JP7085955B2 - Electric toothbrush with plaque detection function - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an electric toothbrush with a plaque detection function.

Generally, an electric toothbrush is composed of a main body and an attachment (replacement part) attached to the main body, and the attachment can be replaced and used. In the electric toothbrush, each attachment has an identification member, and the main body detects the identification member by means such as optical, magnetic, or wireless communication to identify which attachment is attached. (See, for example, Patent Documents 1 to 3).

Further, there is known a fluorescence detection device that irradiates a sample with light and receives and detects the fluorescence obtained from the sample according to the irradiation light. For example, Patent Document 4 describes a dental inspection device that receives a response light obtained by irradiating a tooth with light and detects a fluorescent substance contained in dental plaque or the like. Patent Document 5 describes a fluorescence measurement method for quantifying the amount of plaque or the degree of caries by irradiating a tooth with excitation light having a specific wavelength and detecting the fluorescence emitted by a fluorescent substance. Patent Document 6 describes an electric toothbrush provided with a light emitting portion and a light receiving portion in order to detect plaque or the like in a tooth brushing portion during tooth brushing.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2001-37788 Special Table 2004-524100 Gazette Special Table 2005-512708 Gazette Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2005-324032. International Publication No. 2016/140199 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2017-553

When the electric toothbrush has a plaque detection function using fluorescence measurement, in order to increase the detection sensitivity, prepare a dedicated replacement probe as an attachment separate from the replacement brush (brush head) and replace it when detecting plaque. It is desirable to replace the brush with a replacement probe for use. In this case, the built-in motor only needs to be driven when it is used as an electric toothbrush, and the control differs between when it is used as an electric toothbrush and when it is used as a plaque detection device. It is necessary to identify which one is attached. The electric toothbrushes of Patent Documents 1 to 3 can identify the attachment attached to the main body, but since it is necessary to provide the main body with a dedicated detection means for identifying the attachment, the main body is downsized and lightweight. It hinders the conversion and reduction of manufacturing costs.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to identify which of the replacement brush and the replacement probe is attached to the main body of the electric toothbrush without providing a dedicated detection means.

The main body with a built-in drive motor, the replacement brush that can be attached to the main body and driven by the drive motor, and the excitation light built into the main body that excites the fluorescent substance contained in the toothpaste are emitted from the input / output port. , A fluorescence detection module that receives the fluorescence incident from the input / output port, an exchange probe that can be attached to the main body and waveguides the fluorescence generated in the teeth irradiated with the excitation light and the excitation light, and on the optical path of the excitation light. The identification member, which is provided in the fluorescence detection module and makes the light receiving intensity of the fluorescence detection module different between when the replacement brush is mounted and when the replacement probe is mounted, and which of the replacement brush and the replacement probe is the main body depending on the light reception result of the fluorescence detection module. Provided is an electric toothbrush having a control unit that detects whether or not the fluorescence probe is attached to the fluorescence detection module according to the light receiving result of the fluorescence detection module when it is determined that the replacement probe is attached.

The identification member is preferably provided at a position on the end face of the replacement brush so as to overlap the input / output port of the fluorescence detection module when the replacement brush is mounted.

The exchange probe has an optical waveguide made of a resin material that is excited by excitation light and emits fluorescence, the identification member is a member that absorbs or reflects the excitation light, and the control unit is a fluorescence detection module that emits fluorescence. It is preferable to perform identification according to whether or not it is detected.

The exchange probe has an optical waveguide made of a glass material that does not emit fluorescence even when irradiated with excitation light, the identification member is a phosphor that emits fluorescence by irradiation with excitation light, and the control unit detects fluorescence. It is preferable to make the identification according to whether or not fluorescence is detected in the module.

The electric toothbrush further comprises a second exchange probe having a second optical waveguide composed of a resin material that is excited by the excitation light to fluoresce, and the identification member is higher than the resin material by irradiation with the excitation light. It is a phosphor that emits intense fluorescence, and the control unit can identify whether the replacement brush, the replacement probe, or the second replacement probe is attached to the main body depending on the light receiving intensity of the fluorescence detection module. preferable.

The above electric toothbrush can identify whether the replacement brush or the replacement probe is attached to the main body without providing a dedicated detection means.

It is the whole block diagram of the electric toothbrush 1. It is a figure for demonstrating the use state of the electric toothbrush 1. It is a schematic block diagram of a fluorescence detection module 20. It is a flowchart which shows the operation example of the control part 30 of the electric toothbrush 1. It is the whole block diagram of the electric toothbrush 1'. It is a flowchart which shows the operation example of the control part 30 of the electric toothbrush 1'.

Hereinafter, the electric toothbrush with a plaque detection function will be described with reference to the drawings. However, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to the drawings or embodiments described below.

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of the electric toothbrush 1. 2A and 2B are diagrams for explaining a usage state of the electric toothbrush 1. The electric toothbrush 1 is an electric toothbrush with a plaque detection function having a built-in fluorescence detection module for detecting protoporphyrin IX, which is a fluorescent substance contained in plaque, and has a main body 2, a replacement probe 3, and a replacement brush 5. .. The replacement brush 5 and the replacement probe 3 are removable from the main body 2, and the user connects one of them to the tip surface 2A of the main body 2 to use the electric toothbrush 1. The electric toothbrush 1 becomes an electric toothbrush when the replacement brush 5 is attached to the main body 2 as shown in FIG. 2 (A), and plaque when the replacement probe 3 is attached to the main body 2 as shown in FIG. 2 (B). Become a detector. 1 to 2 (B) show cross sections of the replacement brush 5 and the replacement probe 3.

The main body 2 corresponds to the handle portion of the electric toothbrush 1 and is composed of a rod-shaped resin outer case. The main body 2 has a drive motor 10, a fluorescence detection module 20, a control unit 30 (see FIG. 3), a notification unit 40, and a power supply 50 inside the outer case.

The replacement probe 3 is a resin-made replacement part that is attached to the main body 2 when plaque is detected, and also contains a resin-made transparent probe fiber 4 (optical waveguide). The probe fiber 4 is an optical fiber that waveguides the excitation light emitted from the fluorescence detection module 20 and the fluorescence generated in the teeth irradiated with the excitation light. The front end surface 4A and the rear end surface 4B of the probe fiber 4 are opened at the front end surface and the rear end surface 3B of the replacement probe 3, respectively. Since the tip side of the replacement probe 3 is directed toward the tooth when the electric toothbrush 1 is used as a fluorescence detection device, the tip side is thinner than the rear end side so that it can be easily applied to the tooth. The replacement probe 3 is attached to the main body 2 by connecting the rear end surface 3B to the front end surface 2A of the main body 2 so that the rear end 4B of the probe fiber 4 is aligned with the input / output port 20b of the fluorescence detection module 20.

The replacement brush 5 is a resin replacement part (brush head) mounted on the main body 2 and is driven by a drive motor 10. The replacement brush 5 has a marker 6 provided on the rear end surface 5B of the resin handle and a brush 7 provided on the tip of the handle, and the rear end surface 5B is connected to the tip surface 2A of the main body 2. It is attached to the main body 2.

The marker 6 is an identification member for the control unit 30 to identify the replacement component mounted on the main body 2, and is an input / output port 20b of the fluorescence detection module 20 when the replacement brush 5 is mounted on the rear end surface 5B of the replacement brush 5. It is provided at a position that overlaps with. That is, the marker 6 is arranged on the optical path of the excitation light emitted from the fluorescence detection module 20. Since the resin material of the probe fiber 4 contains a trace amount of fluorescent substance, when the exchange probe 3 is attached to the main body 2, the excitation light from the fluorescence detection module 20 is used even if the tip of the exchange probe 3 is not touched to the teeth. The resin material is excited to generate fluorescence. Therefore, in order to distinguish between the replacement probe 3 and the replacement brush 5, the marker 6 is made a member that does not generate fluorescence by the excitation light from the fluorescence detection module 20, and the light receiving intensity in the fluorescence detection module 20 is adjusted by mounting the replacement brush 5. It may be different between the time and the time when the replacement probe 3 is attached.

The marker 6 is preferably an absorber that absorbs the excitation light from the fluorescence detection module 20, or a reflector that reflects the excitation light. In the case of an absorber, for example, the region of the rear end surface 5B of the replacement brush 5 facing the input / output port 20b of the fluorescence detection module 20 may be processed into black. In the case of a reflector, the same region of the rear end surface 5B may be mirror-processed to form a reflective surface.

The drive motor 10 is a motor similar to that built in a general electric toothbrush, and is arranged on the tip surface 2A side in the main body 2. The drive motor 10 operates when the replacement brush 5 is attached to the main body 2 to drive the replacement brush 5.

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of the fluorescence detection module 20. The fluorescence detection module 20 has LED (light emitting diode) elements 21A and 21B, ball lenses 22a to 22c, optical filters 23a and 23c, PD (photodiode) elements 24 and a mirror M, and has a front end surface 2A side in the main body 2. Is located in. The fluorescence detection module 20 emits the excitation light that excites the fluorescent substance contained in the dental plaque from the input / output port 20b on the front end surface 2A side, and receives the fluorescence incident from the input / output port 20b.

The LED elements 21A and 21B are light sources of the fluorescence detection module 20. The LED element 21A emits light containing the first wavelength, which has high excitation efficiency with respect to the fluorescent substance of dental plaque, as the excitation light L1. The LED element 21B emits light including a second wavelength as the excitation light L2, which has a wavelength longer than the first wavelength and whose excitation efficiency is lower than or almost zero of the first wavelength. For example, the first wavelength is preferably in the range of 350 to 430 nm and the second wavelength is preferably in the range of 435 to 500 nm. A blue LED element may be used.

The optical filter 23a is a filter that transmits the excitation lights L1 and L2 from the LED elements 21A and 21B and cuts the light in the wavelength region (about 620 to 690 nm) of the fluorescent L3 derived from the toothpaste, and is the LED elements 21A and 21B. It is arranged between the mirror M and the mirror M. For example, when the peak wavelengths of the excitation lights L1 and L2 are 405 nm and 465 nm, it is preferable to use an optical filter 23a that cuts light having a wavelength of 500 nm or more. The optical filter 23c is a filter for cutting light in a wavelength region other than the fluorescent L3, that is, light in a wavelength region other than 620 to 690 nm, and is arranged between the mirror M and the PD element 24.

The mirror M is composed of a dichroic mirror, a half mirror, or the like, and reflects light in the wavelength region of the excitation lights L1 and L2 from the LED elements 21A and 21B toward the input / output port 20b, and fluorescence incident from the input / output port 20b. Light in the wavelength region of L3 is transmitted. The PD element 24 is a light receiving unit of the fluorescence detection module 20, receives light of fluorescence L3 having a wavelength region of 620 to 690 nm transmitted through the optical filter 23c, generates a photocurrent corresponding to the intensity thereof, and outputs the photocurrent to the control unit 30. ..

The ball lens 22a is arranged between the LED elements 21A and 21B and the optical filter 23a, and collects the excitation lights L1 and L2 from the LED elements 21A and 21B. The ball lens 22b is arranged between the mirror M and the input / output port 20b, and collects the excitation lights L1 and L2 reflected by the mirror M and incident on the probe fiber 4 and the fluorescence L3 incident on the probe fiber 4. The ball lens 22c is arranged between the optical filter 23c and the PD element 24, and collects the fluorescent L3 transmitted through the mirror M. The shape of the lens for condensing the excitation lights L1 and L2 and the fluorescence L3 does not necessarily have to be ball-shaped.

The excitation lights L1 and L2 from the LED elements 21A and 21B are incident on the mirror M via the ball lens 22a and the optical filter 23a. The excitation lights L1 and L2 are reflected by the mirror M, pass through the ball lens 22b, are focused, and then are irradiated through the probe fiber 4 to the tooth 100 having the plaque adhesion portion 110, for example. As a result, the fluorescent substance contained in the plaque of the plaque adhering portion 110 is excited to generate fluorescent L3 having peak wavelengths in the vicinity of 635 nm and 675 nm. A part of the fluorescent L3 enters the ball lens 22b through the probe fiber 4, passes through the mirror M, and further reaches the PD element 24 via the optical filter 23c and the ball lens 22c. The fluorescence received by the PD element 24 is converted into a photocurrent and output to the control unit 30, and the presence or absence and amount of the fluorescent substance are determined by the signal processing of the control unit 30.

The control unit 30 is configured as a control circuit such as a microcomputer provided on a circuit board in the main body 2, and has a motor control unit 31, an optical signal processing unit 32, and a module control unit 33 as functional blocks. The motor control unit 31 drives the drive motor 10 when the module control unit 33 identifies that the replacement brush 5 is attached to the main body 2 (in the electric toothbrush mode).

The optical signal processing unit 32 drives the LED elements 21A and 21B of the fluorescence detection module 20 when the module control unit 33 identifies that the replacement probe 3 is mounted on the main body 2 (in the toothpaste detection mode). The excitation lights L1 and L2 are alternately emitted, and the optical current from the PD element 24 at that time is acquired. Then, the optical signal processing unit 32 detects the intensity of the fluorescence L3 when the excitation light L1 is irradiated and the intensity of the fluorescence L3 when the excitation light L2 is irradiated, and based on their ratios or differences, for example, The presence / absence and amount of the fluorescent substance are calculated using the fluorescence measurement method described in International Publication No. 2016/122199. Further, the optical signal processing unit 32 determines which of the replacement brush 5 and the replacement probe 3 is attached to the main body 2 even when the electric toothbrush 1 is started (when the user turns on the power switch (not shown)). In order to identify, the fluorescence detection module 20 is driven to detect the fluorescence intensity.

When the electric toothbrush 1 is activated, the module control unit 33 identifies which of the replacement brush 5 and the replacement probe 3 is attached to the main body 2 according to the light receiving result of the fluorescence detection module 20, and responds to the identification result. Set the operation mode of the electric toothbrush 1.

When the replacement brush 5 is attached, if the marker 6 is an absorber, there is no light incident on the fluorescence detection module 20, and if the marker 6 is a reflector, the excitation light is reflected by the marker 6 and is reflected on the fluorescence detection module 20. Since it is incident, the incident light is cut by the optical filter 23c. Therefore, when the replacement brush 5 is attached, the light receiving intensity of the PD element 24 becomes zero. Therefore, the module control unit 33 determines that the replacement brush 5 is attached to the main body 2 if there is no fluorescence detection. On the other hand, since the resin probe fiber 4 contains a fluorescent substance, a small amount of fluorescence is received by the PD element 24 even if the excitation light is not irradiated to the plaque when the replacement probe 3 is attached. Therefore, the module control unit 33 determines that the replacement probe 3 is attached to the main body 2 if there is a small amount of fluorescence detection. That is, the module control unit 33 identifies the replacement component depending on whether or not fluorescence is detected by the fluorescence detection module 20.

Generally, the fluorescence derived from plaque is very small, but stronger than the fluorescence derived from the probe fiber 4, so it is possible to identify whether the marker 6 or the probe fiber 4 is connected based on the light receiving intensity of the PD element 24. It is possible to do. Table 1 shows the discrimination conditions between the replacement brush 5 and the replacement probe 3 in the electric toothbrush 1. Although the marker 6 is an identification member of the exchange brush 5, the probe fiber 4 also emits a small amount of fluorescence, so that it can be said to be an identification member of the exchange probe 3.

Since the replacement brush 5 is made of resin, the rear end face 5B also emits fluorescence when irradiated with excitation light, similarly to the probe fiber 4. Therefore, when the probe fiber 4 made of resin is used, the replacement brush 5 and the replacement probe 3 cannot be distinguished unless the rear end surface 5B of the replacement brush 5 is processed so as not to generate fluorescence. However, when the rear end surface 5B of the replacement brush 5 is made of a material that does not emit fluorescence such as metal, the resin probe fiber 4 itself is the replacement brush 5 and the replacement probe 3 even if the marker 6 is not provided. Functions as an identification member. Therefore, in this case, it is possible to discriminate between the replacement brush 5 and the replacement probe 3 under the same identification conditions as in Table 1 without providing the replacement brush 5 with the marker 6.

When the module control unit 33 determines that the replacement brush 5 is attached, the module control unit 33 sets the operation mode of the electric toothbrush 1 to the electric toothbrush mode. At that time, the module control unit 33 causes the optical signal processing unit 32 to stop the operation of the fluorescence detection module 20, and instructs the motor control unit 31 to drive the drive motor 10. When the module control unit 33 determines that the replacement probe 3 is attached, the module control unit 33 sets the operation mode of the electric toothbrush 1 to the plaque detection mode. At that time, the module control unit 33 does not instruct the motor control unit 31 to drive the drive motor 10, but instructs the optical signal processing unit 32 to drive the fluorescence detection module 20 to detect plaque.

The notification unit 40 is composed of, for example, an LED, a buzzer, a vibration motor, etc., and in the dental plaque detection mode, the detection result of dental plaque by the optical signal processing unit 32 is transmitted to the user in the form of light, sound, vibration, or the like. Notice. The power supply 50 is a battery that supplies electric power to the drive motor 10, the fluorescence detection module 20, the control unit 30, and the notification unit 40.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an operation example of the control unit 30 of the electric toothbrush 1. When the user turns on the power switch (not shown), the control unit 30 starts operation, and first, the optical signal processing unit 32 drives the fluorescence detection module 20 to start fluorescence detection (S1). At that time, when a small amount of fluorescence is detected (Yes in S2), the optical signal processing unit 32 ends the fluorescence detection (S3), and the module control unit 33 sets the operation mode to the plaque detection mode (Yes). S4). On the other hand, when fluorescence is not detected in S1 (No in S2), the optical signal processing unit 32 ends the fluorescence detection (S5), and the module control unit 33 sets the operation mode to the electric toothbrush mode (S6). After that, the motor control unit 31 or the optical signal processing unit 32 operates the electric toothbrush 1 in the electric toothbrush mode or the plaque detection mode, and ends the operation when the user turns off the power switch.

The replacement probe 3 may have a glass probe fiber instead of the resin probe fiber 4. Since a glass probe fiber such as quartz glass does not contain a fluorescent substance, in this case, when the replacement probe is attached, fluorescence is not generated even if the excitation light is irradiated, and the excitation light is used as a measurement object such as a tooth. The light receiving intensity of the PD element 24 becomes zero unless the light is irradiated to. For this reason, if an absorber or reflector is used as the marker 6, the replacement brush 5 and the replacement probe cannot be distinguished because there is no fluorescence detection when either replacement component is attached.

When an exchange probe having a glass probe fiber is used, the marker 6 may be a phosphor that emits fluorescence by irradiation with excitation light, instead of an absorber or a reflector. As the phosphor for the marker 6, the one that is excited at the emission wavelength of 405 nm or 465 nm of the LED elements 21A and 21B and emits fluorescence in the wavelength region of about 620 to 690 nm that passes through the optical filter 23c as in the case of toothpaste. However, the material is not particularly limited.

In this case as well, the module control unit 33 identifies the replacement component depending on whether or not fluorescence is detected by the fluorescence detection module 20, as in the case of using the replacement probe 3 having the probe fiber 4 made of resin. be able to. Specifically, the module control unit 33 determines that the exchange probe is attached to the main body 2 if there is no fluorescence detection, and the exchange brush 5 is attached to the main body 2 if there is fluorescence detection. That is, the operation flow of the control unit 30 is the same as that shown in FIG. 4, except that the determination condition of S2 is changed to "No fluorescence detection?". Table 2 shows the identification conditions between the replacement brush 5 and the replacement probe when a replacement probe having a glass probe fiber is used. A glass probe fiber can also be said to be an identification member for a replacement probe.

In addition, when the exchange probe 3 having the probe fiber 4 made of resin is used, the marker 6 may be a fluorescent substance in the same manner. However, in this case, in order to distinguish it from the minute amount of fluorescence emitted by the resin probe fiber 4, the marker 6 is a strong fluorescence such that the light receiving intensity of the PD element 24 is higher than that of the fluorescence derived from the probe fiber 4. It is necessary to use a fluorophore that emits. For that purpose, the amount of the fluorescent substance contained in the marker 6 may be larger than that of the fluorescent substance of the probe fiber 4, or a fluorescent substance having a peak wavelength different from that of the fluorescence derived from the probe fiber 4 is used as the marker 6. It is also good. In the latter case, an optical path is branched between the mirror M in the fluorescence detection module 20 and the optical filter 23c, and another light receiving unit for identifying the marker 6 is provided in the fluorescence detection module 20, and the light receiving unit is provided. And the replacement part may be identified according to the light receiving result of the PD element 24.

FIG. 5 is an overall configuration diagram of the electric toothbrush 1'. The electric toothbrush 1'has a main body 2, replacement probes 3, 3'and a replacement brush 5. The electric toothbrush 1'has two types of replacement probes for detecting plaque, and the identification conditions of the replacement probes 3 and 3'and the replacement brush 5 are different from those of the electric toothbrush 1 according to the two types, but the electric toothbrush 1'is otherwise electric. It has the same configuration as the toothbrush 1. The main body 2 and the replacement probe 3 are the same as those of the electric toothbrush 1, and the replacement probe 3 contains a resin probe fiber 4. FIG. 5 shows a cross section of the replacement brush 5 and the replacement probes 3, 3'.

The exchange probe 3'has the same shape as the exchange probe 3, but differs from the exchange probe 3 in that it contains a glass probe fiber 4'(optical waveguide). The front end 4A'and the rear end 4B' of the probe fiber 4'are open at the front end surface and the rear end surface 3B'of the replacement probe 3', respectively. The replacement probe 3'is attached to the main body 2 by connecting the rear end surface 3B'to the front end surface 2A of the main body 2 so that the rear end 4B' of the probe fiber 4'is aligned with the input / output port 20b of the fluorescence detection module 20. Will be done. In case the replacement probe is damaged, it is safer to use resin as the probe fiber than glass, but glass is safer than resin because the probe fiber does not emit fluorescence and noise is generated. Since it is less, plaque can be detected with higher sensitivity. Therefore, when high-sensitivity detection is desired, a replacement probe 3'having a glass probe fiber 4'may be used.

In the electric toothbrush 1', the marker 6'is provided on the replacement brush 5 as in the electric toothbrush 1, but the light receiving intensity of the PD element 24 by the irradiation of the excitation light of the marker 6'is the fluorescence derived from the probe fiber 4. It is a phosphor that emits strong fluorescence that becomes higher than that. Specifically, similarly to the above, the amount of the fluorescent substance contained in the marker 6'may be larger than that of the fluorescent substance of the probe fiber 4, or the fluorescence derived from the probe fiber 4 as the marker 6'has a peak wavelength. Fluorescent materials with different wavelengths may be used. For example, if the peak wavelength of fluorescence derived from the probe fiber 4 is 500 nm or less, a phosphor having a peak wavelength of, for example, 600 nm or more, which is on the longer wavelength side than the fluorescent substance of the probe fiber 4, is used as the marker 6'. You may. In this case, another light receiving unit for identifying the marker 6'may be provided in the fluorescence detection module 20, and the replacement component may be identified according to the light receiving unit and the light receiving result of the PD element 24.

The module control unit 33 of the electric toothbrush 1'identifies which of the replacement brush 5 and the replacement probes 3 and 3'is attached to the main body 2 according to the light receiving intensity of the fluorescence detection module 20. Specifically, in the module control unit 33, the replacement probe 3 of the glass probe fiber 4'is strong if there is no fluorescence detection, and the replacement probe 3 of the resin probe fiber 4 is strong if there is a trace amount of fluorescence detection. If there is fluorescence detection, it is determined that the replacement brush 5 is attached to the main body 2, respectively. Table 3 shows the identification conditions of the replacement brush 5 and the replacement probes 3 and 3'with the electric toothbrush 1'.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation example of the control unit 30 of the electric toothbrush 1'. When the user turns on the power switch (not shown), the control unit 30 starts operation, and first, the optical signal processing unit 32 drives the fluorescence detection module 20 to start fluorescence detection (S11). At that time, when fluorescence is not detected (No in S12), the optical signal processing unit 32 ends the fluorescence detection (S13), and the module control unit 33 sets the operation mode to the plaque detection mode (S14). In this case, since the replacement probe 3'of the glass probe fiber 4'is mounted, the sensitivity of plaque detection is higher than that when the replacement probe 3 is mounted (high-sensitivity plaque detection mode).

On the other hand, when fluorescence is detected in S1 (Yes in S12), if the amount of fluorescence is less than the threshold value (trace amount) (Yes in S15), the optical signal processing unit 32 ends the fluorescence detection (S16). ), The module control unit 33 similarly sets the operation mode to the plaque detection mode (S17). In this case, since the replacement probe 3 of the resin probe fiber 4 is mounted, the sensitivity of plaque detection is lower than that when the replacement probe 3'is mounted (normal plaque detection mode). On the other hand, if the amount of fluorescence is equal to or greater than the threshold value (No in S15), the optical signal processing unit 32 ends the fluorescence detection (S18), and the module control unit 33 sets the operation mode to the electric toothbrush mode (S19). .. After S14, S17, and S19, the motor control unit 31 or the optical signal processing unit 32 operates the electric toothbrush 1 in the electric toothbrush mode or the plaque detection mode, and ends the operation when the user turns off the power switch.

In the electric toothbrushes 1 and 1', the replacement brush 5 mounted on the main body 2 and the replacement probes 3 and 3'can be identified by the fluorescence detection module 20, and the electric toothbrush can be identified according to the replacement parts mounted on the main body 2. The mode and fluorescence detection mode can be switched automatically. In the electric toothbrushes 1 and 1', the fluorescence detection module 20 for detecting the fluorescence derived from dental plaque also serves as the detection means for the markers 6 and 6', and the dedicated detection means for detecting the markers 6 and 6'. Is not necessary. Therefore, the electric toothbrushes 1, 1'have the effects of space saving, weight reduction, and cost reduction.

1, 1'Electric toothbrush 2 Main body 3, 3'Replacement probe 4, 4'Probe fiber 5 Replacement brush 6, 6'Marker 10 Drive motor 20 Fluorescence detection module 30 Control unit 40 Notification unit 50 Power supply

Claims (5)

The main body with a built-in drive motor and
A replacement brush that can be attached to the main body and is driven by the drive motor,
A fluorescence detection module built in the main body that emits excitation light that excites a fluorescent substance contained in dental plaque from an input / output port and receives fluorescence incident from the input / output port.
An exchange probe that can be attached to the main body and guides the excitation light and the fluorescence generated in the tooth irradiated with the excitation light.
An identification member provided on the optical path of the excitation light and different in the light receiving intensity in the fluorescence detection module between when the exchange brush is attached and when the exchange probe is attached.
It is determined whether the exchange brush or the exchange probe is attached to the main body according to the light receiving result of the fluorescence detection module, and when it is determined that the exchange probe is attached, the fluorescence detection module is used. A control unit that detects plaque according to the light reception result in
An electric toothbrush characterized by having. The electric toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein the identification member is provided at a position overlapping the input / output port of the fluorescence detection module when the replacement brush is attached on the end face of the replacement brush. The exchange probe has an optical waveguide made of a resin material that is excited by the excitation light and emits fluorescence.
The identification member is a member that absorbs or reflects the excitation light.
The electric toothbrush according to claim 2, wherein the control unit performs the identification depending on whether or not fluorescence is detected by the fluorescence detection module. The exchange probe has an optical waveguide made of a glass material that does not emit fluorescence even when irradiated with the excitation light.
The identification member is a phosphor that emits fluorescence by irradiation with the excitation light.
The electric toothbrush according to claim 2, wherein the control unit performs the identification depending on whether or not fluorescence is detected by the fluorescence detection module. Further comprising a second exchange probe having a second optical waveguide made of a resin material that is excited by the excitation light and emits fluorescence.
The identification member is a phosphor that emits fluorescence having a higher intensity than that of the resin material when irradiated with the excitation light.
The fourth aspect of the present invention, wherein the control unit identifies which of the exchange brush, the exchange probe, and the second exchange probe is attached to the main body according to the light receiving intensity of the fluorescence detection module. Electric toothbrush.

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