JP2006180953A - Electric toothbrush - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electric toothbrush which enables quick and efficient cleaning and sterilization of the oral cavity. <P>SOLUTION: When the electric toothbrush 1 is used in the oral cavity, available chlorine can be generated electrolytically using chloride ions in the oral cavity so that the available chlorine can be efficiently utilized for the sterilization in the oral cavity. Also, since electrodes 35a and 35b disposed at a head section 3 are formed to oscillate, the generation efficiency of the available chlorine can be increased while the cleaning of the oral cavity is executed, and the generated available chlorine can be instantly diffused in a liquid in the oral cavity. Thereby, the available chlorine comes to have the effective concentration for the sterilization in a short time and instantly spreads all over the oral cavity so that the cleaning and the sterilization of the oral cavity can be quickly and efficiently executed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an electric toothbrush that performs sterilization and cleaning by changing chloride ions in the oral cavity to effective chlorine.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is an electric toothbrush that is provided with a power mechanism or a drive mechanism using a motor or the like in a toothbrush used for cleaning the oral cavity and rubs the oral cavity by vibrating the brush.
Further, an electric toothbrush having a configuration for improving the cleaning effect and the like has been proposed.

  As an example of an electric toothbrush having a structure for improving the cleaning effect, a brush is composed of nylon bristle blended with quartz andesite that generates negative ions, and the body is vibrated by a motor. An electric toothbrush that vibrates the head part attached to the part and the brush attached to the head part has been proposed (for example, Patent Document 1).

  Further, the apparatus includes an intraoral electrode provided in the head part, a gripping part electrode provided in the gripping part, a motor provided in the gripping part to vibrate the head part, and a drive circuit for driving the motor. An electric toothbrush has been proposed (for example, Patent Document 2).

  A motor having a rotation shaft disposed substantially along a central axis in a longitudinal direction of the gripping portion; a motor having a gear attached to the rotation shaft; a drive gear meshing with a gear of the motor rotation shaft; and the central shaft A driven gear that is disposed on the opposite side of the drive gear and sandwiched with the drive gear, a final gear that meshes with the driven gear, and a final gear that has one end engaged with the final gear. There has been proposed an electric toothbrush having a drive shaft that converts the rotation of the shaft into linear reciprocating vibration and a head portion attached to the other end of the drive shaft (for example, Patent Document 3).

  Moreover, an ultrasonic toothbrush in which a piezoelectric transducer provided inside the head portion and a hair bundle attached to the flocked surface of the head portion is described has been proposed (for example, Patent Document 4).

  In recent years, toothbrushes are required to have other functions in addition to the cleaning action in the oral cavity. However, there is no known technique related to toothbrushes having a function for sterilizing the oral cavity. .

Regarding the sterilization technique, there has been proposed an electrolyzed water production apparatus that has a cathode, an anode and a diaphragm separating them inside the electrolytic cell, generates electrolyzed water on the anode side, and generates alkaline water on the cathode side ( For example, Patent Document 5).
JP 2004-24805 A Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-275596 JP 2000-279432 A Japanese Patent No. 3313715 JP 2004-25185 A

In the electric toothbrush described in Patent Document 1, the quartz andesite mixed in the brush generates negative ions, attracting positive ions in the plaque, making it easier to remove plaque from the teeth and improving the cleaning effect It is to do.
However, the electric toothbrush described in Patent Document 1 does not have a function of sterilizing the oral cavity although the cleaning effect on the tooth surface and the like is improved by the action of negative ions of quartz andesite.

In the electric toothbrush described in Patent Document 2, when the user holds the gripping part while touching the gripping part electrode during brushing and inserts the head part into the oral cavity, the oral electrode comes into contact with the oral fluid and the gripping The drive circuit detects that the partial electrode and the intraoral electrode are conducted through the user's body, and drives the motor to start the vibration of the head unit. As a result, the electric toothbrush can be automatically turned on and off without the user performing a switch operation, and a small current flows between the mouth electrode and the gripping part electrode on the user's body. This produces an ionic effect and can effectively remove dental plaque and the like.
However, the electric toothbrush described in Patent Document 2 also has a function of sterilizing the oral cavity, although the tooth cleaning effect is improved by an ionic effect caused by a minute current flowing through the body.

The electric toothbrush described in Patent Literature 3 integrates a drive gear and a driven gear, thereby maintaining a high rotational torque while reducing the size and driving a head portion attached to a drive shaft.
However, although the electric toothbrush described in Patent Document 3 enhances the plaque removal effect by high rotational torque, it does not have a function of sterilizing the oral cavity.

In the ultrasonic toothbrush described in Patent Document 4, the piezoelectric crystal of the piezoelectric transducer resonates at or near the resonance frequency, and ultrasonic waves are generated between the hairs of the hair bundle attached to the head surface to brush the teeth. Is to do.
However, although the ultrasonic toothbrush described in Patent Document 4 can remove plaque by the action of ultrasonic waves, it does not have a function of sterilizing the oral cavity.

The electrolyzed water production apparatus described in Patent Document 5 is used for putting salt water such as salt into an electrolytic cell, performing electrolysis, taking out acidic water and alkaline water generated at the cathode and anode, and using them depending on the application. Yes, the acidic water produced on the anode side can be used for sterilization.
However, the electrolyzed water production apparatus described in Patent Document 5 is a large-scale configuration, and it is difficult to adopt it for an electric toothbrush in terms of size and cost.
In addition, it is known that the amount of effective chlorine contained in acidic water is deactivated over time ("Strong Electrolyzed Water Handbook" published by Medical Information Company). For this reason, it is necessary to use the generated acidic water instantly for sterilization, and after generating the electrolyzed water production apparatus acidic water described in Patent Document 3, even if this acidic water is used for sterilization in the oral cavity, There is a possibility that a sufficient bactericidal effect cannot be obtained.

The bactericidal action by electrolysis is considered to be due to the generation of effective chlorine (Cl ₂ , HClO, etc.) having a bactericidal power according to the following reaction formula.
The dissociation state in the aqueous solution is expressed by the chemical formulas (1) and (2).

NaCl → Na ⁺ + Cl ⁻ (1)

H ₂ O → H ⁺ + OH ⁻ (2)

  The reaction on the cathode side by electrolysis is represented by the chemical formula (3).

2H ⁺ + 2e ⁻ → H ₂ (3)

  The reaction on the anode side due to electrolysis is expressed by the chemical formulas (4) and (5).

2Cl ⁻ → Cl ₂ ↑ + 2e ⁻ (4)

Cl ₂ + H ₂ O⇔HCl + HClO (5)

In ordinary electrolysis, fine bubbles of chlorine (Cl ₂ ) gas shown in the chemical formula of the formula (4) adhere to the electrode surface on the anode side, so that the reactions shown in the formulas (4) and (5) There was a risk that the reaction efficiency would be impaired.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide an electric toothbrush that can efficiently perform cleaning and sterilization in the oral cavity in a short time.

As a result of intensive studies on the above-mentioned problems, the present applicant has derived the following conclusions and completed the invention.
By the vibration of (1) an electric toothbrush, it diffused Cl ₂ gas molecules generated at the anode, to prevent the adhesion becomes coated with the anode, thereby constantly exposing the electrode surface. As a result, the production efficiency of effective chlorine (Cl ₂ ) in the chemical formula (4) immediately after the start of electrolysis (between the start and several minutes after the start) (the amount of effective chlorine produced within a predetermined time) is improved. be able to.
(2) By virtue of the vibration of the electric toothbrush, the effective chlorine generated by the chemical formulas of the formulas (4) and (5) is instantaneously diffused, so that the effective chlorine diffuses into the oral cavity only by the self-diffusion action. Prevents the effective chlorine in the internal liquid from becoming inhomogeneous. Thereby, effective chlorine spreads uniformly in the oral fluid.
Therefore, the production efficiency of effective chlorine having a sterilizing action is increased, and sterilization can be performed in a short time. In addition, by diffusing the generated effective chlorine instantaneously at high speed, the effective chlorine spreads to every corner of the oral cavity, so that bacteria in the oral cavity can be sterilized efficiently.

The present invention provides an electric toothbrush having the following configuration.
In the first aspect of the present invention, a gripping portion, a head portion extending from the gripping portion and having a hair bundle implanted therein, a pair of electrodes provided on the head portion, a motor, and movement of the motor to the head portion A drive unit that transmits power, and a power source that supplies current to the pair of electrodes and the motor, and energizes the electrodes in a state where the pair of electrodes is in contact with oral fluid containing chloride ions. The electric toothbrush characterized by changing the said chloride ion into effective chlorine is provided.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electric toothbrush characterized in that the pair of electrodes are provided on a flocked surface of a head portion.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electric toothbrush characterized in that the concentration of effective chlorine generated when the oral fluid is physiological saline is in the range of 2 to 100 ppm.

  According to the above configuration, the pair of electrodes provided in the head portion of the electric toothbrush is inserted into the oral cavity, and the oral fluid is electrolyzed by contacting the oral fluid containing chloride ions, Effective chlorine can be generated. In addition, since the motor movement is transmitted to the head part by the drive part and the electrode provided on the head part vibrates, the production efficiency of effective chlorine can be increased, and the produced effective Chlorine can be instantly diffused into the oral fluid. As a result, effective chlorine reaches a concentration effective for sterilization in a short time, and since it reaches every corner of the oral cavity instantly, it can be sterilized efficiently.

The oral fluid in the present invention is a solution containing Cl ⁻ , for example, saliva, oral fluid during brushing, mouthwash, mouthwash, mouse spray, sports drink (Aquarius (registered trademark), Pocari Sweat ( Registered trademark)).

  In the electric toothbrush of the present invention, the effective chlorine concentration generated when the oral fluid is physiological saline is 2 to 100 ppm. Considering the effect and practical use, 5 ppm to 60 ppm is more preferable. If it is less than 5 ppm, it has a sterilizing effect, but is not sufficient, and if it exceeds 60 ppm, the chlorine odor is slightly dissipated.

  The electric toothbrush of the present invention can efficiently generate the above-mentioned concentration of effective chlorine even under a low voltage condition by vibrating the head portion. Therefore, a safe design can be achieved.

  As described above, according to the present invention, the production efficiency of effective chlorine can be improved and can be instantaneously spread to every corner of the oral cavity by diffusing instantaneously at high speed. Therefore, the oral cavity can be sterilized efficiently in a short time, and a compact and safe electric toothbrush can be provided.

  According to the electric toothbrush of the present invention, effective chlorine is efficiently generated by electrolysis using chloride ions in the oral cavity and instantly diffuses at high speed, so that it is instantaneously distributed to every corner of the oral cavity. Therefore, the oral cavity can be efficiently cleaned and sterilized in a short time.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of an electric toothbrush according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
1 and 2 show an example of the electric toothbrush of the present invention. The electric toothbrush 1 includes a grip portion 2 and a head portion 3 extending from the grip portion 2 and having a hair bundle 32 implanted therein. , A pair of electrodes 35a and 35b provided on the head unit 3, a motor 4, a drive unit 5 that transmits the motion of the motor 4 to the head unit 3, a motor drive power supply 61 that supplies a current to the motor 4, and a pair The electrode power supply 62 supplies power to the electrodes 35a and 35b.

  As shown in the drawing, the electric toothbrush is elongated by connecting the grip portion 2 gripped by the user and the head portion 3 attached to one end of the grip portion 2 and having a hair bundle 32 for scrubbing teeth. It is configured. A motor 4, a drive unit 5, a power source, and the like are accommodated inside the grip unit 2.

The grip portion 2 is formed in an elongated shape, and an accommodating portion 21 secured as a space for accommodating the motor 4, the drive portion 5, the power source 6, and the like is provided therein and is made of an insulating material. At one end in the longitudinal direction of the grip portion 2, a head attachment hole 22 to which the head portion 3 is attached is provided so as to communicate with the housing portion 21 and open.
A motor switch 81 and a chlorine generation switch 82 described later are attached to the surface of the grip portion 2. These switch surfaces are preferably insulated and waterproofed by covering them with rubber or the like. Moreover, it is preferable that the motor switch 81 and the chlorine generation switch 82 are provided on the surface of the grip portion 2 at a position where the user can easily operate with the finger when the electric toothbrush 1 is used.
In the illustrated example, the grip portion 2 is formed in an elongated and straight shape, but the grip portion 2 is configured to be easily gripped by hand when cleaning the oral cavity using the electric toothbrush 1. Is preferable and may be determined appropriately.

  Although the material which comprises the holding part 2 is not specifically limited, For example, polystyrene resin (PS), polypropylene resin (PP), polyethylene terephthalate resin (PET), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene resin (ABS), cellulose propionate resin (CP) Resin materials such as polyarylate resin, polycarbonate resin, and acrylonitrile styrene resin (AS) can be used alone or in combination. About the material of the holding part 2, it can determine and employ | adopt suitably, However, As above-mentioned, there is no possibility that an electric current may leak to the user's body of the electric toothbrush 1 by comprising the holding part 2 with an insulating material.

The head portion 3 includes a slender head body 31 provided with a flocked surface 33 and a bunch 32 formed by bundling a brush and fixed to the flocked surface 33. The flocked surface 33 has a rod-like shape. Electrodes 35 a and 35 b are arranged in pairs on both sides of the hair bundle 32.
An attachment portion 34 is provided at one end in the longitudinal direction of the head main body 31 so as to become thinner toward the tip portion 34a. The attachment portion 34 is assembled so as to be freely inserted into the head attachment hole 22 formed in the grip portion 2 so as to be inserted from the tip end portion 34a. The tip part 34a is connected to a drive part 5 that converts the rotational motion of the motor 4 into reciprocating vibration and transmits it to the head part 3, so that the entire head part 3 is reciprocated in the longitudinal direction.
A hollow portion 36 is provided inside the head main body 31, and a conductive wire 92 that is connected to the electrodes 35a and 35b and supplies a current is disposed. In the illustrated example, the conductive wire 92 is inserted into a hole portion 37 provided in the attachment portion 34 and connected to an electrode power source 62 and a chlorine generation switch 82 provided in the accommodating portion 21 in the grip portion 2.
The hair bundle 32 is formed by bundling elongated brushes, and is fixed to a plurality of locations on the flocked surface 33. The hair bundle 32 scrubs teeth when brushing with the electric toothbrush 1.

The speed of the reciprocating operation of the head unit 3 is not particularly limited, but is 1,000 to 7,000 (reciprocating per minute) in consideration of the diffusion effect of the generated effective chlorine, the tooth scrubbing effect, the feeling of use, and the like. The speed is preferably set to be in the range, and more preferably in the range of 3,000 to 6,000 (reciprocation / minute).
When the reciprocation of the head 3 is less than 1,000 (reciprocation / minute), the effective chlorine diffusion effect and the tooth scrubbing effect decrease, and when it exceeds 7,000 (reciprocation / minute), it is used. People may feel uncomfortable.

  The resin constituting the head main body 31 is not particularly limited, and the same resin material as that of the grip portion 4 may be used, or may be determined and adopted as appropriate.

  The material of the hair bundle 32 may be a known toothbrush brush, for example, a polyester resin such as polytrimethylene terephthalate (PTT), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), nylon 6, nylon 66, Materials that can be melt-spun, such as polyamide resins such as nylon 6-10, nylon 6-12, and nylon 12, polyolefins such as polyethylene and polypropylene, and polyvinyl halides such as polyvinylidene fluoride, can be used. These materials can be used alone or in combination, and the material of the hair bundle 32 may be appropriately determined and employed, such as using a conductive brush.

The electrodes 35a and 35b are a pair of electrodes that form an energization circuit by contacting the oral fluid when the electric toothbrush 1 is inserted into the oral cavity, and are made of a conductive material.
As in the illustrated example, the electrodes 35a and 35b are arranged on both sides of the hair bundle 32 of the flocked surface 33 in consideration of adhesion to the oral fluid in the oral cavity. The position where the electrodes 35a and 35b are provided is not particularly limited as long as it can be brought into contact with the oral fluid. For example, the electrodes 35a and 35b may be provided on the back side of the flocked surface 33.
Further, in the illustrated example, the electrodes 35a and 35b are formed in a rod shape and attached to the surface of the flocked portion 33. However, in the electrodes 35a and 35b, a part of the electrodes 35a and 35b is exposed on the surface of the head portion. The electrode 35a and 35b can be appropriately determined and used for the shape and attachment method of the electrodes 35a and 35b.

The material of the electrodes 35a and 35b is not particularly limited as long as it is a conductive material. For example, platinum, gold, copper, zinc, tin, stainless steel, carbon, or the like can be employed. Further, a material obtained by plating the surface of the electrodes 35a and 32b with the above-described conductive material may be used, or a conductive brush may be used.
The electrodes 35a and 35b generate effective chlorine from the electrode on the anode side when both electrodes come into contact with the oral fluid and form an energization circuit. Like the head unit 3, the operation such as the amplitude is performed. It is preferable to attach it to the position where the effective chlorine is produced as described later.

  Further, the distance between the electrodes 35a and 35b is preferably in the range of 1 mm to 20 mm, and more preferably in the range of 1 mm to 15 mm. If the distance between the electrodes is less than 1 mm, the distance between the electrodes is too narrow, the effective chlorine generation region becomes narrow, and it is not preferable because sufficient effective chlorine for sterilization cannot be obtained. On the other hand, if the distance between the electrodes exceeds 20 mm, the effective chlorine generation region is too wide, and it becomes impossible to generate effective chlorine locally, which is not preferable. Strictly speaking, effective chlorine is generated from the anode side of the pair of electrodes 35a and 35b, and the generated effective chlorine is diffused mainly in a certain region centering on the anode side.

The motor 4 is provided in the accommodating portion 21 of the grip portion 2, and rotates when supplied with a current from the motor drive power supply 61 via the motor connection line 91. The motor 4 is started and stopped by operating the motor switch 81.
The motor 4 has a drive unit 5 attached to an output shaft (not shown) and is configured to vibrate the head unit 3 via the drive unit 5.
In the electric toothbrush 1 of this embodiment, the motor 4 is used as a drive source. However, for example, an ultrasonic element or the like may be used, and the drive source may be determined and adopted as appropriate.

The driving unit 5 is provided in the accommodating unit 21 of the gripping unit 2 and transmits the rotational motion of the motor 4 to drive the head unit 3. In this embodiment, the rotational motion of the motor 4 is converted into the driving unit. 5 is converted into a reciprocating vibration that slides in the direction of the major axis 5, and the head unit 3 is driven.
The drive unit 5 has a motor connection portion 5 a on one end side in the long axis direction attached to a rotating shaft (not shown) of the motor 4 and a head connection portion 5 b on the other end side of the attachment portion 34 provided on the head portion 3. Attached to the tip 34a.
In the electric toothbrush 1 of the present embodiment, the configuration in which the rotational force of the motor 4 is converted into reciprocating vibration by the drive unit 5 to drive the head unit 3 is described. However, the power of the motor 4 is transmitted to the head unit 3. If it does, about the drive part 5, it can employ | adopt not only the above-mentioned structure.

The motor drive power supply 61 is a power supply that supplies current to the motor 4, and the electrode power supply 62 is a power supply that supplies current to an effective chlorine generation circuit 7 described later.
The motor driving power supply 61 and the electrode power supply 62 are preferably housed in a battery box so that they can be exchanged from the outside of the electric toothbrush 1. Preferably, a dry battery, a button battery, a nickel-cadmium battery, a nickel-hydrogen battery, a lithium ion battery, or the like can be used. As the motor drive power supply 61 and the electrode power supply 62, in addition to the battery, a power supply using a potential difference between a semiconductor and a metal, or a so-called solar battery such as a photoelectric conversion element may be employed.

  The motor drive power supply 61 only needs to have a voltage that can rotate the motor 4 to reciprocately vibrate the head portion 3 and scrape the teeth. For example, a dry battery having a rated voltage of about 1 to 12 V can be used.

The electrode power supply 62 has terminals 62a and 62b for power supply output. In the illustrated example, the terminal 62a is connected to the effective chlorine generation circuit 7, and the terminal 62b is connected to the electrode 35b provided in the head portion 2. ing.
The electrode power supply 62 may be about 0.1 to 12 V as a power supply. For example, a button type battery having a rated voltage of about 1.5 to 9 V can be employed.
It is preferable to use a voltage booster and a resistor for the electrode power source 62 and adjust the actual voltage to 1.5 to 9V.

  By adopting the electrode power supply 62 having a rated voltage of about 1.5 to 9V, the potential difference between the electrodes 35a and 35b can be set in the range of 1.5V to 9V. By setting the potential difference within this range, effective chlorine can be generated efficiently. If the potential difference is less than 1.5 V, effective chlorine is not sufficiently generated, which is not preferable. On the other hand, if the potential difference exceeds 9 V, an electric shock may be applied to the user when the electric toothbrush 1 is used in the oral cavity, which is not preferable.

The motor drive power supply 61 and the electrode power supply 62 are preferably configured with small dry batteries or rechargeable batteries so that they can be accommodated in the accommodating part 21 of the grip part 2, but a power supply part is provided outside the electric toothbrush. The power supply to the electric toothbrush may be performed by a connection line or the like.
Moreover, in this embodiment, although the power supply supplied to the motor 4 and the effective chlorine production | generation circuit 7 is set as a separate structure, you may comprise so that a current adjustment means may be provided and a common power supply may be used.

  In consideration of safety when using the electric toothbrush 1, by providing a timer circuit in the motor drive power supply 61 and the electrode power supply 62, the energization time to the motor 4 and the electrodes 35a and 35b is set to 30 seconds, for example. It is good also as a structure which can be set to time, such as 1 minute and 3 minutes.

The effective chlorine generation circuit 7 controls the current flowing between the electrodes 35a and 35b via the oral fluid. In the illustrated example, the circuit terminal 71 is connected to one terminal 62a of the electrode power source 62, and the circuit terminal 72 Is connected to one end side of the chlorine generation switch 82. The other terminal 62 b of the electrode power source 62 is connected to the electrode 35 b through the conductive line 92, and the electrode 35 a is connected to the other end side of the chlorine generation switch 82 through the conductive line 92. The chlorine generation switch 82 performs operations for supplying and interrupting a current flowing between the electrodes 35a and 35b via the oral fluid.
When the effective chlorine generation circuit 7 is a constant current circuit in which the value of the current flowing between the electrodes 35a and 35b via the oral fluid is not affected by changes in the oral fluid, it can be configured on the circuit via a resistor. The resistor used may be a fixed resistor or a variable resistor. Further, a transistor or the like may be added to further stabilize the current. Such a constant current circuit may have a resistance value in a range of about 750Ω to 4500 kΩ, for example. With this configuration, even if the resistance value between the electrodes 35a and 35b changes greatly, the current value between the electrodes 35a and 35b can be kept within a specified value range of 20 μA to 3 mA, preferably 50 μA to 2 mA. . Therefore, the generation rate of effective chlorine can always be kept constant. In particular, since effective chlorine deteriorates with time, the effective chlorine concentration can be made substantially constant by keeping the current value constant and the generation rate of effective chlorine constant. Further, by stabilizing the current value, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of an inrush current and to reduce the electric shock to the user.

  In this embodiment, an example in which the motor switch 81 and the chlorine generation switch 82 are separately configured and operated has been described. However, the motor switch 81 and the chlorine generation switch 82 are interlocked to operate the motor 4 and the effective switch. It is good also as a structure which can supply and interrupt | block the electric current to the chlorine generation circuit 7 simultaneously.

With the above configuration, when the electric toothbrush 1 is used in the oral cavity, effective chlorine can be generated by electrolysis using chloride ions in the oral cavity, and effective chlorine is effectively sterilized in the oral cavity. Can be used.
In addition, since the electrodes 35a and 35b provided on the head portion 3 are configured to vibrate, the generation efficiency of effective chlorine can be increased while cleaning the oral cavity, and the generated effective chlorine can be reduced. It can diffuse into the oral fluid instantly. As a result, effective chlorine reaches a concentration effective for sterilization in a short time and spreads instantly to every corner of the oral cavity, so that cleaning and sterilization in the oral cavity can be performed efficiently in a short time.

  Below, the Example of the electric toothbrush which concerns on this invention is described.

[Specifications of electric toothbrush]
The electric toothbrush concerning this invention shown in FIG. 1 was produced.
In order to provide a stable current, the electric toothbrush used in the experiment was provided with two power sources: an effective chlorine generating circuit power source for supplying a constant current and a head unit (motor driving) power source. In the effective chlorine generation circuit, a platinum electrode having a diameter of 0.8 mm and a length of 0.8 mm was adopted as a pair of electrodes mounted on the head portion, and the distance between the two electrodes was 10 mm. The electrodes were placed on both sides of the hair bundle on the side of the flocked surface of the head portion. A button type battery was arranged in series in the power source for the effective chlorine generation circuit, and the potential difference was 9V. In order to obtain a constant current, a variable resistor (MEXICO · BOURNS 100KΩ) and a transistor (FETK30-2K) were employed.
On the other hand, a 3 V dry battery was used as a power source for driving the head unit (motor drive). A small motor (manufactured by Mabuchi Motor) was used as the motor.
As a jig connecting the motor and the head portion, a slide shaft that reciprocates in the long axis direction was used so that the head portion reciprocally vibrated.

  Using an electric toothbrush as shown in each of the following experimental examples and comparative examples, the concentration of effective chlorine produced by electrolysis was measured.

[Measuring method]
10 ml of physiological saline was placed in the beaker, and the electric toothbrush as shown in Experimental Examples 1 to 3 was used. The brush portion was inserted into the beaker and operated for 3 minutes under the condition that a constant current of 1 mA flowed.
As a comparative example, the toothbrush of Experimental Example 1 was used, and a normal brushing level reciprocating motion was manually performed for 3 minutes under the condition that the power source of the driving portion was turned off and only a constant current of 1 mA was flowing.
The available chlorine in the beaker was sampled in time series from the start, and the concentration was measured using a SIBATA simple measurement kit and a spectrophotometric method.
The number of experiments in each experimental example and comparative example was set to 3 times, and the average value was obtained.

  The measurement results of each experimental example and comparative example are shown in Table 1.

[Experimental Example 1]
The electric toothbrush according to the present invention as shown in FIG. 1 was used, and the vibration condition was 6,000 strokes / minute. The vibration was a reciprocating vibration in the long axis direction.
The effective chlorine concentration was 8 ppm after 30 seconds from the start, 13 ppm after 1 minute, 23 ppm after 3 minutes, and 30 ppm after 5 minutes.

[Experiment 2]
A commercially available Sonicare (manufactured by Philips) provided with an effective chlorine generation circuit for supplying a constant current as described above was used (Sonicare sonic toothbrush specification: 31,000 strokes / minute).
The effective chlorine concentration was 10 ppm after 30 seconds from start, 15 ppm after 1 minute, 25 ppm after 3 minutes, and 33 ppm after 5 minutes.

[Experiment 3]
A commercial Crest Spin Brush Pro White (manufactured by P & G) used a prototype with the above-mentioned effective chlorine generation circuit that allows a constant current to flow (crest spin brush specification: reverse rotation + reciprocating vibration, 7500 strokes / min. ).
The effective chlorine concentration was 8 ppm after 30 seconds from the start, 13 ppm after 1 minute, 22 ppm after 3 minutes, and 32 ppm after 5 minutes.

[Comparative Example 1]
The electric toothbrush according to the present invention as shown in FIG. 1 was used, and the motor was reciprocated manually without energizing the motor.
The effective chlorine concentration was 1.5 ppm after 30 seconds from the start, 3 ppm after 1 minute, 10 ppm after 3 minutes, and 20 ppm after 5 minutes.

[Results of Example 1]
From Table 1, it is clear that in any of Experimental Examples 1 to 3, the effective chlorine production reaction after 30 seconds immediately after the start and after 1 minute is promoted more than manually.
Even when the reciprocating motion was manually performed as in Comparative Example 1, the effective chlorine concentration of 10 ppm was reached after 3 minutes from the start. It is clear that effective concentrations are reached in a short time when chlorine is diffused by acoustic waves.
Therefore, when cleaning and sterilizing the oral cavity with the electric toothbrush according to the present invention, effective chlorine can be efficiently generated in the oral cavity even in a short period of 3 minutes required for normal tooth brushing. The inside can be efficiently cleaned and sterilized.

[Measuring method]
Using the electric toothbrushes shown in Experimental Examples 1 to 3, the oral bacteria S.D. Bactericidal evaluation against mutans bacteria was carried out.
As Comparative Example 1, the electric toothbrush of Experimental Example 1 was used to evaluate the bactericidal power when the motor was turned off and manually reciprocated to allow a constant current of 1 mA to flow. Further, as Comparative Example 2, sterilization when the electric toothbrush of Experimental Example 1 was used and the motor was turned on to perform reciprocating vibration, and the constant current was turned off to prevent current from flowing through the electrodes. The power was also evaluated.
Cultured S. cerevisiae Sterile saline was used to adjust the mutans bacteria to 10 ⁶ cfu / ml.
10 ml of the adjusted bacterial solution was transferred to a glass test tube, treated for 3 minutes using the electric toothbrushes of the above Experimental Examples 1-3 and Comparative Examples 1-2, and the number of bacteria after the treatment was measured by the colony count method. .

Based on the measurement results using each electric toothbrush, a pass / fail judgment was made according to the following evaluation criteria (represented by “○”).
(1) A: Sterilized to 10 ⁶ cfu / ml → 10 ³ cfu / ml or less.
(2) B: Sterilized to 10 ⁶ cfu / ml → 10 ⁴ cfu / ml.
(3) X: No change.

  Table 2 shows the determination based on the above evaluation criteria.

[Experimental Example 1]
The electric toothbrush according to the present invention as shown in FIG. 1 was used, and the vibration condition was 6,000 strokes / minute. The vibration was a reciprocating vibration in the long axis direction.
S. The mutans bacterium was sterilized to 10 ⁶ cfu / ml → 10 ³ cfu / ml or less.
The result was ◎.

[Experiment 2]
A commercially available Sonicare (manufactured by Philips) provided with an effective chlorine generation circuit for supplying a constant current as described above was used (Sonicare sonic toothbrush specification: 31,000 strokes / minute).
S. The mutans bacterium was sterilized to 10 ⁶ cfu / ml → 10 ³ cfu / ml or less.
The result was ◎.

[Experiment 3]
A commercial Crest Spin Brush Pro White (manufactured by P & G) used a prototype with the above-mentioned effective chlorine generation circuit that allows a constant current to flow (crest spin brush specification: reverse rotation + reciprocating vibration, 7500 strokes / min. ).
S. The mutans bacterium was sterilized to 10 ⁶ cfu / ml → 10 ³ cfu / ml or less.
The result was ◎.

[Comparative Example 1]
The electric toothbrush according to the present invention as shown in FIG. 1 was used, and the motor was reciprocated manually without energizing the motor.
S. Mutans bacteria were sterilized to 10 ⁶ cfu / ml → 10 ⁴ cfu / ml.
The result was ○.

[Comparative Example 2]
The electric toothbrush according to the present invention as shown in FIG. 1 was used, and the motor was energized to perform reciprocal vibration so that no current flowed through the electrodes.
S. Mutans bacteria remained unchanged from 10 ⁶ cfu / ml.
The result was x.

[Results of Example 2]
S. It was clarified that the bactericidal effect against mutans bacteria is higher when vibrations and vibrations by sound waves are applied than in manual conditions.
Therefore, when brushing with the electric toothbrush according to the present invention, the effect of sterilizing the oral cavity is remarkably improved even in a short period of 3 minutes required for brushing.

It is sectional drawing which shows an example of the toothbrush of this invention. It is the schematic which shows the principal part of the toothbrush shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Electric toothbrush, 2 ... Holding part, 3 ... Head part, 35a, 35b ... Electrode, 32 ... Hair bundle, 33 ... Flocking surface, 4 ... Motor, 5 ... Drive part, 61 ... Motor drive power supply, 62 ... Electrode Power supply, 7 ... Effective chlorine generation circuit

Claims (3)

A gripping part, a head part extending from the gripping part and having a hair bundle implanted therein, a pair of electrodes provided on the head part, a motor, and a drive part for transmitting the motion of the motor to the head part; A power source for supplying current to the pair of electrodes and the motor;
Electricity characterized in that the chloride ions are changed to effective chlorine by energizing the electrodes in a state where the pair of electrodes are in contact with oral fluid containing chloride ions. Toothbrush.   The electric toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein the pair of electrodes are provided on a flocked surface of the head portion. The electric toothbrush according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the concentration of effective chlorine generated when the oral fluid is physiological saline is in the range of 2 to 100 ppm.

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