Device and method for cleaning the oral cavity

• US 8,702,422 B2
• Filed: 06/29/2010
• Issued: 04/22/2014
• 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:
  US12/825,838
• Publication Number:
  US 20110314618A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,393 Days
• Field of Search: 606 10- 13, 606/16, 606/17, 433 29- 31, 433/216
• 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 15/0034 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 device for detecting plaque on a surface of the oral cavity, said device comprising:

a radiation source for directing incident radiation onto said surface of said oral cavity,

optical collectors for collecting reflected light and fluorescent emission,

optical pathways for conveying said collected reflected light and said collected fluorescent emission in said device,

means for converting an optical light signal of said reflected light and said fluorescent emission to an electrical signal,

means for mathematically manipulating said electrical signal of said reflected light and said fluorescent emission to determine a compensated plaque value,

means for cleaning said surface of said oral cavity,

a first optical filter through which said incident radiation is passed prior to contact with said surface, and

a second optical filter through which a portion of said fluorescent emission is conveyed prior to conversion of said optical light signal to said electrical signal.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said optical collectors comprise an optical fiber.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said optical pathway comprises an optical fiber.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein said means for converting said optical light signal of said reflected light and fluorescent emission to said electrical signal comprises an optical transducer.

5. The device of claim 1 further comprising means for amplifying or conditioning said electrical signal of said reflected light and said fluorescent emission.

6. The device of claim 1 further comprising a third optical filter through which a portion of said reflected light is conveyed prior to conversion of said optical light signal to said electrical signal.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein said means for mathematically manipulating said electrical signal of said reflected light and said fluorescent emission comprises a data processor, said data processor further comprising an analogue-to-digital converter for converting said electrical signal of said reflective light and said fluorescent emission from an analogue format to a digital format prior to manipulation of said electrical signal.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein said means for cleaning comprises a toothbrush, said toothbrush comprising a head, said head comprising a face with bristles attached thereto.

9. The device of claim 8 wherein said toothbrush is a manual toothbrush or a power toothbrush.

10. The device of claim 1 wherein said means for cleaning is effective to clean teeth by sonification, pressurized water, brushing, or a combination thereof.