Ultrasonic toothbrush
First Claim
1. An apparatus for use in personal dental hygienic care comprising:
- (a) an elongated hollow housing member having disposed therein;
(i) an elongated coil means extending within said housing member, and(ii) magnetic biasing means disposed along the length of said coil means for providing lines of flux within said coil means;
(b) a brush member adapted to be received within the human mouth and moved across tooth and gingival surfaces including,(i) an elongated portion of magnetostrictive core material extending from one end of said brush member and removably receivable into the central portion of said coil means and cooperating therewith,(ii) brush means having a plurality of bristles affixed therein disposed on the opposite end of said brush member(iii) impedance transfer means operatively connected between said brush means and said core portion for transferring ultrasonic energy therebetween; and
(c) ultrasonic energy driving means coupled to said coil means and adapted to be connected to a source of electrical energy for providing ultrasonic energy to said coil means for displacing said brush member at an ultrasonic rate.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An ultrasonic toothbrush for use in personal dental hygiene care includes an elongated handle member in the form of a hollow housing having disposed therein a low voltage coil and cooperating ferrite core which is driven at ultrasonic frequencies. Affixed to the core is a brush member adapted to be received within the human mouth and moved across tooth and gingival surfaces. The brush member has been adhesively affixed to an impedance transfer device which in turn has been adhesively affixed to the core material. The impedance transfer device insures the maximum transfer of ultrasonic energy from the core material to the brush. The ultrasonic energy driving means for the core requires a relatively low voltage and permits the coil to be sealed in the handle impervious to contamination by water.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. An apparatus for use in personal dental hygienic care comprising:
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(a) an elongated hollow housing member having disposed therein; (i) an elongated coil means extending within said housing member, and (ii) magnetic biasing means disposed along the length of said coil means for providing lines of flux within said coil means; (b) a brush member adapted to be received within the human mouth and moved across tooth and gingival surfaces including, (i) an elongated portion of magnetostrictive core material extending from one end of said brush member and removably receivable into the central portion of said coil means and cooperating therewith, (ii) brush means having a plurality of bristles affixed therein disposed on the opposite end of said brush member (iii) impedance transfer means operatively connected between said brush means and said core portion for transferring ultrasonic energy therebetween; and (c) ultrasonic energy driving means coupled to said coil means and adapted to be connected to a source of electrical energy for providing ultrasonic energy to said coil means for displacing said brush member at an ultrasonic rate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An apparatus for use in personal dental hygienic care comprising:
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(a) an elongated hollow housing member having disposed herein; (i) an elongated coil means extending within said housing member, and (ii) magnetic biasing means disposed along the length of said coil means for providing lines of flux within said coil means; (b) a brush member adapted to be received within the human mouth and moved across tooth and gingival surfaces including, (i) an elongated portion of magnetostrictive core material extending from one end of said brush member and removably receivable into the central portion of said coil means and cooperating therewith, (ii) brush means having a plurality of bristles affixed therein disposed on the opposite end of said brush member, and (iii) impedance transfer means operatively connected between said brush means and said core portion for transferring ultrasonic energy therebetween; (c) ultrasonic energy driving means coupled to said coil means and adapted to be connected to a source of electrical energy for providing ultrasonic energy to said coil means for displacing said brush member at an ultrasonic rate, said ultrasonic driving means including; (i) power driving means coupled to said core means, said power driving means providing a feedback voltage proportional to the current in said coil means at substantially the resonant frequency of said coil means and core combination, (ii) switching amplifier means coupled to said power driving means, said switching amplifier means providing a square wave driving signal at substantially the resonant frequency of said coil means and core combination, and (iii) phase shift and impedance matching means coupled to said power driving means and said switching amplifier means for increasing said feedback voltage coupled to said switching amplifier from said power amplifier and phase shifting said feedback voltage an amount sufficient to sustain oscillations at said resonant frequency.
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Specification