There is provided a personal care apparatus that is configured to connect to a display apparatus. The personal care apparatus comprises a first control unit configured to: determine a current operation mode of the personal care apparatus as a usage mode or a control mode, and detect a first predetermined user maneuver. The first predetermined user maneuver corresponds to a control operation of the personal care apparatus in the usage mode and corresponds to a control operation of the display apparatus in control mode. When the first predetermined user maneuver is detected, the first control unit is further configured to: perform the control operation of the personal care apparatus if the determined current operation mode is the usage mode, or transmit a control signal corresponding to the control operation of the display apparatus to the display apparatus if the determined current operation mode is the control mode.

A device and a method for determining a position of a user's body portion. The device includes a camera, configured to capture the body portion, and a display for providing visual feedback. A sensor determines at least one of a roll angle, a pitch angle, and a yaw angle of the device, and an interface receives picture data related to a pictorial representation of the body portion captured and sensor data related to the determined angle of the device. An analyzer analyzes, based on the picture data, whether the captured body portion is within a predetermined region of the picture and, based on the sensor data, whether at least one of the roll angle, the pitch angle, and the yaw angle is within a predetermined angle range. The method includes capturing the body portion, providing visual feedback, receiving angle data, receiving picture data, and analyzing whether the captured body portion is within a predetermined region and whether at least one of the roll, pitch, and yaw angles is within a predetermined angle range.

Provided are a toothbrush module, a toothbrush attachment, a brushing assistance system, a brushing evaluation system, a brushing assistance device, and a brushing assistance program that ease obtainment of a brushing action of a user even during brushing.

A toothbrush attachment (2) includes: a sensor unit (21) that detects a predetermined physical quantity; a wireless transmission unit (22) that transmits a radio signal indicating the physical quantity detected by the sensor unit (21); a housing unit (201) that houses the sensor unit (21) and the wireless transmission unit (22); and a coupling mechanism (202) that removably attaches the housing unit (201) to a toothbrush (4). A wireless terminal device (3) includes a wireless receiver (31) that receives a radio signal and obtains the physical quantity, a music output unit (354) that outputs an image or sound so as to support brushing by a user with the toothbrush (4) based on the physical quantity, a figure display control unit (363), and a notification unit (373).

A toothbrush includes a brush head having a capsule receiving zone sized to receive a dentrifice capsule. A plurality angled bristles may retain the capsule in such zone. Loading of such toothbrush with a capsule may be performed with a dispenser including a toothbrush manipulation element adapted to move a retention structure associated with the brush head, and dispensation element adapted to deliver the capsule into the receiving zone. Such dispenser may include a desiccant material disposed to receive moisture from a capsule storage container. A dispenser may further include a plurality of toothbrush insertion apertures each adapted to receive a portion of a different toothbrush, so as to enable multiple users each having different toothbrushes to use the same dispenser without requiring contact between multiple brushes and single capsule interface surface of the dispenser.

A toothbrush can include a handle and a head. At least one bristle can be attached to the head. The toothbrush can also have an illumination member, an illumination circuit and an activation device. A pliant base on the handle can be used to activate the activation device to initiate the illumination circuit.

A handheld tool includes a handle; an implement mount configured to detachably accept and to rigidly hold a user-assistive implement; an actuator assembly mounted to the handle to physically manipulate the implement mount relative to the handle; a first sensor disposed to sense an orientation of the handle; a second sensor disposed to sense an orientation of the user-assistive implement; a controller disposed in or on the handle and coupled to the actuator assembly and the first and second sensors; and memory coupled to the controller. The memory stores instructions for identifying a type of the user-assistive implement attached to the implement mount, selecting a behavior routine based upon the type of the user-assistive implement identified, and manipulating the user-assistive implement relative to the handle according to the behavior routine to aid performance of a task with the handheld tool.

A motion tracking element for an oral hygiene element such as a toothbrush. The motion tracking element may be detachably coupled to the oral hygiene element. The motion tracking element may include a body having an outer surface, a portion of the outer surface having a pattern that includes a plurality of indicators with a non-circular shape. The indicators may be flush with and form part of the outer surface. A plurality of visual markers may be located on the outer surface, each of the visual markers having a circular shape. The plurality of visual markers may be formed integrally with the body. A method for estimating a pose of an oral hygiene device may be achieved using the motion tracking element.

In one embodiment, the invention can be an oral care system that includes a toothbrush; a programmable processor configured to receive oral characteristic data indicative of an oral characteristic of a user; and determine for the user, based at least in part on the oral characteristic data, at least one of a suggested brushing routine and a brushing evaluation for a brushing session.

A personal care product (e.g., an electric toothbrush) may include a treating portion (e.g., cleaning elements) configured to clean one or more teeth of a user of the personal care product. The personal care product may include a handle used for gripping the personal care product. A communication interface may be configured to receive signals from one or more digital devices. The received signals may include a user profile. The user profile may include an identity (e.g., identity of the user profile) and/or instructions for operating the personal care product. A processor may be configured to receive the user profile from the communication interface. The processor may be configured to cause the personal care product to perform operations according to the instructions of the user profile.

A computer-implemented method including deriving a health profile of a user from a sample taken from the user and displaying a representation of the health profile on a display, wherein the representation of the health profile includes a list of undesirable oral health characteristics that are detectable from the sample. The representation of the health profile may also include a list of desirable oral health characteristics that are detectable from the sample. Furthermore, a user may select one of the undesirable health characteristics, and in response an indication of historical values associated within he selected one of the undesirable health characteristics may be displayed on the display.