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EP-3082646-B1 - TOOTHBRUSH WITH BIOFILM-REMOVING TOUCH POINTS

EP3082646B1EP 3082646 B1EP3082646 B1EP 3082646B1EP-3082646-B1

Inventors

  • SEDIC, FILIP

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20141219

Claims (13)

  1. A tooth brush device (100) comprising: a head (102) comprising: an apex (152), a base (154) opposite the apex, a front surface with bristle touch-points (110) arranged along rows, the rows arranged orthogonal to a longitudinal axis (112) of the head extending from the apex (152) of the head to the base (154) of the head, each of a plurality of the bristle touch-points (110) being a single solid elongate structure extending from the head (102) and comprising a polymer material, wherein the single solid elongate structure of each bristle touch-point (110) is tapered along an axis of tapering, the bristle touch point (110) having a decreasing cross-sectional area from a proximal end to a distal end of the bristle touch-point (110), and the bristle touch-point (110) tapers asymmetrically with respect to the central axis of the bristle touch-point (110), the axis of tapering being distinct from and at an angle to the central axis of the bristle touch-point (110), and a back surface opposite the front surface; a neck (106) coupled to the base of the head; a handle (104) coupled to the head (102) via the neck (106); and a motor (1214) housed within the handle (104) for creating vibrations or pulsations within the head (102) to brush teeth of a user; wherein the base of the head (102) has a narrow portion that is narrower by cross section in every direction than any other portion of the head (102), and wherein the bristle touch-points (110) extend into the narrow portion of the head (102).
  2. The tooth brush device (100) of claim 1, wherein the polymer material is silicone.
  3. The tooth brush device (100) of any of claims 1-2, wherein a Young's modulus of the polymer material ranges from 0.001 GPa to 0.1 GPa.
  4. The tooth brush device (100) of any of claims 1-3, wherein the single solid elongate structure of each of the plurality of bristle touch-points (110) has a rectangular cross-section of decreasing cross-sectional area from a proximal end to a distal end of the bristle touch-point (110).
  5. The tooth brush device (100) of any of claims 1-4, wherein bristle touch-points(110) along adjacent rows are mutually interleaved.
  6. The tooth brush device (100) of any of claims 1-5, wherein the neck(106) couples the handle (104) to the head (102) via an arcuate surface that transitions smoothly from a handle-proximal region that is broader than a head-proximal region, wherein a radius of curvature of the arcuate surface varies from approximately 5-20 centimeters at the broader handle-proximal region to approximately 5-10 centimeters at the narrower head-proximal region.
  7. The tooth brush device (100) of any of claims 1-6, wherein the bristle touch-points (110) vary in length from a first length at the apex (152) of the head (102), to a second length in a central region of the head (102) between the apex (152) and the base (154) of the head (102), to a third length at the base (154) of the head (102).
  8. The tooth brush device (100) of claim 7, wherein: the first length ranges from 1 millimeter to 3 millimeters; the second length ranges from 3 millimeters to 15 millimeters; and the third length ranges from 1 millimeter to 3 millimeters.
  9. The tooth brush device (100) of claim 7, wherein: a ratio of the second length to the first length ranges from 2 to 10; a ratio of the second length to the third length ranges from 2 to 10; and a ratio of a length of the tooth brush device (100) to the second length ranges from 10 to 100.
  10. The tooth brush device (100) of any of claims 1-9, wherein the polymer material of the plurality of bristle touch-points (110) comprises silicone and wherein the silicone extends to form a silicone layer covering an entire outer surface the head (102).
  11. The tooth brush device (100) of any of claims 1-9, wherein the polymer material of the plurality of bristle touch-points (110) comprises silicone and wherein the silicone extends to form a silicone layer covering substantially all of the front surface of the head (102).
  12. The tooth brush device (100) of any of claims 1-11, further comprising: one or more user controls on the handle (104) of the tooth brush device (100) for controlling the pulsations or vibrations of the tooth brush device (100).
  13. The tooth brush device (100) of any of claims 1-9 or 12, wherein the bristle touch-points (110) extend as interleaved rows across the front surface of the head (102) from the apex (152) to the base (154), each of the bristle touch-points (110) spaced apart from other of the bristle touch-points (110), each of the bristle touch-points (110) being composed of silicone and wherein the front surface of the head (102) is substantially covered with an outer layer of silicone.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE To RELATED APPLICATION This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) from co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/919,673, entitled "Toothbrush With Biofilm-Removing Touch Points," filed on December 20, 2013, and co-pending U.S. Utility Patent Application No. 14/576,134, entitled "Toothbrush with Biofilm-Removing Touch Points," filed December 18, 2014. BACKGROUND The disclosure relates generally to a toothbrush, and more particularly to tooth cleaning, and gum muscle and tissue massage, stimulation, or treatment that combines specific geometry, material properties and stimulation generated by one or more motors of the toothbrush apparatus. General mouth hygiene and oral health is dependent on the presence of microbial cultures and bacteria on the teeth, and in the mouth cavity, and the related microbial excretions that damage the protective layers of teeth causing greater probability of cavity creation and development. These microbial cultures are present in the biofilm on the surfaces of the teeth and in the food that remains present in the oral cavity and on the surfaces of the teeth. Effective removal of biofilm and food diminishes the presence of microbial cultures and excretions, and aids to improve the natural protection of teeth, leading to better oral hygiene. The gum tissue and muscles are vital for the protection of the teeth as far as exposure of the lower layers of the teeth and sensitivity to touch and temperature changes are concerned. Today's dental care products and toothbrush apparatus rely on the use of nylon bristles that can, in the case of application of too much pressure, damage the gum tissue and muscles. In addition, today's dental care apparatuses and toothbrushes that are based on nylon or equivalent bristles do not stimulate the tissue nor enhance circulation important for the regenerative and continuous healing process of the gum tissue and muscles. To date, the devices to address oral hygiene are based on nylon bristles that are designed to reduce the presence of biofilm, remove food remains, and treat gum tissue and muscles, however these devices are not very effective due to the geometry and properties of the bristles, which limits their ability to remove the very thin biofilm across large surface areas of the teeth. These bristles also fail to effectively stimulate gum tissue and muscles. In fact, most devices currently available are designed with special mechanisms to minimize damage to the gum tissue rather than to stimulate gum tissue. What is needed, therefore, is a device that would overcome the above limitations and both remove the biofilm with greater efficacy while stimulating gum tissue and muscles effectively and safely. A prior art tooth brush device is disclosed in each of KR2012/0026955, CN201070108 and US2003/046780. SUMMARY The present invention provides a tooth brush device as defined in claim 1. Embodiments include a tooth brush device with one or more oscillating motors, or other electromagnetic devices that can provide the toothbrush with various frequency pulsations, and an exterior that can be composed of a soft elastic material, such as silicone. The apparatus also includes a brush with one or more textured surfaces including touch-points of, for example, 0.5 to 2.5 mm in dimension, or solid surfaces with ridges for cleaning the teeth and interacting with the gum tissue and muscles. The oscillating motor moves or oscillates the textured surfaces of the brush for application to a user's teeth and gums. As the user moves the toothbrush on the teeth and gums, the oscillating pulsations combined with the textured surfaces' touch-points remove biofilm and other contaminants on the tooth surface. The oscillating pulsations provide a tapping motion to the user's gums to stimulate the tissue without abrasive action. The oscillations occur at around 50-300 Hertz (Hz). One embodiment includes a high-frequency and a low-frequency oscillating motor, or other electromagnetic device, that may operate simultaneously. The simultaneous pulsations provide a deep cleaning to the teeth. While referred to here as a toothbrush, the device can also perform other functions besides cleaning, including massaging, stimulating, heating, applying tooth paste or other substances, and so forth. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a toothbrush, according to one embodiment.FIGS. 2 and 3 are side views of a toothbrush, according to one embodiment.FIG. 4 is a front view a toothbrush, according to one embodiment.FIG. 5 is a back view a toothbrush, according to one embodiment.FIGS. 6 and 7 are top and bottom views of a toothbrush, respectively, according to one embodiment.FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a head of a toothbrush, according to one embodiment.FIG. 9 is a front view of a head of a toothbrush, according to one embodiment.FIG. 10 is a side view of a head of a toothbrush, according to one embodiment.FIG. 11a is a