Device and method for cleaning the oral cavity

• US 8,512,040 B2
• Filed: 02/06/2013
• Issued: 08/20/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: McNeil-PPC Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Binner, Curt, Reddy, Megha
• Primary Examiner(s): FARAH, AHMED M
• Application Number:
  US13/760,566
• Publication Number:
  US 20130149671A1
• Time in Patent Office: 195 Days
• Field of Search: 433/25, 433/27, 433/29, 433/119, 433/125, 433/142, 433/144, 433/215, 433/216, 607 88- 93, 128/898
• US Class Current: 433/216
• 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 15/0034 with a source of radiation, e.g. UV, IR, LASER, X-ray for irradiating the teeth and associated surfaces
• 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: A46B 9/06 Arrangement of mixed bristles or tufts of bristles, e.g. wire, fibre, rubber
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00009 of image signals during a use of endoscope
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00165 with light-conductive means, e.g. fibre optics A61B1/07 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0684 using light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/24 for the mouth, i.e. stomatoscopes, e.g. with tongue depressors tongue depressors per se A61B13/00; Instruments for opening or keeping open the mouth combined with saliva removers A61C17/00; mouth openers for animals A61D15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0088 for oral or dental tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/20 using ultrasonics
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/22 with brushes, cushions, cups, or the like brush bodies, e.g. arrangements of the bristles A46B

Abstract

Devices and methods for cleaning an oral cavity by positioning a device suitable for detecting and removing plaque from the surface within the oral cavity having applied thereto a fluorescent agent capable of binding to plaque on the surface. The surface is substantially simultaneously cleaned and irradiated with a light of a wavelength effective to provide a fluorescent emission when contacted with said fluorescent agent. A portion of the fluorescent emission is collected (APV1), and compared to a predetermined threshold value (PPTV). If APV1 is less than PPTV, the device is moved to another section. If APV1 is greater than or equal to PPTV, then another portion of fluorescent emission is collected (APV2). The percent reduction from APV1 to APV2 determines when the device is moved to another section.

Claims

1. A method for cleaning an oral cavity, said method comprising:

a. positioning within said oral cavity a device suitable for detecting and removing plaque from a surface of at least one tooth of said oral cavity, said device comprising a radiation source for directing incident radiation onto said surface,

b. substantially simultaneously cleaning and irradiating said surface of said at least one tooth in said oral cavity, said at least one tooth having applied thereto a fluorescent agent capable of binding to plaque on said surface of at least one tooth, with incident radiation of a wavelength effective to provide a fluorescent emission when contacted with said fluorescent agent on said surface of at least one tooth,

c. collecting at least a portion of said fluorescent emission over a first time period,

d. determining a first average plaque value (APV1) based on said fluorescent emission collected over said first time period,

e. comparing said APV1 to a predetermined plaque threshold value (PPTV), wherein if said APV1 is greater than or equal to said PPTV, then

f. collecting at least a portion of said fluorescent emission over a second time period,

g. determining a second average plaque value (APV2) based on said fluorescent emission collected over said second time period,

h. determining a percent reduction from said APV1 to said APV2,

i. comparing said percent reduction from said APV1 to a predetermined percent reduction threshold (PPRT),

j. continuing to substantially simultaneously clean and irradiate said at least one tooth until said percent reduction from said APV1 is equal to or greater than said PPRT, or for a predetermined maximum time period PMTP), whichever occurs first.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein reflected light resulting from contact of said incident radiation with said surface is collected essentially simultaneously with said fluorescent emission and said APV1 and APV2 are compensated average plaque values APVs.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said reflected light is simultaneously conveyed with said fluorescent emission through an optical filter prior to conversion of an optical signal of said fluorescent emission to an electrical signal of said fluorescent emission, said filter removing light having a wavelength of above about 515 nanometers.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein said compensated plaque value is determined as a function of the distance between an optical collector and said surface of at least one tooth of said oral cavity.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein, if said APV1 is greater than or equal to said PPTV and said percent reduction from said APV1 to said APV2 is greater than said PPRT, said surface is continuously substantially simultaneously cleaned and irradiated until said PMTP expires.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein, if said APV1 is greater than or equal to said PPTV and said percent reduction from said APV1 to said APV2 is greater than said PPRT, additional iterative APVs are determined over additional time periods, the percent reduction from said APV1 to a respective iterative APV is compared to said PPRT and said surface is continuously substantially simultaneously cleaned and irradiated until said percent reduction from said APV1 to said respective iterative APV is equal to or less than said PPRT.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said fluorescent agent comprises fluorescein or a salt thereof.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said incident radiation has a peak wavelength of from about 450 to about 500 nanometers.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein said portion of said fluorescent emission has a peak wavelength of from about 520 to about 530 nanometers.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein said first time period is from about 0.01 to about 10 seconds.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein said second time period is from about 0.001 to about 15 seconds.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein said PPRT is from about 5 to about 95 percent.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein said PMTP is from about 0.5 to about 15 seconds.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein at such time as said percent reduction from said APV1 is equal to or greater than said PPRT, or upon expiration of said PMTP, whichever occurs first, moving and positioning said device within another of a plurality of sections of said oral cavity.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising repeating steps b through j until all of said plurality of sections of said oral cavity have been cleaned.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein said cleaning is effected by sonification, pressurized water, brushing, or a combination thereof.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein said brushing is effected by a power toothbrush or manual toothbrush.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein said cleaning is effected by sonification, pressurized water, brushing, or a combination thereof.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein said brushing is effected by a power toothbrush or a manual toothbrush.

20. The method of claim 1 wherein, if said APV1 is less than said PPTV, moving and positioning said device within another of a plurality of sections and repeating steps b through e.