High performance acoustical cleaning apparatus for teeth

Details

Inventors: Giuliani, David; Martin, Roy W.;
Assignee: GEMTech, Inc. (Bellevue, WA)
Primary Examiner: Mancene; Gene
Assistant Examiner: Lucchesi; Nicholas D.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Jensen & Puntigam

The dental hygiene apparatus includes a body portion (12) from one end of which extends a elongated resonator arm (32). The arm (32) is mounted for oscillating action about a torsion pin (38), by means of a electromagnet (16) in the body acting in combination with two permqanent magnets (34, 35) which are mounted on the rear end (31) of the resonator arm (32). On the forward end (44) of the resonator arm (32) is mounted a set of bristles (47). The arm (32) is driven such that the tips of the bristles operate within ranges of amplitude and frequency to produce a bristle tip velocity greater than 1.5 meters per second, producing a significant cleansing effect beyond the tips of the bristles.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION What is claimed is: 1.
A dental hygiene device for cleaning teeth and interdental and gingival areas, comprising: a body member which includes an arm mounted for movement; a set of bristles having free end tips, the set of bristles being located in the vicinity of one end of the arm; and means in the body member for moving the arm and hence the set of bristles such that the tips of the bristles move at a velocity greater than approximately 1.
5 meters per second, which is sufficient to produce a cleansing action with a dentifrice fluid beyond the tips of the bristles.
2.
An apparatus of claim 1, wherein the velocity of the bristle tips is at least 2.
0 meters per second.
3.
An apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cleansing action reaches the interdental and gingival areas without the tips of the bristles being in the immediate vicinity thereof.
4.
An apparatus of claim 1, wherein the frequency of movement of the tips of the bristles is between 40 Hz and 500 Hz, and wherein the amplitude of movement of the bristles is within the range of 0.
5 mm to 6 mm.
5.
An apparatus of claim 4, wherein the frequency is less than the resonant frequency of the bristles.
6.
An apparatus of claim 1, wherein shear stress on dental plaque created by action of the apparatus is greater than 50 Pa at a distance of 2 mm from the tips of the bristles.
7.
An apparatus of claim 1, wherein the movement of the bristles produces an acoustic pressure of at least 1.
5 kPa.
8.
An apparatus of claim 1, wherein the bristles extend substantially perpendicularly relative to the arm and wherein the tips of the bristles move in a single plane.
9.
An apparatus of claim 1, wherein the set of bristles rotate through a preselected arc.
10.
An apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tips of the bristles re scalloped with each scalloped portion being in the range of 5-8 mm long, with a depth of 1.
5-3 mm.
11.
A method for cleaning teeth and interdental and gingival areas, using a toothbrush apparatus having a moving arm with a set of bristles at one end thereof, comprising the steps of: providing dental fluid in the vicinity of the teeth and interdental and gingival areas to be cleaned; and moving the arm and hence the bristles such that the tips of the bristles move through the dental fluid at a velocity greater than approximately 1

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