System and method for detecting substances related to oral health

• US 20060141421A1
• Filed: 12/28/2004
• Published: 06/29/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Inventors: MacDonald, John Gavin, Wagner, Eric F., Braunecker, Laura F.
• Application Number:
  US11/027,667
• Publication Number:
  US 20060141421A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 433/215
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0088 for oral or dental tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/082 Evaluation by breath analysis, e.g. determination of the chemical composition of exhaled breath A61B5/083, A61B5/091 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/145 Measuring characteristics of blood in vivo, e.g. gas concentration, pH value; Measuring characteristics of body fluids or tissues, e.g. interstitial fluid, cerebral tissuemeasuring of blood pressure or blood flow A61B5/02; non-radiation detecting or locating of foreign bodies in blood A61B5/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14539 for measuring pH
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/497 of gaseous biological material, e.g. breath

Abstract

The present invention relates to a low cost and portable system and method for detecting substances related to oral health. In one example embodiment, the system includes a sensor that is incorporated into an oral healthcare device (e.g., a toothbrush). The sensor detects bacterial and/or chemical levels that are within a mouth in order to provide an indication as to the presence of oral malodor and/or bacteria within the mouth.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a body that includes a handle and a head attached to the handle, the head being detachable from the handle; and

a sensor attached to the body, the sensor being adapted to detect a substance that influences oral health when the system is placed near a mouth.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the sensor is within the handle.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the sensor is within the head.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the head includes bristles.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the head is movable relative to the handle when the head is attached to the handle.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the sensor is an electronic sensor.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the sensor is chemically altered as the sensors sensor detects the substance that influences oral health.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the sensor changes color as the sensor detects the substance that influences oral health.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the sensor detects the substance that influences oral health when the system is placed within the mouth.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the sensor detects gases.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the sensor detects the substance within saliva.

5. (canceled)

13. A method comprising:

placing a system near a mouth, the system including a body having a handle and a head that is attached to the handle, the system further including a sensor that is attached to the body, wherein the head includes bristles such that placing the system near the mouth includes brushing teeth within the mouth using the bristles; and

detecting the presence of a substance that influences oral health using the system.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein detecting the presence of the substance that influences oral health includes detecting gases.

17. The method of claim 13 wherein detecting the presence of the substance that influences oral health includes detecting bacteria within the mouth.

18. The method of claim 13 further comprising displaying information on the system that indicates a level of the substance which is detected by the system.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein displaying information on the system includes displaying a color that indicates a level of the substance which is detected by the system.

20. The method of claim 13 further comprising regenerating the sensor to allow the system to again detect the presence of the substance that influences oral health.

14-15. -15. (canceled)

21. A system comprising:

a finger glove; and

a sensor attached to the finger glove, the sensor being adapted to detect a substance that influences oral health when the finger glove is placed in a mouth.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein the sensor is an electronic sensor.

23. The system of claim 21 wherein the sensor is chemically altered as the sensors sensor detects the substance that influences oral health.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein the sensor changes color as the sensor detects the substance that influences oral health.

25. The system of claim 21 wherein the sensor detects the substance within saliva.

26. A method comprising:

placing a system near a mouth, the system including a finger glove and a sensor that is attached to the finger glove; and

detecting the presence of a substance that influences oral health using the system.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein detecting the presence of the substance that influences oral health includes detecting bacteria within the mouth.

28. The method of claim 26 further comprising displaying information on the system that indicates a level of the substance which is detected by the system.

29. The method of claim 28 where displaying information on the system includes displaying a color that indicates a level of the substance which is detected by the system.

30. The method of claim 26 further comprising regenerating the sensor to allow the system to again detect the presence of the substance that influences oral health.

31. A system comprising:

a dental implement; and

a sensor attached to the dental implement, the sensor being adapted to detect a substance that influences oral health when the system is placed within a mouth, wherein the sensor changes color as the sensor detects the substance that influences oral health.

32. The system of claim 31 wherein the dental implement is a mouthpiece.

33. The system of claim 31 wherein the sensor is an electronic sensor.

34. The system of claim 31 wherein the sensor is chemically altered as the sensor detects the substance that influences oral health.

35. (canceled)

36. A method comprising:

placing a system within a mouth, the system including a dental implement and a sensor that is attached to the dental implement such that placing the system within the mouth includes engaging the dental implement with teeth within the mouth; and

detecting the presence of a substance that influences oral health using the system.

37. The method of claim 36 wherein the dental implement is a mouthpiece such that placing the system within the mouth includes placing the mouthpiece over teeth within the mouth.

38. The method of claim 36 wherein detecting the presence of the substance that influences oral health includes detecting bacteria within the mouth.

39. The method of claim 36 further comprising displaying information on the system that indicates a level of the substance which is detected by the system.

40. The method of claim 36 further comprising regenerating the sensor to allow the system to again detect the presence of the substance that influences oral health.