Optical toothbrush and method of use

• US 5,030,090 A
• Filed: 04/05/1990
• Issued: 07/09/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Omron Corporation Hanazono
• Original Assignee: Omron Corporation
• Inventors: Maeda, Tetsuo, Imanaka, Koichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Wilson, John J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHERICHETTI, CINDY
• Application Number:
  US07/504,807
• Time in Patent Office: 460 Days
• Field of Search: 433/29, 433/215, 433/216, 433/229, 15/167.1
• US Class Current: 433/29
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 1/0046 Dental lasers surgical lasers A61B18/20; working by laser beam in general B23K26/00; lasers per se H01S3/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0606 Mouth
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0603 for treatment of body cavities
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/067 using laser light

Abstract

An optical toothbrush used for medical treatment comprises a plurality of narrow fibers connected to a light generating device and extending through a brush base, wherein the fibers are bent to form an L-shape and project outwardly from the base to form a brush. Light emitted from the light generating device is guided into each fiber at its base and projected through the brush tips to provide oral hygiene.

Claims

1. An optical toothbrush, comprising:

a plurality of narrow optical fibers;

a light generating device comprising a semiconductor laser provided at a base portion of said plurality of fibers; and

a brush base for firmly holding said fibers, wherein the fibers are bent in an L-shape and the tip of each fiber projects outwardly from the brush base to form a brush, and

wherein said optical fibers direct the light from said light generating device toward the teeth and surrounding tissue of a user for therapeutic purposes.

2. An optical toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein the narrow optical fibers are transparent and are encompassed by a thin metal layer that reflects light traveling therethrough.

3. An optical toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein the light generating device generates a continuous wave.

4. An optical toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein the light generating device is connected to a power source by a power supply cord.

5. An optical toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein the light generating device is contained in a casing of a power source.

6. An optical toothbrush according to claim 5, wherein the narrow fibers projecting from the light generating device are contained in a flexible cord.

7. An optical toothbrush, comprising:

a plurality of narrow optical fibers;

a pulse wave light generating device provided at a base portion of said plurality of fibers; and

a brush base for firmly holding said fibers, wherein the fibers are bent in an L-shape and the tip of each fiber projects outwardly from the brush base to form a brush,

wherein said optical fibers direct the light from said light generating device toward the teeth and surrounding tissue of a user for therapeutic purposes.

8. An optical toothbrush according to claim 7, wherein the fibers are connected to the light generating device by a cone-shaped connector.

9. An optical toothbrush according to claim 8, wherein the cone-shaped connector is made out of quartz glass.

10. An optical toothbrush according to claim 7, wherein the pulse wave light generating device comprises a semiconductor laser.

11. An optical toothbrush according to claim 7, wherein the narrow optical fibers are transparent and are encompassed by a thin metal layer that reflects light traveling therethrough.

12. An optical toothbrush according to claim 7, wherein the fibers are connected to the light generating device by a cone-shaped connector.

13. An optical toothbrush according to claim 12, wherein the cone-shaped connector is made out of quartz glass.

14. An optical toothbrush according to claim 7, wherein the pulse wave light generating device is contained in a casing of a power source.

15. An optical toothbrush according to claim 7, wherein the narrow fibers projecting from the light generating device are contained in a flexible cord.

16. A method for therapeutically treating teeth and surrounding tissue with light, comprising the steps of:

providing an optical toothbrush comprising a plurality of narrow optical fibers firmly held in a brush base and bent in an L-shape with the tip of each fiber projecting outwardly from the brush base to form a brush;

shining a light source into said optical fibers at the base portion of said fibers; and

brushing the teeth and surrounding tissue with said optical toothbrush to illuminate, and thereby provide a therapeutic effect to, the teeth and surrounding tissue.

17. The method according to claim 16 wherein said shining step includes pulsing said light source to produce a pulsed light wave.

18. The method according to claim 16 wherein said shining step includes continuously shining said light to produce a continuous light wave.

19. The method according to claim 16 wherein said shining step includes shining light from a semiconductor laser source.