Toothbrush with sensors

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10258142-B2
Application number	US-201514942522-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 16, 2015
Priority date	Nov 16, 2015
Publication date	Apr 16, 2019
Grant date	Apr 16, 2019

Abstract

Smart toothbrush designs are provided. In one aspect, a toothbrush is provided which includes: a handle portion; and a head portion attached to the handle portion, wherein the head portion has bristles, a sample testing chamber containing at least one electronic sensor, a removable tip for drawing saliva samples into the sample testing chamber, and a calibration solution reservoir connected to the sample testing chamber. In another aspect, the head portion of the toothbrush has at least one optical sensor. A method for acquiring user data using the present smart toothbrush designs is also provided.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A toothbrush, comprising:
a handle portion; and
a head portion attached to the handle portion, wherein the head portion comprises bristles, a sample testing chamber containing at least one electronic sensor, a removable tip for drawing saliva samples into the sample testing chamber, and a calibration solution reservoir connected to the sample testing chamber, wherein the head portion further comprises at least one optical sensor, and wherein the optical sensor is mounted on a deformable foam platform on the head portion.

2. The toothbrush of claim 1 , wherein the head portion further comprises a shutter for regulating fluid flow into and out of the sample testing chamber via the removable tip.

3. The toothbrush of claim 1 , wherein the head portion further comprises:
a pump system for drawing i) the saliva samples via the removable tip and ii) a calibration solution from the calibration solution reservoir into the sample testing chamber.

4. The toothbrush of claim 1 , wherein the calibration solution comprises a known amount of sodium chloride at a controlled pH.

5. The toothbrush of claim 1 , wherein the removable tip comprises a filter.

6. The toothbrush of claim 1 , wherein the electronic sensor comprises a bipolar junction transistor (BTJ)-based sensor.

7. The toothbrush of claim 6 , wherein the electronic sensor comprises:
a heterojunction bipolar transistor (HBT); and
an extended base.

8. The toothbrush of claim 7 , wherein the extended base comprises:
a sensing surface; and
a reference electrode.

9. The toothbrush of claim 8 , wherein the sensing surface comprises at least one of titanium nitride (TiN) for pH sensing, silver (Ag) for chloride ion sensing, gold (Au) coated with a layer of bio-molecules.

10. The toothbrush of claim 1 , wherein the handle portion comprises a readout display.

11. The toothbrush of claim 1 , wherein the optical sensor comprises:
a light source; and
an optical detector.

12. The toothbrush of claim 11 , wherein the light source comprises a light emitting diode (LED).

13. The toothbrush of claim 11 , wherein the optical detector is a camera or a spectrometer.

14. A toothbrush, comprising:
a handle portion; and
a head portion attached to the handle portion, wherein the head portion comprises bristles, and at least one optical sensor, wherein the head portion further comprises a sample testing chamber containing at least one electronic sensor, a removable tip for drawing saliva samples into the sample testing chamber, and a calibration solution reservoir connected to the sample testing chamber, and
wherein the sample testing chamber is located in the head portion in front of the bristles with the removable tip extending out from the sample testing chamber parallel to the bristles, and wherein the removable tip is fitted with a filter.

15. A method for acquiring user data, the method comprising the steps of:
collecting data from a user during toothbrushing using a toothbrush comprising a handle portion and a head portion attached to the handle portion, wherein the head portion comprises bristles, a sample testing chamber containing at least one electronic sensor, a removable tip for drawing saliva samples into the sample testing chamber, and a calibration solution reservoir connected to the sample testing chamber;
analyzing the data using a processor device connected to a memory; and
providing feedback based on the analyzed data to the user via a display on the handle portion which provides visual indicators to the user while toothbrushing,
wherein the head portion of the toothbrush further comprises at least one optical sensor, the optical sensor comprising a light source and an optical detector, the method further comprising the steps of:
applying a dye to a tooth surface of the user;
emitting light onto the tooth surface using the light source; and
detecting the light reflected off of the tooth surface using the optical detector to reveal portions of the tooth surface containing the dye.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the collecting step comprises the steps of:
drawing a calibration solution from the solution reservoir into the sample testing chamber;
taking readings of calibration solution using the electronic sensor;
ejecting the calibration solution from the sample testing chamber;
drawing a saliva sample into the sample testing chamber via the removable tip;
taking readings of the saliva sample using the electronic sensor;
ejecting the saliva sample from the sample testing chamber; and
drawing fresh calibration from the solution reservoir into the sample testing chamber.

Assignees

• IBM

Inventors

• Knickerbocker John U
• Lu Minhua
• Zafar Sufi

Classifications

• A46B15/0004 Primary

  with a controlling means · CPC title

• A46B2200/1066

  Toothbrush for cleaning the teeth or dentures (A61C17/16 takes precedence; bristles arrangements for toothbrushes A46B9/04) · CPC title

• A61B5/00

  Measuring for diagnostic purposes (radiation diagnosis A61B6/00; diagnosis by ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves A61B8/00); Identification of persons · CPC title

• A46B17/08

  Other accessories, e.g. scrapers, rubber buffers for preventing damage to furniture · CPC title

• A46B9/04

  {Arranged like in or} for toothbrushes · CPC title