Patent ID: 7195482

Claim:
A dental curing light, comprising: an elongated hollow housing having a proximal end and a distal end, with a handle portion disposed between the proximal and distal ends; a light source disposed at the distal end of the housing; electronic circuitry disposed within the handle portion of the housing for controlling the light source; and a heat sink disposed within the elongated hollow housing for transferring heat generated by the light source away from the distal end and for dissipating the heat that is transferred away from the light source, said heat sink comprising first and second portions which are juxtaposed end-to-end and which together essentially fill the elongated hollow housing, the first portion of the heat sink comprising a first elongated solid metallic portion having proximal and distal ends, said distal end in thermal contact with the light source and extending from the light source and essentially filling the hollow elongated housing from the distal end to the handle portion of the elongated housing; the second portion of the heat sink comprising a second elongated portion comprised of a polymer-based material that is not electrically conductive, said second portion being juxtaposed and in thermal contact with the first elongated solid metallic portion at its proximal end, said second elongated portion extending through and essentially filling said handle portion of the hollow housing and surrounding at least a portion of the electronic circuitry contained therein.