Generating a chemical agent in situ

• US 8,708,700 B2
• Filed: 03/30/2012
• Issued: 04/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Company
• Original Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Company
• Inventors: Jimenez, Eduardo J., Dickson, Robert, Hohlbein, Douglas J., Cai, Heng, Kennedy, Sharon, Mintel, Thomas, Russell, Bruce M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Doan, Robyn
• Assistant Examiner(s): NELSON, MATTHEW M
• Application Number:
  US13/435,726
• Publication Number:
  US 20120189986A1
• Time in Patent Office: 760 Days
• Field of Search: 15 221- 222, 151/05, 151671-1672, 205/626, 205628-636, 205/687, 205/752, 205/756, 422/186.18, 424/53, 424/616, 132/148, 132/271, 433/32, 433/80, 433/173, 433/176, 433/169, 433/174, 433/175, 433/201.1, 433/215, 433/216, 604 19- 20, 604/48, 604 73- 77, 606 32- 34, 606 41- 42, 607/79
• US Class Current: 433/215
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/0002 Arrangements for enhancing monitoring or controlling the brushing process
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/0022 with an electrical means
• 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 9/04 Arranged like in or for toothbrushes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/244 for cleaning of the tongue
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/00 Devices for cleaning, polishing, rinsing or drying teeth, teeth cavities or prostheses instruments acting like a sandblast machine A61C3/025; tooth polishing discs or holders therefor A61C3/06; devices for cleaning between the teeth A61C15/00; Saliva removers; Dental appliances for receiving spittle
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/16 Power-driven cleaning or polishing devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 19/066 Bleaching devices; Whitening agent applicators for teeth, e.g. trays or strips
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0548 Oral electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/26 Electromedical brushes; Electromedical massage devices massage devices in general A61H; Combs
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/322 Electromedical brushes, combs, massage devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/44 Applying ionised fluids ion generators H01J37/00
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 1/02 Hydrogen or oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 1/04 by electrolysis of water
• CPC Class Codes: C25B 1/13 Ozone
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/36 Hydrogen production from non-carbon containing sources, e.g. by water electrolysis

Abstract

A method of cleaning teeth by providing a device for generating a chemical agent in situ on an as-needed basis via the application of an electrical potential across a pair of conductors in communication with an electrolyte. The chemical agents may include ozone, hydrogen peroxide, peroxide, chlorine and/or hypochlorite. The device may include a voltage source and a first set of electrodes for applying an electrical potential to the electrolyte. The device may also include a second set of electrodes disposed about an anode of the first set of electrodes. The first and second sets of anodes cooperate to produce ions, peroxides, ozone and/or other chemical agents via the application of electrical potential to the electrolyte.

Claims

1. A method of cleaning teeth, the method comprising:

placing a bristle field of an oral care device in a user'"'"'s mouth and in contact with an electrolyte, the oral care device having a first set of electrodes within the bristle field;

providing an electrical charge across the first set of electrodes in the presence of the electrolyte while in the user'"'"'s mouth; and

generating a chemical agent in the user'"'"'s mouth from the electrolyte, the chemical agent selected from the group consisting of hydrogen peroxide and ozone.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein, for the step of generating, the chemical agent is ozone and, for the step of placing, the oral care device further comprising a second set of electrodes disposed proximate a first anode of the first set of electrodes, the method further comprising:

generating oxygen at a first anode of the first set of electrodes; and

applying an electrical potential across the second set of electrodes while performing the step of generating oxygen.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the electrolyte comprises saliva and wherein generating oxygen comprises applying an electrical potential across the first set of electrodes in the presence of the saliva.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein, for the step of generating, the chemical agent is one of ozone and hydrogen peroxide, and, for the step of providing an electrical charge, the electrolyte comprises saliva and the electrical charge is 9 volts or more.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein, for the step of generating, the chemical agent is one of ozone and hydrogen peroxide, and, for the step of providing an electrical charge, the electrolyte comprises saliva and the electrical charge is less than 1.0 volts.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrolyte comprises salvia.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrolyte is selected from the group consisting of saliva, dentifrice, a conductivity agent, a salt, and a mixture thereof.