Powered toothbrush systems that provide improved bristle positioning and bristle contact with tooth surfaces that reduce the time and effort required for effective brushing. Some embodiments use alternating or oscillating pneumatic pressure and suction to move a tooth brush head. Various configurati
Powered toothbrush systems that provide improved bristle positioning and bristle contact with tooth surfaces that reduce the time and effort required for effective brushing. Some embodiments use alternating or oscillating pneumatic pressure and suction to move a tooth brush head. Various configuration of the brush head provide different areas of coverage ranging from individual tooth to quarter mouth (U-cross section), to half (U-cross section or H-cross section) or whole mouth (U-cross section or H-cross section) coverage. Some embodiments include flexible fingers and/or bladders to keep the bristle tips properly engaged with the teeth and gums, providing bristle contact over a wide variety of malocclusion. The shape of the brush heads adapts to conform closely to the shape of the user's dental arch and to any malocclusion that may be present. The power toothbrush automatically generates motion of the brush head that simulates the “Modified Bass Method” of brushing.
대표청구항▼
1. A power toothbrush comprising: a handle portion;a pneumatic device disposed within the handle portion; anda brush head coupled to the handle portion, the brush head comprising (a) a first dental arch including a first set of brush pads for simultaneously cleaning multiple tooth surfaces of a firs
1. A power toothbrush comprising: a handle portion;a pneumatic device disposed within the handle portion; anda brush head coupled to the handle portion, the brush head comprising (a) a first dental arch including a first set of brush pads for simultaneously cleaning multiple tooth surfaces of a first set of teeth, the first set of teeth including at least one tooth from the maxillary dental arch of a user;(b) a second dental arch including a second set of brush pads for simultaneously cleaning multiple tooth surfaces of a second set of teeth, the second set of teeth opposing the first set of teeth, the second set of teeth including at least one tooth from the mandibular dental arch of the user;(c) an inflatable bladder disposed between the first and second dental arches, the inflatable bladder being in fluid communication with the pneumatic device, the pneumatic device providing pressure to inflate the bladder and suction to deflate the bladder. 2. The power toothbrush of claim 1 wherein the first and second dental arches are J-shaped, wherein the first set of teeth includes one half of the maxillary dental arch, and wherein the second set of teeth includes one half of the mandibular dental arch opposing the first set of teeth. 3. The power toothbrush of claim 1 wherein the first and second dental arches are U-shaped, wherein the first set of teeth includes all of the teeth of the maxillary dental arch of the user, and the second set of teeth includes all of the teeth of the mandibular arch. 4. The power toothbrush of claim 1 wherein the first dental arch includes at least one flex gap, the at least one flex gap enabling the first dental arch to flex longitudinally to conform to the maxillary arch of the user. 5. The power toothbrush of claim 1 wherein the second dental arch includes at least one flex gap, the at least one flex gap enabling the second dental arch to flex longitudinally to conform to the mandibular arch of the user. 6. The power toothbrush of claim 1 further comprising: a first set of flexible fingers coupled to the first dental arch, the first set of flexible fingers applying pressure to the at least one brush pad so that a cleaning surface of the first set of brush pads maintains contact with the multiple tooth surfaces of the first set of teeth; anda second set of flexible fingers coupled to the second dental arch, the second set of flexible fingers applying pressure to the at least one brush pad so that a cleaning surface of the second set of brush pads maintains contact with the multiple tooth surfaces of the second set of teeth. 7. The power toothbrush of claim 6 wherein the first and second set of flexible fingers comprise a low force flexible material. 8. The power toothbrush of claim 1 wherein the first and second set of brush pads include bristles set at an angle with respect to the surface of the teeth, where the angle ranges from an acute angle to a 90 degree angle, the bristles being directed toward the gingival sulcus. 9. The power toothbrush of claim 8 wherein the bristles of the first and second set brush pads are set at a 45 degree angle to the surface of the teeth. 10. The power toothbrush of claim 8 wherein the brush pads include bristles having multiple lengths. 11. The power toothbrush of claim 1 wherein the bladder is formed in a partly expanded condition and contains an internal rib to prevent complete wall collapse when pressure is applied to the brush head. 12. The power toothbrush of claim 1 wherein the brush head further comprises a bite guard that prevents the bladder from being fully collapsed. 13. The power toothbrush of claim 1 wherein the brush head is coupled to the handle portion with a coupling that may rotate up to 360 degrees. 14. A power toothbrush comprising: a handle portion;a brush head coupled to the handle portion, the brush head comprising (a) an upper brush component for simultaneously cleaning multiple tooth surfaces of a first set of teeth;(b) a lower brush component for simultaneously cleaning multiple tooth surfaces of a second set of teeth, the second set of teeth opposing the first set of teeth;(c) a driving mechanism for driving the upper brush component and the lower brush component apart wherein the driving mechanism comprises a plurality of inflatable activation domes disposed between the upper and lower brush components, the inflatable activation domes being in fluid communication with a pneumatic pump, the pneumatic pump providing pressure to inflate the plurality of inflatable activation domes and suction to deflate the plurality of activation domes. 15. The power toothbrush of claim 14 wherein the plurality of inflatable activation domes each comprise a piston actuator, the piston actuator including a spring that applies an upward force that aids in the inflation of the inflatable activation domes. 16. A power toothbrush comprising: a handle portion; a brush head coupled to the handle portion, the brush head comprising (a) an upper brush component for simultaneously cleaning multiple tooth surfaces of a first set of teeth; (b) a lower brush component for simultaneously cleaning multiple tooth surfaces of a second set of teeth, the second set of teeth opposing the first set of teeth; (c) a driving mechanism for driving the upper brush component and the lower brush component apart wherein the driving mechanism comprises an inflatable bladder disposed between the upper and lower brush components, the inflatable bladder being in fluid communication with a pneumatic, the pneumatic pump providing pressure to inflate the bladder and suction to deflate the bladder. 17. A power toothbrush comprising: a handle portion; a brush head coupled to the handle portion, the brush head comprising (a) an upper brush component for simultaneously cleaning multiple tooth surfaces of a first set of teeth; (b) a lower brush component for simultaneously cleaning multiple tooth surfaces of a second set of teeth, the second set of teeth opposing the first set of teeth; (c) a driving mechanism for driving the upper brush component and the lower brush component apart wherein the driving mechanism comprises an inflatable double bladder disposed between the upper and lower brush components, the inflatable double bladder being in fluid communication with a pneumatic pump, the pneumatic pump providing pressure to inflate the bladder and suction to deflate the bladder. 18. A power toothbrush comprising: a handle portion; a brush head coupled to the handle portion, the brush head comprising (a) an upper brush component including a first set of brush pads for simultaneously cleaning multiple tooth surfaces of a first set of teeth; (b) a lower brush component including a second set of brush pads for simultaneously cleaning multiple tooth surfaces of a second set of teeth, the second set of teeth opposing the first set of teeth; (c) a driving mechanism for driving the upper brush component and the lower brush component apart wherein the brush head further comprises: a first set of air bladders coupled to the upper brush component, the first set of air bladders being in fluid communication with a pneumatic pump via a manifold, the pneumatic pump providing pressure to inflate the first set of air bladders, wherein the first set of air bladders apply pressure to the first set of brush pads so that a cleaning surface of the first set of brush pads maintains contact with the multiple tooth surfaces of the first set of teeth; anda second set of air bladders coupled to the lower brush component, the second set of air bladders being in fluid communication with the pneumatic pump via the manifold, the pneumatic pump providing pressure to inflate the second set of air bladders, wherein the second set of air bladders apply pressure to the second set of brush pads so that a cleaning surface of the second set of brush pads maintains contact with the multiple tooth surfaces of the second set of teeth. 19. The power toothbrush any one of claim 14, 16, 17 or 18 wherein the first set of teeth includes at least one tooth from the maxillary dental arch of a user, and wherein the second set of teeth includes at least one tooth from the mandibular dental arch of the user. 20. A method of brushing teeth using the power toothbrush of claim 1 which includes a brush head that includes a first dental arch and a second dental arch with a driving mechanism disposed between the first and second dental arches, the method comprising: fitting the brush head to the mouth of a user such that the first dental arch conforms to a first set of teeth of the maxillary arch of the user and the second dental arch conforms to a second set of teeth of the mandibular arch of the user, the second set of teeth opposing the first set of teeth;alternating between driving the first dental arch and the second dental arch together and driving the first dental arch and the second dental arch apart. 21. The method of claim 18 wherein alternating between driving the first dental arch and the second dental arch together and driving the first dental arch and the second dental arch apart further comprises: driving the first dental arch and the second dental arch in a side to side motion in addition to the up and down motion.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (21)
Tcholakov, Stoyan I., Adjustable bristle toothbrush apparatus.
Leveling, Jurriaan Bernhard Rudolf; Vrijburg, Folkert; Westrup, Geert Hendrik, Mouthpiece for cleaning teeth comprised of alternating layers of base and bristle components.
Stapelbroek, Martinus Bernardus; Headstrom, Patrick A.; Voorhorst, Fokke Roelof; Steur, Jelte; Veendijk, Arif; Westrup, Gert H., Mouthpiece for cleaning teeth with a mechanical drive train.
Stapelbroek, Martinus Bernardus; Headstrom, Patrick A.; Voorhorst, Fokke Roelof; Steur, Jelte; Veendijk, Arif; Westrup, Gert H., Mouthpiece for cleaning teeth with a mechanical drive train.
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