WO2019150515A1

WO2019150515A1 - Oral care system

Info

Publication number: WO2019150515A1
Application number: PCT/JP2018/003299
Authority: WO
Inventors: 昭則小山
Original assignee: 歯っぴー株式会社
Priority date: 2018-01-31
Filing date: 2018-01-31
Publication date: 2019-08-08

Abstract

Provided is an oral care system which quantifies the amount of plaque on the basis of pixel values obtained by subjecting image data capturing a user's oral cavity to image processing, and superimposes and displays the quantified plaque amount data on the captured image data of the teeth inside the oral cavity to enable the user to recognize, accurately and in detail, the amount of plaque built up on the teeth inside the user's oral cavity and the plaque build-up site. This oral care system is characterized by comprising a plaque detection toothbrush provided with an imaging means capable of capturing a user's intraoral image, subjecting the user's intraoral image captured by the plaque detection toothbrush to first image processing and second image processing for quantifying plaque and the gums on the basis of pixel values classified into plaque, teeth, gums and the like, and displaying the results of the first image processing and the second image processing as image data on a display means to enable the user to recognize the state of the gums and to brush the teeth while recognizing the site and amount of plaque build-up on the teeth inside the oral cavity.

Description

Oral care system

The present invention relates to a user's oral care system, and more specifically, includes an imaging means capable of imaging a user's oral cavity on a toothbrush, images the user's oral cavity, digitizes the captured image data, and digitizes the image data. The present invention relates to an oral care system that performs oral care for a user based on the state of plaque in the user's oral cavity.

Conventionally, in order to care for the oral cavity, the state of the user's oral cavity is captured as an image with an imaging device (CCD image sensor, CMOS image sensor, etc.) provided at the tip of a toothbrush (electric toothbrush) or the like, and is applied to the tooth surface. There is a technique in which the user can visually recognize the attached plaque from the image data, thereby efficiently removing plaque in brushing.

As such a technique, the inside of the oral cavity is imaged with an image sensor, and plaque is converted into image data. The amount of plaque is detected based on this image data, the detected amount of plaque is ranked, and the rank is determined. An oral care device that is lit in color and allows a user to visually recognize the amount of plaque is disclosed (see Patent Document 1).

Also, the plaque stain is adhered to the oral cavity, and the plaque stain is excited by irradiating the object (tooth surface) of the oral cavity with light of a predetermined wavelength. A dental plaque detection system and a dental plaque detection method are disclosed in which a colored state (fluorescent color) is acquired as image information, and the acquired image information is displayed on an image display device so that the user can visually recognize the amount of plaque. (See Patent Document 2).

Japanese Patent No. 5796408 Japanese Patent No. 4828426

However, as in Patent Document 1 described above, the user can display the amount of plaque adhering to the teeth as a percentage (percent) or by color for each part composed of a plurality of teeth. In the method of visually recognizing, it is difficult for the user to accurately recognize the position and amount of plaque adhering to the teeth.

Moreover, in the above-mentioned Patent Document 2, it is necessary to attach a plaque stain to the oral cavity every time in order to detect plaque in daily tooth brushing. To use, every time you brush your teeth, it takes extra time.

Therefore, the present invention captures the amount of plaque based on the number of pixels obtained by imaging the oral cavity of the user with an image sensor or the like and performing image processing on the captured image information (hereinafter also referred to as image data). By displaying the digitized plaque amount data superimposed on the imaged tooth image data of the oral cavity, the amount of plaque adhered to the user's oral teeth and the plaque adhesion site An object of the present invention is to provide an oral care system capable of recognizing in detail and accurately.

The present invention relates to a system server managed by a management company, a portable terminal owned by a plurality of users, a doctor terminal owned by a plurality of doctors, a close relative terminal owned by a plurality of close relatives, and a plaque detection toothbrush In the oral care system in which the manufacturer terminal owned by the manufacturer is connected to each other via a public communication network so that they can communicate with each other, the dental plaque detection toothbrush is capable of imaging the user's oral cavity First image processing for classifying the image in the oral cavity of the user imaged by the imaging means into plaque, teeth, gums, etc., and digitizing the plaque from the classified plaque and the number of teeth pixels The result of the first image processing is displayed on the display means as image data, so that the user can brush the tooth while recognizing the position and amount of plaque adhering to the tooth in the oral cavity. tooth The user can recognize the state of the gums in the oral cavity by performing second image processing that digitizes the gum state from the number of pixels of the color and displaying the result of this second image processing as image data on the display means It is characterized by that.

The plaque detection toothbrush includes a grip part, a head part provided with the brush, and a handle part connecting the grip part and the head part, and the imaging means is provided in the head part. An imaging window capable of capturing an image of the user's oral cavity, an image sensor provided in the grip portion, a light source and an optical filter having a light emitting element, and the imaging window provided in the grip portion; An image sensor provided in the grip portion, a light source having a light emitting element, and a light guide provided between the optical filter, and the light of the light source is transmitted through the light guide to the imaging window. And irradiating the oral cavity of the user with the image sensor, and imaging the intraoral image visualized by the light source from the imaging window through the light guide path. .

Further, the image sensor, the light source having a light emitting element, and an optical filter are integrated to form the image pickup means, and the image pickup means is provided at least on the front surface, side surface, and back surface of the head portion provided with the brush of the dental plaque detection toothbrush. It is characterized by being arranged one or more and being attached parallel or at an angle to the tooth tip of the brush.

In addition, the dental plaque detection toothbrush transmits an image in the oral cavity of the user imaged by the imaging means to the portable terminal, and the portable terminal performs a first image processing on the received image in the oral cavity of the user. Is converted into image data, color, sound, vibration, and the like by a display means, a display lamp, a speaker, and a vibration generation means provided on the main body of the portable terminal or the plaque detection toothbrush, and output. .

The portable terminal transmits image data in the oral cavity of the user subjected to the first image processing and the second image processing to the system server, and the system server stores the received user image data for each user. By managing and periodically transmitting to the doctor terminal, image data in the oral cavity of the user can be diagnosed by an expert, and further, image data in the oral cavity of the user to be managed can be viewed on the portable terminal of the user By doing this, the user can determine the state in his / her mouth.

Further, the head part provided with the brush of the dental plaque detection toothbrush is configured to be replaceable, and the system server manages the replacement time of the head part, and the head part is connected to the manufacturer terminal and the portable terminal. The replacement time is transmitted.

Further, the system server transmits a safety confirmation request of the user to the close relative terminal based on a transmission interval of image data in the oral cavity of the user transmitted from the mobile terminal.

The plaque detection toothbrush includes a biometric authentication unit configured with various sensors capable of detecting a fingerprint, a body temperature, and a pulse of a user who uses the plaque detection toothbrush, and the plaque detection is performed by the biometric authentication unit. While authenticating the user who uses a toothbrush, the measured value of a detected user's body temperature or a pulse is transmitted to the said system server with the image data in a user's oral cavity.

According to the present invention, the user classifies the intraoral image captured by the dental plaque detection toothbrush into plaque, teeth, gums, etc., and digitizes the plaque from the classified plaque and the number of teeth pixels. By performing one image processing and displaying the result of this first image processing on the display means as image data, the user can accurately recognize the status of plaque in his / her oral cavity, and the amount of plaque is large When the user mainly brushes the attachment site with the head portion provided with the brush of the dental plaque detection toothbrush, the digitized amount of plaque and the numeric value of the adhesion site of the plaque change (that is, decrease). Thereby, the user can brush his / her teeth while confirming that the plaque has been removed.

In addition, the user classifies the intraoral image captured by the dental plaque detection toothbrush into plaque, teeth, gums, etc., and performs second image processing for quantifying the state of the gums from the number of pixels of the classified gum color. And the result of the second image processing is displayed on the display means as image data, so that the user can accurately recognize the state of the gums in his / her mouth (for example, gingivitis and alveolar effusion). .

In addition, since the image sensor, the light source, and the optical filter can be arranged at a position away from the head portion provided with the brush located in the user's oral cavity, the image sensor or the like is placed in the oral cavity where the user's moisture is high. It is possible to prevent direct contact with water, and it is possible to prevent leakage etc. that may occur due to contact with moisture.

In addition, an image sensor (for example, a CMOS image sensor) that images the oral cavity, a light source, and an optical filter are integrally configured, and at least one or more are disposed on the front surface, side surface, and back surface of the head portion of the dental plaque detection toothbrush. Moreover, it can also be disposed on the handle other than the head. When an image sensor or light source is provided in the head part, the image sensor or light source is provided in the handle part so that the imaging direction (light projecting direction) is parallel to the toothbrush tip. In the case, it can be disposed at an angle. Thereby, while being able to image in three dimensions the state in a user's oral cavity, the quantity and adhesion site | part of the plaque adhering to a tooth | gear can be correctly digitized from this imaged image data.

In addition, a plaque detection toothbrush (hereinafter also simply referred to as a toothbrush) is a portable terminal (for example, a smart phone, a tablet terminal, a mobile laptop computer, etc.) obtained by imaging an intraoral situation visualized by a light source with an image sensor. The function to transmit to is further provided.

Here, the mobile terminal according to the present invention has a function of short-range wireless communication (for example, Bluetooth (registered trademark) which is a well-known short-range wireless communication standard). In addition, a dental plaque detection toothbrush (for example, an electric toothbrush) having various functions such as an image sensor for imaging the oral cavity, a light source, and an optical filter also has a short-range wireless communication function. And the image in a user's oral cavity imaged with the imaging means is transmitted from a toothbrush to a portable terminal by near field communication. Then, the first image processing and the second image processing are executed on the user's intraoral image by dedicated application software in the portable terminal. In the oral care system of the present invention, a management company that manages the system installs a dedicated system server. And the user of this system downloads the application software for exclusive use for image processing by accessing a system server with an own portable terminal (for example, smart phone).

When the user launches the dedicated application software downloaded to the mobile terminal, the toothbrush and the mobile terminal are connected by the short-range wireless communication by the standard short-range wireless communication function described above, and the user's oral cavity imaged with the toothbrush The image inside is transmitted to the portable terminal. The portable terminal executes the first image processing of the image received by the activated dedicated application software. Then, the result of the first image processing is converted into image data, color, sound, vibration, etc. by the display means, display lamp, speaker, vibration generation means provided on the main body of the portable terminal or the plaque detection toothbrush and output. To do.

Specifically, when displaying as an image, the image in the user's oral cavity received from the toothbrush is classified into plaque, teeth, gums, etc., and quantified by the number of classified pixels (first image processing), This numerical value is displayed on the display device of the portable terminal as image data together with the image in the user's mouth. In addition, you may provide and display a display apparatus in the main body of a dental plaque detection toothbrush. Further, when displaying in color, it is converted into a shade of a predetermined color according to a numerical value and displayed on a display device of a portable terminal or a display device provided in a main body of a dental plaque detection toothbrush. The display device is not limited to the display device of the portable terminal or the display device provided in the main body of the dental plaque detection toothbrush, and is installed in a washroom having a function of a display device of a personal computer or a smart mirror. A stationary mirror may be used. Furthermore, when displaying with sound or vibration, it is converted into volume (pitch) or vibration magnitude according to the numerical value, and a speaker or vibration generating means (for example, vibrator) provided on the main body of the portable terminal or dental plaque detection toothbrush. Etc.).

Thereby, the user can determine the amount of plaque attached to his / her teeth that is in his / her oral cavity and the site of the adhesion, the numerical value or color of the image data displayed on the display device of the mobile terminal or toothbrush body, or It is possible to accurately grasp the volume and the magnitude of vibration output from a speaker or vibration unit provided in the main body of the portable terminal or the plaque detection toothbrush.

In addition, when outputting the amount of plaque and the adhesion site with the volume and vibration corresponding to the magnitude of the digitized amount of plaque, the user specifies the image data of the user's teeth displayed on the display device of the mobile terminal. You may make it output the sound volume and vibration according to the magnitude of a numerical value by touching with etc.

The toothbrush also has an image data detection error caused by noise such as vibration in the toothbrush. Therefore, the toothbrush further includes an acceleration sensor for correcting the detection error, and image data obtained by capturing the data detected by the acceleration sensor. In addition, by transmitting to the portable terminal, correction in the image processing in the portable terminal makes it possible to more accurately measure the state in the oral cavity.

In addition, image data in the oral cavity of the user (information on the amount of plaque on the tooth surface measured by the number of pixels and the adhesion site of the plaque) is transmitted from the user's portable terminal to the system server, and periodically ( The data is transmitted to a doctor terminal (for example, a dentist terminal (such as a personal computer)) every week or month. In this case, information in the user's oral cavity is periodically transmitted from the user's portable terminal to the system server described above (for example, every time the user brushes his / her teeth). The system server manages information in the user's oral cavity for each user and periodically transmits the information to a terminal (a personal computer or the like) of an expert (a user's family dentist).

This allows the dentist to diagnose the plaque status from the image data in the user's mouth. In general, plaque can be removed by user's tooth brushing or the like, but if it develops from plaque to tartar, it cannot be removed by tooth brushing. If the tartar is left untreated, it will cause tooth decay, periodontal disease, and bad breath. Therefore, the dentist diagnoses and notifies the user of the timing (timing) of oral care for calculus removal and periodontal disease prevention from the state of the user's plaque (tartar). As described above, the user regularly visits the dentist based on the diagnosis prompting the visit from the dentist who is an expert, so that the healthy state in his / her oral cavity can be maintained.

Furthermore, image data for each user managed by the system server can be arbitrarily browsed by a portable terminal possessed by the user. As a result, the user himself / herself judges the condition of teeth and gums in his / her mouth and actively visits a dentist, etc., and receives plaque / tartar removal, gum treatment, etc. It is possible to maintain a healthy state. That is, according to the present invention, oral care from the viewpoint of preventive medicine can be performed.

In addition, the head part provided with the brush of the dental plaque detection toothbrush is configured to be replaceable, and the system server manages the replacement time of the head part and transmits the replacement time of the head part to the manufacturer terminal and the user's portable terminal. To do. Generally, the head portion provided with the brush of the toothbrush is a consumable item, and if it is used for a long time, the brush will be bent or worn, and tooth brushing cannot be performed in a normal state. For this reason, in order to use a head part in a normal state, it is necessary to exchange a head part for every fixed period. In the present invention, the number of use and period of use of the dental plaque detection toothbrush by the user is managed by the system server for each user, and when the system server determines that it is the time of effect, the head unit is connected to the manufacturer terminal and the user's portable terminal. Notify when to replace.

Here, the manufacturer terminal is a terminal managed by the manufacturer of the plaque detection toothbrush used in the present invention, and manages the plaque detection toothbrush used for each user. For this reason, the system server informs the manufacturer terminal when the head unit is to be replaced. For example, the manufacturer directly sends the head unit ordering guidance from the manufacturer terminal to the user's mobile terminal and receives the ordering guidance. If the user can order the replacement plaque detection toothbrush head part directly from the mobile terminal to the manufacturer terminal, the user can promptly procure the replacement plaque detection toothbrush head part. It is possible to brush the teeth with the head portion provided with the brush in a normal state.

Also, the system server transmits a safety confirmation request of the user to the close relative terminal based on the transmission interval of the image data in the oral cavity of the user transmitted from the mobile terminal. Thereby, for example, when the user is an elderly person living alone or a sick person (a sick person having a chronic disease or a sick person who needs to go to hospital, etc.), transmission of information in the oral cavity of the user for each user accumulated in the system server By managing the interval, a user's safety confirmation request can be sent, for example, by e-mail, etc., to a close relative terminal (personal computer, smartphone, etc.) of the close relative who wishes to be contacted to alert the close relative. .

Specifically, the system server described above, from the user's mobile terminal, when the transmission interval of the information in the user's oral cavity transmitted from the user's mobile terminal is, for example, at least once a day. When it is detected that the information in the oral cavity of the user to be transmitted has been interrupted for a predetermined period (for example, 3 days), the safety confirmation request is transmitted to the mobile terminal of the close relative registered.

In the oral care system of the present invention, for example, even if the user is away from home due to travel or the like, the system server acquires information in the oral cavity of the user as long as the user has a dental plaque detection toothbrush and a portable terminal. Can do. For this reason, the acquisition interval of information in the user's oral cavity is interrupted for a predetermined period of time, so that it is determined that the user has interfered with normal life for some reason, and a close relative who wants safety information is alerted It has a configuration that can. In addition, even if the user forgets the plaque detection toothbrush and goes on a trip with only the mobile terminal, the fact that the user brushed with another toothbrush can be input to the mobile terminal, and the previous time stored in the mobile terminal By transmitting the information in the user's oral cavity to the system server, it is possible to prevent the safety confirmation request from being transmitted from the system server to the mobile terminal of the close relative registered.

The close relative who received the user's safety confirmation request directly contacts the user, and if the contact cannot be made, the nearest police, fire department, family hospital, contracted decare staff, etc. By requesting the user's safety confirmation, the user's safety can be promptly confirmed.

Also, the plaque detection toothbrush is provided with biometric authentication means composed of various sensors capable of detecting the fingerprint, body temperature and pulse of the user who uses the plaque detection toothbrush. For example, as the biometric authentication means, a fingerprint of a predetermined finger of the user is registered in advance, and it is checked via the system server whether the plaque detection toothbrush to be used matches the registered fingerprint. In the system server, the user's fingerprint is registered in association with the registered plaque detection toothbrush model number, etc., and it is determined whether the plaque detection toothbrush used by the user is a registered user, Identity authentication is performed to determine whether the plaque detection toothbrush used by the user belongs to the registered user. If the personal authentication is not confirmed, a warning is transmitted from the system server to the portable terminal. In this way, when a user registered in this system performs identity authentication when using a dental plaque detection toothbrush, for example, there is a family other than the person who uses the same system in the living family, and the family is It is possible to prevent erroneous use of another family's plaque detection toothbrush, and to prevent image data in the mouth of the wrong user from being transmitted to the system server.

In addition, the biometric authentication means may include a thermometer that can measure the user's body temperature and pulse and a pulse meter that can measure the pulse. And the measured value of the user's body temperature and pulse during tooth brushing is transmitted to the system server together with the image data in the user's mouth. As a result, in the system server, it is possible to manage the measured body temperature and pulse in addition to the image data in the user's mouth, and when an abnormality or the like is detected, the system server reports that fact to the user. It can be sent to the terminal to call attention and can be used to manage the daily health status of the user.

In addition, the doctor terminal in the present invention is not necessarily limited to the doctor terminal owned by the dentist, and may be a doctor terminal owned by the user's internal physician or the like, and is measured during tooth brushing. If there is a serious abnormality in the user's body temperature or pulse, it is possible to ensure the safety of the user by transmitting that fact to a doctor terminal owned by the user's doctor.

Note that the biometric authentication means of the present invention may use not only fingerprint authentication but also personal authentication by voiceprint, and measurement of a user's vital signs includes not only body temperature and pulse, but also a blood pressure monitor, for example. It can also be provided. Further, a blood glucose measuring device capable of measuring the blood sugar level of the user's blood without collecting blood from the user other than the user's vital sign may be provided.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the oral-care system of this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structure of the dental plaque detection toothbrush of this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structure of the dental plaque detection toothbrush of this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structure of the dental plaque detection toothbrush of this embodiment. It is a block diagram explaining the electric constitution of the system server of the oral-care system of this embodiment. It is a block diagram explaining the electrical constitution of the plaque detection toothbrush of the oral care system of this embodiment. It is a flowchart of the oral-care system of this embodiment. It is a flowchart of the oral-care system of this embodiment. It is a figure explaining the example of arrangement | positioning of the imaging unit of the plaque detection toothbrush of this embodiment. It is a figure explaining the example of arrangement | positioning of the imaging unit of the plaque detection toothbrush of this embodiment. It is the image data after the image processing of the oral care system of this embodiment. It is the image data after the image processing of the oral care system of this embodiment. It is the image data after the image processing of the oral care system of this embodiment. It is the image data after the image processing of the oral care system of this embodiment. It is the image data after the image processing of the oral care system of this embodiment. It is the image data after the image processing of the oral care system of this embodiment.

The gist of the present invention is that a system server managed by a management company, a portable terminal owned by a plurality of users, a doctor terminal owned by a plurality of doctors, a close relative terminal owned by a plurality of close relatives, and plaque In an oral care system in which a manufacturer terminal owned by a manufacturer of a detection toothbrush is connected to each other via a public communication network so as to be able to communicate with each other, the dental plaque detection toothbrush can image a user's oral cavity An image processing unit is provided for performing image processing for digitizing plaque based on the number of pixels classified into dental plaque, teeth, gums, etc., in the user's oral cavity image data captured by the dental plaque detection toothbrush. The present invention relates to an oral care system in which a user can brush a tooth while recognizing a position and amount of plaque adhered to a tooth in the oral cavity by displaying the result on a display means.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an oral care system according to the present embodiment. 2 to 4 are diagrams showing the configuration of the dental plaque detection toothbrush of the present embodiment. FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating the electrical configuration of the system server of the oral care system of the present embodiment. FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating the electrical configuration of the plaque detection toothbrush of the present embodiment. 7 and 8 are flowcharts of the oral care system of the present embodiment. FIG. 9 to FIG. 10 are diagrams for explaining an arrangement example of the imaging unit of the plaque detection toothbrush of the present embodiment. 11 to 16 are image data after image processing of the oral care system of the present embodiment.

[1. Configuration of oral care system]
Hereinafter, the outline of the configuration of the oral care system in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 1, the oral care system 1 includes a system server 10 managed by a management company 100, portable terminals 210 owned by a plurality of users 200, doctor terminals 30 owned by a plurality of doctors 300, a plurality of The close relative terminal 40 owned by the close relative 400 and the manufacturer terminal 60 owned by the plaque detection toothbrush manufacturer 600 are connected to each other via the public communication network 50 so as to be able to communicate with each other.

As the system server 10, the doctor terminal 30, and the manufacturer terminal 60, known computers are preferably used. As a known computer, a desktop personal computer, a notebook personal computer, a tablet personal computer, or the like is preferably used, but any computer having a function capable of communicating with each other via the public communication network 50 may be used. In addition, as the mobile terminal 210, for example, a smart phone, a tablet terminal, a mobile notebook computer, or the like having a function of short-range wireless communication (for example, Bluetooth (registered trademark) which is a well-known short-range wireless communication standard) is preferably used. It is done. The close relative terminal 40 does not necessarily have a function of short-distance wireless communication, and a communication function (for example, mail or the like) with the system server 10 via a public communication network 50 such as a personal computer, a mobile phone, a smartphone, or a tablet terminal. As long as it has a function capable of receiving The public communication line network 50 is a known internet line, mobile phone communication line, telephone line, communication satellite line, or the like.

In this embodiment, the management server 100, the user 200, the doctor 300, the close relative 400, and the system server 10 managed and owned by the manufacturer 600, the portable terminal 210, the doctor terminal 30, the close relative terminal 40, and the manufacturer terminal 60 is not necessarily a purchased item, and a rental or leased item may be used.

The management company 100 is a company that manages and operates the system server 10 of the oral care system 1. A plurality of users 200, a plurality of doctors 300, a plurality of close relatives 400, and a manufacturer 600 are registered in advance in this system in order to use the oral care system 1.

The plurality of users 200 in the oral care system 1 use the plaque detection toothbrush 20 (hereinafter simply referred to as the toothbrush 20) in the oral care system 1 in order to perform their own oral care. As will be described later in detail, the toothbrush 20 has an imaging unit 24 including an image sensor 24a, a light source 24b, an optical filter 24c, and the like for imaging the inside of the oral cavity, a short-range wireless communication function, and the like, as shown in FIG. Have.

The plurality of doctors 300 in the oral care system 1 send information on the oral cavity of the user 200 (such as information on the amount of plaque on the tooth surface measured by the number of pixels and information on the adhesion site of plaque) from the system server 10 to the doctor terminal 30. A dentist who receives regularly. And the timing (time) of the oral care of the user 200 is diagnosed from the received information in the oral cavity of the user 200, and this timing is notified to the user 200. For this reason, it is desirable that the doctor 300 that regularly receives information in the oral cavity of the user 200 is a dentist (so-called dentist) designated in advance by the user 200. However, if the doctor 200 is not designated by the user 200, the nearest registered in the system from the user information (address, name, age, telephone number, mail address, etc.) registered in the system in advance. The system server 10 automatically assigns the doctor 300.

The doctor 300 is not limited to a dentist. If an abnormality is detected in a user's body temperature or pulse measured by a thermometer or pulse meter provided in a biometric authentication unit described later, the user's family medicine The user's body temperature and pulse may be transmitted to a doctor or the like. In addition, when a blood pressure monitor or a blood glucose level measuring device is provided as a biometric authentication unit to be described later, the blood pressure or blood glucose level in which an abnormality has been detected may be transmitted to a user's family physician or the like. Furthermore, the abnormality may be reported not only to the doctor 300 (such as a physician) but also to the close relative 400 of the user 200 who has registered the safety confirmation request.

A plurality of close relatives 400 in the oral care system 1 are relatives (children, grandchildren, friends, etc.) of the user 200 who requests confirmation of safety in daily life when the user 200 is an elderly person living alone or a sick person. The transmission of the safety confirmation request for the user 200 designated in the system is registered in advance. Although details will be described later, in the present embodiment, when the system server 10 detects that the acquisition interval of information in the oral cavity of the user 200 stored in the system server 10 is equal to or greater than a predetermined interval, the user 200 The transmission of the safety confirmation request is registered, and the safety confirmation request of the user 200 is transmitted to the close relative 400 from the system server 10 to the close relative terminal 40 by e-mail or the like, for example.

The manufacturer 600 in the oral care system 1 is a supplier responsible for manufacturing and selling the toothbrush 20 in the present embodiment. As described above, since the head part 21 provided with the brush of the toothbrush 20 is a consumable item, the head part 21 provided with the brush of the toothbrush 20 is configured to be replaceable. When the system server 10 manages the number of times and the period of use of the toothbrush 20 by the user 200 of the head unit and determines that it is a replacement time, the replacement time of the head unit 21 is transferred to the manufacturer terminal 60 and the portable terminal 210 of the user 200. Send. As a result, the user 200 can brush the teeth in an optimal state with the toothbrush 20 having the head portion provided with the brush in a normal state at all times, and therefore can efficiently perform the oral care of the user 200. .

In the above-described configuration, in the present embodiment, the user 200, the doctor 300, the close relative 400, and the manufacturer 600 own the dedicated site established in the system server 10 of the management company 100 that manages the system. Each terminal (mobile terminal 210, doctor terminal 30, close relative terminal 40, manufacturer terminal 60) is accessed through the public communication network 50 and registered as a member. Then, the dedicated ID and the personal identification number automatically generated by the dedicated site of the system server 10 at the time of membership registration are transmitted to the registered user 200, the doctor 300, the close relative 400, and the manufacturer 600. Hereinafter, the user 200, the doctor 300, the close relative 400, and the manufacturer 600 registered as members access the dedicated site established in the system server 10 by using the dedicated ID and the personal identification number, so that the oral care system 1 Will be executed.

In the oral care system 1 of the present embodiment, when the user 200 registers with the portable terminal 210 in the dedicated site of the system server 10, application software dedicated to image processing in the oral cavity of the user 200 is transferred from the system server 10 to the portable terminal 210. It is configured to be downloaded to. An image in the oral cavity of the user 200 captured by an image sensor (for example, a CMOS image sensor) that constitutes the imaging means of the toothbrush 20 used by the user 200 is transmitted to the mobile terminal 210 by short-range wireless or the like and downloaded to the mobile terminal 210. Image processing (first image processing and second image processing described later) is executed by the dedicated application software. Note that the image processing is not necessarily performed by the portable terminal 210, and may be performed by, for example, a control unit (see FIG. 6) built in the toothbrush 20 of the present embodiment.

Specifically, when the dedicated application software downloaded to the mobile terminal 210 is started by the user 200, the toothbrush 20 and the mobile terminal 210 are connected by the above-described standard short-range wireless communication, and the imaging provided in the toothbrush 20 is provided. The user's intraoral image captured by the means is transmitted to the portable terminal 210. The portable terminal 210 classifies the image received by the activated dedicated application software into various parts such as plaque, teeth, gums, and the like, and performs image processing. The first image processing of this image processing, which will be described in detail later, analyzes the captured image of the user's oral cavity using the HSV method (HSV color space), and determines the amount of plaque by the number of pixels for each part. While digitizing and measuring, the measured numerical value is displayed as image data on the display device 211 of the portable terminal 210 together with the intraoral image. The second image processing of the image processing, which will be described in detail later, is based on the number of pixels in which the image of the captured user's oral cavity is analyzed by the RGB method and the classified gum color exceeds the red threshold value. The gum state is digitized and measured, and the measured gum state in the oral cavity is displayed as image data on the display device 211 of the portable terminal 210.

As a result, the user 200 can change the state in his / her oral cavity (the amount of plaque attached to his / her teeth, the attached site, or the state of the gums) from the image data displayed on the display device 211 of the mobile terminal 210. It is possible to recognize specifically. Then, the user 200 recognizes the plaque amount and the plaque adhesion site displayed in the image data of the first image processing while performing the brushing with the toothbrush 20, so that the plaque amount and the plaque adhesion site can be detected. The number decreases. Thereby, the user 200 can surely recognize that the plaque is removed.

[2. Plaque detection toothbrush configuration]
Hereinafter, the configuration of the toothbrush 20 in the oral care system 1 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 is a front view of the toothbrush 20, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. FIG. 4 is a side view showing attachment and detachment of the head portion 21 of the toothbrush 20.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the toothbrush 20 of the present embodiment includes a head portion 21 in which a plurality of brushes 28 are implanted, a grip portion 23 that a user 200 grips with hands, the head portion 21 and the grip portion 23. And a handle portion 22 for connecting the two. In addition, as the toothbrush 20 of this embodiment, the electric toothbrush etc., such as a model with which the well-known head part 21 vibrates up and down or a model that rotates in a circular shape, are preferably used.

An imaging window 70a is provided at a substantially central portion of the head portion 21 on the side where the plurality of brushes 28 are implanted. One or more imaging units 24 including an image sensor 24 a constituting the imaging unit, a light source 24 b having a light emitting element, an optical filter 24 c, and the like are provided inside the grip portion 23 of the toothbrush 20. The imaging unit 24 is for imaging the oral cavity of the user 200 that enters the imaging unit 24 from the imaging window 70 a via the light guide path 70.

The image pickup unit 24 is provided with an image sensor 24a at the center and a light source 24b having a light emitting element so as to surround the outer periphery of the center image sensor 24a. The optical filter 24c is provided on the upper surface of the image sensor 24a. The optical filter 24c is for passing only light of a specific wavelength detected by the image sensor 24a. A CMOS image sensor is preferably used as the image sensor 24a. Moreover, LED etc. are used suitably as a light emitting element of a light source. As the optical filter 24c, a high-pass filter or the like that selectively transmits light having a wavelength within a predetermined wavelength range (for example, 250 to 500 nm) is preferably used. The image sensor 24a may be any image sensor having a function capable of imaging the inside of the oral cavity of the user 200, and may be a CCD image sensor or the like.

As shown in FIG. 3, the imaging window 70 a of the head unit 21 and the imaging unit 24 of the grip unit 23 are connected to each other via a light guide path 70 so that an image inside the oral cavity of the user 200 can enter. The light guide path 70 has a cylindrical shape or a rectangular tube shape, and is vertically provided on the upper part of the imaging unit 24 of the grip portion 23, and has a refracting portion that is refracted horizontally by 90 degrees in the head portion 21. It is formed to touch. In the refracting portion of the light guide path 70, there is provided a reflecting mirror 71 for refracting the image incident from the imaging window 70a 90 degrees downward so that the imaging unit 24 can capture the image. The reflecting mirror 71 is for refracting the light of the light source 24b constituting the imaging unit 24 horizontally by 90 degrees to irradiate the oral cavity of the user. Further, a waterproof plate 72 formed in a plate shape with transparent glass, acrylic, or the like that prevents water or the like from entering the light guide path 70 is provided at a portion of the light guide path 70 that contacts the imaging window 70a.

As described above, since the image pickup unit 24 as the image pickup means is disposed in the grip portion 23 separated from the head portion 21 of the toothbrush 20 located in the oral cavity of the user 200, the image sensor 24a and the like constituting the image pickup means are provided. In addition, it is possible to prevent the user 200 from directly touching the mouth with a lot of moisture, and to prevent electric leakage that may occur due to contact with moisture.

As shown in FIG. 4, the head portion 21 of the toothbrush 20 of the present embodiment is provided detachably from the toothbrush body. Specifically, the upper portion of the light guide path 70 protruding upward from the handle portion 22 including the refracted portion horizontally refracted by 90 degrees is fitted to the back portion of the head portion 21 in which the plurality of brushes 28 are implanted. A joint groove 73 is formed. Then, the head portion 21 is moved in the horizontal direction (right in the figure), and the upper portion of the light guide path 70 protruding upward from the handle portion 22 is fitted into the fitting groove 73, and a locking member (not shown) or the like. The head part 21 is fixed by Thereby, the head part 21 can be easily mounted on the toothbrush body (upper part of the handle part 22).

When removing the head portion 21 from the toothbrush body, the fixing by the locking member is released, the head portion 21 is moved in the horizontal direction (left in the figure), and protrudes upward from the handle portion 22 from the fitting groove 73. The head part 21 can be easily removed from the toothbrush body (upper part of the handle part 22) by removing the upper part of the light guide path 70.

Thus, since the head part 21 provided with the brush of the toothbrush 20 is configured to be replaceable, the system server 10 notifies the manufacturer terminal 60 and the portable terminal 210 of the user 200 of the replacement time of the head part 21. In this case, the manufacturer 600 checks the inventory of the head part 21 of the toothbrush 20 according to the model number of the toothbrush 20 used by the user 200, and directly connects the head part 21 from the manufacturer terminal 60 to the portable terminal 210 of the user 200. If the ordering guide is transmitted, the user 200 can quickly procure and replace the necessary head part 21 of the toothbrush 20, and can brush the teeth with the head part 21 in a normal state. Become.

Acceleration sensor 25 is disposed inside the handle 22 of the toothbrush 20. By transmitting the data detected by the acceleration sensor 25 to the portable terminal 210 together with the image captured by the imaging unit 24, the image data is corrected in the image processing of the portable terminal 210. Thereby, the state of the oral cavity can be measured more accurately.

Further, the handle 22 of the toothbrush 20 has a speaker (not shown) or vibration for converting the dental plaque amount quantified by the first image processing into a volume (pitch) or a vibration level and outputting it. Generating means (for example, a vibrator (not shown)) is incorporated.

In the head part 21 of the toothbrush 20, a pressure sensor (not shown) or a gyro sensor (not shown) can be incorporated. The pressure sensor detects the pressing force of the head unit 21 on the teeth and gums by the user 200. For example, when the pressing force exceeds a specified value, a speaker (not shown) provided on the handle 22 of the toothbrush 20 is shown. ) And the status display lamp 27 notify the user 200 that the pressing force is too strong. Thereby, the overload applied to the teeth and gums in the oral cavity of the user 200 can be prevented, and wear of teeth (enamel) and gum damage caused by excessive pressing force can be prevented.

The gyro sensor detects the inclination of the head part 21 toward the teeth and gums by the user 200. For example, when the head part 21 does not face the teeth and gums and the inclination is large, the handle part of the toothbrush 20 is used. The user and the user 200 are informed that the inclination of the head unit 21 is large. As a result, the image data (see FIGS. 11 to 16) captured by the imaging unit 24 and displayed on the display device 211 of the mobile terminal 210 of the user 200 not only becomes easy for the user 200 to see, but also the tooth brushing is performed efficiently. It becomes possible.

On the surface of the grip portion 23 of the toothbrush 20, a power switch 26 for starting the toothbrush 20 which is an electric toothbrush and a state of the toothbrush 20 (battery shortage, various abnormalities, etc.) are displayed to inform the user 200. A lamp 27 is provided. Since the toothbrush 20 of the present embodiment is an electric toothbrush, an operation mechanism (not shown) of the head unit 21 and a rechargeable battery (not shown) serving as a drive source of the operation mechanism are also grips of the toothbrush 20. Built in the unit 23. Further, a dedicated charger (not shown) is also provided.

The grip unit 23 of the toothbrush 20 includes a biometric authentication unit 29 as a biometric authentication unit configured with various sensors (various measuring devices) capable of detecting the fingerprint, body temperature, and pulse of the user who uses the toothbrush 20. As the biometric authentication unit 29, a fingerprint detector 29a is preferably used so that the fingerprint of a predetermined finger (for example, an index finger or a thumb) of the user 200 can be detected, and the fingerprint of the predetermined finger of the user 200 is previously stored in the system server 10 or It is registered in the portable terminal 210 and it is checked whether or not the toothbrush 20 to be used matches the registered fingerprint. In the system server 10 or the portable terminal 210, the fingerprint of the user 200 is registered in association with the model number of the toothbrush 20 used by the user 200, and the toothbrush 20 used by the user 200 is registered. Authenticate the identity of whether it is a thing. If the personal authentication is not confirmed, a warning is transmitted from the system server 10 or the portable terminal 210.

As described above, when the user 200 uses the toothbrush 20, for example, there is a family other than the person who uses the same oral care system 1 in the living family, and the family is mistakenly another family. The toothbrush 20 can be prevented from being used, and image data in the mouth of the wrong user 200 can be prevented from being transmitted to the system server 10 and registered.

In addition, the biometric authentication unit 29 includes a thermometer 29b that can measure the body temperature and pulse of the user 200 and a pulse meter 29c that can measure the pulse. The toothbrush 20 transmits the measured values of the body temperature and pulse of the user 200 who is brushing teeth to the portable terminal 210 and the system server 10 together with the image data in the oral cavity of the user 200. As a result, the system server 10 can manage the measured body temperature and pulse in addition to the image data in the oral cavity of the user 200. Therefore, if an abnormality in the body temperature or pulse is detected, this is indicated. It can be sent from the system server 10 to the mobile terminal 210 of the user 200 to call attention, and can be used for the daily health management of the user. The biometric authentication unit 29 may include not only a thermometer 29b and a pulse meter 29c but also various measuring devices such as a blood pressure meter and a blood glucose level measuring device as long as the daily health state of the user 200 can be measured. Good. If an abnormality is detected in the measured values of the user 200 measured by these various measuring instruments, the user's family doctor 300 (such as a physician) or the user 200 who has registered a safety confirmation request from the system server 10. You may make it report abnormality from the system server 10 also to close relatives 400 grade | etc.,.

The toothbrush control device 220 that controls the toothbrush 20 of the present embodiment is built in the grip portion 23. The toothbrush control device 220 is provided with a short-range wireless communication unit 224 (see FIG. 6), and a user who has captured an image with the imaging unit 24 in synchronization with the short-range wireless communication unit 219 built in the mobile terminal 210. 200 intraoral image data is transmitted to the portable terminal 210 by the short-range wireless communication 51.

[3. First image processing]
The portable terminal 210 performs first image processing on the received image data. Specifically, the received image data is subjected to image processing, and images are classified into plaque, teeth, gums, and the like, and plaque and teeth are digitized from the classified images by the number of pixels. Then, the amount of plaque on the tooth surface of the user 200 and the measurement result of the adhesion site are digitized together with the image captured on the display device 211 (liquid crystal display prayer, etc.) of the portable terminal 210 and displayed. As an example, the first image processing is executed when the user 200 activates dedicated application software downloaded from the system server 10 to the portable terminal 210. The dedicated application software is activated when the user 200 clicks the dedicated application software icon displayed on the display device 211 of the mobile terminal 210 with a finger, a touch pen, or the like.

Hereinafter, the first image processing by the dedicated application software downloaded to the mobile terminal 210 in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 11 and FIG. Note that this first image processing is not necessarily executed by dedicated application software downloaded to the mobile terminal 210, but is processed by the toothbrush control device 220 that controls the toothbrush 20, and the image before processing. The processed image may be transmitted to the short-range wireless communication 51 to the portable terminal 210.

In the first image processing of this embodiment, the image data in the oral cavity of the user is classified into plaque, teeth, gums, and the like, and the plaque is digitized from the classified plaque and the number of pixels of the teeth. This digitization of plaque and teeth is measured by digitizing the amount of plaque by the number of pixels of each part (plaque and teeth) in the HSV method (HSV color space), and the measured numerical value is image data in the oral cavity. In addition, the information is displayed on the display device 211 of the portable terminal 210. In the HSV method (HSV color space), the color of captured image data is expressed and analyzed in three values of hue (Hue), saturation (Saturation), and lightness (Value), and the numerical value falls within a predetermined value range. For example, when H = 50 to 170, S = 0 to 95, and V = 95 to 200, the number of pixels is counted by distinguishing between plaque (plaque) and teeth (enamel). Turn into.

As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the display device 211 of the mobile terminal 210 of the user 200 includes a captured image 212 captured by the imaging unit 24 of the toothbrush 20, and a processed image 213 processed by dedicated application software. Are displayed in parallel or by image switching processing. In the captured image 212, only the image in the oral cavity of the user 200 is displayed, but in the processed image 213, the adhesion site of the plaque on the tooth surface in the oral cavity of the user 200 is a predetermined color (for example, , Red), displayed in shades according to the amount of plaque.

Numeral data 214 is displayed below the processed image 213. In the numerical data 214, the number of pixels detected as plaque (plaque) and the number of pixels detected as tooth (enamel) are specifically digitized and displayed. A plaque ratio (plaque / plaque + enamel) indicating the amount of plaque (plaque) is displayed below the plaque ratio. This plaque ratio indicates that the larger the value is, the more plaque is attached to the tooth surface.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the image data in the oral cavity at the location where the user 200 is brushing the teeth is image-processed by the HSV method (HSV color space), thereby the plaque adhesion site or tooth on the tooth surface. The user 200 can accurately recognize the amount of dirt visually and numerically. Then, in the processed image 213 indicating the plaque adhesion site and the amount of plaque of the user 200, the color displayed in shades changes (changes from a dark color to a pale color), whereby the plaque is removed. The user 200 can accurately grasp that the user 200 is present, and the numerical value of the numerical data 214 changes (that is, decreases), so that the user 200 specifically confirms that the plaque has been removed. be able to.

[4. Second image processing]
The portable terminal 210 performs second image processing on the received image data. Specifically, the received image data is subjected to image processing, the images are classified into plaque, teeth, gums, and the like, and the state of the gums is measured by the number of pixels from each classified image. And the measurement result of the user's 200 gum state is displayed on the display device 211 (liquid crystal display prayer etc.) of the portable terminal 210. As an example, the second image processing is executed by the user 200 starting dedicated application software downloaded from the system server 10 to the portable terminal 210 in the same manner as the first image processing. The dedicated application software is activated when the user 200 clicks the dedicated application software icon displayed on the display device 211 of the mobile terminal 210 with a finger, a touch pen, or the like.

Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 13 and FIG. 14, the second image processing by dedicated application software downloaded to the mobile terminal 210 in the present embodiment will be described. Note that the second image processing is not necessarily limited to being executed by dedicated application software downloaded to the portable terminal 210 as in the case of the first image processing, and the toothbrush control device that controls the toothbrush 20. The image processed at 220 may be transmitted to the short-range wireless communication 51 to the portable terminal 210.

In the second image processing of the present embodiment, the image of the user's intraoral area is classified into plaque, teeth, gums, etc., and the gum state is determined from the number of pixels where the color of the classified gum exceeds the red threshold value. Quantify and measure. The measurement of the gum state measures the gum state by the RGB method, and the measured gum state is displayed on the display device 211 of the portable terminal 210 as image data. The RGB method is a method in which the color of the gums of captured image data is expressed and analyzed by arranging or mixing three kinds of colors of red (Red) + green (Green) + blue (Blue). Specifically, the state of the gum is determined by digitizing the number of pixels whose gum color exceeds the red threshold. For example, when R = 255, G = 0 to 127, and B = 0 to 127, the gum state is determined to be within the normal range. When R = 255, G = 128 to 255, and B = 128 to 255, the gum state is determined to be gingivitis. When R = 255, G = 128 to 200, and B = 128 to 200, the gum state is determined to be periodontal disease.

As shown in FIG. 13, a processed image 215 that has been subjected to second image processing by dedicated application software is displayed on the display device 211 of the mobile terminal 210 of the user 200. A white arrow 216 in the figure indicates the state of the gum that suggests gingivitis in the second image processing. As illustrated in FIG. 14, a processed image 215 that has been subjected to the second image processing by dedicated application software is displayed on the display device 211 of the mobile terminal 210 of the user 200. A white arrow 216 in the figure indicates the state of the gums suggesting periodontal disease in the second image processing. As described above, in the processed image 215, the color of the gums in the oral cavity of the user 200 is displayed in a predetermined color (for example, red) with light and shade corresponding to the state of plaque. Furthermore, the part determined to be gingivitis or periodontal disease is identified and displayed by a white arrow 216.

Thus, in this embodiment, the user 200 visually corrects the state of the gums by performing the second image processing on the image data of the gums in the oral cavity at the location where the user 200 is brushing his teeth. Can be recognized. And in the process image 215 which shows the state of the gum of the user 200, the user 200 can confirm the state of a gum correctly with the color of the gum displayed by light and shade.

Further, in the second image processing of the present embodiment, not only the above-described image data of the gums in the oral cavity of the user 200 are processed by the RGB method, but also a healthy state based on the state of the gums between the teeth. It is also possible to discriminate between gums and gums that develop gingivitis or periodontal disease (mainly at the initial stage). That is, as shown in FIG. 15, in a healthy gum, the gum between the

teeth

218a and 218b forms a triangular apex angle θ1 downward. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 16, the gum in the initial stage in which periodontal disease has developed, the gum between the

teeth

218a and 218b swells due to inflammation, and therefore the angle θ2 of the triangle apex downward Form. Comparing the angle θ1 and the angle θ2, the angle θ1 is relatively acute (for example, 30 degrees) and the angle θ2 is relatively obtuse (for example, 80 degrees). The same applies to other upper teeth and lower teeth. In this way, by measuring the angle of the apex of the triangle formed downward or upward in the gums between the teeth, the state of the gums in the oral cavity of the user 200 is a healthy gum state, or It is possible to determine whether or not gingivitis or periodontal disease (mainly in the initial stage) is present.

As described above, in the second image processing of the present embodiment, the image data of the gums is processed by the RGB method, and at the same time, the angle of the vertex of the gum formed in a triangle toward the lower or upper part between the teeth is measured. By doing this, it becomes possible to confirm the state of the gums in the oral cavity of the user 200 in more detail.

[5. System server configuration]
Hereinafter, the electrical configuration of the system server 10 in the oral care system 1 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The system server 10 includes a storage unit 11, an input / output control unit 12, a control unit 13, an external communication I / F (InterFace) control unit 14, and the like.

The storage unit 11 is configured by a large-capacity storage device such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or a flash memory, and in this embodiment, various information (address, name, age, telephone) of a plurality of users 200 registered in the system. User information such as numbers and email addresses), various information of a plurality of doctors 300 registered in the system (dentist information such as address, dentist name, age, telephone number, and email address), registered in the system Various information (related information such as address, name, age, telephone number, and mail address) of a plurality of close relatives 400 is stored. In addition, information in the oral cavity of the user 200 registered in the system (oral cavity image information that is image data of the amount of plaque on the tooth surface measured by the number of pixels and an adhesion site of plaque) is stored and stored. ing.

The input / output control unit 12 controls input / output of various data with a liquid crystal display device (not shown) connected to the system server 10 and an external input / output device such as a keyboard / mouse.

The control unit 13 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), a flash memory, and the like (not shown). The CPU of the control unit 13 functions as a later-described oral information transmission / reception process, a safety confirmation request transmission process, and the like by executing various programs stored in advance in the ROM or the storage unit 11.

The external communication I / F control unit 14 is connected to an external public communication network 50, and based on instructions from the control unit 13, portable terminals 210 owned by a plurality of users 200 in the oral care system 1 and a plurality of doctors 300. Controls communication with the doctor terminal 30 owned by each other, the close relative terminal 40 owned by a plurality of close relatives 400, and the manufacturer terminal 60 owned by the manufacturer 600. Based on an instruction from the control unit 13, the external communication I / F control unit 14 includes information on the oral cavity of the user 200 from the portable terminal 210 owned by the user 200 (image data, body temperature, and pulse of the intraoral image processed). Control reception of measured values). The information in the oral cavity of the user 200 received here is accumulated and stored in the storage unit 11 as oral image information for a predetermined period (for example, 3 years) for each of the plurality of users 200.

[6. Configuration of toothbrush control device for dental plaque detection toothbrush]
Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 6, the electrical configuration of the toothbrush control device 220 of the toothbrush 20 in the oral care system 1 of the present embodiment will be described. The toothbrush control device 220 includes a storage unit 221, an input / output control unit 222, a control unit 223, a short-range wireless communication unit 224, and the like.

The storage unit 221 is configured by a storage device such as a flash memory, and temporarily stores image data in the oral cavity of the user 200 captured by the imaging unit 24 of the toothbrush 20 in the present embodiment.

The input / output control unit 12 controls input / output of various data with the imaging unit 24, the acceleration sensor 25, the power switch 26, the status display lamp 27, and the biometric authentication unit 29 connected to the toothbrush control device 220.

The control unit 223 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), a flash memory, and the like (not shown). In addition, the CPU of the control unit 13 executes various programs stored in advance in the ROM or the storage unit 11, thereby imaging temporarily stored in the storage unit 221 via the short-range wireless communication unit 224 described later. The transmission of the image data in the oral cavity of the user 200 imaged by the unit 24 to the portable terminal 210 is controlled.

The short-range wireless communication unit 224 transmits the image data in the oral cavity of the user 200 captured by the imaging unit 24 temporarily stored in the storage unit 221 to the portable terminal 210 through the short-range wireless communication 51.

[7. Oral information transmission / reception processing]
Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 7, an oral information transmission / reception process in which information in the oral cavity of the user 200 in the oral care system 1 of the present embodiment is received and periodically transmitted to the doctor terminal 30 will be described. The oral information transmission / reception process is a process executed in the control unit 13 (hereinafter referred to as the control unit 13) of the system server 10 described above.

As shown in FIG. 7, the control unit 13 that executes the oral information transmission / reception process is information on the oral cavity of the user 200 registered in the oral care system 1 of the present embodiment (the teeth on the surface of the tooth measured by the number of pixels). Image data composed of information on the amount of plaque and the adhesion site of plaque (hereinafter referred to as oral image information) is received (step S10). The oral image information is information transmitted from the portable terminal 210 owned by the user 200 to the system server 10 when the user 200 uses the toothbrush 20 in the present system. In this process, the measured values of the body temperature and pulse of the user 200 by the thermometer 29b and the pulse meter 29c provided in the biometric authentication unit 29 are also received.

The control unit 13 stores the acquired oral image information of the user 200 and the measurement date of the body temperature and pulse of the user 200 in association with the received date and time for each user 200 registered in the system in the storage unit 11 (Step S13). S11).

The control unit 13 determines for each user 200 whether or not a predetermined period (for example, one week or one month) has elapsed since the last date and time when the oral image information of the user 200 was transmitted to the doctor terminal 30 (step S12). ). If it is determined that the predetermined period has not elapsed (step S12: No), the control unit 13 moves the process to step S14. On the other hand, when it is determined that the predetermined period has elapsed (step S12: Yes), the control unit 13 is stored in the storage unit 11 with respect to the doctor terminal 30 of the doctor 300 (that is, a family dentist). The latest oral image information of the user 200 is transmitted (step S13).

The control unit 13 determines, for each user 200, whether the measured values of the body temperature and pulse of the user 200 received in step S10 are abnormal (step S14). When it is determined that the measured values of the body temperature and pulse of the user 200 are not abnormal (that is, normal) (step S14: No), the control unit 13 ends the oral information transmission / reception process. On the other hand, when it is determined that the measured values of the body temperature and the pulse of the user 200 are abnormal (step S14: Yes), the control unit 13 sends a response to the doctor terminal 30 of the doctor 300 (that is, a family physician or the like). Then, the latest measured values of the body temperature and pulse of the user 200 stored in the storage unit 11 are transmitted (step S15).

The control unit 13 is the latest stored in the storage unit 11 with respect to the close relative terminal 40 of the close relative 400 of the user 200 (that is, the close relative 400 registered in the oral care system 1 of the present embodiment). The measured values of the body temperature and pulse of the user 200 are transmitted (step S16). When this process ends, the oral information transmission / reception process ends.

As described above, according to the oral care system 1 of the present embodiment, the oral image information for each user 200 registered in the present system is accumulated and stored, and further, the doctor terminal of the doctor 300 every predetermined period. 30. At this time, the doctor 300 that periodically receives the intra-oral image information of the user 200 is a dentist (so-called dentist) designated in advance by the user 200. However, if the doctor 200 is not designated by the user 200, the dentist registered in the system from user information (address, name, age, telephone number, e-mail address, etc.) registered in the system in advance. The system server 10 automatically determines the nearest doctor 300 (dentist) with reference to the information (location, dentist name, age, telephone number, mail address, etc.).

Accordingly, the doctor 300 that has received the information in the oral image of the user 200 diagnoses the plaque status in the oral cavity of the user 200 from the information in the oral image of the user 200. Specifically, the doctor 300 removes calculus and prevents periodontal disease based on the amount of plaque (calculus) adhering to the tooth surface in the oral cavity of the user 200 and the progress state from plaque to calculus. The timing (time) of oral care is diagnosed and notified to the user 200.

Dental plaque increases through the initial state in which oral bacteria adhere to the protein coating on the surface of the teeth, and after formation of bacteria versus exopolysaccharide, a wide variety of resident bacteria further adhere and settle. In other words, the structure and mycoma of plaque changes over time and eventually settles as tartar on the tooth surface. In general, plaque adhered to the tooth surface can be removed by brushing or the like, but tartar cannot be removed by brushing. In addition, calculus causes tooth decay, periodontal disease and bad breath.

According to the oral care system 1 of the present embodiment, since the doctor 300 can diagnose the progress state of the plaque based on the oral image information of the user 200, the information that prompts the doctor 300 who is an expert to go to the hospital. Based on the above, it is possible for the user 200 to regularly visit a dentist to maintain a healthy state in his oral cavity, and thus oral care can be performed from the standpoint of preventive medicine .

In addition, when an abnormality in the body temperature or pulse of the user 200 is detected, the system server 10 sends the user's family doctor 300 (such as a physician) or the close relative 400 of the user 200 who has registered a safety confirmation request. In addition, the system server 10 reports an abnormality.

Thereby, according to the oral care system 1 of this embodiment, it can be used for management of the daily health state of the user 200. The biometric authentication unit 29 may include not only a thermometer 29b and a pulse meter 29c but also various measuring devices such as a blood pressure meter and a blood glucose level measuring device as long as the daily health state of the user 200 can be measured. Good. If an abnormality is detected in the measured values of the user 200 measured by these various measuring instruments, the user's family doctor 300 (such as a physician) or the user 200 who has registered a safety confirmation request from the system server 10. You may make it report abnormality from the system server 10 also to close relatives 400 grade | etc.,.

[8. Safety confirmation request transmission processing]
Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 8, the safety confirmation request | requirement transmission process in the oral-care system 1 of this embodiment is demonstrated. The safety confirmation request transmission process is a process executed by the control unit 13 of the system server 10.

The control unit 13 acquires the oral information of the user 200 for which the close relative 400 has registered the safety confirmation from the storage unit 11 (step S20). And the control part 13 calculates the acquisition space | interval of the oral image information of the user 200 from the reception date and time stored in association with the oral image information of the user 200 in the storage unit 11 (step S20).

Here, the acquisition interval of the oral image information of the user 200 is, for example, when the user 200 brushes teeth twice a day (7 am after waking up, 10:00 pm before going to bed) by the oral care system 1. The number of times the user 200 acquires the oral image information is at least twice within 24 hours, and the acquisition interval of the oral image information of the user 200 is 16 hours at the longest.

The control unit 13 calculates a predetermined time by multiplying a predetermined value (for example, 1.5 times) by the maximum 16 hours of the acquisition interval of the calculated oral image information of the user 200 and calculates the oral image of the user 200 acquired last time. The elapsed time is calculated from the information acquisition date and current date. Then, it is determined whether or not the “elapsed time” exceeds the “predetermined time” (step S22). When the control unit 13 determines that the “elapsed time” exceeds the “predetermined time” (step S22: Yes), the process proceeds to step S23. On the other hand, if it is determined that the “elapsed time” does not exceed the “predetermined time” (step S22: No), the control unit 13 ends the safety confirmation request transmission process.

In step S23, the control unit 13 transmits a safety confirmation request of the user 200 to the close relative 400 who has registered the safety confirmation (step S22). When this process ends, the control unit 13 ends the safety confirmation request transmission process. As an example, this safety confirmation request is transmitted from the system server 10 to the close relative terminal 40 of the close relative 400 by e-mail such as a text message “Please confirm the safety of the user 200 (name)”.

As a result, the close relative 400 who has received the safety confirmation request of the user 200 contacts the user 200, and if the contact cannot be made, the nearest police, fire department, family hospital, contracted decare, etc. The staff can be requested to confirm the safety of the user 200. Thereby, safety confirmation can be quickly performed when the user 200 is an elderly person living alone or a sick person.

Thus, according to the oral care system 1 of the present embodiment, when the user 200 registered in the system is an elderly person living alone or a sick person, if there is a registration of a close relative 400 requesting safety confirmation, When it is detected that the acquisition interval of the oral image information of the user 200 from the portable terminal 210 of the user 200 acquired by the system server 10 exceeds a predetermined time, the user is transferred from the system server 10 to the close relative terminal 40 of the close relative 400. 200 safety confirmation requests are transmitted by e-mail or the like.

Thereby, by using the oral care system 1 of the present embodiment by a user 200 such as an elderly person living alone or a sick person, safety confirmation can be performed by a toothpaste cycle of daily life. The number of solitary persons is increasing, and it is possible to have a function as a so-called watching system for monitoring the normal daily life of this elderly alone person.

[9. Example of imaging unit arrangement]
Hereinafter, an arrangement example of the imaging unit 24 of the plaque detection toothbrush of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10. 9 and 10 is directly disposed on the head portion 21 of the toothbrush 20 without using the light guide path 70 described above. That is, the image sensor 24a, the light source 24b having a light emitting element, and the optical filter 24c are integrated to form an image pickup unit 24 as an image pickup means, and the image pickup unit 24 is formed on the surface of the head portion 21 provided with the brush of the toothbrush 20, In addition, at least one is disposed on the side surface and the back surface, and is disposed parallel or at an angle to the tooth tip of the brush.

In the arrangement example of the imaging unit 24 shown in FIG. 9, two imaging units 24 are arranged in parallel at a predetermined interval in the horizontal direction at a substantially central portion of the surface where the plurality of brushes 28 of the head portion 21 are implanted. . As described above, the imaging unit 24 includes a circular image sensor 24a disposed in the center, a light source 24b that surrounds the outer periphery of the central image sensor 24a and has a circular light-emitting element, and an optical filter ( (Not shown) or the like. The brush 28 is removed from the upper surface of the two left and right imaging units 24 arranged in the head portion 21 or the periphery thereof.

In the arrangement example of the imaging unit 24 shown in FIG. 10, the two imaging units 24 are arranged in parallel at a predetermined interval in the vertical direction substantially at the center of the surface where the plurality of brushes 28 of the head portion 21 are implanted. ing. The brush 28 is removed from the upper surface of the two upper and lower imaging units 24 arranged in the head portion 21 or the periphery thereof. As described above, the two image pickup units 24 are arranged in parallel at a predetermined interval in the vertical direction at a substantially central portion of the surface on which the plurality of brushes 28 of the head portion 21 are planted, thereby providing a clearer user 200. Imaging of intraoral image data can be performed.

As an example of the arrangement of the image pickup units 24, the two image pickup units 24 are vertically inclined at a predetermined interval in the horizontal direction at a substantially central portion of the surface where the plurality of brushes 28 of the head portion 21 are implanted. It can also be installed diagonally.

Further, as an example of the arrangement of the image pickup unit 24, one of the two image pickup units 24 is provided at a substantially central portion of an extended portion (not shown) extended to the upper end of the head portion 21. One of the image pickup units 24 can be disposed at a substantially central portion of the handle 22. One imaging unit 24 disposed in the extending portion of the head portion 21 images the inside of the oral cavity of the user 200 at an angle that does not image the brush 28 (upper brush 28) due to the inclination of the extending portion. Can do. In addition, one image pickup unit 24 disposed in the handle portion 22 can take an image of the inside of the oral cavity of the user 200 at an angle at which the brush 28 (lower brush 28) is not picked up due to the inclination of the handle portion 22. .

Further, as an example of the arrangement of the imaging units 24, a plurality of the head units 21 are formed so that two imaging units 24 are formed in a V shape when the head unit 21 is viewed from above with the vertical center line 21b as the center. These brushes 28 can be juxtaposed in the horizontal direction at the approximate center of the surface where the brushes 28 are implanted.

In this way, by arranging a plurality (for example, two) of the imaging units 24 in parallel at a predetermined interval vertically or horizontally on the substantially central portion of the surface where the plurality of brushes 28 of the head portion 21 are implanted. The image data in the oral cavity of the user 200 can be captured more clearly. Also, the captured image data can be used as stereoscopic image data of three-dimensional data.

Here, the oral care system 1 of the present embodiment can be used not only for people but also for pets. In recent years, pets (dogs, cats, and the like as typical pets) tend to have a longer life due to improved food (food) quality and owner's health management. For this reason, aged pets may develop dental diseases (decayed teeth and periodontal diseases). For this reason, at present, the owner regularly brushes the pet's teeth to protect the health of the pet's oral cavity.

This pet's tooth brushing is not only a burden for the owner, but the owner may not be able to accurately recognize the state of the pet's mouth. For this reason, using the toothbrush 20 in the oral care system 1 of the present embodiment, the owner regularly brushes the pet, so that the owner can brush the teeth while accurately recognizing the condition in the oral cavity of the pet. Is possible.

In this case, the owner is registered for registration in this system. In addition, when an abnormality in the oral cavity of the pet is detected, the doctor 300 to which image data is transmitted is naturally a family veterinarian. In addition, in the first image processing and the second image processing described above, optimal image processing corresponding to the type of pet is performed. Furthermore, it is preferable to use the head portion 21 of the toothbrush 20 that is most suitable for a pet that is kept. In this way, by using the oral care system 1 not only for humans but also for pets, for example, it leads to business expansion (entry into the pet industry, etc.) of the manufacturer 600 of the toothbrush 20 of the present embodiment. It will be.

Although the embodiment according to the present invention has been described above, the specific configuration of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and the present invention can be applied even if there is a design change or the like without departing from the gist of the invention. included.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Oral care system 10 System server 20 Dental plaque detection toothbrush (toothbrush)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 21 Head part 22 Handle part 23 Grip part 24 Imaging unit

24a Image sensor

24b Light source 25 Acceleration sensor 26 Power switch 27 Status display lamp 28 Brush 30 Dentist terminal 40 Relative terminal 60 Manufacturer terminal 50 Public communication network 51 Short-distance wireless communication 100 Management Operator 200 User 210 Mobile Terminal 300 Dentist 400 Relatives 600 Manufacturer

Claims

A system server managed by a management company;
Mobile devices owned by multiple users,
Doctor terminals owned by multiple doctors,
Close relative terminals owned by multiple close relatives;
The manufacturer terminal owned by the manufacturer of the plaque detection toothbrush,
In the oral care system in which each is communicably connected to each other via a public communication network,
The plaque detection toothbrush includes imaging means capable of imaging the user's oral cavity,
The image in the user's oral cavity imaged by the imaging means is classified into plaque, teeth, gums, etc., and first image processing is performed to digitize plaque from the classified plaque and the number of teeth pixels. By displaying the result of one image processing on the display means as image data, the user can brush the teeth while recognizing the position and amount of plaque adhering to the teeth in the oral cavity, and the classified gum colors The second image processing that digitizes the gum state from the number of pixels is displayed, and the result of this second image processing is displayed as image data on the display means, thereby enabling the user to recognize the gum state in the oral cavity. Oral care system characterized by that.
The plaque detection toothbrush is:
A grip portion, a head portion provided with a brush, and a handle portion connecting the grip portion and the head portion,
The imaging means includes
An imaging window capable of capturing an image of a user's oral cavity provided in the head unit;
An image sensor provided inside the grip part, a light source having a light emitting element, and an optical filter;
A light guide path provided between the imaging window provided in the grip part, an image sensor provided in the grip part, a light source having a light emitting element, and an optical filter;
Consisting of
The light from the light source is radiated from the imaging window to the user's oral cavity through the light guide path, and the image in the oral cavity visualized by the light source is transmitted from the imaging window through the light guide path by the image sensor. The oral care system according to claim 1, wherein imaging is performed.
An image sensor, a light source having a light emitting element, and an optical filter are integrated to form the imaging means,
At least one image pickup means is disposed on the front surface, side surface, and back surface of the head portion on which the brush of the dental plaque detection toothbrush is provided, and is parallel or angled with respect to the tooth tip of the brush. The oral care system according to claim 1, wherein the oral care system is attached.
The plaque detection toothbrush is:
Send the image of the user's oral cavity imaged by the imaging means to the mobile terminal,
The portable terminal is
The result of the first image processing of the received image in the oral cavity of the user is converted into image data, color by display means, display lamp, speaker, vibration generation means provided on the main body of the portable terminal or the plaque detection toothbrush. The oral care system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the oral care system is converted into sound, vibration, or the like and output.
The portable terminal is
The image data in the oral cavity for each user subjected to the first image processing and the second image processing is transmitted to the system server,
The system server is
The received image data in the oral cavity of the user is stored and managed for each user and periodically transmitted to the doctor terminal so that the image data in the oral cavity of the user can be diagnosed by an expert and further managed. The oral care system according to claim 4, wherein the image data in the user can be browsed by the user's portable terminal, so that the user can determine the state in the oral cavity of the user.
The head portion provided with the brush of the plaque detection toothbrush is configured to be replaceable,
6. The system server according to claim 1, wherein the system server manages the replacement time of the head unit and transmits the replacement time of the head unit to the manufacturer terminal and the portable terminal. Oral care system.
The system server is
The user's safety confirmation request is transmitted to the close relative terminal based on a transmission interval of image data in the oral cavity of the user transmitted from the portable terminal. Oral care system as described in.
The plaque detection toothbrush is:
Comprising biometric authentication means composed of various sensors capable of detecting fingerprints, body temperature and pulse of the user using the plaque detection toothbrush,
The biometric authentication unit authenticates a user who uses the dental plaque detection toothbrush, and transmits the detected temperature value and pulse measurement value of the user to the system server together with image data in the oral cavity of the user. The oral care system according to any one of claims 1 to 7.