PHOTOCATALYSIS PROCESS TOOTHBRUSH

• US 20090083924A1
• Filed: 10/16/2008
• Published: 04/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: OraLucent, LLC.
• Original Assignee: Techlight Systems, LLC
• Inventors: BARNES, Charlene Adele, SHEPHERD, Benjamin Gregory
• Application Number:
  US12/252,876
• Publication Number:
  US 20090083924A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 15/105
• 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 5/0095 Removable or interchangeable brush heads
• 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 manual light emitting toothbrush comprising a handle with a grip at a proximal end and a replaceable brush head at a distal end thereof. The replaceable brush head has at least one group of bristles permanently affixed to the replaceable brush head and at least one blue light emitter is provided on an upper surface of the replaceable brush head for emitting blue light in a direction generally parallel to the bristles permanently affixed to the replaceable brush head. 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 manual toothbrush having a light source which facilitates a photocatalysis process while brushing, the manual toothbrush comprising:

a handle having a grip at a proximal end and a neck at a distal end thereof, the distal end of the neck having an opening therein, and a blue light emitting source being located within the opening for emitting blue light in a direction generally normal to the neck and the handle;

a completely manual and replaceable brush head having an aperture formed therein and at least one group of bristles being permanently secured to the replaceable brush head, and the aperture of the replaceable brush head, once the replaceable brush head is installed on neck, overlies and is concentric with the blue light emitting source to permit the blue light to pass though the aperture and be emitted generally parallel to the bristles;

a power source for energizing the blue light emitting source and for radiating blue light in a wavelength band between 420 nm to 480 nm; and

a perimeter of a blue light emitting surface of the blue light emitting source being sealed with respect to the opening to form a fluid tight seal therewith to prevent any water, moisture, toothpaste or other contaminant from entering therebetween.

2. The manual toothbrush having the light source which facilitates the photocatalysis process while brushing according to claim 1, wherein the neck has a planar brush head receiving surface and the opening is formed therein, and the emitting surface of the blue light source completely fills the opening and is recessed below receiving surface so as not hinder sliding movement of the replaceable brush head relative to the neck and thereby facilitate replacement of the replaceable brush head.

3. The manual toothbrush having the light source which facilitates the photocatalysis process while brushing according to claim 1, wherein a U-shaped annular groove is formed in a sidewall of the receiving surface and the U-shaped annular groove extends around three adjacent sides of the receiving surface of the neck, and the replaceable brush head has a mating flat surface which mates with and slides along the receiving surface of the neck, and the replaceable brush head has a mating U-shaped protrusion which is received by the U-shaped annular groove to secure the replaceable brush head to the neck.

4. The manual toothbrush having the light source which facilitates the photocatalysis process while brushing according to claim 3, wherein the neck has a passageway while a leading end of the replaceable brush head has a clip which is aligned with and sized to readily pass through the passageway, and the clip latches with a latching surface of the passageway to captively retain the replaceable brush head on the neck during use of the toothbrush.

5. The manual toothbrush having the light source which facilitates the photocatalysis process while brushing according to claim 4, wherein the aperture of the replaceable brush head is larger in size than the blue light emitting source.

6. The manual toothbrush having the light source which facilitates the photocatalysis process while brushing according to claim 1, wherein the replaceable brush head supports a plurality of bristles and a base of each of the plurality of bristles is embedded within the replaceable brush head so that the bristles remain permanently attached to the replaceable brush head.

7. The manual toothbrush having the light source which facilitates the photocatalysis process while brushing according to claim 6, a plurality of bristles are grouped together into a plurality of clumps of bristles and the plurality of clumps of bristles are spaced from one another and located about the aperture of the replaceable brush head.

8. The manual toothbrush having the light source which facilitates the photocatalysis process while brushing according to claim 1, wherein the blue light radiated by the blue light source has an average power level of less than 1 watt.

9. The manual toothbrush having the light source which facilitates the photocatalysis process while brushing according to claim 8, wherein the blue light radiated by the blue light source is a continuous blue light emission.

10. The manual toothbrush having the light source which facilitates the photocatalysis process while brushing according to claim 8, wherein the blue light radiated by the blue light source is a modulated blue light emission.

11. The manual toothbrush having the light source which facilitates the photocatalysis process while brushing according to claim 10, wherein the modulated blue light emission is at a frequency of between about 6 and about 60 Hertz.

12. The manual toothbrush having the light source which facilitates the photocatalysis process while brushing according to 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 manual toothbrush having the light source which facilitates the photocatalysis process while brushing according to 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 manual toothbrush having the light source which facilitates the photocatalysis process while brushing according to claim 1, wherein the power source is one of a non-rechargeable battery and a rechargeable battery.

15. A manual toothbrush having a light source which facilitates a photocatalysis process while brushing, the manual toothbrush comprising:

a handle having a grip at a proximal end and a neck at a distal end thereof, the distal end of the neck having opening therein, and a blue light emitting source being located within the opening for emitting blue light in a direction generally normal to the neck and the handle;

a completely manual and replaceable brush head having an aperture formed therein and at least one group of bristles being permanently secured to the replaceable brush head, and the aperture of the replaceable brush head, once the replaceable brush head is installed on neck, overlies and is concentric with the blue light emitting source to permit the blue light to pass though the aperture and be emitted generally parallel to the bristles;

a power source equipped with constant electrical current control electronics for energizing the blue light source and for radiating blue light with the blue light being 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;

a perimeter surface of the blue light emitting source being sealed with respect to the opening to form a fluid tight seal therewith; and

the handle at least partially accommodating at least one of control circuitry and a power source for the blue light source.

16. The manual toothbrush having the light source which facilitates the photocatalysis process while brushing according to claim 15, wherein the neck has a planar brush head receiving surface and the opening is formed therein, and the emitting surface of the blue light source completely fills the opening and is recessed below receiving surface so as not hinder sliding movement of the replaceable brush head relative to the neck and thereby facilitate replacement of the replaceable brush head.

17. The manual toothbrush having the light source which facilitates the photocatalysis process while brushing according to claim 16, wherein a U-shaped annular groove is formed in a sidewall of the receiving surface and the U-shaped annular groove extends around three adjacent sides of the receiving surface of the neck, and the replaceable brush head has a mating flat surface which mates with and slides along the receiving surface of the neck, and the replaceable brush head has a mating U-shaped protrusion which is received by the U-shaped annular groove to secure the replaceable brush head to the neck.

18. The manual toothbrush having the light source which facilitates the photocatalysis process while brushing according to claim 15, wherein the neck has a passageway while a leading end of the replaceable brush head has a clip which is aligned with and sized to readily pass through the passageway, and the clip latches with a latching surface of the passageway to captively retain the replaceable brush head on the neck during use of the toothbrush;

and

the aperture of the replaceable brush head is larger in size than the blue light emitting source and the replaceable brush head supports a plurality of bristles and a base of each of the plurality of bristles is embedded within the replaceable brush head so that the bristles remain permanently attached to the replaceable brush head.

19. The manual toothbrush having the light source which facilitates the photocatalysis process while brushing according to claim 15, wherein the blue light radiated by the at blue light source comprises a blue light emission wherein the modulated blue light emission is modulated at a frequency of between about 6 and about 60 Hertz.

20. A method of forming a manual toothbrush having a light source which facilitates a photocatalysis process while brushing, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a handle having a grip at a proximal end and a neck at a distal end thereof, forming an opening in the distal end of the neck, and locating a blue light emitting source within the opening for emitting blue light in a direction generally normal to the neck and the handle;

forming an aperture in a completely manual and replaceable brush head and permanently securing at least one group of bristles to the replaceable brush head, and installing the replaceable brush head on the neck so that the aperture overlies and is concentric with the blue light emitting source to permit the blue light to pass though the aperture and be emitted generally parallel to the bristles;

energizing the blue light source with a power source for radiating blue light which is 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;

sealing a perimeter surface of the blue light emitting source with respect to the opening to form a fluid tight seal therewith; and

at least partially accommodating, within the handle, at least one of control circuitry and a power source for the blue light source.