Dental hygiene appliance

• US 5,306,143 A
• Filed: 10/15/1992
• Issued: 04/26/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Biolase Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Laser Medical Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: Levy, Philippe
• Primary Examiner(s): Mancene, Gene
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lucchesi, Nicholas D.
• Application Number:
  US07/961,341
• Time in Patent Office: 558 Days
• Field of Search: 433/29, 433/215, 433/216, 433/229, 15/167.1, 15/167.2, 362/109, 362/804
• US Class Current: 433/29
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/0002 Arrangements for enhancing monitoring or controlling the brushing process
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/0004 with a controlling means
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/0016 with enhancing means
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/0036 with a lighting means, e.g. laser, bulb A46B15/0034 takes precedence
• 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: 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

A dental hygiene appliance for brushing teeth composed of a handle; a brushing head connected to the handle and a set of tooth brushing bristles projecting in a given direction from the head; a source of monochromatic radiation having a given wavelength; and elements for directing the radiation from the head in a direction having at least a component in the given direction; wherein the elements for directing radiation are structurally separate from the bristles.

Claims

1. A dental hygiene appliance for brushing teeth comprising:

a handle;

a brushing head connected to said handle and a set of tooth brushing bristles projecting in a given direction from said head;

a laser contained in said handle and constituting a source of monochromatic radiation having a given wavelength;

means for directing the radiation from said head in a direction having at least a component in the given direction; and

means for delivering the radiation to said means for direction radiation;

wherein said means for directing radiation are structurally separate from said bristles.

2. An appliance as defined in claim 1 wherein said bristles are made of a material selected to perform an effective brushing action on teeth.

3. An appliance as defined in claim 2 wherein said bristles are made of a natural material.

4. An appliance as defined in claim 2 wherein said bristles are made of nylon.

5. An appliance as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for directing radiation comprise optical components in said head for directing the radiation at least partly around said bristles.

6. An appliance as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for delivering the radiation are in said handle.

7. An appliance as defined in claim 5 further comprising a battery disposed in said handle and constituting a power source for said radiation source.

8. An appliance as defined in claim 6 wherein said brushing head is readily detachable from said handle.

9. An appliance as defined in claim 8 further comprising a battery disposed in said handle and constituting a power source for said radiation source.

10. An appliance as defined in claim 1 wherein radiation having said given wavelength is capable of rendering visible a substance present on a tooth.

11. An appliance as defined in claim 1 in combination with a supply of a given chemical product, wherein radiation having the given wavelength is capable of rendering visible a substance present on a tooth when the substance has been contacted by the given chemical product.

12. The combination as defined in claim 11 wherein said supply of the given chemical product comprises a mass of toothpaste containing the given product.

13. An appliance as defined in claim 1 wherein said radiation having a given wavelength is capable of removing a substance present on a tooth.

14. An appliance as defined in claim 1 in combination with a supply of a given chemical product, wherein radiation having the given wavelength is capable of removing a substance present on a tooth when the substance has been contacted by the given chemical product.

15. The combination as defined in claim 14 wherein said supply of the given chemical product comprises a toothpaste containing the given product.