Patent classifications
A61C17/221
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING MOTIVATION FEEDBACK TO A USER BEFORE BRUSHING
An oral cleaning system provides motivating feedback to a user before brushing and includes: a power toothbrush (10); one or more sensors (26) on or within the toothbrush; a processor (30) within the toothbrush configured to process sensor information obtained from the one or more sensors during a first brushing session of a user; and a feedback system (40) on or within the toothbrush responsive to the processor and configured to communicate brushing information to the user at a time subsequent to the first brushing session but before a second brushing session of the user.
Oral Care Devices Held In-Mouth
Hands-free systems, devices and methods, adapted for brushing, cleaning and treating all of a user's teeth simultaneously, are provided. In some embodiments, such a device comprises brushes for cleaning all of a user's teeth simultaneously. In some embodiments, such a device includes a generally U-shaped channel(s), accepting, cleaning and/or treating all of a user's teeth simultaneously. Customized fluid jets within such devices are provided, introducing dentifrices and other treatments into the channels. In some embodiments, compartments and cartridges with a proprietary form factor for delivering dentifrice and other treatments and for disposing of waste without mess are provided. In some embodiments, data are gathered, analyzed and serve as the basis for a treatment plan, which may then be carried out by the system(s), device(s) and method(s), over time.
Personal hygiene device with treatment force measurement unit
A toothbrush has a handle and a treatment head mounted for movement relative to the handle against a spring force when a treatment force is applied in at least one treatment direction onto the treatment head. A treatment force measurement unit for determining the applied treatment force includes a capacitive force senor having a first electrode fixedly mounted with respect to the handle and a second electrode mounted at a distance from the first electrode. The second electrode is movably mounted with respect to the handle. A spring unit is arranged between the first and the second electrode. A control circuit determines at least one parameter indicative of the capacitance between the first and second electrodes, wherein the second electrode is mechanically coupled with the treatment head and is arranged to be moved relative to the first electrode when the treatment force is applied at the treatment head.
Cleaning appliance
A dental cleaning appliance includes a fluid delivery system for delivering a burst of working fluid to the teeth of a user; and a control circuit for controlling the delivery of the burst of working fluid to the teeth of a user. The appliance has a first operational mode in which the delivery of the burst of working fluid to the teeth of a user is inhibited and a second operational mode in which the burst of working fluid to the teeth of a user is permitted. During use of the appliance, the control circuit is arranged to effect a transition between the first operational mode and the second operational mode automatically depending on a detected operational parameter of the appliance.
Toothpaste dispensing toothbrush assembly
A toothpaste dispensing toothbrush assembly for brushing teeth includes a handle that has an open end for accessing an interior of the handle. A cylinder is filled with a toothpaste and the cylinder is insertable into the open end of the handle. A pump is positioned within the handle to pump the toothpaste outwardly from the cylinder when the pump is turned on. A toothbrush head is removably attachable to the handle to brush the user's teeth. The toothbrush head receives the toothpaste from the pump to deposit the toothpaste on the user's teeth. A vibration unit is integrated into the handle and the vibration unit vibrates the toothbrush head when the vibration unit is turned on.
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TEETH CLEANING
Embodiments are described wherein a system for brushing the teeth of a person comprises a master input device; a flexible teeth tray configured to at least partially encapsulate one or more of the teeth in a flexible substrate material, the flexible teeth tray comprising one or more vibratory transducers removably coupled to one or more brushing panels; and a controller operatively coupled to the master input device and the one or more vibratory transducers; wherein subject to an input from the master input device, the controller is configured to cause reciprocating brushing motion of the one or more brushing panels against a surface of the one or more encapsulated teeth, to clean the one or more teeth.
METHOD FOR DETERMINING OF MOVEMENT PATTERNS DURING A DENTAL TREATMENT
An electric toothbrush includes a brush head at an end of a handle, an acceleration sensor and/or a rotation sensor that detect(s) movement parameters of the electric toothbrush, a wireless communication interface that wirelessly transmits recorded data comprising the detected movements parameters of the electric toothbrush in a processed state and receives treatment mode data for operating the electric toothbrush, a pressure sensor that detects a contact pressure applied by the brush head to teeth and/or gums, at least one first outputting device that visually outputs signals or commands in accordance with the detected contact pressure or in accordance with the detected movement parameters, and at least one second outputting device that haptically outputs signals or commands, in the form of vibrations, in accordance with the detected contact pressure or in accordance with the detected movement parameters.
ATTACHMENT WITH RESONANT STRUCTURE FOR PERSONAL CARE APPLIANCE METHOD
A personal care appliance (10), or power toothbrush, comprises a handle (16) including a drive train (20), a motor controller (18), and an attachment (12) that includes a resonant structure (14). The motor controller (18) controls an operation of the drive train (20) to produce at least one of a first mechanical stimulus and a second mechanical stimulus, the first mechanical stimulus comprising a first cleaning motion (42) having a first resonant frequency, the second mechanical stimulus comprising a second movement having a second resonant frequency. The resonant structure (14) implements the first cleaning motion (42) and an additional resonant motion (44,46,48,50,52,60) as well as the cleaning motion (42).
Cleaning appliance
A dental cleaning appliance includes a handle, a fluid reservoir for storing a working fluid, and a fluid delivery system for receiving working fluid from the fluid reservoir, and for delivering the working fluid to the teeth of a user. The fluid reservoir is delimited by a wall and a movable member which is moveable relative to the wall to vary the volume of the fluid reservoir. An expansion chamber is located adjacent to the moveable member. The volume of the fluid reservoir decreases, and the volume of the expansion chamber increases, as fluid is supplied to the fluid delivery system during use of the appliance.
Oral care device
An oral care device may include: a body including a head; a plurality of teeth cleaning elements extending from the head; a first sacrificial electrode on the head; a second sacrificial electrode on the head and spaced apart from the first sacrificial electrode; a power source; and a controller configured to alternate between an ON state and an OFF state, wherein: in the ON state the controller operably couples the power source to the first and second sacrificial electrodes to create an electric potential between the first sacrificial electrode and the second sacrificial electrode, the electric potential having one of a first polarity and a second polarity, and for each successive transition from the OFF state to the ON state, the controller is configured to alternate between the first polarity and the second polarity.