted from the heat sources  20  has an emission maximum 38 of 800 nm, for example lying then in the near infrared range. The maximum spectral sensitivity of the sensor used lies in the embodiment shown at approximately 3000 nm, that is, in a mid wavelength infrared range. With this selection of the wavelengths used, there is only a very minimal overlapping region between the emission curve of the heat sources  20  and the sensitivity curve of the sensor  24  as can be seen from  FIG. 3 .  
         [0063]     From  FIG. 4 , it can be seen how the output signal  40  of the sensor can be used to control the light sources  18  via the control device  26 . Over time, the radiation detected from the sensor, which produces the output signal  40 , is registered.  
         [0064]     With the switching-on of the light source  18 , the sensor signal rises to the timepoint t 1 . Up to this timepoint, the polymerization is performed with uniform polymerization progress, so that the natural radiation increases uniformly. Depending on the mass of the dental material used, however, a minimal increase up to the maximum of the natural radiation and the maximum output signal  40  of the sensor takes place earlier or later, up to the timepoint t 2 . Subsequently, the sensor signal  40  decreases, and as soon as this is determined at timepoint t 3 , switching-off of the light source  18  occurs.  
         [0065]     A modified control by the control device  26  is shown in  FIG. 5 . With this solution, the switch-off takes place already with a maximum of the sensor signal  40 , that is, at timepoint t 2 , and shortly after the gradient of the sensor signal has decreased.  
         [0066]      FIG. 6  shows a further modified embodiment of a device  10  of the present invention. With this solution, a light source  18  is arranged centrally above the dental material  14 , while sensors  24  are arranged laterally and inclined at an angle above the dental material  14 . An angle  42  between the optical axes of the sensors and light source can be adapted in further areas to the requirements.  
         [0067]      FIGS. 7 and 8  show modified embodiments of the device of the present invention, which have additional photo conducting elements. With the embodiment of  FIG. 7 , a photo conducting assembly  44  is provided, which has at least one optical fiber. A convex lens (not shown in  FIG. 7 ) also is included with the photo conducting element, which collects radiation emitted from the light source  18  and conducts it to the photo conducting rod  46 . Here also, in a known manner, an edge filter can be provided for screening long-wave radiation.  
         [0068]     The photo conducting rod  46  comprises a plurality of adjacently arranged optical fibers (see  FIG. 10  and  11 ). While the impingement-optical fibers  50  extend axially through the photo conducting rod  46  and impinge the dental material  14  with light radiation, detection-optical fibers  52  are bent to the side, and indeed, into the center of the photo conducting rod  46 . There, they form a light outlet  54 , via which the detection radiation is conducted to the sensor  24 .  
         [0069]     Compared to the embodiment of  FIG. 7 , the detection-optical fibers  52  in the embodiment of  FIG. 8  are completely pulled through the photo conducting rod. The detection radiation  56  in this embodiment moves accordingly from the polymerization area  14  through the photo conducting rod  46  and contacts the sensors  24 , which are arranged adjacently on the outer periphery of the light conducting rod  46 , but above the light source  18 .  
         [0070]      FIG. 9  shows how the impingement-optical fibers  50  and the detection-optical fibers  52  can run parallel to one another in the photo conducting rod. A plurality of corresponding optical fibers is provided in a suitable distribution, whereby  FIGS. 10 and 11  show schematically the arrangement of the impingement-optical fibers  50  and the detection-optical fibers  52 . It should be understood that the arrangement of these optical fibers in a common photo conducting rod is preferred, although, basically, also the formation of two photo conducting rods is possible.  
         [0071]      FIG. 12  shows that the device  10  of the present invention also can be realized in the form of a hand-held device. Also, with this solution, a sensor  24  is arranged above a light source  18 , whereby the photo conducting rod  46  has detection- and impingement-optical fibers.  
         [0072]     Via the offset end of the photo conducting rod, the dental material  14  can be impinged, as soon as the hand-held device  10  is switched on via the switch-on button  60 . The accumulators  64  accommodated in the handle  62  of the hand-held device  20  supply the light source  18  in a known manner with energy, and the switching-off takes place as soon as it is determined in dependence on the output signal of the sensor  24  that the polymerization is completed.  
         [0073]     The present invention is, of course, in no way restricted to the specific disclosure of the specification and drawings, but also encompasses any modifications within the scope of the appended claims.  
         [0074]     While a preferred form of this invention has been described above and shown in the accompanying drawings, it should be understood that applicant does not intend to be limited to the particular details described above and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, but intends to be limited only to the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims. In this regard, the term “means for” as used in the claims is intended to include not only the designs illustrated in the drawings of this application and the equivalent designs discussed in the text, but it is also intended to cover other equivalents now known to those skilled in the art, or those equivalents which may become known to those skilled in the art in the future.