WO2003030765A2

WO2003030765A2 - Tooth and mouth cleaner

Info

Publication number: WO2003030765A2
Application number: PCT/IB2001/002771
Authority: WO
Inventors: Shau-Din Chow; Chi-San Tsui
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-10-10
Filing date: 2001-11-01
Publication date: 2003-04-17
Anticipated expiration: 2004-04-10
Also published as: WO2003030765A3; AU2002228256A1

Abstract

A method of cleaning teeth and the mouth including the steps of filling the mouth with a fluid, locating an ultrasonic generator within the mouth and causing the generator to operate which, in turn, causes ultrasonic vibrations of the water and cleaning of objects which have the vibrating water impinging thereon and apparatus therefore.

Description

TOOTH AND MOUTH CLEANER

Area of the Invention

This invention relates to the area of dental hygiene and in particular to an automated device to be used as a tooth and mouth cleaner.

Background to the Invention

In order that appropriate oral hygiene can be maintained it is necessary to regularly remove soft plaque from the mouth as well as bacterial colonisation within the gingival pockets of the gums.

Conventionally, teeth have been cleaned by the use of brushes, often with abrasive paste, and also have been cleaned by the use of toothpicks or dental floss which can remove material from between teeth. Many persons also use mouthwashes which may be medicated or unmedicated and some of which have the capability of slowing the development of plaque on teeth and bacteria in the gum area.

Usually however, even if all of these types of cleaners are used, there can over a period of time be a build up of plaque and other undesirable materials on a persons teeth or in their mouths and in particular tooth brushes may not necessarily be used effectively to provide proper cleaning of teeth when used initially. In addition it has been found that tooth brushes themselves can be a significant source of bacterial build up as these are rarely if ever appropriately disinfected between successive uses. Outline of the Invention

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved method of cleaning the teeth and the mouth without the necessity of directly scouring the teeth.

The invention in one aspect is an oral cleaner for teeth and mouth which includes a first portion which is able to be hand held and an ultrasonic generator unit which activates a second portion of the oral cleaner which portion is adapted to be received in the mouth and vibrate.

The invention in another aspect is a method of cleaning teeth and the mouth including the steps of filling the mouth with a fluid, locating an ultrasonic generator within the mouth and causing the generator to operate which, in turn, causes ultrasonic vibrations of the water and cleaning of objects which have the vibrating water impinging thereon.

It may be preferred that the device of the invention may be self contained and internally powered by batteries or the like located therein or could be connected to a power source, preferably a low voltage source.

It is further preferred that when the device of the invention is in use that the users mouth be filled with a fluid capable of transmitting vibrations. It may be preferred that the fluid be water or some anti bacterial agent.

It may be also preferred that the handle of the device of the invention have a hand grip internal to which is located vibrational devices activated from a remote oscillator. It is further preferred that the second portion of the device comprise an extension from the handle adapted to be located within a mouth.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood we shall describe byway of non limiting example one particular embodiment of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawing Figures

Fig. 1 Shows a perspective view of the cleaning device of the invention;

Fig. 2 Shows a perspective view of the interior of the cleaning device;

Fig. 3 Shows a cross section of the interior of the handle of the cleaning device;

In the embodiment of the invention shown (Figure 1) The device of the invention 10 has a somewhat elongated handle portion 20 which is dimensioned such that it can be satisfactorily grasped by a user's hand and is provided with hand grips 21. This handle has an end portion 23, adjacent vibrating portion 30, with which the user's lips make contact which is free of hand grips. The material of the handle is preferably of some material which is comfortable to hold and tending to dampen any vibration such as rubber. As previously stated vibrating portion 30 is adapted to be received in a user's mouth.

It may be preferred that the whole unit can be enclosed in a plastics or metal shell which can be adapted to be cleaned. Figure 2 shows the interior of the handle of the invention which includes a member 40, which terminates in vibrating member 30, which is provided on either surface with ceramic piezoelectric vibrational members 50 mounted on epoxy resin fibreboard. The vibrational members are connected 22 to a U wave oscillator which effects the ultrasonic vibration of member 30. While the precise frequency of vibration is not critical to the invention we have found that a frequency of 40 KHz is most effective.

As shown in Figure 3 stainless steel member 40 is caused to vibrate by vibrational 6 members 50. The precise number of such vibrational members is however not germane to the invention and it is envisaged that 4 opposing members could be used or alternatively vibrational members could be located on just one side of member 40. It is however preferred that these vibrational members be located on either side of member 40.

In another embodiment of the invention the handle can accommodate the sonic generating device and batteries to operate this device and a user operated switch can be provided on the side of the handle or the base thereof.

In the embodiment of the invention shown vibrating member 30 transmits sonic vibrations to its surroundings and this is of a diameter such as to be readily received within the mouth, with the lips forming a seal around the handle, and extends into the mouth when so located approximately the depth of the portion of the mouth adjacent the rear teeth. In operation, the user fills his or her mouth with water and the outwardly extending portion 30 of the device is passed into the user's mouth and a water tight seal is made around the periphery of the handle adjacent portion 30 by the user's lips. The device is turned on and the device in the mouth then vibrates transmitting vibration through the water in which it is located to the teeth as being effectively non-resilient bodies.

The user's grip on the handle is preferably loose so as not to effect the dampening of the vibration or the grip portion is isolated from the ultrasonic generator.

The action of the vibration on the water, and the water on the teeth, tends to effect displacement of any particular material therefrom and, at the same time, remove and prevent the build up of plaque.

After a certain time the mouth can be rinsed out in the normal way and cleaning is completed.

In a further form of the invention, the power for the operation of the ultrasonic generator can be provided by batteries located within the handle of the device and, if required, the device can be sealed and a form of inductive connection between a power source and the circuitry associated with the batteries can permit charging of the batteries from an external source. Alternatively, there may be a plug connection to a power source.

In the embodiment of the invention shown the device can be connected to an external power source, preferably a low voltage source, by means of a flexible cable or the like. If required, the device could run on mains power and be connected to this by way of connection through a flexible conductive pair to a power point.

The strength of the signal supplied by the ultrasonic generator can be adapted to permit complete cleaning in a predetermined time and, if required, the device could be provided with a number of operating conditions supplying more or less power for different persons.

Any or all modifications which can be made in the invention which lie within the overall disclosure of the application are deemed to be part of the invention.

Claims

The claims defining the invention are as follows:

1. An oral cleaner for teeth and mouth which includes a first portion which is able to be hand held and an ultrasonic generator unit which activates a second portion of the oral cleaner which portion is adapted to be received in the mouth and vibrate.

2. An oral cleaner as claimed in claim 1 wherein the ultrasonic generator unit includes at least one vibrational member mounted within the first portion and activated by a wave oscillator said vibrational member being in direct contact with the second portion.

3. An oral cleaner as claimed in claim 2 wherein a plurality of vibrational members are mounted on a longitudinal member within the first portion said longitudinal member being continuous with the second portion.

4. An oral cleaner as claimed in claim 3 wherein vibrational members are mounted on either side of the longitudinal member.

5. An oral cleaner as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the ultrasonic generator unit and a power supply are integral with the first portion.

6. An oral cleaner as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the vibrational member is a ceramic piezoelectric vibrator.

7. An oral cleaner as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the vibrational member is activated by a U wave oscillator.

8. An oral cleaner substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

9. A method of cleaning teeth and the mouth including the steps of filling the mouth with a fluid, locating an ultrasonic generator within the mouth and causing the generator to operate which, in turn, causes ultrasonic vibrations of the water and cleaning of objects which have the vibrating water impinging thereon.

10. A method of cleaning teeth and mouth substantially as herein described.