Electric toothbrush and method for operating an electric toothbrush
US10869741B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignees
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 9, 2016 |
| Grant date | Dec 22, 2020 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 8, 2037 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61C17/3481
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An electric toothbrush that detects plaque on the teeth, ensures accurate plaque detection, and performs cleaning of plaque. The electric toothbrush may include a body having a gripping part and a stem with a brush unit detachably coupled to the body. The electric toothbrush may include a light emitting element for emitting light onto the tooth and a light receiving element for receiving light that reflects off of the tooth. A controller may be included to determine an amount of plaque on the tooth based on the amount of reflected light detected. The electric toothbrush may also include a fluid dispensing system that dispenses fluid based on the amount of reflected light detected. In some aspects, the electric toothbrush may operate in multiple oscillation modes, and it may only dispense fluid in some of the modes but not all of the modes.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.