PHOTOCATALYSIS PROCESS TOOTHBRUSH

• US 20080131834A1
• Filed: 11/28/2007
• Published: 06/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: OraLucent, LLC.
• Original Assignee: Techlight Systems, LLC
• Inventors: Shepherd, Benjamin Gregory, Barnes, Charlene Adele
• Application Number:
  US11/946,263
• Publication Number:
  US 20080131834A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 433/29
• 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 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: A61N 2005/0606 Mouth
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0662 Visible light
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0601 Apparatus for use inside the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0603 for treatment of body cavities
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/062 Photodynamic therapy, i.e. excitation of an agent
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0624 for eliminating microbes, germs, bacteria on or in the body

Abstract

A photocatalysis process toothbrush comprising a handle with a grip at a proximal end and a head at a distal end thereof. The head has at least one group of bristles and at least one blue light emitter is provided on an upper surface of the head for emitting blue light in a direction generally parallel to the bristles. At least one blue light source is provided for radiating blue light, in a wavelength band between 420 nm to 480 nm, and a power source is provided for energizing the at least one blue light source. The blue light is at least one of modulated emission with an average optical output power level of less than 5 watts.

Claims

1. A photocatalysis process toothbrush comprising:

a handle having a grip at a proximal end and a head at a distal end thereof;

the head including at least one group of bristles;

the head having at least one blue light emitter for emitting blue light in a direction generally parallel to the at least one group of bristles;

a power source for energizing the at least one blue light source; and

at least one blue light source for radiating blue light in a wavelength band between 420 nm to 480 nm.

2. The photocatalysis process toothbrush of claim 1, wherein the at least one blue light source is located contiguously with the head.

3. The photocatalysis process toothbrush of claim 1, wherein the at least one blue light source is located in the handler and the toothbrush further includes

at least one blue light conductor for conducting the blue light along the handle from the at least one blue light source to the at least one blue light emitter.

4. The photocatalysis process toothbrush of claim 3, wherein the at least one blue light conductor includes at least one of:

a blue light conducting fiber;

a blue light conductive material forming at least the head of the toothbrush;

a tunnel passage;

a reflective path; and

at least one blue light lens.

5. The photocatalysis process toothbrush of claim 3, wherein the head further includes at least one blue light reflecting surface for redirecting the blue light from an arrival path from the at least one blue light source in the handle in a direction generally parallel to the at least one group of bristles.

6. The photocatalysis process toothbrush of claim 1, wherein the blue light emitters include at least one group of blue light conductive bristles coupled to the at least one blue light source for emitting the blue light from remote ends of the at least one group of blue light conductive bristles.

7. The photocatalysis process toothbrush of claim 1, further comprising a neck having a connectable junction joining the handle and the head, wherein the connectable junction includes one of:

a blue light optical connector for forming a blue light transmission path between the at least one blue light source in the handle and the at least one blue light emitter located on the upper surface of the head, and

an electrical connector for forming an electrical connection between the power source in the handle and the at least one blue light source contiguous with the head.

8. The photocatalysis process toothbrush of claim 1, wherein the blue light radiated by the at least one blue light source has an average power level of less than 1 watt.

9. The photocatalysis process toothbrush of claim 8, wherein the blue light radiated by the at least one blue light source is a continuous blue light emission.

10. The photocatalysis process toothbrush of claim 8, wherein the blue light radiated by the at least one blue light source is a modulated blue light emission.

11. The photocatalysis process toothbrush of claim 10, wherein the modulated blue light emission is at a frequency of between about 6 and about 60 Hertz.

12. The photocatalysis process toothbrush of claim 1, wherein the blue light radiated by the at least one blue light source comprises a combination of a continuous blue light emission and a modulated blue light emission and the combination blue light emission has an average power level of less than 5 watts.

13. The photocatalysis process toothbrush of claim 1, wherein the photocatalytic agent is one of a modified TiO₂ semiconductor type materials, a catalytic n-type semiconductor material, and an organic dye which photocatalytically responsive to blue light radiation.

14. The photocatalysis process toothbrush of claim 1, wherein the power source is one of a non-rechargeable battery and a rechargeable battery.

15. A photocatalysis process toothbrush comprising:

a handle having a grip at a proximal end and a head at a distal end thereof;

the head including at least one group of bristles;

the head having at least one blue light emitter for emitting blue light in a direction generally parallel to the at least one group of bristles;

a power source for energizing the at least one blue light source;

at least one blue light source modulated from 0% to 100% at a frequency of between a two (2) and two hundred (200) Hertz with an average optical output power level of less than 5 watts for radiating blue light in a wavelength band between 420 nm to 480 nm; and

the at least one blue light source is located in the handle, and the handle includes at least one blue light conductor for conducting the blue light along the handle from the at least one blue light source to the at least one blue light emitter.

16. The photocatalysis process toothbrush of claim 15, wherein the at least one blue light conductor includes at least one of:

a blue light conducting fiber;

a blue light conductive material forming at least the head of the toothbrush;

a tunnel passage;

a reflective path; and

at least one blue light lens.

17. The photocatalysis process toothbrush of claim 15, wherein the blue light emitters include at least one group of blue light conductive bristles coupled to the at least one blue light source for emitting the blue light from remote ends of the at least one group of blue light conductive bristles.

18. The photocatalysis process toothbrush of claim 15, wherein the head further includes at least one blue light reflecting surface for redirecting the blue light from an arrival path from the at least one blue light source in the handle in a direction generally parallel to the at least one group of bristles.

19. The photocatalysis process toothbrush of claim 15, wherein the blue light radiated by the at least one blue light source comprises a blue light emission that may be modulated from 0% to 100% at a frequency of between two (2) and two hundred (200) Hertz with an average optical output power level of less than 5 watts.

20. A method of forming a toothbrush with a photocatalysis process toothbrush the method comprising the steps of:

providing a handle with a grip at a proximal end and a head at a distal end thereof;

mounting at least one group of bristles to the head;

locating at least one blue light emitter so as to emit blue light in a direction generally parallel to the at least one group of bristles;

energizing the at least one blue light source with a power source;

locating the at least one blue light source in the handle, and the handle includes at least one blue light conductor for conducting the blue light along the handle from the at least one blue light source to the at least one blue light emitter; and

radiating blue light, within a wavelength band between 420 nm to 480 nm and having an average power level of less than 5 watts, from at least one blue light source for and the blue light radiated by the at least one blue light source is one of an amplitude modulated emission from 0% to 100% at a frequency of between two (2) and two hundred (200) Hertz.