Heating apparatus with a disinfection device

Abstract

A heating apparatus for heating and sterilizing or disinfecting a material used in dental treatment, the heating apparatus comprising a heating compartment with a heating element for heating all or part of the material within the heating compartment; at least one holder for receiving and holding at least a part of the material used in dental treatment inside the heating compartment; and an disinfection device having a light source for sterilizing all or part of the material within the heating compartment.

1 . A heating apparatus for heating and sterilizing or disinfecting a material used in dental treatment, the heating apparatus comprising:
 a heating compartment with a heating element for heating all or part of the material within the heating compartment;   at least one holder for receiving and holding at least a part of the material used in dental treatment inside the heating compartment; and   an disinfection device having a light source for sterilizing all or part of the material within the heating compartment.   
     
     
         2 . The heating apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the light source emits ultra violet light. 
     
     
         3 . The heating apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the holder is an actuating member. 
     
     
         4 . The heating apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the actuating member includes at least a first position and a second position such that in the first position the heating element, the light source, or both are turned off and in the second position, the heating element, the light source, or both are turned on. 
     
     
         5 . The heating apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the actuating member includes an actuator, triggered by the detection the actuating member being in the second position, to enable both the heat to be output from the heating element and light to be output from the light source. 
     
     
         6 . The heating apparatus of  claim 3 , further comprising a light seal to block light output from the light source from exiting the heating compartment, wherein the material and/or the actuating member forms part of the compartment seal. 
     
     
         7 . The heating apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the material and/or the actuating member forms part of the compartment seal when the actuating member is in the second position. 
     
     
         8 . The heating apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the heating compartment is disposed within a housing, the heating compartment including an internal cavity that extends therein to an opening, which extends through a top surface of the housing. 
     
     
         9 . The heating apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the heat output and the light output may be pulsed at the same time or at different time. 
     
     
         10 . A method for heating and sterilizing or disinfecting a material used in dental treatment, comprising the steps of:
 inserting the material through an opening and into a cavity of a heating compartment that includes a heating element and an ultraviolet light source;   applying heat to the at least a portion of the material, with an intensity sufficient to soften the at least a portion of the material while juxtaposed to the heating element; and   applying ultraviolet light to the at least a portion of the material, with an intensity sufficient to sterilize or disinfect the at least a portion of the material while juxtaposed to the ultraviolet light source.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising the step of actuating movement of an actuating member, wherein the actuating member is moved from a first position in which the heating element, the light source, or both are turned off to a second position in which the heating element, the light source, or both are turned on. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the actuating movement step, at least a partial compartment seal is formed about the opening of the heating compartment using at least part of the material and/or the actuating member. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the actuating member is moved from the first position in which the heating element and the light source are both turned off to the second position in which the heating element and the light source are both turned on. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising the step of killing microorganisms on at least a portion of the material. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising the step of reflecting the heat source, light source, or both with a reflective surface within the cavity. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising sensing a temperature within the chamber; communicating the temperature to a CPU; and using the CPU to adjust the amount of time that the filling material portion is heated based on the sensed temperature. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising using a material selection control element to select a type of the material to be heated; communicating the selected material to a CPU; and using the CPU to adjust the amount of time that the material portion is heated based on the selected material. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising a heat sensor for measuring a temperature inside the heating compartment, the heat sensor being part of a control loop for controlling the temperature inside the heating compartment. 
     
     
         19 . The heating apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a rechargeable battery unit for powering the heating element.