Oral hygiene devices employing an acoustic waveguide
First Claim
1. An oral hygiene device that is user-activatable to initiate an operating cycle comprising:
- a device head support structure having an acoustic waveguide and at least one bristle tuft projecting from the support structure;
an ultrasound transducer acoustically coupled to the acoustic waveguide that operates, during the operating cycle, to produce ultrasonic energy at frequencies of less than 1500 kHz; and
a motor mechanically coupled to the support structure that operates, during the operating cycle, to produce oscillation at sonic frequencies of less than 1000 Hz and to produce oscillation of the bristle tips at a velocity of less than 1.5 m/sec.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An oral hygiene device having an ultrasound transducer 22 and an acoustic waveguide 24 facilitating the transmission of ultrasonic acoustic energy to fluids in the oral cavity is disclosed. Preferred ultrasound operating parameters for operation in aqueous environments and in dental slurries are disclosed. Devices may incorporate a drive motor 16 for oscillating a device head 23, acoustic waveguide 24 and one or more bristle tuft(s) 26 at sonic frequencies, and preferred sonic operating parameters are also provided. Multi-element piezoelectric transducer assemblies 30, 40, and various control and communications features are disclosed. Oral hygiene devices disclosed herein achieve improved plaque and stain removal from the teeth as well as interproximal and subgingival regions, while enhancing the user experience, massaging the gums, stimulating dental tissue, and disrupting biofilm.
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Citations
44 Claims
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1. An oral hygiene device that is user-activatable to initiate an operating cycle comprising:
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a device head support structure having an acoustic waveguide and at least one bristle tuft projecting from the support structure;
an ultrasound transducer acoustically coupled to the acoustic waveguide that operates, during the operating cycle, to produce ultrasonic energy at frequencies of less than 1500 kHz; and
a motor mechanically coupled to the support structure that operates, during the operating cycle, to produce oscillation at sonic frequencies of less than 1000 Hz and to produce oscillation of the bristle tips at a velocity of less than 1.5 m/sec. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An oral hygiene device that is user-activatable to commence an operating cycle comprising:
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a motor mechanically coupled to a support structure that operates, during the operating cycle, to produce vibration at sonic frequencies of less than 2000 Hz;
an ultrasound transducer that operates, during the operating cycle, to produce ultrasonic energy at frequencies of less than 1500 kHz; and
at least one controller that controls operation of the ultrasound transducer and the motor during the operating cycle;
wherein the output of the ultrasound transducer and motor are variable during an operating cycle. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17)
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18. An oral hygiene device comprising:
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a support structure having an acoustic waveguide and at least one bristle tuft comprising a plurality of bristles projecting from the support structure;
an ultrasound transducer acoustically coupled to the acoustic waveguide that operates, during the operating cycle, to produce ultrasonic energy at frequencies of less than 1500 kHz; and
a motor mechanically coupled to the support structure that operates, during an operating cycle, to vibrate the bristle tips at a peak bristle tip velocity of less than 1.5 m/sec and at a peak bristle amplitude of less than 2.2 mm. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. An oral hygiene device comprising:
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a support structure having at least one implement projecting from the support structure;
an ultrasound transducer assembly acoustically coupled to the implement and an ultrasound drive circuit and power supply in operative communication with the ultrasound transducer assembly to drive the transducer assembly to produce ultrasonic energy during an operating cycle; and
a transformer assembly that inductively couples and transfers power from the ultrasound drive circuit to the ultrasound transducer. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35)
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36. A device head adapted for detachable attachment to a device handle having a power source, comprising:
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an implement projecting from a device head support structure; and
an ultrasound transducer having multiple piezoelectric elements connected mechanically in series and electrically in parallel acoustically coupled to the implement.
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37. A device head adapted for detachable attachment to a device handle having a power source, comprising
an implement projecting from a device head support structure, the implement adapted to be powered by a power source; - and
a transformer coil and core mounted in the device head and adapted to cooperate with a transformer coil and core mounted in the device handle to inductively couple power from the device handle to the device head.
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38. An ultrasound transducer assembly comprising:
at least two piezoelectric elements arranged in a cooperating configuration in which the elements are arranged mechanically in series, each piezoelectric element having electrically conductive material associated with one or more surfaces and each piezoelectric element being electrically connected to another piezoelectric element in parallel. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
Specification