Apparatus and method for controlled fluid cooling during laser based dental treatments
A system for dental tissue treatment includes a system for directing a laser beam to an area of dental tissue to be treated, and a fluid-delivery system for directing and controlling a flow of a fluid. The fluid is directed to at least a portion of the area to be treated and the fluid flow is controlled to substantially prevent both a change in laser energy absorption by the dental tissue and attenuation of treatment efficiency due to fluid interference with the laser beam. The fluid present in at least a portion of the area to be treated may prevent or reduce the likelihood of melting of enamel in that area.
1. An apparatus for dental tissue treatment, the apparatus comprising:
a laser source for generating a laser beam having a wavelength in a range from 5 μm to 15 μm that is absorbed in hydroxyapatite in dental tissue;
a system for directing the laser beam to an area of dental tissue to be treated;
a controller for controlling the laser beam; and
a fluid-delivery system comprising a fluid flow switch adapted to detect bubbles in a flow of a fluid comprising a liquid,
the controller being adapted to automatically turn off the laser beam in response to the fluid flow switch detection bubbles in the fluid flow,
the fluid-delivery system being adapted for directing and controlling the flow of the fluid comprising the liquid to at least a portion of the area to be treated to substantially prevent a change in laser energy absorption by the dental tissue and attenuation of treatment efficiency due to fluid interference with the laser beam.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the fluid-delivery system is configured to adjust a rate of flow of the liquid.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the fluid further comprises a gas.
4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the fluid-delivery system is configured to adjust a rate of flow of the gas.
5. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the fluid-delivery system is configured to adjust a pressure of the gas flow in the range from 0 psi up to 80 psi.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the fluid-delivery system is configured to adjust a rate of flow of the fluid.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the fluid-delivery system is configured to adjust a pressure of the fluid flow in the range from 0 psi up to 80 psi.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
the fluid-delivery system comprises a positive displacement pump for controlling the flow of the fluid;
the pump operates at a frequency of up to 750 rpm; and
the frequency of the pump controls a rate of flow of the liquid.
9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the positive displacement pump comprises a peristaltic pump.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
the fluid is delivered using a nozzle forming a plurality of orifices.
11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the nozzle forms up to 10 orifices.
12. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein each orifice of the plurality of orifices has a diameter in a range from 0.008 inches up to 0.15 inches.
13. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of orifices are disposed about a rim of the nozzle.
14. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the dental tissue is a hard dental tissue.
15. A method for dental tissue treatment, comprising:
generating a laser beam having a wavelength in a range from 5 μm to 15 μm that is absorbed in hydroxyapatite in dental tissue;
directing the laser beam to an area of dental tissue to be treated;
detecting bubbles in a fluid flow comprising a liquid using a fluid flow switch;
turning off the laser beam in response automatically with a controller; and
directing and controlling the flow of the fluid comprising the liquid to at least a portion of the area to be treated to substantially prevent a change in laser energy absorption by the dental tissue and attenuation of treatment efficiency due to fluid interference with the laser beam.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein a rate of flow of the liquid is adjusted.
17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the fluid further comprises a gas.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein a rate of flow of the gas is adjusted.
19. The method of claim 17 , wherein a pressure of the gas flow is adjusted such that the pressure is in a range from 0 psi up to 80 psi.
20. The method of claim 15 , wherein a rate of flow of the fluid is adjusted.
21. The method of claim 15 , wherein a pressure of the fluid flow is adjusted such that the pressure is in a range from 0 psi up to 80 psi.
22. The method of claim 15 , wherein:
the controlling the flow of the fluid comprises pumping the fluid using a positive displacement pump;
the controlling the flow of the liquid comprises operating the pump at a frequency of up to 750 rpm; and
the frequency of the pump controls a rate of flow of the liquid.
23. The method of claim 22 , wherein the positive displacement pump comprises a peristaltic pump.
24. The method of claim 15 , wherein:
the fluid is delivered using a nozzle forming a plurality of orifices.
25. The method of claim 24 , wherein the nozzle forms up to 10 orifices.
26. The method of claim 24 , wherein each orifice of the plurality of orifices has a diameter in a range from 0.008 inches up to 0.15 inches.
27. The method of claim 24 , wherein the plurality of orifices are disposed about a rim of the nozzle.
28. The method of claim 15 , wherein the dental tissue is a hard dental tissue.