LIGHT-BASED TOOTHBRUSH

• US 20070111167A1
• Filed: 08/11/2006
• Published: 05/17/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Company
• Original Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Company
• Inventors: RUSSELL, BRUCE, PRENCIPE, MICHAEL, MOSKOVICH, ROBERT
• Application Number:
  US11/464,182
• Publication Number:
  US 20070111167A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 433/216
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/0002 Arrangements for enhancing monitoring or controlling the brushing process
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/0034 with a source of radiation, e.g. UV, IR, LASER, X-ray for irradiating the teeth and associated surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/0036 with a lighting means, e.g. laser, bulb A46B15/0034 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/0044 with light signalling means A46B15/0034, A46B15/0036 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 2200/1066 Toothbrush for cleaning the teeth or dentures A61C17/16 takes precedence; bristles arrangements for toothbrushes A46B9/04
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 9/04 Arranged like in or for toothbrushes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0071 by measuring fluorescence emission
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0088 for oral or dental tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4547 Evaluating teeth
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/34 driven by electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 19/004 Hand-held apparatus, e.g. guns
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 19/066 Bleaching devices; Whitening agent applicators for teeth, e.g. trays or strips

Abstract

A toothbrush uses light to deliver an oral care benefit such as the detection of plaque or the whitening of teeth. In one embodiment, a toothpaste formulation contains ultraviolet brighteners as a whitening ingredient that has a whitening or bleaching effect when in contact with ultraviolet radiation. The activation of the brighteners may occur through the use of a toothbrush having a UV source. In yet another embodiment, a toothpaste formulation contains an oxidizing agent as a whitening ingredient, the activation of which occurs through the use of a toothbrush having a source of light energy which includes LEDs in the bristle field.

Claims

1-48. -48. (canceled)

49. A tooth whitening system, comprising:

a powered toothbrush, including handle, a cleaning head being attached to the handle, the cleaning head having a movable section of tooth cleaning elements including at least one elastomeric member, and a fixed section of tooth cleaning elements, the movable section including an electromagnetic heat source provided by light emitting diodes; and

a carrier including a composition that is activated by the electromagnetic heat source of the toothbrush so as to whiten a tooth of a user.

50. The tooth whitening system of claim 49, wherein the electromagnetic heat source provides an infrared light.

51. The tooth whitening system of claim 49, wherein the electromagnetic heat source provides an ultraviolet light.

52. The tooth whitening system of claim 50, wherein the light emitting diodes are disposed in the fixed section and the movable section of the head.

53. The tooth whitening system of claim 52, wherein the movable section is configured for a linear movement.

54. The tooth whitening system of claim 52, wherein the movable section is configured for side-to-side movement.

55. The tooth whitening system of claim 52, wherein the fixed section includes an elastomeric tooth cleaning element.

56. The tooth whitening system of claim 55, wherein the electromagnetic heat source is selectively actuated by a switch on the handle.

57. The tooth whitening system of claim 56, wherein the switch actuates the movable section.

58. The tooth whitening system of claim 49, wherein the light emitting diodes are axially aligned.

60. A method of whitening a tooth of a user, comprising:

applying a carrier to a tooth, the carrier including a composition that is activated by an electromagnetic heat source of a toothbrush so as to whiten the tooth;

electrically moving an elastomeric tooth cleaning element of the toothbrush on a surface of the tooth relative to a fixed section of tooth cleaning elements of the toothbrush; and

activating the electromagnetic heat source provided by light emitting diodes.

61. The method of claim 60, wherein the electromagnetic heat source provides an infrared light.

62. The method of claim 60, wherein the electromagnetic heat source provides an ultraviolet light.

63. The method of claim 60, wherein the carrier comprises an oxidizing agent.