DEVICE FOR IDENTIFYING ORAL CONDITIONS

• US 20120322023A1
• Filed: 12/22/2010
• Published: 12/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Company
• Original Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Company
• Inventors: Hohlbein, Douglas, Trivedi, Harsh M., Kennedy, Sharon, Patel, Madhusudan, Gittens, Elizabeth, Peru, Deborah
• Granted Patent: US 8,920,746 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 433/27
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 11/001 with integral reservoirs A46B11/0003, A46B11/0006 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/0002 Arrangements for enhancing monitoring or controlling the brushing process
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/0055 Brushes combined with other articles normally separate from the brushing process, e.g. combs, razors, mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 17/08 Other accessories, e.g. scrapers, rubber buffers for preventing damage to furniture
• 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: A61B 10/0051 for taking saliva or sputum samples devices for receiving spittle A61J9/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2010/0006 involving a colour change
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 15/02 Toothpicks
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/005 Devices for dental prophylaxis
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 19/04 Measuring instruments specially adapted for dentistry A61C5/44 takes precedence; testing vitality of teeth A61B5/0534; radiation diagnosis specially adapted for dentistry A61B6/51
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 19/063 Medicament applicators for teeth or gums, e.g. treatment with fluorides
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 6/00 Preparations for dentistry
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 6/15 Compositions characterised by their physical properties
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/54353 with ligand attached to the carrier via a chemical coupling agent coatings G01N33/54393
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/5436 with ligand physically entrapped within the solid phase liposomes G01N33/5432; immunological test elements G01N33/54386

Abstract

The present invention relates to devices and systems for detecting the existence of oral conditions.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a detector capable of detecting a marker of an oral condition;

an agent capable of indicating the existence of an oral condition, wherein the agent is disposed within a releaser; and

the releaser, configured to release said agent in response to the detection of the marker;

wherein said device is detachably securable to an oral care implement; and

wherein the detector is configured as a layer over the releaser and the agent.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the detector is a coating disposed on the releaser.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the detector is configured to dissolve in response to detecting the marker;

and wherein the dissolution of the detector induces the releaser to release the agent disposed therein.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the dissolution of the detector induces a physical change in the releaser.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein said physical change is the creation of pores in the releaser.

6. The device of claim 4, wherein said physical change is a shape change of the releaser.

7. The device of claim 3, wherein the dissolution of the detector induces a chemical change in the releaser.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein said chemical change is the partial or complete dissolution of the releaser.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein detection of said marker indicates good oral health.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein said marker is selected from the group consisting of:

triclosan;

a phosphate;

an amino acid;

a potassium salt; and

a stannous salt.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein detection of said marker indicates the existence of a disease, disorder or condition that is amenable to detection via examination of the oral cavity.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein said marker is a bacteria, fungi, yeast or virus.

14. The device of claim 12, wherein said marker is selected from the group consisting of:

C-reactive protein;

glucose;

cortisol;

PSA;

c-erbB-2 protein;

a hormone;

IL-1β

, PGE2, arginine;

gingipains;

elastases;

dipeptidylpeptidase;

β

-glucuronidase;

lactoferrin;

platelet-activating factor;

ICPT;

cathepsin B;

cystatins;

MMP-1;

collagenase-2;

MMP-8;

MMP-13;

MMP-9;

hydroxyl-deoxyguanosine;

an immunoglobulin;

calprotectin;

osteocalcin;

ostenocetin; and

osteopontin.

17. The device of claim 1, wherein the oral care implement is a toothbrush.

18. The device of claim 1, wherein the oral care implement is an interdental pick.

19. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a replaceable cartridge, wherein the replaceable cartridge is detachably secured to the oral device; and

wherein the replaceable cartridge comprises a detector, an agent, and a releaser.

20. The device of claim 19, further comprising:

a window disposed on the oral care implement to view the replaceable cartridge.

21. The device of claim 1, wherein, the agent is exhausted after a single detection event.

22. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of detectors, wherein at least two of the detectors are configured to detect different markers.

23. The device of claim 22, further comprising:

a plurality of agents, wherein at least two of the agents are capable of indicating the existence of different oral conditions.

24. The device of claim 23, further comprising:

a plurality of releasers, each agent being disposed within a respective releaser of the plurality of releasers, each releaser being configured to release the respective agent in response to the respective marker being detected by the respective detector.

25. The device of claim 23, wherein,

a first agent of the plurality of agents is released immediately upon detection of a first marker;

and

a second agent of the plurality of agents is released after detection of a second marker.

9. A device, comprising:

a detector capable of detecting a marker of an oral condition;

a self-contained indicator, wherein said indicator is actuated by a signal from the detector and wherein the indicator is one of a structural indicator adapted to undergo a physical change that is haptically perceptible, a dye adapted to be released into a user'"'"'s mouth and a flavor adapted to be released into a user'"'"'s mouth; and

wherein said device is detachably securable to an oral care implement.

15. The device of claim 9, wherein the indicator is a dye.

16. The device of claim 9, wherein the indicator is a structural indicator.

26. An oral system, comprising:

a detector capable of detecting a marker of an oral condition;

an agent capable of indicating the existence of an oral condition, wherein said agent is disposed within a releaser; and

the releaser, configured to release said agent in response to a marker being detected by said detector;

wherein the detector is configured as a layer over the releaser and the agent.

27. The system of claim 26, further comprising an oral care implement.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein said detector, said agent, and said releaser are contained within a replaceable cartridge.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein said cartridge is detachably securable to an oral care implement.

30. The system of claim 26, wherein the detector is a coating disposed on the releaser.

31. The system of claim 26, wherein the detector is configured to dissolve in response to detecting the marker;

and wherein the dissolution of the detector induces the releaser to release the agent disposed therein.

32. The system of claim 28, further comprising:

a window disposed on the oral care implement to view the replaceable cartridge.

33. The system according to claim 26, further comprising:

a plurality of detectors, wherein at least two of the detectors are configured to detect different markers.

34. The system according to claim 33, further comprising:

a plurality of agents, wherein at least two of the agents are capable of indicating the existence of different oral conditions.

35. The system according to claim 34, further comprising:

a plurality of releasers, each agent being disposed within a respective releaser of the plurality of releasers, each releaser being configured to release the respective agent in response to the respective marker being detected by the respective detector.

36. The system according to claim 34, wherein,

a first agent of the plurality of agents is available immediately upon detection of a first marker;

and

a second agent of the plurality of agents is available after a delay following detection of a second marker.