Gum detection in a dental hygiene detection apparatus by stream probe blocking
First Claim
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1. An electric toothbrush comprising:
- an oral insertion portion;
a body portion containing detection electronics;
at least one parameter sensor in electrical communication with the detection electronics for measuring a change in a parameter;
a stream probe detection apparatus in the oral insertion portion for detecting the presence of a substance on a dental surface, the detection apparatus comprising;
a distal probe portion of a first stream probe configured to be immersed in a first fluid,the distal probe portion of the first stream probe 401 defining a distal tip having an open port to enable the passage of a second fluid therethrough; and
a distal probe portion of a second stream probe, the distal probe portion of the second stream probe configured to be immersed in the first fluid,the distal probe portion of the second stream probe defining a distal tip having an open port to enable the passage of the second fluid therethrough;
the stream probe detection apparatus configured such that passage of the second fluid through the distal tip of the distal probe portion of the first stream probe and passage of the second fluid through the distal tip of the distal probe portion of the second stream probe enables detection of the substance that may be present on the dental surface based on measurement by the detection electronics of a change in the pressure signal detected by the at least one parameter sensor, correlating to the substance at least partially obstructing the passage of second fluid through the open port of at least one stream probe and confirmation that the substance is not gum tissue, the confirmation effected by comparison by the detection electronics between the measurement of a signal detected by the at least one parameter sensor correlating to a substance at least partially obstructing the passage of fluid through the open port of the distal tip of the distal probe portion of the first stream probe and measurement of a signal detected by the at least one parameter sensor correlating to an object not obstructing the passage of fluid through the open port of the distal tip of the distal probe portion of the second stream probe.
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Abstract
A detection apparatus (400, 1100) detects the presence of a substance (116) on a surface (31, 33) based on measurement of a signal of obstructing the passage of second fluid (30) through a first stream probe and confirmation that the substance is not the gums of a subject or a user of the detection apparatus and not the generation of a false alarm signal that the substance is the gums of the subject or of the user of the detection apparatus by comparing to a signal of at least partial obstruction to a signal correlating to an object not obstructing the passage of fluid (30) through a second stream probe (402). The signals may include pressure, flow rate and strain.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. An electric toothbrush comprising:
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an oral insertion portion; a body portion containing detection electronics; at least one parameter sensor in electrical communication with the detection electronics for measuring a change in a parameter; a stream probe detection apparatus in the oral insertion portion for detecting the presence of a substance on a dental surface, the detection apparatus comprising; a distal probe portion of a first stream probe configured to be immersed in a first fluid, the distal probe portion of the first stream probe 401 defining a distal tip having an open port to enable the passage of a second fluid therethrough; and a distal probe portion of a second stream probe, the distal probe portion of the second stream probe configured to be immersed in the first fluid, the distal probe portion of the second stream probe defining a distal tip having an open port to enable the passage of the second fluid therethrough; the stream probe detection apparatus configured such that passage of the second fluid through the distal tip of the distal probe portion of the first stream probe and passage of the second fluid through the distal tip of the distal probe portion of the second stream probe enables detection of the substance that may be present on the dental surface based on measurement by the detection electronics of a change in the pressure signal detected by the at least one parameter sensor, correlating to the substance at least partially obstructing the passage of second fluid through the open port of at least one stream probe and confirmation that the substance is not gum tissue, the confirmation effected by comparison by the detection electronics between the measurement of a signal detected by the at least one parameter sensor correlating to a substance at least partially obstructing the passage of fluid through the open port of the distal tip of the distal probe portion of the first stream probe and measurement of a signal detected by the at least one parameter sensor correlating to an object not obstructing the passage of fluid through the open port of the distal tip of the distal probe portion of the second stream probe. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification