Ultrasonic toothbrush
First Claim
1. A dental hygiene device for use with a dentifrice, comprising:
- A. a rigid elongated member of non-conductive material having a handle end and a bristle end;
B. a piezoelectric transducer secured to the elongated member adjacent the bristle end for contracting and expanding volumetrically in response to a changing electrical field generating vibrations of ultrasonic frequency operative to cause mild cavitation in the dentifrice to loosen soft plaque on the surface of the teeth without appreciable relative movement of the bristle end with respect to the handle end;
C. means coupled to the piezoelectric transducer operative for generating ultrasonic frequency electrical signals and transmitting said signals to said piezoelectric transducer;
D. A plurality of bristle clusters for carrying dentifrice and being secured to the handle of the elongated member adjacent the piezoelectric transducer, said bristle clusters to be received within the human mouth for conducting said vibrations to the dentifrice and moved across tooth and gingival surfaces for dislodging the loosened soft plaque therefrom.
11 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An ultrasonic toothbrush for daily removal of soft plaque including a handle constructed of a rigid material, a battery pack, an electronics driving module, a piezoelectric member, and a removable brush-head. The low voltage DC energy supplied by the battery pack is converted to an ultrasonic frequency DC current by the electronics driving module. The piezoelectric crystal resonates, expands and contracts volumetrically, in the tune with the frequency supplied by the electronics driving module and thereby converts the electronic energy into sound-wave energy. The sound-waves driving the dentifrices in the mouth of the user against the teeth causing mild cavitation within the dentifrices at the junction with the teeth, resulting in a loosening effect on the soft plaque on the surface of the teeth and in the periodontal pockets formed in the gums around the neck of the teeth. The loosened soft plaque is then dislodged by the bristle clusters of the toothbrush by the normal brushing movements of the user.
104 Citations
5 Claims
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1. A dental hygiene device for use with a dentifrice, comprising:
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A. a rigid elongated member of non-conductive material having a handle end and a bristle end; B. a piezoelectric transducer secured to the elongated member adjacent the bristle end for contracting and expanding volumetrically in response to a changing electrical field generating vibrations of ultrasonic frequency operative to cause mild cavitation in the dentifrice to loosen soft plaque on the surface of the teeth without appreciable relative movement of the bristle end with respect to the handle end; C. means coupled to the piezoelectric transducer operative for generating ultrasonic frequency electrical signals and transmitting said signals to said piezoelectric transducer; D. A plurality of bristle clusters for carrying dentifrice and being secured to the handle of the elongated member adjacent the piezoelectric transducer, said bristle clusters to be received within the human mouth for conducting said vibrations to the dentifrice and moved across tooth and gingival surfaces for dislodging the loosened soft plaque therefrom. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A dental hygiene device for use with a dentifrice to clean teeth comprising:
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an elongated substantially rigid handle member having opposite ends in spaced apart relation; a removable bristle support secured to the handle near one end thereof; a piezoelectric transducer secured within the handle adjacent the bristle support and responsive when energized for volumetrically contracting and expanding in response to a changing electrical field and generating vibrations of ultrasonic frequency in the dentifrice so as to cause mild cavitation in the dentifrice to loosen soft plaque on the surface of the teeth ; means coupled to the piezoelectric transducer for generating ultrasonic frequency electrical signals and transmitting said signals thereto for energizing said piezoelectric transducer; a plurality of bristle clusters for engaging the teeth surfaces and being secured to the bristle support adjacent the piezoelectric transducer and extending transversely of the support for conducting the vibrations to the dentifrice and without appreciable relative movement between the bristle clusters and the handle and dislodging the loosened plaque from the teeth.
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Specification