3M ESPE received the silver Medical Design Excellence Award from the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society for the innovative design of 3M™ ESPE™ Elipar™ FreeLight Curing Light. This marks the second consecutive year a 3M ESPE product has won this award. In 2001, 3M™ ESPE™ Prompt™ L-Pop™ All-In-One Dental Adhesive received a silver award for its innovative delivery system.
Elipar FreeLight curing light, recognized in the "Dental Instruments, Equipment and Supplies" category, is an advanced LED (Light Emitting Diode) curing light that requires less than 10 percent of the electrical power consumed by conventional halogen lights. The small, cordless handpiece is designed for user comfort and flexibility.
Canon Communications LLC, the publisher of Medical Device & Diagnostic Industry magazine and a trade show producer, honored 3M ESPE at the Medical Design & Manufacturing (MD&M) East 2002 Conference and Exposition in June in New York. The fifth annual awards program recognized product innovation, design and engineering excellence, end-user benefit, and cost-effectiveness in manufacturing and healthcare delivery.
"The Elipar FreeLight curing light is considerably lighter than the handpieces of halogen lights," said Jemma Yang, 3M ESPE marketing manager. "The compact, cordless curing light is designed for precision and ease-of-use in "blind" situations or when there is limited space."
When compared with conventional halogen lights, the 3M™ ESPE™ Elipar™ FreeLight Curing Light generates minimal heat during operation, so no fan is required. This absence of a fan allows the unit to be quickly and easily cleaned.
The Elipar FreeLight curing light puts the controls at dentists' fingertips with a built-in microprocessor in the handpiece that controls the light's intensity, so that the light output remains constant. The curing light offers four settings for cure times between 10 and 40 seconds, providing constant, full-light intensity throughout the entire curing time.
The charging base of the Elipar FreeLight curing light provides additional features, including a light meter to test the light's intensity. Additionally, the base provides optimum recharging -- protecting the battery and minimizing memory effect. Once the light is charged, it provides continuous cordless operation for 45 minutes, allowing the light to be easily taken from one operatory to the next.
