Fastenable device for oral cavity position detection

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10117508-B2
Application number	US-201514806553-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 22, 2015
Priority date	Jul 22, 2014
Publication date	Nov 6, 2018
Grant date	Nov 6, 2018

Abstract

A fastenable device includes a housing having a base portion, a head portion opposite to the base portion, and a body portion between the base portion and the head portion. The base portion has a first fastener in the form of a full ring integral to the housing and defining a through-hole. The head portion has a second fastener in the form of an open ring integral to the housing and defining a snappable recess. The device includes a frequency generator housed in the housing and electrically connected to an electrode pair disposed on the housing, for applying a voltage with at least two different frequencies between the electrodes.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A fastenable device comprising:
a housing comprising a base portion, a head portion opposite to the base portion, and a body portion between the base portion and the head portion, wherein the base portion comprises a first fastener in the form of a full ring integral to the housing and defining a through-hole, and wherein the head portion comprises a second fastener in the form of an open ring integral to the housing and defining a snappable recess;
a frequency generator housed in the housing and electrically connected to an electrode pair disposed on the housing, for applying a voltage with at least two different frequencies between the electrodes;
an accelerometer providing accelerometer data;
an impedance-measure unit in communication with the electrode pair and providing impedance-measurement data; and
a wireless transmitter in communication with the accelerometer and the impedance measure unit.

2. The device of claim 1 , further comprising an electrical source electrically connected to the electrode pair to form an impedance between the electrodes when electrified.

3. The device of claim 2 , wherein the head portion comprises a plurality of electrodes disposed thereon configured to form an impedance therebetween when electrified.

4. The device of claim 3 , wherein the plurality of electrodes comprises at least four electrode pairs.

5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the head portion comprises a plurality of electrodes disposed thereon and configured to form an impedance therebetween when electrified.

6. The device of claim 5 , wherein the plurality of electrodes comprises at least four electrode pairs.

7. A method of fastening a fastenable device to a toothbrush neck, comprising the steps:
(a) providing the fastenable device according to claim 1 ;
(b) providing a toothbrush comprising a handle portion and an opposing bristle head, with the neck portion being disposed between the handle portion and the bristle portion;
(c) sliding the bristle head through the through-hole of the first fastener until the handle portion abuts the first fastener; and
(d) squeezing the head portion or the body portion and the toothbrush neck portion together until the snappable recess snaps around at least a portion of the toothbrush neck thereby fastening the fastenable device to the toothbrush neck.

8. A fastenable device comprising:
a housing comprising a base portion, an opposing head portion, and a body portion therebetween, wherein the base portion includes a first fastener comprising a first open ring integral to the housing and defining a first snappable recess, wherein the head portion includes a second fastener comprising a second open ring integral to the housing and defining a second snappable recess;
a frequency generator housed in the housing and electrically connected to an electrode pair disposed on the housing for applying a voltage with at least two different frequencies between the electrodes;
an accelerometer providing accelerometer data;
an impedance-measure unit in communication with the electrode pair and providing impedance-measurement data; and
a wireless transmitter in communication with the accelerometer and the impedance-measure unit.

9. The device of claim 8 , further comprising an electrical source electrically connecting to the electrode pair to form an impedance between the electrodes when electrified.

10. The device of claim 9 , wherein the head portion comprises a plurality of electrodes disposed thereon and configured to form an impedance therebetween when electrified.

11. The device of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of electrodes comprise at least four electrode pairs.

12. The device of claim 8 , wherein the head portion comprises a plurality of electrodes disposed thereon and configured to form an impedance therebetween when electrified.

13. The device of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of electrodes comprises at least four electrode pairs.

Assignees

• Braun Gmbh
• Procter & Gamble

Inventors

• Vetter Ingo
• Kressmann Frank
• Halbach Alexandre

Classifications

• A46B15/0008

  with means for controlling duration, e.g. time of brushing · CPC title

• G01D5/14

  influencing the magnitude of a current or voltage · CPC title

• A61C17/22

  with brushes, cushions, cups, or the like (brush bodies, e.g. arrangements of the bristles A46B) · CPC title

• A46B15/0081

  Brushes with a scraper, e.g. tongue scraper · CPC title

• A46B15/0071

  Toothbrushes with flossing arrangements (A61C15/04 takes precedence) · CPC title