Brush that delivers beneficial agents
First Claim
1. A device for supplying an oxidizing agent for topical treatment of an oral surface, said device comprising:
- a toothbrush of the type having a stem and bristles associated therewith, said bristles being oriented for application to a subject'"'"'s oral surface, andan oxidizing agent generator incorporated within the toothbrush stem for supplying an oxidizing agent to the bristles for application to the oral surface wherein the oxidizing agent generator generates oxygen, hydrogen peroxide, ozone, or mixtures thereof electrochemically.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A brush having a handle and associated surface application portion, which brush handle contains a beneficial agent generator. The brush typically has a stem with first and second ends, the first end serving as a handle. Bristles are associated with the stem'"'"'s second end. A beneficial agent generator (such as an electrochemical gas generating cell) that generates a fluid comprising an oxidizing agent is encased within the stem. For treating teeth, the generator will generally be chosen to generate an oxidizing agent such as a peroxide, ozone, oxygen, or mixtures thereof. When the generator requires it, the brush will also include a battery and a switch associated with the stem and in electrical contact with the generator. The switch may be associated with the first stem end and will be in operable (e.g., electrical) contact with the electrochemical gas generating cell and the battery. When the brush is used to brush teeth, it will generally also include a vent or port, in fluid communication with the electrochemical gas generating cell, for venting undesired fluids (e.g., hydrogen gas) from the second end of the toothbrush, such as the first stem end. The invention may be used in various useful methods such as cleaning, bleaching, and sanitizing tooth or other surfaces.
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Citations
36 Claims
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1. A device for supplying an oxidizing agent for topical treatment of an oral surface, said device comprising:
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a toothbrush of the type having a stem and bristles associated therewith, said bristles being oriented for application to a subject'"'"'s oral surface, and an oxidizing agent generator incorporated within the toothbrush stem for supplying an oxidizing agent to the bristles for application to the oral surface wherein the oxidizing agent generator generates oxygen, hydrogen peroxide, ozone, or mixtures thereof electrochemically. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A device for supplying an oxidizing agent for topical treatment of an oral surface, said device comprising:
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a toothbrush of the type having a stem and bristles associated therewith, said bristles being oriented for application to a subject'"'"'s oral surface, and an oxidizing agent generator incorporated within the toothbrush stem for supplying an oxidizing agent to the bristles for application to the oral surface wherein the oxidizing agent generator generates oxygen electrochemically, and includes; a cathode for reducing oxygen in a feed gas to negative ions, neutral species, or mixtures thereof; an electrolyte for transporting the ions, neutral species or mixtures thereof therethrough; and an anode communicating with the electrolyte for oxidizing the negative ions, neutral species or mixtures thereof to produce an oxygen gas for supply to the oral surface upon actuation of electrical circuitry operably associating said cathode, anode, and electrolyte. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A device for supplying an oxidizing agent for topical treatment of an oral surface, said device comprising:
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a toothbrush of the type having a stem and bristles associated therewith, said bristles being oriented for application to a subject'"'"'s oral surface, and an oxidizing agent generator incorporated within the toothbrush stem for supplying an oxidizing agent to the bristles for application to the oral surface wherein the oxidizing agent comprises a mixture of gaseous components, said gaseous components selected from the group consisting of peroxides, oxygen, ozone and carbon dioxide. - View Dependent Claims (9)
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10. A device for supplying an oxidizing agent for topical treatment of an oral surface, said device comprising:
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a toothbrush of the type having a stem and bristles associated therewith, said bristles being oriented for application to a subject'"'"'s oral surface, and an oxidizing agent generator incorporated within the toothbrush stem for supplying an oxidizing agent to the bristles for application to the oral surface wherein the oxidizing agent generator generates oxygen according to an electrochemical process and includes a power source which applies a potential difference between a cathode and anode to concentrate oxygen atoms from ambient air. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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13. A brush comprising:
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a stem having a first end and a second end, said first end serving as a handle;
bristles associated with said second end of said stem; anda beneficial agent generator for delivering a beneficial agent to said bristles, said beneficial agent generator associated with said stem, and in fluid communication with at least a portion of said bristles wherein said beneficial agent generator comprises a photoelectrochemical cell, a battery, and a switch, the photoelectrochemical cell comprising a light source having a wavelength greater than 180 nanometers, and a catalyst layer, said battery and photoelectrochemical cell encased within said stem. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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15. A brush comprising:
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a stem having a first end and a second end, said first end serving as a handle; bristles associated with said second end of said stem; and a beneficial agent generator for delivering a beneficial agent to said bristles, said beneficial agent generator associated with said stem, and in fluid communication with at least a portion of said bristles wherein said beneficial agent generator is an oxidizing gas generating cell encased within said stem. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. An improvement in a brush of the type having a handle and associated means for surface application, the improvement comprising:
encasing an electrochemical gas generation cell within said handle in such a manner that gas generated by said electrochemical gas generation cell is in fluid communication with said means for surface application. - View Dependent Claims (33)
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34. A method of treating a tooth'"'"'s surface comprising:
providing a toothbrush comprising; a stem having first and second ends said first end serving as a handle, bristles associated with said second end of said stem, means for generating a fluid comprising an oxidizing agent, said means associated with said stem, and an actuator operably associated with said means for generating a fluid;
actuating said actuator andbrushing said tooth surface with said bristles for a period of time wherein said means for generating a fluid comprising an oxidizing agent is a gas generating cell partially encased within the second end of the stem associated with the bristles. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36)
Specification