Hygienic treatments of structures in body cavities

• US 7,144,247 B2
• Filed: 04/25/2003
• Issued: 12/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Oralum LLC
• Original Assignee: Oralum LLC
• Inventors: Black, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Manahan, Todd E.
• Application Number:
  US10/424,114
• Publication Number:
  US 20030232303A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,320 Days
• Field of Search: 433/29, 601/15, 606/3, 606/11, 606/12, 607/79, 607/92, 607/94
• US Class Current: 433/29
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0605 Ear
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0606 Mouth
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0607 Nose
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0608 Rectum
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0611 Vagina
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0644 Handheld applicators
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0651 Diodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0603 for treatment of body cavities

Abstract

Multiple hygienic effects are concurrently applied to structures of body cavities. This is established by two or more light sources each capable of delivering a light beam to the structures using optical pathways whereby each light beam provides a unique hygienic effect to the structures. The device could be a handheld device with detachable components. The device could include a massaging mechanism and/or a vibrating mechanism. An agent could be used to the body cavity to assist in the hygienic treatment plan. A cradle could be included to store the device, reload the power supply of the device, as well as a means to communicate with a hygienic service provider. The cradle could also host a display and a selector. A test mechanism could be included to test a performance of the device or to calibrate components of the device.

Claims

1. A brush to concurrently apply two or more hygienic effects to structures in a body cavity, comprising:

(a) a handle;

(b) a head with two or more light sources each delivering a unique light beam having a unique hygienic effect;

(c) multiple openings through the surface of said head, said multiple openings sized to output each at least one of said light beams and said openings spaced to guide and maintain said light beams to avoid diffusion of said light beams before said light beams arrive at the structures in said body cavity; and

(d) bristles distributed at the surface of said head.

2. The brush as set forth in claim 1, wherein said light sources are low power lasers, light emitting diodes or semiconductor lasers.

3. The brush as set forth in claim 1, wherein said hygienic effect is selected from the group consisting of an anti-inflammatory effect, a preventative effect, a caries-protective effect, an anti-bacterial effect, a sterilizing effect, a cleaning effect, a cosmetic effect, a therapeutic effect, a healing effect, a bio-stimulative effect, a bio-altering effect, a pain-releaving effect, an agent penetrating effect, a photo-rejuvinating effect and a photo-dynamic treatment effect.

4. The brush as set forth in claim 1, wherein said light beam comprises light from the ultraviolet, visible or infrared spectrum.

5. The brush as set forth in claim 1, wherein said body cavity comprises an oral system, a nasal system, an ear, a rectal system, a vaginal system, a uterus, an open wound, or a surgically created body cavity.

6. The brush as set forth in claim 1, further comprises optical pathways having one or more optical components wherein said one or more optical components are selected from the group consisting of optical fibers, lenses, spectral filters, mirrors, transparent materials, semi-transparent materials, prisms, reflective coatings, reflecting grooves, beam splitters, collimators, light channels and gratings.

7. The brush as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a means for massaging said structures in said body cavity.

8. The brush as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a means for vibrating said structures in said body cavity, wherein said means for vibrating comprises an ultrasonic means, a piezoelectric means or a mechanical means.

9. The brush as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a means for communicating data with a cell phone, a personal digital assistant, a Pocket PC, a computer, an Internet website, a professional or a service.

10. The brush as set forth in claim 9, wherein said data comprises data related to said unique hygienic effects or data related to said device.

11. The brush as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a means for testing a performance of said device.

12. The brush as set forth in claim 11, further comprising a means for adjusting one or more components based on said test.

13. The brush as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a means to provide feedback to a user, wherein said feedback is selected from the group consisting of sound, display and vibration.

14. The brush as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a means for selecting by a user parameters related to said unique hygienic effects or related to said light beams to a user.

15. The brush as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a display means to display data related to said unique hygienic effects or related to said light beams to a user.

16. The brush as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a cradle for hosting said handheld device, wherein said cradle comprises means for communication, means for power recharging, means for selecting a hygienic program, a display, a storage medium or a means for testing said handheld device.

17. The brush as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a controller to control simultaneous output of at least two of said unique light beams.

18. A brush to concurrently apply two or more hygienic effects to structures in a body cavity, comprising:

(a) a detachable handle; and

(b) a detachable head with two or more light sources each delivering a unique light beam having a unique hygienic effect;

(c) multiple openings through the surface of said head, said multiple openings sized to output each at least one of said light beams and said openings spaced to guide and maintain said light beams to avoid diffusion of said light beams before said light beams arrive at the structures in said body cavity; and

(d) bristles distributed at the surface of said head.

19. The brush as set forth in claim 18, wherein said detachable head comprises at least two detachable components, wherein a first component comprises light sources that generate said light beams and wherein a second component comprises optical pathways.

20. The brush as set forth in claim 19, wherein said at least two detachable components are disposable components.

21. The brush as set forth in claim 18, wherein said detachable handle is a disposable handle.

22. The brush as set forth in claim 18, wherein said detachable head is a disposable head.

23. The brush as set forth in claim 18, further comprising a controller to control simultaneous output of at least two of said unique light beams.

24. A system to provide a hygienic service to body, comprising:

(a) a hygienic service provider to provide parameters for a hygienic treatment including at least two or more unique hygienic optical treatment effects;

(b) brush having bristles distributed at its surface head, openings spaced to minimize or avoid blending of multiple light beams and guide said multiple light beams to separately arrive at the structures of said body structures and a controller for simultaneously applying said hygienic treatment having said at least two or more unique hygienic treatment effects to said body structures; and

(c) a means for communicating said parameters between said hygienic service provider and the controller of said hygienic application device.

25. The system as set forth in claim 24, wherein said hygienic service provider comprises a cell phone, a personal digital assistant, a Pocket PC, a computer, an Internet website, a professional or a service.

26. The system as set forth in claim 24, said hygienic service provider comprises means to evaluate said parameters.

27. The system as set forth in claim 24, said hygienic service provider comprises a means to recommend said parameters.