WO1996011645A1

WO1996011645A1 - Mouth care device

Info

Publication number: WO1996011645A1
Application number: PCT/EP1995/003302
Authority: WO
Inventors: Peter Hilfinger; Georges Driesen; Michael Sauer
Original assignee: Braun Aktiengesellschaft
Priority date: 1994-10-15
Filing date: 1995-08-19
Publication date: 1996-04-25
Also published as: DE4436927A1; AU3386595A; DE4436927C2; EP0793454A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a mouth care device, especially a mouth spray, with a liquid container (2), a spray nozzle (16) which can be connected thereto, preferably via a pipe (3), and a pump (5) drivable by a motor (6) to convey the liquid. Here means of a material with an oligodynamic effect is arranged in the liquid-conveying region of the device.

Description

Oral care device

The invention relates to a device for oral care, in particular an oral irrigator, with a liquid container, a spray nozzle that can be connected to this, preferably with a hose line, and a pump that can be driven by a motor to convey the liquid.

Oral irrigators are well known in the art. The present invention is based on a device for maintaining and cleaning the teeth and gums with a pump unit which can be driven by a motor, has an inlet and an outlet leading to a spray nozzle, and a removable liquid container (EP 0 085 795 B1). The interior of the liquid container is connected to the pump inlet and a hose line that connects the pump unit to the handpiece of the spray nozzle.

In the case of oral irrigators of the aforementioned type, it has been shown that germs and / or fungi can form in the water of the oral irrigator. This nucleation / fungus formation can take place in particular in the residual water which accumulates in depressions in the liquid-carrying area of the device after the pump has been operated.

DE 35 43 223 A1 describes a method for killing germs, in particular in water customizers. This is done using the oligodynamic properties of metals in such a way that the formation of metal ions in the liquid is intensified in the liquid to be protected by arranging two metals in the metallic voltage series above and below hydrogen. This method uses a deposition electrode made of an oligodynamically acting metal, to which an element, for example the container, is assigned with a different electrodynamic potential. As is further explained in this document, the liquid container is made, for example, of stainless steel, so that this method cannot be transferred to the present application, since oral irrigators are usually made of plastic components. Another invention (DE 42 26 810 CD relates to a plastic part that cannot be colonized by germs. This is achieved in that it contains at least one silver compound on and / or below the surface. It can be used in particular in the medical field as To introduce a silver compound into a plastic part, the plastic is pretreated with a swelling agent and the swollen plastic obtained is treated with a solution of a silver salt in ethanolamine.This process can be carried out and conditionally in the preliminary product for the finished product, namely in the plastic granulate disadvantageous therefore a complete conversion of the plastic primary products for all components of a device for oral care.

The present invention is therefore based on the object of avoiding the disadvantages mentioned above and developing the known device for the care and cleaning of the teeth and gums according to the fact that a reduction or prevention of the formation of germs and fungi in the water of the oral irrigator, in particular, a reduction in the risk of infection when operating with residual water is achieved.

This object is essentially achieved in a device of the type mentioned at the outset in that means made of a material with an oligodynamic effect are arranged in the liquid-carrying area of the device.

Oligodynamics is generally understood to mean the effectiveness of the smallest amounts of metal ions, in particular a growth-inhibiting or killing effect of heavy metal traces on microorganisms, the oligodynamic effect of the metals decreasing in accordance with the following series: cadmium - silver - brass - copper - mercury. Cadmium has the greatest oligodynamic effect, mercury the least. This oligodynamic effect is and was primarily used for the disinfection and preservation of liquids, especially for the disinfection of drinking, bathing and process water. Silver and its compounds are particularly suitable. The silver ions, which are relatively difficult to dissolve on contact with water, accumulate as positive ions on the negative charge carriers of the bacterial cells. This accumulation is followed by irreversible damage to the bacterial cell, ie there is a bactericidal effect. The reason for this is the blocking of certain enzymes by the metal ions, which disrupt the Metabolism of the bacteria and causes the death of the bacterial cell. The fungicidal, z. B. fatal effect of silver for mold. These reactions start at a silver concentration of around 5 micrograms per liter of water, which is far below the risk threshold for the human organism. A bacteriostatic or fungistatic state is reached below this limit, ie existing bacteria or fungi cannot multiply.

The use of a material with an oligodynamic effect as a separate agent in the liquid-carrying area of the device for oral care advantageously prevents the nucleation in these liquid-carrying areas of the device. This measure ensures that the oral irrigator is sterile without the additional use of chemical or other substances. Infections, e.g. B. in the gum area, which can arise when using an oral irrigator infested with bacteria, are practically excluded. This results in easier handling for the user of the device in that he does not have to empty the mouthpiece container after each use in order to prevent the residual water from becoming contaminated.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the agents are made of silver or a silver alloy or coated with silver or a silver alloy. The proportion of silver is such that if the fresh tap water becomes infected, the germs are killed within the emptying time of the container. Fine silver with a silver content of 99.9% is preferably used. The use of hard silver with the chemical formula Ag, ^ Cu _y with 0.01 iyi 0.10 has been shown to be an alternative to fine silver. Another embodiment of the invention is to coat components of the device which are in contact with the liquid with silver or a silver alloy. The component to be coated can consist, for example, of stainless steel (for example Ti) or also of plastic.

In an extremely preferred embodiment of the invention, the means are arranged in the areas of the liquid container, the hose line, the spray nozzle and / or the pump, which are essentially permanently in contact with liquid during normal use of the device. Such devices usually consist of a stationary base unit, which receives the liquid container and the pump, and a spray nozzle connected to the liquid container via a hose line. The liquid container has a defined filling and drainage area. The hose line is usually wound in a spiral, so that after the pump is switched off, the liquid runs back into the lower-lying areas of the liquid container and the hose line. These areas therefore remain in permanent contact with the liquid, while the higher areas of the hose line and the filling area of the liquid container only come into contact with liquid at times.

This arrangement of the means made of a material with an oligodynamic effect advantageously means that the residual water in the pump and in the hose is completely disinfected when it stands up within a period of about 6 to 12 hours.

An advantageous embodiment of the invention provides for these means to be arranged in the bottom region of the liquid container. It is thereby advantageously achieved that these means are provided in an area of the oral care device which is easily accessible to the user and that these means have their effect, since the bottom area of the liquid container is usually covered with liquid.

Another embodiment of the invention sleeps before arranging the means in the pump. Since a small amount of residual liquid remains in the pump when the pump is at a standstill, this liquid is advantageously influenced by means of a material with an oligodynamic effect and prevents the formation of germs or fungi.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the means are arranged in a hose line and / or a nozzle, it being possible for the mouthpiece region of the nozzle to be advantageously provided with such a means. An arrangement of the means in the hose line ensures that the residual liquid, which can flow back into the lower regions of a helically wound hose line after use of the oral irrigator, is in constant contact with the agent. These means are designed, for example, as a rod, wire, plate, ball, spring, sieve or the like. A rod-shaped means can advantageously be arranged in the liquid-carrying area in the pump. A wire made of a material with an oligodynamic effect is advantageously inserted into the hose line, this wire being provided over the entire length of the hose line. It is further proposed that the components required for the function of the pump, such as a sealing ball or compression spring or also a plate, which can be arranged as a partition between the two pressure stages, be designed as a means of a material with an oligodynamic effect. It is thus advantageously achieved that no additional components made of a material with an oligodynamic effect are to be provided in the liquid-carrying area of the device, which components are not already required due to the function of the components. A further advantageous embodiment of the invention provides for a screen made of a material with an oligodynamic effect to be arranged in the drain area of the liquid container. In such an embodiment, it has been shown with advantage that in the presence of the sieve in the liquid container, the adherence of germs in the pump and also in the hose line is significantly reduced.

A further embodiment of the invention proposes to provide means in the device for oral care which are provided with a coating of a material with an oligodynamic effect. Part of the liquid container, a partition between two pumping chambers of the liquid pump, the inner wall of the hose line or also the nozzle can advantageously be provided with a coating. These components coated in this way are made, for example, of plastic or metal.

For this coating it is proposed to provide it as a galvanic coating or as a cladding. These are advantageously inexpensive designs for producing an agent from a material with an oligodynamic effect.

Further features, advantages and possible applications of the invention result from the following description of exemplary embodiments, which are shown in more detail in the drawings. All of the described and / or illustrated features form the subject matter of the invention, independently or in any combination their combination in the claims and their relationship.

Show it:

1 a device for oral care with its essential components in a schematic representation,

2 the bottom area of a liquid container in a sectional view and an enlarged view,

Fig. 3 shows a pump in a partially sectioned view and in an enlarged view as well

Fig. 4 is a hose line in cross section and in an enlarged view.

A device for oral care (Fig. 1) consists essentially of a base unit 1, on which a liquid container 2 is placed and which is connected to a handpiece 4 via a hose 3. The base unit 1 is arranged in a stationary manner and includes a pump 5, a motor 6 provided for driving the pump and a switching unit 7. The liquid container 2 is connected to the pump 5 via a floor drain 8 and an inlet connection 9. The pump 5 conveys the liquid through a pump line 10 to the hose line 3. The switching unit 7 is connected to the handpiece 4 via electrical conductor wires, the wires 11 being laid in the jacket of the hose line 3. The hose line 3 is designed, for example, in a spiral shape so that it forms a plurality of loops 12. This results in a plurality of hose bends 13 at the deepest points of the hose line 3. The liquid in the handpiece and the hose line runs back into these bends 13 after the pump is switched off. As a result, liquid permanently collects in these hose bends, but these regions of the hose bends 13 do not always remain at the same location on the hose line 3. Due to the flexibility of the hose line 3, different areas of the line 3 can be formed as the lowest-lying hose bends 13. The handpiece 4 consists essentially of a cylindrical handle 14, into which the hose line 3 opens and on which a switch 15 is arranged, which is connected to the switching unit 7 via the electrical conductor wire 11. The spray nozzle 16, which the user brings into his mouth for the care and cleaning of the teeth and gums, is attached to the handle 14.

In the bottom area 18 (FIG. 2) of a liquid container 17, a valve 19 is provided, which closes the bottom drain connector 20 of the liquid container 17. The sealing body 21 is seated in a recess 22 in the bottom 23 of the liquid container 17. A cup-shaped insert 24 is arranged in the container 17 above the bottom drain connector 20 and guides the sealing body 21 via a central pin 25. A sieve 26 made of a material with an oligodynamic effect is provided in the pot-shaped insert 24. This sieve 26 is thus located at the lowest point of the bottom area 18 of the liquid container 17.

When the liquid container 17 is placed on an inlet connection of a pump, which is not shown for the sake of simplicity, the valve 19 is opened by pressure on the end face 27 of the sealing body 21.

A pump 28 (FIG. 3) essentially consists of a pump housing 29 with an inlet connection 30 and an outlet connection 31. A ball 33 with a compression spring 34 for sealing the inlet connection 30 is arranged in the liquid-carrying area 32 of the pump 28. On the pressure side, the pump is closed by a ball 35 with a spring 36, the ball 35 sealing against a partition 37.

In the area between the two balls 33, 35, a silver rod 38 is now firmly connected to the housing 29.

During normal use of the device, the pump 28 is in an installation position in which the lowest point of the liquid-carrying area of the device is arranged below the ball 35, so that a silver rod 39 is also provided here.

As an alternative to the embodiment shown here with the silver rods 38, 39, the balls 33, 35 or the springs 34, 36 or the partition 37 can also be made of silver exist or be provided with a silver coating.

On the outlet nozzle 31 of the pump 28, a hose line 40 can now be applied, which connects the pump with a handpiece or with a spray nozzle. This hose line 40 (FIG. 4) consists of a hose 41 which is surrounded by a jacket 43. Between the hose 41 and the jacket 43, two electrical conductor wires 42, 42 'are inserted, which connect an electrical control unit in the base unit of the device to the switch in the handle. A silver wire 44 is provided in the tube 41. This is, for example, helically wound and lies against the inner surface of the hose 41.

Claims

claims

1 . Oral care device, in particular an oral irrigator, with a liquid container (2), a spray nozzle (16) which can be connected to this, preferably with a hose line (3), and a pump (5) which can be driven by a motor (6) for conveying liquid, characterized in that that means made of a material with an oligodynamic effect are arranged in the liquid-carrying area of the device.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the means consist of silver or a silver alloy or are coated with silver or a silver alloy.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the means in such areas of the liquid container (2, 17) and / or the hose line (3) and / or the spray nozzle (16) and / or the pump (5, 28 ) are arranged, which are essentially permanently in contact with liquid during normal use of the device.

4. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the means in the bottom region (18) of a liquid container (2, 17) are arranged.

5. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the means are arranged in a pump (5, 28).

6. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the means are arranged in a hose line (3) and / or a nozzle (16).

7. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the means are designed as a rod (38), wire (44), plate, ball, spring, sieve (26) or the like.

8. Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the means are provided with a coating.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that the coating is provided as a galvanic coating, as plating or the like.