Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61C—DENTISTRY; APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR ORAL OR DENTAL HYGIENE
  • A61C17/00—Devices for cleaning, polishing, rinsing or drying teeth, teeth cavities or prostheses; Saliva removers; Dental appliances for receiving spittle
  • A61C17/16—Power-driven cleaning or polishing devices
  • A61C17/22—Power-driven cleaning or polishing devices with brushes, cushions, cups, or the like
  • A61C17/32—Power-driven cleaning or polishing devices with brushes, cushions, cups, or the like reciprocating or oscillating
  • A61C17/34—Power-driven cleaning or polishing devices with brushes, cushions, cups, or the like reciprocating or oscillating driven by electric motor
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A46—BRUSHWARE
  • A46B—BRUSHES
  • A46B15/00—Other brushes; Brushes with additional arrangements
  • A46B15/0002—Arrangements for enhancing monitoring or controlling the brushing process
  • A46B15/0004—Arrangements for enhancing monitoring or controlling the brushing process with a controlling means
  • A46B15/0012—Arrangements for enhancing monitoring or controlling the brushing process with a controlling means with a pressure controlling device
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A46—BRUSHWARE
  • A46B—BRUSHES
  • A46B15/00—Other brushes; Brushes with additional arrangements
  • A46B15/0002—Arrangements for enhancing monitoring or controlling the brushing process
  • A46B15/0038—Arrangements for enhancing monitoring or controlling the brushing process with signalling means
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61C—DENTISTRY; APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR ORAL OR DENTAL HYGIENE
  • A61C17/00—Devices for cleaning, polishing, rinsing or drying teeth, teeth cavities or prostheses; Saliva removers; Dental appliances for receiving spittle
  • A61C17/16—Power-driven cleaning or polishing devices
  • A61C17/22—Power-driven cleaning or polishing devices with brushes, cushions, cups, or the like
  • A61C17/221—Control arrangements therefor
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61C—DENTISTRY; APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR ORAL OR DENTAL HYGIENE
  • A61C17/00—Devices for cleaning, polishing, rinsing or drying teeth, teeth cavities or prostheses; Saliva removers; Dental appliances for receiving spittle
  • A61C17/16—Power-driven cleaning or polishing devices
  • A61C17/22—Power-driven cleaning or polishing devices with brushes, cushions, cups, or the like
  • A61C17/32—Power-driven cleaning or polishing devices with brushes, cushions, cups, or the like reciprocating or oscillating
  • A61C17/34—Power-driven cleaning or polishing devices with brushes, cushions, cups, or the like reciprocating or oscillating driven by electric motor
  • A61C17/3409—Power-driven cleaning or polishing devices with brushes, cushions, cups, or the like reciprocating or oscillating driven by electric motor characterized by the movement of the brush body
  • A61C17/3418—Rotation around the axis of the toothbrush handle
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61C—DENTISTRY; APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR ORAL OR DENTAL HYGIENE
  • A61C17/00—Devices for cleaning, polishing, rinsing or drying teeth, teeth cavities or prostheses; Saliva removers; Dental appliances for receiving spittle
  • A61C17/16—Power-driven cleaning or polishing devices
  • A61C17/22—Power-driven cleaning or polishing devices with brushes, cushions, cups, or the like
  • A61C17/32—Power-driven cleaning or polishing devices with brushes, cushions, cups, or the like reciprocating or oscillating
  • A61C17/34—Power-driven cleaning or polishing devices with brushes, cushions, cups, or the like reciprocating or oscillating driven by electric motor
  • A61C17/3409—Power-driven cleaning or polishing devices with brushes, cushions, cups, or the like reciprocating or oscillating driven by electric motor characterized by the movement of the brush body
  • A61C17/3463—Translation along the axis perpendicular to the plane defined by the bristle holder

Definitions

• This invention relates generally to resonant drive magnetically actuated power toothbrushes, and more specifically concerns such a toothbrush having a pressure-sensing system.
• a sensing mechanism in both power and manual toothbrushes to determine the pressure applied to the bristle field portion of the toothbrush is well known, in many different specific implementations.
• a sensor of some kind measures the force applied to the bristles.
• the sensor includes a spring, a moment arm and a switch in which the force applied to the bristle field produces an action on the spring, which in turn drives a moment arm.
• a switch is operated, which sends a signal to the user that the force applied has exceeded the threshold level. The user then has the opportunity to reduce the pressure to an acceptable level.
• a compact, simple and inexpensive sensor system for a resonantly driven system for a toothbrush is desirable, particularly one which provides continuous feedback of pressure.
• the power toothbrush comprising: a handle portion containing a power drive assembly; a brushhead assembly, including a brushhead arm and a brush element at a distal end thereof; a V-spring assembly responsive to the power drive assembly for converting the action of the power drive assembly to a back-and-forth action of the brushhead assembly, wherein the V-spring assembly and the brushhead assembly move together about a pivot point; a mounting member positioned at the rear end of the V-spring assembly; a magnet attached to the mounting member; a Hall effect sensor mounted within the changing magnetic field produced by the magnet as the rear end of the V-spring moves, wherein the output of the Hall effect sensor changes from a no-load condition corresponding to the displacement of the rear end of the V-spring due to pressure on the brush element; and a processor responsive to the Hall sensor output and stored information to produce a signal indicative of the pressure applied to the brush member during brushing operation.
• Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the major components of a power toothbrush, including the pressure-sensing system described herein.
• Figure 2 is a more detailed cross-sectional view of a portion of the system of
• Figure 3 is a diagram of the output of the Hall effect sensor portion of the present system.
• Figure 4 is a simplified magnetic field diagram showing the structure of the pressure-sensing system of Figure 2 with a shield.
• FIG 5 is a diagram of the processing of the output signal from the Hall effect sensor shown in Figures 1, 2 and 4.
• FIG 1 shows a significant portion of a power toothbrush which includes a pressure-sensing system of the present invention.
• Figure 2 shows a more detailed view of a portion of the system of Figure 1.
• the power toothbrush shown generally at 10, includes a motor (11) having a stator 12, which drives a V-spring drive assembly 14.
• the V-spring shown in Figure 2, has a center node 16 so that as a rear portion 17 of the V-spring assembly twists or rotates in one direction by action of the motor, the forward portion 19 of the V-spring assembly twists or rotates in an opposing direction.
• the V-spring assembly 14 is supported by a bearing block, shown generally at 20, which is in turn mounted to the housing or an internal carriage of the appliance, not shown.
• the V-spring assembly 14 can encompass a variety of different embodiments.
• the forward end 26 of the V-spring assembly mates with a support member 28 from which extends a mounting blade 30.
• a brushhead assembly 32 Removably positioned on mounting blade 30 is a brushhead assembly 32, which includes a proximal portion 34 which mates with the handle of the toothbrush.
• the brushhead assembly includes an elongated arm 36 at the distal end on which is a brush member 38 which includes a bristle field. In a typical action, the brush member will move back and forth through a specified angle, e.g. 9-11°, to accomplish cleansing of the teeth.
• a node member 23 which extends substantially the length of the V-spring assembly.
• a leaf spring 40 Positioned adjacent the upper surface of node member is a leaf spring 40, which also extends approximately the length of and overlays the upper portion of the V-spring assembly.
• the node member and the leaf spring are connected by bearing elements 42 and 44 to opposing ends of the V-spring assembly.
• spring members 46, 48 and 50 Connected to bearings 42 and 44 and node point 16 are spring members 46, 48 and 50. Springs 46 and 50 provide a preload on the leaf spring 40.
• the brushhead assembly and the V-spring assembly together pivot about a point 52 near the forward end of the V-spring assembly approximately at bearing 22, while springs 48 and 50 at node 16 and the rear bearing 44 tend to resist displacement.
• a ferrous mounting element 55 is secured to a rear end 25 of the V-spring assembly.
• a magnet 56 Positioned at the rear surface 56 of the mounting element is a magnet 56.
• the magnet in the embodiment shown has the following dimensions: 13.4 x 9.0 x 4.0 (mm).
• a suitable magnet is Neodymium.
• a Hall effect sensor 58 Positioned away from the magnet 56, but within the magnetic field produced by the magnet, is a Hall effect sensor 58.
• the Hall effect sensor is conventional and can be purchased commercially.
• One example of a suitable Hall effect sensor is an Austria Microsystems AS5510.
• the Hall effect sensor is mounted on the drive tram frame in the toothbrush and is located approximately 2.3 mm from the magnet, approximately in the same plane thereof.
• Other Hall effect sensors could be used, as long as they have sufficient sensitivity to the changing magnetic field as the magnet moves back and forth, displacing laterally due to force on the bristle field.
• the voltage output of the Hall effect sensor varies sinusoidally, as shown in Figure 3.
• the voltage output of the Hall effect sensor will vary in response to a changing magnetic field.
• a changing magnetic field provides a basis for determining the amount of force being applied to the bristle field.
• the V-spring assembly pivots, moving the rear end of the V-spring and the magnet, against the action of spring 50, producing a lateral displacement of the magnet in the direction of the Hall effect sensor.
• the Hall effect sensor is sensitive enough to detect change in the magnetic field as the magnet comes closer to the sensor.
• the toothbrush includes in its microprocessor a table of information in the form of a response curve which relates the voltage output of the Hall effect sensor to the displacement of the magnet and hence the force applied to the brush element.
• the displacement of the magnet will result in a change of voltage output of the Hall sensor relative to the voltage output under no-load conditions. Accordingly the change in the sensor output is a reliable indication of the force being applied to the bristle field.
• the sensitivity of the Hall effect sensor may in some cases be too high relative to the magnetic field.
• a magnetic shield member 60 shown in Figure 4, mounted on the drive housing 62 between the magnet 56 and the Hall effect sensor 66.
• Various shielding arrangements can be used, but one example is the use of mu metal foil. Mild steel could also be used. In the embodiment shown, the thickness of the mu metal is approximately 0.3 mm. Such an arrangement decreases the sensitivity of the sensor so as to provide an accurate response to changes in the magnetic field as the magnet is displaced due to force in the bristle field.
• Figure 5 shows the overall process and structural elements for accomplishing the force determinations, by a processor 65.
• the user action is represented at block 66, indicating the amount of or force applied against the bristle field.
• the total user load is represented at 67.
• User load includes the load actually applied by the user 67A, as well as load due to the user's lips 67B and the user's cheeks 67C during brushing. This results in a total load or force on the bristle field, which creates a displacement of the rear end of the V-spring and the magnet about the pivot, represented by block 68.
• the displacement produces a signal from the Hall sensor, as represented by block 70.
• the output of the calculation 82 will be an indication of (1) whether a minimum pressure has been reached; (2) whether the pressure is within a preselected range and (3) whether a maximum pressure value has been exceeded.
• the information is provided continuously.
• a minimum pressure could be 30 grams, while a maximum pressure could be 300 grams.
• This information is proved as feedback (block 86) in some form, e.g. auditory, visual or sensory.
• This feedback is perceivable by the user, as shown at 88, which enables the user to take appropriate action, specifically to increase or decrease the pressure or maintain the present pressure if the pressure is within the desired range, as generally represented by block 90.
• This perceptible feedback and the user's reliance on it to make changes in brushing habits is desirable to produce long-range good dental care.

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• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Dentistry (AREA)
• Epidemiology (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Public Health (AREA)
• Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
• Brushes (AREA)

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Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

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Cited By (13)

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Citations (5)

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• 2013
  • 2013-08-22 US US14/422,195 patent/US10524890B2/en active Active
  • 2013-08-22 WO PCT/IB2013/056812 patent/WO2014033599A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 2013-08-22 BR BR112015004060A patent/BR112015004060A2/pt not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2013-08-22 EP EP13783996.5A patent/EP2890269B1/en active Active
  • 2013-08-22 RU RU2015111494A patent/RU2641159C2/ru active
  • 2013-08-22 JP JP2015529161A patent/JP6697880B2/ja active Active
  • 2013-08-22 TR TR2018/19152T patent/TR201819152T4/tr unknown

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