An oral cleaning and care device for use in an intensive care unit

Abstract

The application discloses an oral cavity cleaning and nursing device for an intensive care unit, which comprises a handle with an inner cavity, a cleaning rod coaxially fixedly connected with the handle, a plurality of adsorption holes being formed in the cleaning rod, a flexible cleaning adsorption strip being a ring-shaped strip connected at its head and tail, one end of the cleaning adsorption strip being sleeved on the outer portion of the distal end of the cleaning rod, the two side edges of the cleaning adsorption strip being slidably inserted into the inner cavity through the perforations at the distal end of the handle, a plurality of through holes being formed in the cleaning adsorption strip, a ring-shaped moving driving structure being arranged in the inner cavity and used for driving the cleaning adsorption strip to circularly move, and an adsorption device comprising a suction pipe and a negative pressure aspirator, the suction pipe being communicated with the cleaning rod. The oral cavity cleaning and nursing device adopts a working principle of wiping and adsorbing, scrapes the dirt on the teeth through the circularly moving cleaning adsorption strip, and instantly sucks the oral cavity secretions and residues through the adsorption holes by the negative pressure aspirator, so that the rinsing liquid is not needed, the risk of aspiration is avoided, the tracheal cannula is not interfered, one person can operate the oral cavity cleaning and nursing device, the cleaning efficiency is high, and the oral cavity cleaning and nursing device is safe and reliable.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention specifically relates to an oral cleaning and care device for use in intensive care units. Background Technology

[0002] For patients in the intensive care unit (ICU), especially those with endotracheal intubation, maintaining oral hygiene is crucial due to decreased oral self-cleaning ability and the close association between oral pathogens and ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). However, existing oral hygiene devices have the following drawbacks: First, the risk of aspiration is high when using rinsing methods. Most existing oral care devices rely on the pressure of the rinsing fluid to flush debris away from the teeth. However, during rinsing, the rinsing fluid and oral secretions can easily flow into the airway along the pharyngeal wall. Especially for intubated patients, there may be tiny gaps between the cuff and the tracheal wall, allowing the rinsing fluid to seep into the lower respiratory tract, causing aspiration pneumonia, which can be life-threatening in severe cases.

[0003] Secondly, the use of a toothbrush for push-pull cleaning can interfere with the endotracheal tube. Traditional toothbrushes require a large amount of space to push and pull, while the endotracheal tube is located in the center of the mouth. During operation, it is easy to touch, press, or even displace the tube, creating a safety hazard. At the same time, the presence of the tube also makes it difficult for the brush head to reach hard-to-reach areas such as the sides of the tongue and pharynx, resulting in poor cleaning.

[0004] Third, the procedure is complex and requires the cooperation of multiple people. Traditional oral care usually requires at least two nurses: one to hold the endotracheal tube and hold the suction device, and the other to perform brushing and rinsing. This is not only labor-intensive, but also increases patient discomfort and the risk of infection due to multiple people working together, and reduces nursing efficiency. Summary of the Invention

[0005] To address the shortcomings of existing technologies, the technical problem to be solved by this invention is to provide an oral cleaning and care device for intensive care units that is compact in structure, easy to operate, safe and reliable, and can effectively solve the problems of aspiration risk, intubation interference and complex operation in existing technologies.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solution: an oral cleaning and care device for intensive care units, comprising: A handle having an inner cavity; A cleaning rod, the proximal end of which is fixedly connected to the distal end of the handle, and the cleaning rod and the handle are coaxially arranged; A flexible cleaning adsorption strip, wherein the cleaning adsorption strip is an annular strip connected end to end, one end of the cleaning adsorption strip is sleeved on the outside of the distal end of the cleaning rod, and a through hole communicating with the inner cavity is opened on the distal end face of the handle. The through hole is located on both sides of the cleaning rod, and the two sides of the cleaning adsorption strip are slidably inserted into the inner cavity through the corresponding through hole. The cleaning adsorption strip has a plurality of through holes extending along its thickness direction. A ring-shaped moving drive structure is disposed in the inner cavity of the handle and is connected to the cleaning adsorption strip for driving the cleaning adsorption strip to move cyclically; and The adsorption device includes an adsorption tube and a negative pressure aspirator. The cleaning rod has multiple adsorption holes that extend through it along its axial direction. One end of the adsorption tube is inserted into the proximal end of the cleaning rod through the inside of the handle and communicates with the cleaning rod. The other end of the adsorption tube is communicated with the negative pressure aspirator.

[0007] Furthermore, the annular moving drive structure includes a first fixed pulley, a deflector wheel, a driven wheel, and a rotational power source; the first fixed pulley is disposed in the inner cavity and located on the proximal side of the handle, and the cleaning adsorption strip is slidably sleeved on the first fixed pulley; the deflector wheel and the driven wheel are parallel to each other and rotatably mounted in the inner cavity, and a gap is formed between the deflector wheel and the driven wheel for clamping the cleaning adsorption strip, and one side of the cleaning adsorption strip slidably passes through the gap; the rotational power source is drivenly connected to the deflector wheel and is used to drive the deflector wheel to rotate.

[0008] Furthermore, the handle has air chambers and mounting holes spaced apart along its axial direction on its side wall, and the mounting holes communicate with the inner cavity; the rotational power source includes a squeezing device, an elastic balloon, a piston plate, a push rod, a first elastic element, a one-way rack, and a first driven gear; the piston plate is disposed in the air chamber and can slide along the axial direction of the air chamber; one end of the push rod is fixedly connected to the piston plate, and the other end extends from the air chamber and into the mounting hole; the first elastic element is connected between the piston plate and the inner wall of the air chamber to provide a reset for the piston plate. Force; the portion of the one-way rack fixed to the push rod and located within the mounting hole; the first driven gear fixedly sleeved on the central shaft of the actuating wheel and meshing with the one-way rack; the elastic balloon located outside the handle, the elastic balloon communicating with the air chamber through an air tube, and the elastic balloon being filled with gas; when the elastic balloon is intermittently pressed, the gas inside the elastic balloon enters the air chamber through the air tube, pushing the piston plate to move axially along the handle; the squeezing device is connected to the elastic balloon and is used to intermittently squeeze the elastic balloon.

[0009] Furthermore, the outer surface of the cleaning adsorption strip is provided with a plurality of pits for accommodating the dirt to be removed; the care device also includes a soaking and cleaning mechanism disposed in the inner cavity for soaking and cleaning the cleaning adsorption strip entering the inner cavity to remove the dirt in the pits.

[0010] Furthermore, the soaking and cleaning mechanism includes a second fixed pulley, a third fixed pulley, a liquid storage tank, and a suspension device; the liquid storage tank is suspended in the inner cavity by the suspension device and can swing freely, and the liquid storage tank is used to contain cleaning and disinfecting liquid; the lower part of the first fixed pulley extends into the liquid storage tank; the second fixed pulley and the third fixed pulley are disposed in the inner cavity and are respectively located on both sides of the first fixed pulley; the cleaning adsorption strip returning from the distal end of the handle passes around the second fixed pulley, the first fixed pulley, and the third fixed pulley in sequence.

[0011] Furthermore, the suspension device includes a suspension rope and a hook; the hook is fixed to the top wall of the inner cavity; the suspension rope is slidably hung on the hook, and the two ends of the suspension rope are respectively connected to the two sides of the liquid storage tank.

[0012] Furthermore, a counterweight is embedded at the bottom of the liquid storage tank.

[0013] Furthermore, it also includes a fluid exchange structure, which includes an inlet pipe, an outlet pipe, and a pump; one end of the inlet pipe is connected to an external cleaning fluid supply source, and the other end extends into the handle and is located above the storage tank; one end of the outlet pipe is connected to the bottom of the storage tank, and the other end extends out of the handle and is connected to the pump.

[0014] Furthermore, it also includes a tapping and squeezing structure, which is disposed in the inner cavity and located in the liquid storage tank, for tapping and squeezing the cleaning adsorption strip that enters the liquid storage tank.

[0015] Furthermore, the tapping and squeezing structure includes a branch pipe, a rotating shaft, and flexible tapping plates; the rotating shaft is rotatably disposed within the liquid storage tank; multiple flexible tapping plates are fixed to the rotating shaft at circumferential intervals; the outlet of the water inlet pipe is aligned with the cleaning adsorption strip wound around the first fixed pulley; the branch pipe is connected to the water inlet pipe, and the opening of the branch pipe is aligned with one of the flexible tapping plates; when water flows out of the branch pipe, the water flow pushes the flexible tapping plates to drive the rotating shaft to rotate, and the rotating shaft drives multiple flexible tapping plates to tap and squeeze the cleaning adsorption strip in sequence.

[0016] The beneficial effects of this invention are: The above-mentioned oral cleaning and care device for intensive care units has at least the following advantages: 1. This device uses a "wiping + adsorption" working principle instead of "rinsing". The flexible cleaning and adsorption strip mechanically scrapes away debris from the tooth surface. The edges of the through-holes on the cleaning and adsorption strip have a scraping effect, which can scrape plaque and food debris into the through-holes or remove them from the tooth surface. At the same time, the negative pressure suction device generates continuous suction through the adsorption holes on the cleaning rod, instantly removing saliva, detached debris, and residue carried in the through-holes of the cleaning and adsorption strip. No liquid needs to be sprayed into the mouth during the entire process, thus preventing a large amount of rinsing fluid from flowing into the throat. Even if there is a small amount of saliva in the patient's mouth, it will be continuously suctioned out by the negative pressure suction device to keep the mouth dry, thereby avoiding the risk of rinsing fluid seeping into the airway.

[0017] 2. The cleaning rod and handle are coaxially fixedly connected, and the cleaning rod has a hollow tubular structure with a relatively small diameter. During use, caregivers can insert the device into the patient's mouth from the side corner, positioning the cleaning rod between the teeth and buccal mucosa or near the occlusal surfaces of the upper and lower teeth, moving it along the dental arch. The endotracheal tube is located in the center of the mouth, ensuring that the two do not interfere with each other spatially. Caregivers do not need to repeatedly push and pull the cleaning rod; simply placing it on the area to be cleaned and the cyclical movement of the cleaning absorbent strip completes the wiping action, significantly reducing the risk of touching or compressing the endotracheal tube and ensuring the patient's safety.

[0018] 3. Traditional oral care requires at least two people. This device integrates wiping, suction, and debris removal into a single handheld unit. The caregiver can control the position of the cleaning rod and activate the ring-shaped drive mechanism simultaneously by holding the handle with one hand. The negative pressure suction device operates continuously without additional operation. A single person can independently complete the entire oral care process, significantly reducing labor costs and improving efficiency.

[0019] 4. Because the cleaning absorbent strip is a continuous ring, one end of which is fitted onto the outside of the distal end of the cleaning rod, and both sides slide through perforations into the inner cavity of the handle, it moves cyclically under the drive of the ring-shaped moving structure. The contaminated part of the cleaning absorbent strip continuously enters the inner cavity of the handle, while the clean part continuously exits from the inner cavity of the handle to the working section, achieving the effect of "cleaning while changing the working surface". This avoids the problem of contamination spread caused by "repeatedly using the same cotton ball" in traditional cotton ball wiping, ensuring that the part of the absorbent strip that comes into contact with the patient's mouth each time is relatively clean, thereby improving the cleaning quality and reducing the risk of cross-infection. Attached Figure Description

[0020] To more clearly illustrate the specific embodiments of the present invention, the accompanying drawings used in the specific embodiments will be briefly described below. In all the drawings, the elements or parts are not necessarily drawn to scale.

[0021] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of an oral cleaning and care device for use in an intensive care unit according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the lower part of an oral cleaning and care device for intensive care units; Figure 3 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the upper part of an oral cleaning and care device for intensive care units; Figure 4 for Figure 1 The diagram shows the unfolded cleaning and adsorption strip in the oral cleaning and care device for the intensive care unit. Figure 5 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the suspension device in an oral cleaning and care system for intensive care units; Figure label: 100. Handle; 110. Air chamber; 120. Mounting hole; 200. Cleaning rod; 210. Suction hole; 300. Cleaning suction strip; 310. Through hole; 320. Recess; 400. Annular moving drive structure; 410. First fixed pulley; 420. Actuating wheel; 430. Driven wheel; 440. Rotational power source; 441. Elastic balloon; 442. Piston plate; 443. Push rod; 444. One-way rack; 445. 500 Driven gear; 510 Immersion cleaning mechanism; 520 Second fixed pulley; 530 Third fixed pulley; 540 Liquid storage tank; 541 Suspension device; 542 Suspension rope; 543 Counterweight; 600 Liquid changing structure; 610 Inlet pipe; 620 Outlet pipe; 700 Beating and squeezing structure; 710 Branch pipe; 720 Rotating shaft; 730 Flexible beating plate; 800 Adsorption device. Detailed Implementation

[0022] To make the above-mentioned objects, features, and advantages of the present invention more apparent and understandable, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Many specific details are set forth in the following description to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, the present invention can be practiced in many other ways different from those described herein, and those skilled in the art can make similar modifications without departing from the spirit of the invention; therefore, the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed below.

[0023] Please see Figures 1 to 5 The present invention provides an oral cleaning and care device for intensive care unit, including a handle 100, a cleaning rod 200, a flexible cleaning and adsorption strip 300, a ring-shaped moving drive structure 400 and an adsorption device 800.

[0024] Specifically, the handle 100 has an inner cavity. The handle 100 is preferably cylindrical or elliptical in shape for easy gripping by caregivers.

[0025] The proximal end of the cleaning rod 200 is fixedly connected to the distal end of the handle 100, and the cleaning rod 200 and the handle 100 are coaxially arranged. The cleaning rod 200 is a hollow tubular structure made of medical-grade stainless steel or hard plastic. The distal end of the cleaning rod 200 (i.e., the end that extends into the patient's mouth) has a rounded blunt tip design to avoid damaging the oral mucosa.

[0026] The flexible cleaning and adsorption strip 300 is a ring-shaped strip connected end to end. The cleaning and adsorption strip 300 is made of medical-grade silicone or flexible polyurethane material, possessing a certain degree of elasticity and toughness. One end of the cleaning and adsorption strip 300 is fitted over the distal end of the cleaning rod 200.

[0027] The distal end face of the handle 100 has perforations communicating with the inner cavity, located on both sides of the cleaning rod 200. Specifically, on the distal end face of the handle 100, one perforation is provided on the left and one on the right side of the cleaning rod 200, with the two perforations arranged symmetrically. The two sides of the cleaning suction strip 300 are slidably inserted into the inner cavity through the corresponding perforations. That is to say, the cleaning suction strip 300 forms a closed annular loop: a portion is exposed outside the cleaning rod 200 (for contacting the patient's teeth and gums), and the other portion enters the inner cavity of the handle 100 through the perforations, circulating within the handle 100.

[0028] Please see Figure 4 The cleaning suction strip 300 has multiple through holes 310 extending along its thickness direction, arranged in a matrix. The functions of the through holes 310 are as follows: First, during the cleaning process, residues and plaque in the interdental spaces can be scraped into the through holes 310 and carried out of the oral cavity as the cleaning suction strip 300 moves; Second, the through holes 310 allow the negative pressure suction device to draw in liquid and small particles between the cleaning suction strip 300 and the tooth surface when suctioning through the suction holes 210.

[0029] The annular moving drive structure 400 is disposed in the inner cavity of the handle 100 and is connected to the cleaning adsorption strip 300 for driving the cleaning adsorption strip 300 to move cyclically.

[0030] Please see Figures 1 to 3 Specifically, the annular moving drive structure 400 includes a first fixed pulley 410, a turning wheel 420, a driven wheel 430, and a rotational power source 440. The first fixed pulley 410 is disposed in the inner cavity and located on the proximal side of the handle 100 (i.e., the rear end of the handle 100). The axle of the first fixed pulley 410 is mounted perpendicular to the axial direction of the handle 100, and the cleaning adsorption strip 300 is slidably sleeved on the first fixed pulley 410. The rim of the first fixed pulley 410 is provided with a guide groove for guiding the cleaning adsorption strip 300 to run smoothly.

[0031] The actuating wheel 420 and driven wheel 430 are rotatably mounted parallel to each other in the inner cavity, with their axles perpendicular to the axial direction of the handle 100. A gap is formed between the actuating wheel 420 and driven wheel 430 to clamp the cleaning adsorption strip 300. The width of this gap is slightly smaller than the thickness of the cleaning adsorption strip 300, allowing one side of the cleaning adsorption strip 300 to slide through the gap. The actuating wheel 420 and driven wheel 430 exert a certain clamping force on the strip, ensuring that the cleaning adsorption strip 300 can be moved by friction when the actuating wheel 420 rotates. The rim surfaces of the actuating wheel 420 and driven wheel 430 may be coated with rubber or silicone to increase friction.

[0032] The rotary power source 440 is connected to the actuation wheel 420 for driving the rotation of the actuation wheel 420. The rotary power source 440 can be driven manually (e.g., by a crank) or pneumatically.

[0033] The adsorption device 800 includes a suction tube and a negative pressure suction device. The cleaning rod 200 has multiple adsorption holes 210 extending along its axial direction. The adsorption holes 210 are elongated or circular holes, arranged at intervals along the axial direction of the cleaning rod 200, with a total number of approximately 8 to 12 holes. The adsorption holes 210 penetrate the wall of the cleaning rod 200, allowing the internal channels of the cleaning rod 200 to communicate with the outside.

[0034] One end of the suction tube is inserted into the proximal end of the cleaning rod 200 through the inside of the handle 100 and communicates with the cleaning rod 200. The other end of the suction tube is communicated with the negative pressure aspirator. The negative pressure aspirator is a conventional medical negative pressure aspirator device that can provide a negative pressure of approximately -20 kPa to -50 kPa.

[0035] When using the device, the caregiver first inserts it into the patient's mouth from the side of the corner of the mouth, positioning the cleaning rod 200 between the teeth and the buccal mucosa, or near the occlusal surfaces of the upper and lower teeth. Because the cleaning rod 200 is a thin rod and enters from the side of the corner of the mouth, it will not interfere with the endotracheal tube located in the center of the oral cavity.

[0036] The negative pressure suction device is activated, and negative pressure is transmitted through the suction tube to the inner cavity of the cleaning rod 200, and then drawn outward from the suction hole 210 on the cleaning rod 200. At this time, the nursing staff activates the rotary power source 440, driving the actuating wheel 420 to rotate. The actuating wheel 420 drives the cleaning suction strip 300, which is clamped between itself and the driven wheel 430, to move through friction. The cleaning suction strip 300, as a closed annular belt, circulates under the guidance of the first fixed pulley 410 and the distal end of the cleaning rod 200.

[0037] The portion of the cleaning absorbent strip 300 exposed outside the cleaning rod 200 (i.e., the working section) slides across the tooth surface or interdental spaces during its cyclical movement. The edges of the through-holes 310 on the cleaning absorbent strip 300 have a scraping effect, which can scrape plaque, food debris, and soft deposits into the through-holes 310 or remove them from the tooth surface. Simultaneously, the negative pressure aspirator generates continuous suction through the suction holes 210 on the cleaning rod 200, drawing saliva, rinsing fluid (if any), detached debris, and residue carried in the through-holes 310 of the cleaning absorbent strip 300 into the suction tube, ultimately collecting them in the waste bottle of the negative pressure aspirator.

[0038] Because the cleaning absorbent strip 300 is made of a flexible material and the cleaning rod 200 is relatively thin, caregivers can easily move the cleaning rod 200 along the direction of the dental arch to clean the upper teeth, lower teeth, buccal side, lingual side, and other areas in sequence. The cyclical movement of the cleaning absorbent strip 300 can be unidirectional (e.g., always moving towards the inner cavity of the handle 100), allowing the contaminated cleaning absorbent strip 300 to continuously enter the inner cavity of the handle 100, while the cleaned portion is continuously output from the inner cavity of the handle 100 to the working section, achieving the effect of "cleaning while changing the working surface" and avoiding the transfer of dirt from one area to another.

[0039] This nursing device has the following advantages: 1. Employing a "wiping + adsorption" rather than "rinsing" working principle, the cleaning adsorption strip 300 mechanically scrapes away debris from the tooth surface. The debris is then immediately drawn away by the negative pressure suction device through the adsorption holes 210 on the cleaning rod 200. The entire process eliminates the need to spray liquid into the oral cavity, thus preventing large amounts of rinsing fluid from flowing into the throat. Even if the patient has a small amount of saliva in their mouth, it will be continuously suctioned away by the negative pressure device, keeping the oral cavity dry. This design is particularly suitable for intubated patients, avoiding the risk of rinsing fluid seeping into the airway. 2. The cleaning rod 200 of this invention has a small diameter, allowing it to enter the oral cavity from the side of the patient's mouth and move along the direction of the dental arch, while the endotracheal tube is located in the center of the oral cavity, so the two do not interfere with each other spatially. Nursing staff do not need to repeatedly push and pull the cleaning rod 200; they only need to place the cleaning rod 200 on the area to be cleaned, and the cyclical movement of the cleaning absorbent strip 300 can complete the wiping action, greatly reducing the risk of touching or compressing the endotracheal tube.

[0040] 3. Compared to traditional oral care that requires at least two people, this invention integrates wiping, suction, and dirt removal into a single handheld device. The caregiver can control the position of the cleaning rod 200 and activate the drive mechanism simultaneously by holding the handle 100 with one hand, allowing the negative pressure suction device to operate continuously without additional operation. A single person can independently complete the entire oral care process, significantly reducing labor costs.

[0041] 4. High cleaning efficiency and avoidance of cross-contamination. The cleaning absorbent strip 300 has a ring structure and continuously circulates under the action of the drive structure, ensuring that new, clean absorbent strip portions always enter the working area, while contaminated absorbent strip portions are drawn into the inner cavity of the handle 100. This design avoids the problem of dirt spreading caused by "repeatedly using the same cotton ball" in traditional cotton ball wiping.

[0042] Please continue reading Figures 1 to 3 In this embodiment, the rotary power source 440 includes a compression device, an elastic balloon 441, a piston plate 442, a push rod 443, a first elastic element, a one-way rack 444, and a first driven gear 445. The side wall of the handle 100 has air chambers 110 and mounting holes 120 arranged axially. The air chamber 110 is a cylindrical cavity with its axis parallel to the axis of the handle 100. The mounting hole 120 communicates with the inner cavity and is located beside the air chamber 110. The piston plate 442 is disposed within the air chamber 110, and its outer edge slides and seals against the inner wall of the air chamber 110 (e.g., with a rubber sealing ring). The piston plate 442 can slide axially along the air chamber 110. One end of the push rod 443 is fixedly connected to the piston plate 442, and the other end extends from the air chamber 110 into the mounting hole 120. The push rod 443 passes through a sealing hole on the end wall of the gas chamber 110, which is equipped with a sealing ring to prevent gas leakage.

[0043] A first elastic element (e.g., a helical compression spring) is connected between the piston plate 442 and the inner wall of the air chamber 110. Specifically, one end of the spring abuts against the back of the piston plate 442, and the other end abuts against the rear end wall of the air chamber 110, providing a restoring force for the piston plate 442—when the piston plate 442 is pushed forward, the spring pushes the piston plate 442 back to its original position when the elastic balloon 441 is released. A one-way rack 444 is fixed to the push rod 443 and located within the mounting hole 120. The length direction of the one-way rack 444 is parallel to the axial direction of the push rod 443, and its tooth profile is a one-way ratchet (i.e., one side is a bevel, and the other side is a straight surface), so that the one-way rack 444 can only drive the gear in one direction.

[0044] The first driven gear 445 is fixedly sleeved on the central shaft of the actuating wheel 420 and meshes with the one-way rack 444. The first driven gear 445 is a common spur gear, and its tooth profile matches the ratchet of the one-way rack 444. The elastic balloon 441 is a compressible air bladder made of rubber or silicone, filled with gas (such as air). The elastic balloon 441 is connected to the air chamber 110 via an air pipe. One end of the air pipe is connected to the outlet of the elastic balloon 441, and the other end is connected to the air inlet of the air chamber 110 (located on the front wall of the air chamber 110). The amount of gas filled in the elastic balloon 441 should be sufficient to push the piston plate 442 to complete a full stroke when fully compressed. A squeezing device is connected to the elastic balloon 441 and is used to intermittently squeeze the elastic balloon 441. In specific implementations, the squeezing device can be manually operated or other mechanisms, such as a rotary cam mechanism, a telescopic rod squeezing mechanism, etc. When in use, when a caregiver presses the elastic balloon 441, the gas inside the balloon is compressed, the pressure increases, and the gas enters the air chamber 110 through the trachea. The gas entering the air chamber 110 pushes the piston plate 442 forward along the axis of the handle 100 (i.e., towards the distal end of the handle 100). The piston plate 442 drives the push rod 443 to move forward synchronously, and the one-way rack 444 on the push rod 443 also moves forward accordingly.

[0045] When the one-way rack 444 moves forward, the straight surface of its ratchet teeth contacts the teeth of the first driven gear 445, pushing the first driven gear 445 to rotate. The first driven gear 445 drives the actuating wheel 420 fixedly connected to it to rotate, and the actuating wheel 420 drives the cleaning adsorption strip 300 to move a certain distance through friction.

[0046] When the nurse releases the elastic balloon 441, the balloon rebounds due to its own elastic restoring force, while the first elastic element (spring) pushes the piston plate 442 to return to its original position. The piston plate 442 drives the push rod 443 and the one-way rack 444 to move backward. At this time, the ratchet facet of the one-way rack 444 contacts the teeth of the first driven gear 445, preventing the gear from rotating (the gear remains stationary due to the resistance of the actuating wheel 420 and the cleaning adsorption strip 300). The one-way rack 444 slides over the gear and does not cause the actuating wheel 420 to reverse.

[0047] Each press of the elastic balloon 441 drives the cleaning suction strip 300 to move one step (e.g., 2-3 mm). Caregivers can press the elastic balloon 441 continuously to make the cleaning suction strip 300 move in a continuous cycle; or they can press it intermittently to control the movement speed according to cleaning needs.

[0048] In another embodiment, the outer surface of the cleaning absorbent strip 300 is provided with multiple recesses 320. The recesses 320 are hemispherical or rectangular depressions, with a depth of approximately 0.1~0.2 mm and a diameter of approximately 0.5~1 mm, and are distributed in an array on the outer surface of the cleaning absorbent strip 300, spaced apart from the through holes 310. The function of the recesses 320 is to accommodate the removed debris—when the cleaning absorbent strip 300 slides across the tooth surface, scraped plaque, food debris, etc., can be pushed into the recesses 320 and carried out of the oral cavity with the movement of the cleaning absorbent strip 300, rather than re-attaching to the tooth surface.

[0049] This nursing device also includes a soaking and cleaning mechanism 500. The soaking and cleaning mechanism 500 is located inside the handle 100 and is used to soak and clean the cleaning absorbent strip 300 that enters the inner cavity, thereby removing dirt from the recess 320. In other words, when a contaminated cleaning absorbent strip 300 partially enters the inner cavity of the handle 100 through the perforation, it passes through a soaking and cleaning area before continuing to circulate back to the working section. The cleaning and disinfecting solution in this area dissolves and washes away the dirt in the recess 320, allowing the cleaning absorbent strip 300 to be output to the working section in a clean state.

[0050] Please see 2. Figure 3 and Figure 5 Specifically, the soaking and cleaning mechanism 500 includes a second fixed pulley 510, a third fixed pulley 520, a liquid storage tank 530, and a suspension device 540.

[0051] The liquid storage tank 530 is suspended in the inner cavity by a suspension device 540 and can swing freely. The liquid storage tank 530 is a container with an open top, used to hold cleaning and disinfecting solutions (such as physiological saline, chlorhexidine solution, or medical alcohol). The lower part of the first fixed pulley 410 extends into the liquid storage tank 530. Specifically, the axle of the first fixed pulley 410 is mounted on the side wall of the inner cavity of the handle 100, but the pulley body is immersed below the liquid surface of the liquid storage tank 530.

[0052] The second fixed pulley 510 and the third fixed pulley 520 are disposed in the inner cavity and are located on both sides of the first fixed pulley 410, respectively. The installation height of the second fixed pulley 510 and the third fixed pulley 520 is higher than that of the first fixed pulley 410, so that the cleaning adsorption strip 300 forms a "V" or "U" shaped path when passing around these pulleys.

[0053] The cleaning adsorption strip 300, returning from the distal end of the handle 100 (i.e., the side that enters the inner cavity through the distal perforation), sequentially passes around the second fixed pulley 510, the first fixed pulley 410, and the third fixed pulley 520. The specific path is as follows: after the cleaning adsorption strip 300 enters the inner cavity through the distal end of the handle 100, it first passes upward around the second fixed pulley 510, then passes downward around the first fixed pulley 410 (immersed below the liquid surface of the liquid storage tank 530), then passes upward around the third fixed pulley 520, and finally extends towards the proximal end of the handle 100 and is fitted between the actuating wheel 420 and the driven wheel 430.

[0054] The suspension device 540 includes a suspension rope 541 and a hook 542. The hook 542 is fixed to the top wall of the inner cavity (i.e., the upper inner wall of the handle 100). The suspension rope 541 is slidably hung on the hook 542, and its two ends are respectively connected to both sides of the liquid storage tank 530. Specifically, the liquid storage tank 530 has a lifting lug on each of its left and right sides, and the two ends of the suspension rope 541 are respectively tied to the two lifting lugs, with the middle of the suspension rope 541 hanging on the hook 542. This suspension method allows the liquid storage tank 530 to swing freely around the hook 542, similar to a simple pendulum.

[0055] A counterweight 543 is embedded in the bottom of the liquid storage tank 530. The counterweight 543 is made of a high-density material (such as lead or stainless steel) and its weight accounts for approximately 30% to 50% of the total weight of the liquid storage tank 530. The function of the counterweight 543 is to lower the center of gravity of the liquid storage tank 530, so that it can automatically maintain an upright posture when the device moves or tilts, preventing the cleaning and disinfecting solution from spilling.

[0056] When the drive structure moves the cleaning adsorption strip 300 in a cycle, the contaminated cleaning adsorption strip 300 (which carries dirt removed from the mouth in its pit 320) returns from the working section and enters the inner cavity through the perforation at the distal end of the handle 100.

[0057] The cleaning absorbent strip 300 first moves upward around the second fixed pulley 510, then changes direction and moves downward, before moving around the first fixed pulley 410. Since the lower part of the first fixed pulley 410 is submerged below the liquid surface of the storage tank 530, the cleaning absorbent strip 300 is completely immersed in the cleaning and disinfecting solution during its movement around the first fixed pulley 410. The cleaning and disinfecting solution penetrates the through-holes 310 and recesses 320 of the cleaning absorbent strip 300, dissolving, emulsifying, and rinsing away the contaminants.

[0058] The cleaning absorbent strip 300 continues upward, passing over the third fixed pulley 520, and leaves the liquid surface. During this process, most of the liquid flows back into the storage tank 530 under gravity, while the surface of the cleaning absorbent strip 300 remains moist (containing disinfectant). Then, the cleaning absorbent strip 300 is held by the actuating wheel 420 and the driven wheel 430, and continues to move towards the working section, outputting to the patient's oral cavity.

[0059] Since the liquid storage tank 530 is freely suspended by the suspension device 540 and has a counterweight 543 at the bottom, no matter how the handle 100 is tilted (the nursing staff will continuously adjust the angle of the handle 100 during operation), the liquid storage tank 530 will always remain vertical and the liquid surface will always be horizontal. The cleaning and disinfection solution will not spill out or the soaking depth will change due to the tilt of the handle 100.

[0060] This method has the following advantages: First, it achieves online self-cleaning of the cleaning absorbent strip 300. In traditional oral care, cotton balls or brush heads need to be replaced or cleaned after each area is wiped, which is cumbersome. This invention integrates a soaking and cleaning mechanism 500 into the inner cavity of the handle 100, enabling the cleaning absorbent strip 300 to automatically complete a closed loop of "working → becoming contaminated → entering the inner cavity → soaking and cleaning → re-output" during the circulation process. Caregivers can continuously clean the entire oral cavity without interrupting the operation, significantly improving care efficiency.

[0061] Secondly, cross-infection is avoided. Before being re-inserted into the oral cavity, the contaminated cleaning and adsorption strip 300 is thoroughly soaked and rinsed with a cleaning and disinfecting solution. This effectively removes dirt from the recesses 320, and the disinfectant also sterilizes the surface of the adsorption strip. This ensures that the portion of the adsorption strip that comes into contact with the patient's oral cavity is relatively clean each time, preventing the transfer of contaminants from one area to another.

[0062] In a more preferred embodiment, the device further includes a fluid exchange structure 600 and a tapping and squeezing structure 700.

[0063] I. Fluid exchange structure 600: The fluid exchange structure 600 includes an inlet pipe 610, an outlet pipe 620, and a water pump. Specifically, one end of the inlet pipe 610 is connected to an external cleaning fluid supply source, and the other end extends into the handle 100 and is located above the storage tank 530. The inlet pipe 610 is a thin flexible tube, and its outlet end can be equipped with a nozzle or drip tip for injecting fresh cleaning and disinfecting fluid into the storage tank 530.

[0064] One end of the outlet pipe 620 is connected to the bottom of the storage tank 530, and the other end extends through the handle 100 and is connected to the water pump. The inner diameter of the outlet pipe 620 is slightly larger than that of the inlet pipe 610 to facilitate the discharge of waste liquid. The water pump is a small electric diaphragm pump or peristaltic pump.

[0065] II. Beating and extrusion structure 700: The tapping and squeezing structure 700 is disposed in the inner cavity and located inside the liquid storage tank 530. It is used to tap and squeeze the cleaning adsorption strip 300 that enters the liquid storage tank 530 to enhance the cleaning effect.

[0066] Specifically, the patting and extrusion structure 700 includes a branch pipe 710, a rotating shaft 720, and a flexible patting plate 730.

[0067] The rotating shaft 720 is rotatably disposed inside the liquid storage tank 530. Both ends of the rotating shaft 720 are mounted on the side wall of the liquid storage tank 530 by bearings, and its axis is parallel to the axis of the first fixed pulley 410.

[0068] Multiple flexible tapping plates 730 are fixed circumferentially at intervals on the rotating shaft 720. The flexible tapping plates 730 are made of silicone or rubber and have a certain degree of elasticity and toughness. The number of tapping plates is preferably 3 to 6, and they are evenly distributed radially. The length of each tapping plate is slightly larger than the width of the cleaning adsorption strip 300. When the rotating shaft 720 rotates, the movement trajectory of the end of the tapping plate intersects exactly with the cleaning adsorption strip 300 that passes over the first fixed pulley 410.

[0069] The outlet of the water inlet pipe 610 is aligned with the cleaning and adsorption strip 300 wound around the first fixed pulley 410. In other words, the fresh cleaning and disinfecting solution injected into the water inlet pipe 610 is directly sprayed onto the cleaning and adsorption strip 300 (located in the section before it enters the liquid surface of the liquid storage tank 530), which serves as a pre-rinse.

[0070] Branch pipe 710 is connected to inlet pipe 610, and the opening of branch pipe 710 is aligned with one of the flexible beaters 730. Branch pipe 710 is a branch of inlet pipe 610, and the opening is flat to generate directional water flow.

[0071] Fluid Replacement Process: After a period of use, the concentration of contaminants in the cleaning and disinfecting solution in the storage tank 530 increases, reducing the cleaning effectiveness. Nursing staff can activate the water pump to extract the waste fluid from the storage tank 530 through the outlet pipe 620 and discharge it into the wastewater tank. Simultaneously, an external cleaning fluid supply source (such as an IV bottle suspended high up) injects fresh cleaning and disinfecting solution into the storage tank 530 under gravity or through another pump via the inlet pipe 610. Automatic fluid replacement can be achieved by controlling the start and stop of the water pump. The normal operation of the device is unaffected during the fluid replacement process.

[0072] In addition, during the specific implementation process, the inflow and outflow of water can be made equal, thereby reducing the amount of liquid in the storage tank 530 and preventing liquid overflow.

[0073] The tapping and squeezing process: When nursing staff inject fresh cleaning and disinfecting solution through the inlet pipe 610, the liquid is sprayed directly from the outlet of the inlet pipe 610 onto the cleaning and adsorption strip 300, and simultaneously sprayed through the branch pipe 710 onto the flexible tapping plate 730. The impact force of the water flow in the branch pipe 710 drives the flexible tapping plate 730 to rotate around the rotating shaft 720. As the rotating shaft 720 rotates continuously, multiple flexible tapping plates 730 sequentially tap and squeeze the cleaning and adsorption strip 300 that passes over the first fixed pulley 410.

[0074] Specifically, when water flows over a tapping plate, the plate swings downwards, its end pressing or tapping against the cleaning absorbent strip 300, squeezing out dirt from the pits 320 and through holes 310 of the absorbent strip. Simultaneously, the rotation of the rotating shaft 720 drives the next tapping plate into the water flow impact area, achieving continuous rotation. The tapping and squeezing action, combined with the soaking in the cleaning and disinfecting solution, greatly improves the efficiency of removing dirt from the cleaning absorbent strip 300.

[0075] This method has the following advantages: The tapping and squeezing structure 700 significantly enhances the self-cleaning effect. Simply soaking is insufficient to completely remove stubborn dirt (such as dried bacterial plaque or sticky phlegm crusts) from the pits 320. This embodiment utilizes the liquid kinetic energy of the water inlet pipe 610 to drive the tapping plate to mechanically tap and squeeze the cleaning adsorption strip 300. Through physical impact, stubborn dirt is "shaken out" or "squeezed out" from the pits 320 and through-holes 310, greatly improving the regeneration capacity of the cleaning adsorption strip 300.

[0076] Furthermore, the water-driven beater requires no additional power source. The driving force of the beater comes from the water flow in the inlet pipe 610, which itself exists to replenish the cleaning and disinfecting solution. This design achieves "one source, multiple uses"—injecting liquid simultaneously performs both the function of replenishing disinfecting solution and driving the beater, without the need for additional motors or pneumatic components, maintaining the simplicity and reliability of the device.

[0077] The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, and are not intended to limit it. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some or all of the technical features therein. Such modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention, and they should all be covered within the scope of the claims and specification of the present invention.

Claims

1. An oral cleaning and care device for use in an intensive care unit, characterized in that, include: A handle having an inner cavity; A cleaning rod, the proximal end of which is fixedly connected to the distal end of the handle, and the cleaning rod and the handle are coaxially arranged; A flexible cleaning adsorption strip, wherein the cleaning adsorption strip is an annular strip connected end to end, one end of the cleaning adsorption strip is sleeved on the outside of the distal end of the cleaning rod, and a through hole communicating with the inner cavity is opened on the distal end face of the handle. The through hole is located on both sides of the cleaning rod, and the two sides of the cleaning adsorption strip are slidably inserted into the inner cavity through the corresponding through hole. The cleaning adsorption strip has a plurality of through holes extending along its thickness direction. A ring-shaped moving drive structure is disposed in the inner cavity of the handle and is connected to the cleaning adsorption strip for driving the cleaning adsorption strip to move cyclically; and The adsorption device includes an adsorption tube and a negative pressure aspirator. The cleaning rod has multiple adsorption holes that extend through it along its axial direction. One end of the adsorption tube is inserted into the proximal end of the cleaning rod through the inside of the handle and communicates with the cleaning rod. The other end of the adsorption tube is communicated with the negative pressure aspirator.

2. The oral hygiene and care device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The annular moving drive structure includes a first fixed pulley, a deflector wheel, a driven wheel, and a rotational power source. The first fixed pulley is disposed in the inner cavity and located on the proximal side of the handle. The cleaning adsorption strip is slidably sleeved on the first fixed pulley. The deflector wheel and the driven wheel are parallel to each other and rotatably mounted in the inner cavity. A gap is formed between the deflector wheel and the driven wheel for clamping the cleaning adsorption strip. One side of the cleaning adsorption strip slidably passes through the gap. The rotational power source is driven by the deflector wheel and is used to drive the deflector wheel to rotate.

3. The oral hygiene and care device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The handle has air chambers and mounting holes spaced axially along its side wall, with the mounting holes communicating with the inner cavity; the rotational power source includes a squeezing device, an elastic balloon, a piston plate, a push rod, a first elastic element, a one-way rack, and a first driven gear; the piston plate is disposed within the air chamber and can slide axially along the air chamber; one end of the push rod is fixedly connected to the piston plate, and the other end extends from the air chamber into the mounting hole; the first elastic element connects the piston plate to the inner wall of the air chamber, providing a restoring force for the piston plate; The one-way rack is fixed to the push rod and located within the mounting hole; the first driven gear is fixedly sleeved on the central shaft of the actuating wheel and meshes with the one-way rack; the elastic balloon is located outside the handle, and the elastic balloon is connected to the air chamber through an air tube, and the elastic balloon is filled with gas; when the elastic balloon is intermittently pressed, the gas inside the elastic balloon enters the air chamber through the air tube, pushing the piston plate to move axially along the handle; the squeezing device is connected to the elastic balloon and is used to intermittently squeeze the elastic balloon.

4. The oral hygiene and care device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The outer surface of the cleaning adsorption strip is provided with multiple pits for accommodating the dirt to be removed; the care device also includes a soaking and cleaning mechanism disposed in the inner cavity for soaking and cleaning the cleaning adsorption strip that enters the inner cavity to remove the dirt in the pits.

5. The oral hygiene and care device according to claim 4, characterized in that, The soaking and cleaning mechanism includes a second fixed pulley, a third fixed pulley, a liquid storage tank, and a suspension device. The liquid storage tank is suspended in the inner cavity by the suspension device and can swing freely. The liquid storage tank is used to contain cleaning and disinfecting liquid. The lower part of the first fixed pulley extends into the liquid storage tank. The second fixed pulley and the third fixed pulley are disposed in the inner cavity and are located on both sides of the first fixed pulley, respectively. The cleaning and adsorption strip returning from the distal end of the handle passes around the second fixed pulley, the first fixed pulley, and the third fixed pulley in sequence.

6. The oral hygiene and care device according to claim 5, characterized in that, The suspension device includes a suspension rope and a hook; the hook is fixed to the top wall of the inner cavity; the suspension rope is slidably hung on the hook, and the two ends of the suspension rope are respectively connected to the two sides of the liquid storage tank.

7. The oral hygiene and care device according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that, A counterweight is embedded at the bottom of the liquid storage tank.

8. The oral hygiene and care device according to claim 5, characterized in that, It also includes a fluid exchange structure, which includes an inlet pipe, an outlet pipe, and a pump; one end of the inlet pipe is connected to an external cleaning fluid supply source, and the other end extends into the handle and is located above the storage tank; one end of the outlet pipe is connected to the bottom of the storage tank, and the other end extends out of the handle and is connected to the pump.

9. The oral hygiene and care device according to claim 8, characterized in that, It also includes a tapping and squeezing structure, which is disposed in the inner cavity and located in the liquid storage tank, and is used to tap and squeeze the cleaning adsorption strip that enters the liquid storage tank.

10. The oral hygiene and care device according to claim 9, characterized in that, The tapping and squeezing structure includes a branch pipe, a rotating shaft, and flexible tapping plates. The rotating shaft is rotatably disposed within the liquid storage tank. Multiple flexible tapping plates are fixed to the rotating shaft at circumferential intervals. The outlet of the water inlet pipe is aligned with the cleaning adsorption strip wound around the first fixed pulley. The branch pipe is connected to the water inlet pipe, and the opening of the branch pipe is aligned with one of the flexible tapping plates. When water flows out of the branch pipe, the water flow pushes the flexible tapping plates to drive the rotating shaft to rotate. The rotating shaft drives multiple flexible tapping plates to tap and squeeze the cleaning adsorption strip in sequence.

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