Acoustic tooth cleaner

• US 4,331,422 A
• Filed: 08/14/1980
• Issued: 05/25/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/1980
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: United States Of America As Represented By The Administrator Of The National Aeronautics And Space Administration
• Original Assignee: United States Of America As Represented By The Administrator Of The National Aeronautics And Space Administration
• Inventors: Heyman, Joseph S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Peshock, Robert
• Application Number:
  US06/178,193
• Time in Patent Office: 649 Days
• Field of Search: 433/125, 433/119, 433/118, 433/86
• US Class Current: 433/125
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 3/025 Instruments acting like a sandblast machine, e.g. for cleaning, polishing or cutting teeth

Abstract

This invention is an acoustic oral hygiene unit that uses acoustic energy to oscillate mild abrasive particles 17a in a water suspension 17 which is then directed in a low pressure stream onto the teeth. The oscillating abrasives scrub the teeth clean removing food particles, plaque, calculous, and other foreign material from tooth surfaces, interproximal areas, and tooth-gingiva interface more effectively than any previous technique. The relatively low power output and the basic design makes the invention safe and convenient for everyday use in the home without special training. This invention replaces all former means of home dental prophylaxis, and requires no augmentation to fulfill all requirements for daily oral hygienic care.

Claims

1. A device for treatment of tooth and gingival structures to provide daily personal hygenic care comprising:

a reservoir of a liquid;

means for transmitting said liquid under pressure from said reservoir to an oral cavity;

said means for transmitting said liquid includes a cone shaped cavity with the liquid flowing into the large end of said cavity and out of a small hole at the small end of said cavity into said oral cavity whereby the liquid under pressure keeps said cone shaped cavity filled with said liquid;

an acoustic transducer supplied with a high frequency electrical signal;

an impedance matching plate bonded to said acoustic transducer and enclosing the large end of said cavity whereby said acoustic transducer imparts through said impedance matching plate a back and forth motion to said liquid before it enters said oral cavity and said back and forth motion is mechanically amplified in said cone shaped cavity.

2. A device for treatment of tooth and gingival structures according to claim 1 wherein the sides of the cone shaped cavity are exponentially tapered to increase the amplification of said cone shaped cavity.

3. A device for treatment of tooth and gingival structures according to claim 1 wherein said liquid includes mild abrasive particles suspended therein whereby said back and forth motion is imparted to said particles.