The present invention relates to an illuminating instrument (1) for diagnostics, therapy or surgery of a body part, comprising: at least one optical fiber (4) for transmitting electromagnetic radiation directly from an electromagnetic radiation source (3) to the body part; and a housing (5) which supports the optical fiber (4); the optical axis of the light-output end of the optical fiber (4) circumferentially extends in an illumination portion (52a) in the housing (5) which is annular shaped and arranged to face the body part; the optical fiber (4) in the illumination portion (52a) has one or more diffusing regions (4a) for difusing the electromagnetic radiation to the outside of the optical fiber (4) through the circumferential surface (4b) thereof, a coupling device (2) which supports the electromagnetic radiation source (3) for generating the electromagnetic radiation, characterized by further comprising: a conversion means (6) which is supported by the housing (5) without directly contacting the electromagnetic radiation source (3), and arranged between the diffusing regions (4a) and the body part for converting the electromagnetic radiation into visible light for illuminating the body part, and wherein the light-entrance end of the optical fiber (4) is directly optically connected with the electromagnetic radiation source (3), wherein the conversion means (6) is outside an optical interface between the light-entrance end of the optical fiber (4) and the electromagnetic radiation source (3).

The invention relates to structures of a dental care unit used in dental care work. In the invention, a frame part of the dental care unit comprises a means to attach a vertically extending support part, and a cover structure (22) of the frame part comprises at least a first and a second cover part (22′, 22″). The support part extends vertically essentially from an area of a seam locus (23) between the cover parts, whereto is arranged a seam element (24). The seam element (24) is preferably arranged to emit light as controlled by a control system of the dental care unit. A dental care unit like this is specifically applicable for use in a dental care room or premises comprising several dental care units.

A medical/dental handpiece comprises a housing having distal portion, the head portion having a bottom surface defining an opening. A motor and a light source are positioned with the handpiece, and the handpiece removably receives a light guide in alignment with the light source, to receive light from the light source. The light guide includes a probe which can be positioned adjacent or within a treatment area. The handpiece can be operated to activate only the light source, such that light is directed through the probe to or into the treatment area, to activate only the motor to rotationally or reciprocatingly drive the light guide, or to activate both the light source and the motor.

A dental probe for determining the vitality of a tooth, comprising a light emitter and a light receiver, wherein the light emitter emits light from an emitter surface adapted to be positioned on a hard dental surface of a tooth, wherein the light receiver collects light incident on a receiver surface adapted to be positioned on a hard dental surface of the tooth so that the optical path of the light emitted from the light emitter passes at least through a portion of the pulp chamber of the tooth. The light receiver includes a light shielding spacer member adjacent to the optical path for establishing and maintaining a distance of at least 50 μm between the gum line and the optical path at the receiver surface. The light emitter further a light shielding spacer member adjacent to the optical path for establishing and maintaining a distance between the gum line and the optical path at the emitter surface, wherein the light shielding spacer member establishes and maintains a distance of at least 50 μm between the gum line and the optical path at the emitter surface, and in that an apical-coronal diameter of the light emitter surface and the light receiver surface is at most 1200 μm in the direction normal to the optical path.

An apparatus includes a probe and an illumination unit configured to output light. The apparatus includes a light focusing assembly comprising an image space lens, an object space lens and a focus changing assembly between the image space lens and the object space lens. The light focusing assembly has at least one of the following properties: 1) at least a portion of the focus changing assembly is located at a back focal length of the object space lens, 2) the light focusing assembly is free of moving parts, or 3) the light focusing assembly comprises double telecentric confocal optics. The apparatus includes a detector to measure characteristics of incident light returning from an illuminated patient's teeth and a processor coupled to the detector and configured to generate data representative of a topography of the patient's teeth based on the one or more measured characteristics of the incident light.

The invention relates to a projector construction (86) arranged both structurally and operatively integrated into a dental operating light (8) so as to be a part of the dental operating light (8) and wherein the dental operating light (8) illuminates a first area on a surface whereas the projector construction (86) is configured to project graphics, pictures and/or video in essentially the same direction as the operating light (8) on the surface, on a second area.

A connection adaptor device for dental tools that provides an ergonomic operation of dental tools. The connection adaptor device includes a connector body with a first end and a second end. A tool receiver port is located at the first end. The tool receiver port is configured to be releasably attachable to dental tools. A hose receiver port is located at the second end. The hose receiver port is configured to be releasably attachable to a suction hose. An airflow passageway connects the tool receiver port to the hose receiver port. The airflow passageway having a bend at acute angle.

Dental instrument assemblies (e.g., mouth pieces, bite blocks, vacuum dental mirrors, illuminated dental mirrors, illuminated dental wedges, trans-illumination dental instrument, illuminated dental bite blocks, etc.) are provided. The dental instrument assemblies may be adapted to be periodically sterilized. The dental instrument assemblies may include a magnetically energetic fiber optic coupler. The magnetically energetic fiber optic coupler may be configured to allow dental instrument adapter to rotate with respect to an associated fiber optic cable that is removably connected to the magnetically energetic fiber optic coupler. The dental instrument assemblies may include a fiber optic material that is encapsulated.

A dental light comprises at least one light emitting diode light source configured to produce a light beam and at least one collimating lens system situated to receive the light beam. The collimating lens system is configured to collect and collimate the light beam. The collimating lens system can additionally modify the beam through controlled diffusion or shape the beam using an aperture.

An oral care appliance having a housing, the housing having a first end, a second end that is at least partially transparent, and a cavity. The cavity having a light source and a light-diffusing fiber optically coupled to the light source and arranged within the second end of the housing wherein the light-diffusing fiber is arranged to produce a first light visible through the second end of the housing.