Patent · US Active

Method and apparatus for assessing the penetration of tooth cleaning elements in the gingival pocket

US8381571B2 · kind B2 · utility

9Cited by

3References

21Claims

0Family size

Assignee

The Braun Corporation · DE

Inventors

Joachim Wilhelm · Wuppertal, DE
Günter Helbig · Schwalbach, DE
Bernd Trebitz · Rockenberg, DE

Key dates

Filing date	Jun 17, 2010
Grant date	Feb 26, 2013
Priority date	—
Expiry date	May 31, 2031

Classification

Technology area (CPC G)Physics
CPC primaryG06Q30/0241
WIPO fieldMedical technology
WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A method and apparatus for assessing the penetration of tooth cleaning elements into a simulated gingival pocket. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a tooth shaped member, wherein at least a portion of the tooth is transparent to light; a gum member positioned on a first side of the tooth shaped member; a simulated gingival pocket created between the gum member and the tooth shaped member; and an imaging device configured to obtain a plurality of images related to the gingival pocket, and bristle penetration into the gingival pocket.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.