Dental cleaning device

• US 8,443,476 B2
• Filed: 04/19/2012
• Issued: 05/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Braun GmbH (The Procter & Gamble Company)
• Original Assignee: Braun GmbH (The Procter & Gamble Company)
• Inventors: Hilscher, Alexander, Reick, Hansjorg, Stratmann, Martin, Trawinski, Peter, Vorbeck, Wolfgang, Schwarz-Hartmann, Armin, Neyer, Christian
• Primary Examiner(s): CHIN, RANDALL E
• Application Number:
  US13/450,657
• Publication Number:
  US 20120198635A1
• Time in Patent Office: 397 Days
• Field of Search: 15/221, 15/222, 15/23, 15/28
• US Class Current: 15/22.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/00 Surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body eye surgery A61F9/007; ear surgery A61F11/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1402 Probes for open surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00595 Cauterization
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2218/007 Aspiration
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2218/008 for smoke evacuation
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/16 Power-driven cleaning or polishing devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/221 Control arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/225 Handles or details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/32 reciprocating or oscillating
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/3436 Rotation around the axis perpendicular to the plane defined by the bristle holder
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 2204/005 using chip tag or any electronic identification mean, e.g. RFID

Abstract

An electric toothbrush with a removable brush section having a transponder communicating with a handle portion of the toothbrush via a non-contacting inductive coupling.

Claims

1. An electric toothbrush, comprising:

a handle;

a first coil arranged within or on the handle, wherein when energized the first coil emits electromagnetic wave energy;

a brush attachment, sized for use in an oral cavity, that couples to the handle, the brush attachment including a bristle section; and

a second coil arranged within or on the brush attachment,

wherein the second coil can receive electromagnetic wave energy emitted by the first coil of the handle when the brush attachment is coupled to the handle,

wherein the brush attachment further includes an electric element that is powered by the second coil,

wherein the handle further includes an electronic control device that controls one or more operating parameters of the electric toothbrush, and

wherein the operating parameter is selected from the group consisting of cleaning speed and cleaning frequency.

2. An electric toothbrush, comprising:

a handle;

a first coil arranged within or on the handle, wherein when energized the first coil emits electromagnetic wave energy;

a brush attachment, sized for use in an oral cavity, that couples to the handle, the brush attachment including a bristle section;

a second coil arranged within or on the brush attachment, wherein the second coil can receive electromagnetic wave energy emitted by the first coil of the handle when the brush attachment is coupled to the handle; and

a display for indicating a predetermined maintenance interval for the brush attachment.

3. The electric toothbrush of claim 2, further comprising a motor for oscillating the bristle section.

4. The electric toothbrush of claim 3, wherein the motor oscillates the bristle section at a frequency between about 100 to about 400 Hz.

5. The electric toothbrush of claim 3, wherein the motor oscillates the bristle section about an axis of rotation through an angle between about plus or minus 10 degrees to about plus or minus 60 degrees.

6. The electric toothbrush of claim 3, further comprising a shaft having a first end operatively connected to the motor and a second end that operatively connects to the brush attachment when the brush attachment is coupled to the handle.

7. The electric toothbrush of claim 6, wherein the first coil is in the shape of a ring having a hole therethrough.

8. The electric toothbrush of claim 7, wherein the shaft extends through the hole in the first coil.

9. The electric toothbrush of claim 6, wherein the second coil is in the shape of a ring having a hole therethrough.

10. The electric toothbrush of claim 9, wherein the shaft extends through the hole in the second coil.

11. The electric toothbrush of claim 2, wherein the brush attachment further comprises an electric element that is powered by the second coil.

12. The electric toothbrush of claim 11, wherein the electric element is connected to the second coil by a connecting line.

13. The electric toothbrush of claim 11, wherein the electric element comprises at least one of a capacitor, a diode, a micro-controller, a rectifier, a resistor, and a transponder.

14. The electric toothbrush of claim 11, wherein the electric element transmits a signal to the first coil and modulates the signal to transmit information to the first coil.

15. The electric toothbrush of claim 11, wherein the electric element comprises a resistor.