Fastenable device for oral cavity position detection

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10299902-B2
Application number	US-201514806527-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 22, 2015
Priority date	Jul 22, 2014
Publication date	May 28, 2019
Grant date	May 28, 2019

Abstract

The present invention provides for a fastenable device for oral area position detection that is fastenable to oral care implements.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An oral-area position-detection device comprising:
(a) housing;
(b) at least a first fastener configured to fasten the housing to an oral-care implement;
(c) at least one electrode pair disposed on the housing and having an impedance formed between the electrodes when electrified, wherein the housing houses an impedance-measurement unit electrically coupled to the electrode pair for measuring impedance values between the electrodes, and wherein the housing comprises a base portion, a head portion opposite to the body portion, and a body portion between the base portion and the head portion,
wherein the base portion comprises the at least one fastener as a first fastener defining an opening, wherein the opening is configured to be slideable along a neck portion of the oral-care implement,
wherein the at least one electrode pair is disposed on the head portion and wherein the at least one electrode pair comprises at least a first electrode, a second electrode, a third electrode, and a fourth electrode, wherein said electrodes are configured to form electrode pairs with one another,
wherein the head portion further comprises at least one fastener as a second fastener defining a snappable channel configured to be releasably fastenable to the neck portion of the oral-care implement; and
wherein the device further comprises a frequency generator electrically connected to the electrode pair for applying a voltage having at least two different frequencies between the electrode pair, wherein the impedance-measurement unit measures the impedance values between the electrodes at the at least two different frequencies.

2. The device of claim 1 , further comprising an orientation-determination unit for measuring orientation data, wherein the orientation-determination unit is in communication with a position-determination unit, wherein the orientation-determination unit is selected from the group consisting of an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a geomagnetic sensor, and any combination thereof, and wherein the device does not include any mechanical on/off switch.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the housing houses a transmitter for transmitting impedance values.

4. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a contact-determination unit in communication with the impedance-measurement unit, wherein the contact-determination unit comprises a memory for storing a function, wherein the function correlates impedance values of a defined oral area, and wherein the contact-determination unit further comprises a processor for processing the measured impedance values to the stored function so as to determine contact information of the electrode pair with the defined oral area; and a transmitter for transmitting impedance values or contact information.

5. The device of claim 1 , further comprising an orientation-determination unit for measuring orientation data and a wireless transmitter for transmitting measured impedance values or measured orientation data.

6. The device of claim 5 , further comprising a position-determination unit in communication with the contact-determination unit and the orientation-determination unit in communication with the position-determination unit.

7. The device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one electrode pair is in electrical communication with an alternating-current (AC) voltage source.

8. The device according to claim 1 , further comprising a memory configured to store a controlled program to determine whether the measured impedance value is above a pre-established threshold value indicating that the device is near or within the oral cavity of a user, and thereafter actuating oral-care position detection of the device.

9. The device of claim 1 , wherein the base portion houses a rechargeable coil in electrical communication with a battery housed in the housing.

Assignees

• Braun Gmbh
• Procter & Gamble

Inventors

• Vetter Ingo
• Kressmann Frank
• Halbach Alexandre

Classifications

• A61C17/02

  Rinsing or air-blowing devices, e.g. using fluid jets {or comprising liquid medication} (combined with receptacles for spittle A61C17/14; combined with power-driven cleaning or polishing devices A61C17/16) · CPC title

• A46B15/0008

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

• A46B15/0081

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

• A61C17/221

  Control arrangements therefor · CPC title

• A46B15/0071

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