EP0959805A1 - Toothbrush - Google Patents
ToothbrushInfo
- Publication number
- EP0959805A1 EP0959805A1 EP97905014A EP97905014A EP0959805A1 EP 0959805 A1 EP0959805 A1 EP 0959805A1 EP 97905014 A EP97905014 A EP 97905014A EP 97905014 A EP97905014 A EP 97905014A EP 0959805 A1 EP0959805 A1 EP 0959805A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- electrode
- counter
- plaque
- fluid
- teeth
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A46—BRUSHWARE
- A46B—BRUSHES
- A46B15/00—Other brushes; Brushes with additional arrangements
- A46B15/0002—Arrangements for enhancing monitoring or controlling the brushing process
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
- A61B5/00—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
- A61B5/05—Detecting, measuring or recording for diagnosis by means of electric currents or magnetic fields; Measuring using microwaves or radio waves
- A61B5/053—Measuring electrical impedance or conductance of a portion of the body
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
- A61B5/00—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
- A61B5/45—For evaluating or diagnosing the musculoskeletal system or teeth
- A61B5/4538—Evaluating a particular part of the muscoloskeletal system or a particular medical condition
- A61B5/4542—Evaluating the mouth, e.g. the jaw
- A61B5/4547—Evaluating teeth
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
- A61B5/00—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
- A61B5/68—Arrangements of detecting, measuring or recording means, e.g. sensors, in relation to patient
- A61B5/6887—Arrangements of detecting, measuring or recording means, e.g. sensors, in relation to patient mounted on external non-worn devices, e.g. non-medical devices
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61C—DENTISTRY; APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR ORAL OR DENTAL HYGIENE
- A61C19/00—Dental auxiliary appliances
- A61C19/04—Measuring instruments specially adapted for dentistry
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
- A61B2562/00—Details of sensors; Constructional details of sensor housings or probes; Accessories for sensors
- A61B2562/04—Arrangements of multiple sensors of the same type
Definitions
- the invention relates to a device for the detection of plaque on teeth or dentures which are in a conductive fluid, particularly during the course of a cleaning operation, and to a method that is used for said detection.
- Plaque is one of the principal causes for the formation of caries and other diseases of the teeth and oral cavity as it promotes the settlement of harmful bacteria and makes available the carbohydrates required by such bacteria as food. For this reason the principal aim of oral hygiene is to remove dental plaque as completely as possible. Monitoring of the cleaning operation is extremely difficult as the layers of plaque are virtually invisible and are consequently difficult to see, particularly if a person tries to check his own mouth by means of a mirror. With dentures too, thorough monitoring of cleaning is required as layers of plaque can also form on their surface and provide bacteria that cause mflammation with a suitable habitat. To establish whether there is any residual plaque after cleaning it is known to use colouring agents, for example in the form of chewable tablets, which are deposited to a significantly greater extent on plaque than on teeth free of plaque.
- the invention has set itself to overcome the problem of developing a device and a method for detecting dental plaque which in a simple manner permit detection even in poorly accessible areas of the mouth, which enable colouring agents to be dispensed with and which can also be used during the cleaning operation.
- a device for the detection of plaque on teeth or dentures which are situated in a conductive fluid, pa ⁇ icularly during the course of a cleaning operation, characterised in that: the device has at least one electrode provided with external insulation and having a conductive tip which can be placed onto the surface of a tooth, a counter-electrode is present which has an electrical connection to the fluid, a power source is connected to the electrode and counter-electrode, a measuring device is located between the power source and electrode or counter-electrode which determines the electrical impedance between the electrode and counter-electrode and an evaluation and/or indicator device processes and/or indicates the electrical impedance values measured.
- the invention is based on the knowledge that the electrical impedance of different materials in the human mouth varies considerably. Teeth, which consist predominantly of crystalline material, have a very high impedance which generally is in excess of 30 k ⁇ . The same applies to dentures made of plastic or ceramic material, whereas the impedance of amalgam fillings is negligible.
- Teeth which consist predominantly of crystalline material, have a very high impedance which generally is in excess of 30 k ⁇ . The same applies to dentures made of plastic or ceramic material, whereas the impedance of amalgam fillings is negligible.
- saliva which is present as a film over the teeth, gums, tongue etc. and other pans of the mouth cavity.
- the impedance of saliva and the gums which are coated with saliva and permeated by blood-filled capillary vessels, is in the region of around 100 ⁇ . which is equivalent to physiological saline.
- a iayer of plaque can unambiguously be differentiated from all these materials owing to its electrical impedance, which is
- a device for the detection of dental plaque is therefore proposed which is based on the principle of measurement of electrical impedance.
- an externally insulated electrode with a conductive tip or contact area is required which can be placed onto the surface of a tooth.
- the extent of the projecting conductible area above the surrounding insulation is expediently less than the thickness of the layer of plaque to be detected.
- a counter-electrode is also necessary, this produces an electrical connection to a fluid in which the tooth is situated, generally the saliva of the oral cavity .
- a power source connected to the electrode and counter-electrode produces a closed circuit via the fluid, and a device for measuring electrical impedance, i.e. the size of the current flow at a given voltage, is inserted into this circuit.
- direct current operation with a battery as the power source is generally preferred, an alternating current circuit is also conceivable for measuring the impedance. The measured values obtained in this way are processed and/or indicated by an evaluation and/or indicator device .
- the device is expedient - to simplify operation - to use as simple an indicator device as possible, for example light diodes or an acoustic signal transmitter which are switched on at an impedance value indicating the presence or absence of layers of plaque.
- an indicator device for example light diodes or an acoustic signal transmitter which are switched on at an impedance value indicating the presence or absence of layers of plaque.
- the device is use of the device as a dental diagnostic device, with the measured values either being indicated directly or being transmitted to an electronic computing device as evaluation unit, which processes the impedance values and as a consequence indicates the presence of plaque.
- the device can also be used for checking possible layers of plaque on dentures or dental prostheses. where there is a similar impedance
- the electrode is a filament made of elastic, insulating material, preferably a plastic, which has a core made of flexible, conductive material. Unlike rigid constructions, such an electrode effectively prevents possible injury in the oral cavity and can easily be produced by detaching lengths from a continuous filament.
- a metal wire is also conceivable as a core
- a core made from carbon particularly in the form of a carbon fibre, is preferred as it is chemically very resistant and toxicologically safe and rules out any possibility of damage to the surface of the tooth.
- Pa ⁇ icular advantages are offered by the proposed detection device if it is used to check for dental plaque, i.e. cleanliness, during a cleaning operation.
- the electrode be mounted on a cleaning device for teeth or dentures. In this way the indicator device can be restricted to a signal as to whether plaque can still be detected, i.e. whether the cleaning operation is at an end or should be continued.
- the proposed detection device may expediently be inserted in pa ⁇ icular into a manually or electrically operated toothbrush, with the power supply, measuring device, indicator and/or evaluation device being advantageously located in the handle.
- filaments are preferably used as electrodes, replacing one, several or all the traditional filaments of the toothbrush.
- the counter-electrodes too may be in the form of filaments. Filaments of toothbrushes bend in an uncontrollable manner under strain and with increasing wear and tear. If the deformed filaments serve as electrodes, false readings may occur in the future resulting in the measuring device becoming completely unusable.
- the electrodes may be fitted only in specific areas of the brush head, preferably in its centre. It can also be advantageous, however, to fit electrodes in the front pan of the brush head, i.e. furthest from the handle, as the marginal areas of the oral cavity can also be reached easily in this way. Moreover a smaller number of filaments serving as electrodes results in lower cost, as they are more expensive to produce than conventional filaments and contact between them is required.
- the device for detecting dental plaque is fitted to a motor-operated cleaning device, pa ⁇ icularly an electric toothbrush, it is possible to dispense with an indicator device.
- the evaluation device may be arranged to control actuation of the cleaning device and such a construction can be arranged to end the cleaning operation automatically if no more plaque is detected.
- electrode and counter-electrode are of the same design, for example if they are both filaments. Both may also form a single component or be directly connected to one another mechanically. Examples are a filament having two conductive cores, one serving as electrode and the other as counter-electrode, or electrodes inse ⁇ ed into openings of a conductive plate constituting the counter-electrode and optionally pa ⁇ ly encompassing the shaft of the electrode.
- a fully or sectionally conductive handle may also be used as counter-electrode.
- the circuit in this case is closed via the hand, arm and body of the user and via the saliva in his mouth.
- counting and integrating elements are suitable for establishing how large overall the areas are which have uniform impedance, in particular a layer of plaque Threshold switches permit the singling out of obviously erroneous measurements which may occur for example if the electrode is lifted off the surface of the tooth or there is a sho ⁇ -circuit via a metallic filling
- One or more delay elements m the evaluation unit ensures that only these changes m impedance are recorded whose duration is withm predetermined limits If the detection device is used in conjunction with a cleamng device where the cleamng operation proceeds m a cyclic manner, the time constant of the delay element is preferably aligned to the period length of the cleaning operation If for example an electrical toothbrush is used, the period length corresponds to the duration of oscillation of a brush head Even during manual cleaning of the teeth there occur typical period lengths which may be taken into account with a delay element
- Examples are the period when a orush head is lifted from one set of teeth and placed on another set. or periods in which the filament tips glide without contact over the interdental spaces
- the duration of the time constant of the dela element does not necessarily have to coincide with the period lengths, but multiples or fractions of the period length may prove to be expedient time constants
- the teeth or dentures are not already in the saliva of the oral cavity, they may be introduced mto a conductive fluid A electrical connection is made between the fluid and the counter- electrode After the electrode has been placed onto the surface of the tooth the power source causes a flow of electrical current, thus allowing the electrical impedance to be measured. It can be determined from the size of the impedance measured whether the tip of the electrode is on a clean dental surface or m a layer of plaque
- the electrode is moved along the surface of the teeth during measurement, for example during a cleamng operation, when it is mounted on a toothbrush
- This ensures that layers of plaque on the surface of the teeth are detected not only at certain pomts but also over a wide area
- a fluid is advantageous which is in the form of a foam and largely fills the oral cavity of the subject This can be achieved by adding a foam-forming surfactant to the fluid, as for example is contained in commercial toothpastes If the device is used during normal cleaning of the teeth, such a contact-improving foam is normally formed during the cleaning operation
- FIGS 2 - 4. Cross-sections through alternative arrangements of electrodes and counter-electrodes .
- FIG. 1 shows a cross-section through a toothbrush (1) which has a handle (2) and a brush head (3) and which is provided with a device in accordance with the invention for detecting layers of plaque (4) on the surface of teeth to be cleaned (5).
- the toothbrush (1) instead of traditional bristles the toothbrush (1) has filaments (6) made from an insulating material which are provided with a conductive core (7).
- the core (7) is freely accessible at the tip (8) of the filament (6), resulting in the formation of an electrode (9) which at its other end makes contact with a printed circuit board (10) in the brush head.
- Leads (11) connect the electrode (9) via a power source (12) to a counter-electrode (13) which is formed by a metallic layer (14) on the surface of the handle (2) of the toothbrush (1).
- a measuring device (18) serves to record the flow of current, or electrical impedance, in the circuit.
- a evaluation device (19) processes the values recorded by the measuring device (18) and controls an indicator device (20) which indicates by means of light diodes (21) whether the cleaning operation has ended, in other words, whether the layer of plaque (4) has been removed.
- the evaluation device (19) is also used to take into account erroneous measurements, for example when the toothbrush (1) is lifted off the tooth (5). and for identification of measured values to which the presence or absence of plaque (4) can be assigned. It goes without saying that it is possible in a similar way also to provide an electric toothbrush with a device for detecting dental plaque.
- the printed circuit board (10) means there are various possibilities for contact between the electrodes (9) which, for example, are connected to a measuring device (18) individually or in groups, the connection of several electrodes (9) in series also being possible. Fu her advantageous embodiments of the device are shown in Figures 2 to 4 where the counter-electrode too (13) is located in the brush head (3). To simplify the drawings only the arrangement for measuring impedance has been shown in each case.
- both the electrodes (9) and the counter-electrodes (13) are filaments (6) with a conductive core (7), in other words they are of similar design. This considerably extends the possibilities for contact between them, for example, the depicted series connection of all electrodes (9) and counter-electrodes (13) is conceivable.
- Figure 3 shows a toothbrush (1) with a counter-electrode (13) in the form of a conductive plate on a brush head (3) into openings on which the electrodes (9) are inse ⁇ ed.
- a counter-electrode (13) in the form of a conductive plate on a brush head (3) into openings on which the electrodes (9) are inse ⁇ ed.
- Figure 4 shows the electrode (9) and counter-electrode (13) provided in a common filament (6) which is provided with two cores (7).
Abstract
Description
Claims
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
DE19605845 | 1996-02-16 | ||
DE19605845A DE19605845A1 (en) | 1996-02-16 | 1996-02-16 | Device and method for the detection of dental plaque |
PCT/EP1997/000647 WO1997029714A1 (en) | 1996-02-16 | 1997-02-12 | Toothbrush |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0959805A1 true EP0959805A1 (en) | 1999-12-01 |
Family
ID=7785631
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP97905014A Withdrawn EP0959805A1 (en) | 1996-02-16 | 1997-02-12 | Toothbrush |
Country Status (5)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0959805A1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP2000504605A (en) |
AU (1) | AU1872697A (en) |
DE (1) | DE19605845A1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO1997029714A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (23)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB0421884D0 (en) * | 2004-10-01 | 2004-11-03 | Idmos Plc | Method and apparatus for monitoring the structure of a tooth |
AU2005291047A1 (en) * | 2004-10-01 | 2006-04-13 | Idmos Plc | Dental electrode assembly |
JP4642422B2 (en) * | 2004-10-05 | 2011-03-02 | ライオン株式会社 | Oral cleaning tool |
JP4759353B2 (en) * | 2005-09-21 | 2011-08-31 | Skメディカル電子株式会社 | Oral saliva measurement device |
JP5192484B2 (en) * | 2006-06-29 | 2013-05-08 | コーニンクレッカ フィリップス エレクトロニクス エヌ ヴィ | Surface detection system for use with a droplet spray oral cleaning device |
JP2007319696A (en) * | 2007-07-18 | 2007-12-13 | Kazunori Kusano | Probe syringe |
JP2010124904A (en) * | 2008-11-25 | 2010-06-10 | Panasonic Electric Works Co Ltd | Oral cavity care instrument |
CN102834031A (en) * | 2009-12-22 | 2012-12-19 | 松下电器产业株式会社 | Brush body and toothbrush |
JPWO2011078127A1 (en) * | 2009-12-22 | 2013-05-09 | パナソニック株式会社 | Brush body and toothbrush |
CN102686127B (en) * | 2009-12-23 | 2014-12-10 | 皇家飞利浦电子股份有限公司 | System for protection of soft tissues against a teeth whitening substance |
US8314377B2 (en) | 2009-12-23 | 2012-11-20 | Mcneil-Ppc, Inc. | Device and method for detecting plaque in the oral cavity |
JP5292346B2 (en) * | 2010-03-25 | 2013-09-18 | パナソニック株式会社 | Brush body and toothbrush |
JP2012000148A (en) * | 2010-06-14 | 2012-01-05 | Panasonic Electric Works Co Ltd | Brush body and toothbrush including the same |
US8187002B2 (en) | 2010-06-29 | 2012-05-29 | Mcneil-Ppc, Inc. | Method for cleaning the oral cavity |
US8702422B2 (en) | 2010-06-29 | 2014-04-22 | Mcneil-Ppc, Inc. | Device and method for cleaning the oral cavity |
US8186997B2 (en) | 2010-06-29 | 2012-05-29 | Mcneil-Ppc, Inc. | Method for cleaning the oral cavity |
JP5796408B2 (en) * | 2011-08-24 | 2015-10-21 | オムロンヘルスケア株式会社 | Oral care device |
US20130071807A1 (en) * | 2011-09-20 | 2013-03-21 | Alexander Franz Doll | Iontophoretic oral care devices with automatic oral care implement detection and mode selection |
CN104039216B (en) * | 2012-09-28 | 2017-12-19 | 松下电器(美国)知识产权公司 | Intraoral examination device and method for information display |
US9668842B2 (en) * | 2012-12-21 | 2017-06-06 | Koninklijke Philips N.V. | Plaque detection using a stream probe |
WO2014097031A1 (en) * | 2012-12-21 | 2014-06-26 | Koninklijke Philips N.V. | Plaque detection using a stream probe |
US9220583B2 (en) * | 2013-10-22 | 2015-12-29 | Plaqless Ltd | Dental care device for detection and removal of plaque |
CA2932133C (en) * | 2013-12-24 | 2018-07-24 | Braun Gmbh | Position detection of an oral care implement |
Family Cites Families (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4537573A (en) * | 1983-12-29 | 1985-08-27 | Noburu Onuki | Detector for diagnosing dental caries |
JP2592791B2 (en) * | 1989-01-31 | 1997-03-19 | 株式会社サンギ | Electronic toothbrush |
DE4032779C2 (en) * | 1990-10-16 | 2000-10-26 | Wolfgang Wiedemann | Toothbrush for determining dental plaque |
US5382163A (en) * | 1992-07-20 | 1995-01-17 | Putnam; David L. | Method and apparatus for detecting the presence of dental plaque or calculus |
-
1996
- 1996-02-16 DE DE19605845A patent/DE19605845A1/en not_active Withdrawn
-
1997
- 1997-02-12 EP EP97905014A patent/EP0959805A1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1997-02-12 AU AU18726/97A patent/AU1872697A/en not_active Abandoned
- 1997-02-12 JP JP9528982A patent/JP2000504605A/en not_active Ceased
- 1997-02-12 WO PCT/EP1997/000647 patent/WO1997029714A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
Non-Patent Citations (1)
Title |
---|
See references of WO9729714A1 * |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
JP2000504605A (en) | 2000-04-18 |
WO1997029714A1 (en) | 1997-08-21 |
DE19605845A1 (en) | 1997-08-21 |
AU1872697A (en) | 1997-09-02 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
WO1997029714A1 (en) | Toothbrush | |
EP2758122B1 (en) | Oral care devices having automatic mode selection | |
JP6258503B2 (en) | Oral care device position detection | |
RU2556976C2 (en) | Toothbrush with automatic activation | |
CN106923488A (en) | Toothbrush with removable intelligent apparatus | |
CA2246292A1 (en) | Toothbrush | |
JP2018157876A (en) | Heartbeat measuring system and heartbeat measuring method | |
JP7442686B2 (en) | Oral hygiene devices and methods | |
JP3244328B2 (en) | Biological depression measuring device and sounding probe used in the device | |
JPH0314171Y2 (en) | ||
CN113633422A (en) | Toothbrush head and toothbrush |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
PUAI | Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012 |
|
17P | Request for examination filed |
Effective date: 19980730 |
|
AK | Designated contracting states |
Kind code of ref document: A1 Designated state(s): AT BE CH DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE |
|
AX | Request for extension of the european patent |
Free format text: SI PAYMENT 19980730 |
|
17Q | First examination report despatched |
Effective date: 20030708 |
|
GRAP | Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR1 |
|
RIN1 | Information on inventor provided before grant (corrected) |
Inventor name: KRAMER, HANS Inventor name: JANITZ, PETER Inventor name: STILLER, SIGRID |
|
STAA | Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent |
Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION IS DEEMED TO BE WITHDRAWN |
|
18D | Application deemed to be withdrawn |
Effective date: 20040903 |