Method and apparatus for assessing treatment effectiveness of tooth sensitivity with an oral care product

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10151662-B2
Application number	US-201514687942-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 16, 2015
Priority date	Jan 13, 2015
Publication date	Dec 11, 2018
Grant date	Dec 11, 2018

Abstract

An apparatus ( 40 ) for assessing treatment effectiveness of tooth sensitivity with an oral care product comprising a tooth shaped member ( 50 ) comprises an outer layer ( 60 ) simulating an enamel, wherein the outer layer ( 60 ) at least partially covers an exterior surface of an inner layer ( 70 ) simulating a pulp, and a liquid sensor ( 80 ) contained either between the outer layer ( 60 ) and inner layer ( 70 ), or within the inner layer ( 70 ); and a plurality of holes ( 90 ), simulating open dentin tubules, configured through the outer layer ( 60 ) to the inner layer ( 70 ), and in fluid communication with the liquid sensor ( 80 ); wherein the liquid sensor ( 80 ) is configured to sense liquid passing through at least one of the plurality of holes ( 90 ) as simulating the treatment effectiveness of tooth sensitivity of the oral care product.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for assessing treatment effectiveness of tooth sensitivity with an oral care product comprising:
(a) a tooth shaped member comprising an outer layer simulating an enamel, wherein the outer layer at least partially covering an exterior surface of an inner layer simulating a pulp, and a liquid sensor contained either between the outer layer and inner layer, or within the inner layer; and
(b) a plurality of holes, simulating open dentin tubules, configured through the outer layer to the inner layer, and in fluid communication with the liquid sensor wherein the holes have a diameter of from about 0.5 mm to about 5 mm;
wherein the liquid sensor is configured to sense liquid passing through at least one of the plurality of holes as simulating the treatment effectiveness of tooth sensitivity of the oral care product;
wherein at least a portion of the tooth shaped member is translucent or transparent; and
wherein the liquid is an acidic solution.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the holes have a length of from about 0.5 mm to about 10 mm.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the liquid is an acidic solution having:
(a) a concentration of from 0.5 mol/L to 6.0 mol/L of H + ions; and/or
(b) a pH of about 5 or lower.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the acidic solution is selected from the group consisting of lactic acid, acetic acid, citric acid, phosphoric acid, tartaric acid, and combinations thereof.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor, upon contact with the liquid, emits an electrical signal to an indicator, wherein the indicator performs at least one of the following responses: visual change, auditory change, odor change, or combinations thereof.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of holes are positioned in a concave surface formed on the outer layer.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the liquid pools on the concave surface ( 100 ).

8. An apparatus for assessing treatment effectiveness of dentin hypersensitivity using an oral care product, said apparatus comprising a tooth shaped member comprising at least an outer layer having an exterior surface and an opposing inner surface, and a plurality of holes traversing through the outer layer and simulating dentin tubules, wherein a liquid sensor on the inner surface is configured to sense liquid passing through at least one of the plurality of holes for assessing the treatment effectiveness of tooth sensitivity with the oral care product.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein the holes have a diameter of from about 0.5 mm to about 5 mm.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the holes have a length of from about 0.5 mm to about 10 mm.

11. The apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein at least a portion of the tooth shaped member is translucent or transparent.

12. An apparatus for assessing treatment effectiveness of tooth sensitivity with an oral care product comprising:
(a) a tooth shaped member comprising an outer layer simulating an enamel, wherein the outer layer at least partially covering an exterior surface of an inner layer simulating a pulp, and a liquid sensor contained either between the outer layer and inner layer, or within the inner layer; and
(b) a plurality of holes, simulating open dentin tubules, configured through the outer layer to the inner layer, and in fluid communication with the liquid sensor;
wherein at least a portion of the tooth shaped member is translucent or transparent;
wherein the liquid sensor is configured to sense liquid passing through at least one of the plurality of holes as simulating the treatment effectiveness of tooth sensitivity of the oral care product, and
wherein the liquid is an acidic solution.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein the holes have a diameter of from about 0.5 mm to about 5 mm.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the holes have a length of from about 0.5 mm to about 10 mm.

15. The apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein the liquid is an acidic solution having:
(c) a concentration of from 0.5 mol/L to 6.0 mol/L of H + ions; and/or
(d) a pH of about 5 or lower.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein the acidic solution is selected from the group consisting of lactic acid, acetic acid, citric acid, phosphoric acid, tartaric acid, and combinations thereof.

17. The apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein the sensor, upon contact with the liquid, emits an electrical signal to an indicator, wherein the indicator performs at least one of the following responses: visual change, auditory change, odor change, or combinations thereof.

18. The apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein the plurality of holes are positioned in a concave surface formed on the outer layer.

19. The apparatus according to claim 18 , wherein the liquid pools on the concave surface.

Assignees

• Procter & Gamble

Inventors

• Shi Yunming
• Tian Lei
• Strand Ross
• White Jr Donald James
• Ocampochua Nixon Lao
• Chang Jinlan
• He Yanyan
• He Tao

Classifications

• G09B23/30

  Anatomical models {(G09B23/281 - G09B23/288 take precedence)} · CPC title

• G09B23/283

  for dentistry or oral hygiene (G09B23/286 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G09B23/32 Primary

  with moving parts · CPC title

• G01M3/16 Primary

  using electric detection means ({G01M3/045,} G01M3/06, G01M3/12, G01M3/20, G01M3/24, G01M3/26 take precedence) · CPC title