Dental Treatment Devices and Kits

Abstract

An oral treatment device includes a power component and a tray component that are detachably coupled together. The power component may include a housing having a cavity and a power source located in the cavity. The tray component may include a tooth receiving channel and may have a first electrode and a second electrode located on opposite sides of the tooth receiving channel. The tray component may be detachably coupled to the power component in the following configurations: (1) a first configuration, whereby the first electrode is operably coupled to a positive terminal of the power source and the second electrode is operably coupled to a negative terminal of the power source; and (2) a second configuration, whereby the first electrode is operably coupled to the negative terminal of the power source and the second electrode is operably coupled to the positive terminal of the power source.

Description

Background Art

[0001] Tray-based oral treatment systems have been developed to whiten teeth and perform other oral treatments that can be performed at home or in a hospital clinic. For example, some of these trays emit electromagnetic radiation and / or electrical current into the tooth receiving channels of the tray to enhance the treatment performed with a particular oral composition. However, consumers typically must purchase a different tray system for each treatment desired, which can become expensive. Therefore, there is a need for a tray-based treatment system that can perform different treatments with one device. Summary of the invention

[0002] In one aspect, the present invention can be an oral treatment device comprising: a power component comprising a shell having a cavity and a power source located in the cavity; a tray component comprising a tooth receiving channel, a first electrode operably connected to a first electrical contact, and a second electrode operably connected to a second electrical contact, the first electrode and the second electrode being located on opposite sides of the tooth receiving channel; and wherein the tray component is removably connected to the power component in the following configurations: (1) a first configuration, whereby the first electrical contact is operably connected to the positive terminal of the power source and the second electrical contact is operably connected to the negative terminal of the power source; and (2) a second configuration, whereby the first electrical contact is operably connected to the negative terminal of the power source and the second electrical contact is operably connected to the positive terminal of the power source.

[0003] On the other hand, the present invention can be an oral treatment device, which includes a tray component and a power component, wherein the tray component includes: a first electrode and a second electrode, which are located on opposite sides of the tooth receiving channel; a first connecting member, which includes a first mechanical connector and a first electrical contact operably connected to the first electrode; and a second connecting member, which includes a second mechanical connector and a second electrical contact operably connected to the second electrode; the power component includes: a cavity, which accommodates a power source; a third connecting member, which includes a third mechanical connector and a third electrical contact operably connected to the positive terminal of the power source; and a fourth connecting member, which includes a third mechanical connector and a fourth electrical contact operably connected to the negative terminal of the power source; wherein the tray component and the power component are detachably connected together and can be changed between the following configurations: (1) a first attachment configuration, whereby, (a) the first connecting member cooperates with the third connecting member so that the first mechanical connector is connected to the third mechanical connector, and the The first electrical contact contacts the third electrical contact to connect the first electrode to the positive terminal of the power source, and (b) the second connecting member cooperates with the fourth connecting member so that the second mechanical connector and the fourth mechanical connector are connected together and the second electrical contact and the fourth electrical contact contact to connect the second electrode to the negative terminal of the power source; (2) a second attachment configuration, whereby (a) the first connecting member cooperates with the fourth connecting member so that the first mechanical connector and the fourth mechanical connector are connected together and the first electrical contact contacts the fourth electrical contact to connect the first electrode to the negative terminal of the power source, and (b) the second connecting member cooperates with the third connecting member so that the second mechanical connector and the third mechanical connector are connected together and the second electrical contact contacts the third electrical contact to connect the second electrode to the positive terminal of the power source; and (3) a disassembly configuration, whereby the tray component and the power component are separated from each other.

[0004] In another aspect, the present invention can be an oral treatment kit, comprising: a power component, which includes a shell having a cavity and a power supply located in the cavity, the power supply including a positive terminal and a negative terminal; a first tray component, which includes a tooth receiving channel defined between an inner wall and an outer wall, a first electrode positioned along the inner wall, and a second electrode positioned along the outer wall; and a second tray component, which includes a tooth receiving channel defined between the inner wall and the outer wall, a first electrode positioned along the inner wall, and a second electrode positioned along the outer wall; wherein at least one of the following conditions exists: the first electrode of the first tray component is different from the first electrode of the second tray component The first tray component is formed of a material, and the second electrode of the second tray component is formed of a material different from the second electrode of the second tray component; wherein the first tray component is removably connected to the power component so that the first electrode is operably connected to one of the positive terminal and the negative terminal of the power supply, and the second electrode is operably connected to the other of the positive terminal and the negative terminal of the power supply; and wherein the second tray component is removably connected to the power component so that the first electrode is operably connected to one of the positive terminal and the negative terminal of the power supply, and the second electrode is operably connected to the other of the positive terminal and the negative terminal of the power supply.

[0005] Other applicable fields of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided below.It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the present invention, are intended for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] The present invention will be more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0007] Figure 1 is a perspective view of an oral treatment device having a tray component and a power component in a first assembled configuration;

[0008] Figure 2 It is along Figure 1 A cross-sectional view taken along line II-II;

[0009] Figure 3 It is in disassembled configuration Figure 1 A front perspective view of an oral treatment device;

[0010] Figure 4 It is in disassembled configuration Figure 1 A rear perspective view of an oral treatment device;

[0011] Figure 5 yes Figure 4 A perspective view of an oral treatment device, wherein the power component has been rotated 180° relative to the tray component;

[0012] Figure 6 It is in the second assembly configuration Figure 1 A perspective view of an oral treatment device;

[0013] Figure 7 is along Figure 6 A cross-sectional view taken along line VII-VII;

[0014] Figure 8 yes Figure 1 A schematic illustration of an oral treatment device of , showing the polarity of electrodes of the tray component when in a first assembled configuration;

[0015] Fig. 9 yes Figure 1 A schematic illustration of an oral treatment device of , showing the polarity of electrodes of the tray component when in a second assembled configuration; and

[0016] Fig.10 is a perspective view of an oral treatment kit including a power component and two different tray components detachable therefrom. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017] The following description of the preferred embodiment is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses.

[0018] The description of the exemplary embodiments according to the principles of the present invention is intended to be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which are to be considered as part of the entire written description. In the description of the embodiments of the present invention disclosed herein, any reference to direction or orientation is intended only for convenience of description and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention in any way. Relative terms such as "lower", "upper", "horizontal", "vertical", "above", "below", "upward", "downward", "top" and "bottom" and their derivatives (e.g., "horizontally", "downwardly", "upwardly", etc.) should be understood as referring to the orientation shown in the drawings described later or in the discussion. These relative terms are only for convenience of description and do not require the device to be constructed or operated in a specific orientation unless explicitly indicated. Terms such as "attachment", "attachment", "connection", "connection", "interconnection" and similar terms refer to the relationship in which structures are fixed or attached to each other or directly or indirectly through an intermediate structure, and the two can be removably or rigidly attached or related, unless otherwise explicitly described otherwise. In addition, reference is made to exemplary embodiments to illustrate the features and beneficial effects of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention should obviously not be limited to such exemplary embodiments that illustrate some possible non-limiting combinations of features that may exist alone or in other feature combinations; the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims.

[0019] In an embodiment, the present invention may be directed to a modular powered tray that is divided into two removable components (a power component and a tray component) such that different tray components can be connected to a common power component in different orientations for different oral care applications. The tray component that is inserted into the user's mouth contains electrodes of various metal materials depending on the target benefit. For example, a tray with titanium electrodes is used for whitening applications, a tray with one or more zinc electrodes is used for antibacterial, and the like. During treatment, the electrodes are positioned on either side of the tooth surface. For each oral care application, the polarity of the electrodes is important because the polarity drives the direction of the chemical reaction, and the direction may be different for different oral care indications. For example, whitening is desired to occur on the outer surface of the teeth, but when the goal is antibacterial reduction, it is desired to target the back of the teeth because more bacteria are located near the tongue. Therefore, a tray with titanium electrodes may require polarity in one direction, while a tray with zinc electrodes may require polarity in another direction.

[0020] The power component described in some embodiments of the present invention may contain two ports, one positive, one negative, which will be electronically connected to the electrode connector that is part of the tray component (but in other embodiments, the ports may be in the tray component and the power component may have the electrode connector). The tray component can be connected to the power component in either orientation, depending on the user's target indication, and this orientation will drive the polarity of the electrodes and therefore the direction of the reaction. One benefit of the present invention is that one power component contains the battery (rechargeable or non-rechargeable) and the electronic components of the device, and the power component can be used in conjunction with multiple tray components depending on the benefit the user is seeking. In addition, since some oral care indications require changing the polarity of the electrodes, this can be controlled at the user interaction point rather than a software change that may be required if the tray component is a single component. The present invention makes it easier to handle different oral care problems using one power component and different tray components, and it also reduces manufacturing complexity because the oral trays can all be made of the same design using different electrode materials.

[0021] Also refer to Figures 1 to 3 , an oral treatment device 1000 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. The oral treatment device 1000 generally includes a power component 100 and a tray component 200. The power component 100 and the tray component 200 are detachably connected together, and the power component and the tray component are Figure 1 is shown in a first assembled configuration, and in Figure 31000. The power component 100 may form a handle for the oral treatment device 1000, and the tray component 200 may be a portion of the oral treatment device 1000 that is placed in the user's mouth for treatment. The details of the manner in which the power component 100 and the tray component 200 are attached / detached from each other will be described in more detail below.

[0022] The power component 100 includes a housing 110 having an outer surface 111. In addition, the housing 110 has or defines a cavity 112, and one or more electrical components may be located in the cavity. In an exemplary embodiment, the power component 100 includes a power supply 120 and an electronic circuit 121 operably connected to the power supply. In some embodiments, the electronic circuit 121 may include one or more of a controller / processor, a memory, an indicator such as a light emitting diode, a switch, a timer, etc. In addition, it should be understood that in some embodiments, the electronic circuit 121 may be omitted because, in the broadest sense, all that may be required for the operation of the oral treatment device 1000 is a power supply and the electrical components of the tray component 200 described below.

[0023] The outer surface 111 of the housing 110 includes a first engagement surface 113, which is the portion of the outer surface 111 of the housing 110 that contacts / engages the tray component 200 when the power component 100 is coupled to the tray component 200. In an exemplary embodiment, the first engagement surface 113 has a concave shape. However, the present invention is not so limited in all embodiments, and in other embodiments, the first engagement surface 113 can be planar / flat / straight, convex, wavy, and the like, as long as it is configured to cooperate with the engagement surface of the tray component 200 described below. In addition, it should be noted that the specific shape of the housing 110 does not limit the invention described herein. The power component 100 is always kept outside the user's mouth, so the power component does not need to have a specific shape to interact with parts of the mouth. In fact, the power component 100 only contains electronic components (i.e., the power supply 120 and any other electronic components, such as electronic components that are part of the electronic circuit 121) to facilitate powering the electrodes of the tray component 200.

[0024] The power component 100 includes a third connection member 130 and a fourth connection member 140, which facilitate mechanically and electrically coupling the power component 100 to the tray component 200. The third connection member 130 includes a third mechanical connector 131 and a third electrical contact 132. The fourth connection member 140 includes a fourth mechanical connector 141 and a fourth electrical contact 142. In an exemplary embodiment, the third mechanical connector 131 is a cavity or recess 137, and the fourth mechanical connectors 131, 141 are cavities or recesses 147 formed in the first engagement surface 113 of the housing 110. However, the present invention is not so limited in all embodiments. In fact, in other embodiments, the third mechanical connector 131 and the fourth mechanical connector 141 can be a ridge, a thread, a strip, a hook, a fastener, a bolt, a plate, a combination thereof, etc. Basically, the third mechanical connector 131 and the fourth mechanical connector 141 may adopt any structural configuration as long as they are configured to cooperate with the mechanical connectors of the tray component 200 to facilitate coupling the power component 100 to the tray component 200 .

[0025] As noted above, in an exemplary embodiment, the third mechanical connector 131 and the fourth mechanical connector 141 are cavities 137, 147. To this end, the third mechanical connector 131 includes a bottom 133 and a side wall 134 extending from the bottom 133 to an opening 135 in the first engagement surface 113 of the housing 111. In an exemplary embodiment, the cavity 137 of the third mechanical connector 131 includes a locking feature 136. In an exemplary embodiment, the locking feature 136 is a locking ridge extending from the side wall 134, which helps to lock the tray component 200 to the power component 100. In an exemplary embodiment, the locking ridge is an annular feature, but this need not be the case in all embodiments. Therefore, in some embodiments, the locking ridge may be formed by a plurality of spaced apart ridges. Further, in other embodiments, the locking feature 136 may be a locking recess, as long as it is configured to interact with the locking feature of the tray component 200 described below.

[0026] Similarly, the fourth mechanical connector 141 includes a bottom 143 and a side wall 144 extending from the bottom 143 to an opening 145 in the first engagement surface 113 of the housing 111. In an exemplary embodiment, the cavity 147 of the fourth mechanical connector 141 includes a locking feature 146. In an exemplary embodiment, the locking feature 146 includes a locking ridge extending from the side wall 144, which helps to lock the tray component 200 to the power component 100. In an exemplary embodiment, the locking ridge is an annular feature, but this need not be the case in all embodiments. Therefore, in some embodiments, the locking ridge may be formed by a plurality of spaced apart ridges. Further, in other embodiments, the locking feature 146 may be a locking recess, as long as it is configured to interact with the locking feature of the guide component 200 described below.

[0027] In the exemplary embodiment, the third electrical contact 132 is located within the cavity 137 forming the third mechanical connector 131. More specifically, in the exemplary embodiment, the third electrical contact 132 is located on the bottom 133 of the third mechanical connector 131. However, the present invention is not so limited in all embodiments, and in other embodiments, the third electrical contact 132 may be located on the side wall 134. In addition, in the exemplary embodiment, the third electrical contact 132 is depicted as a flat plate-like member. However, the third electrical contact 132 may adopt other structural configurations, including extending vertically from the bottom 133 similar to a pin to facilitate engagement with the electrical contact of the tray component 200, as described in more detail below.

[0028] The third electrical contact 132 is operably coupled to the positive terminal of the power source 120. In the exemplary embodiment, this is shown to be achieved by a wire coupled to the positive terminal of the power source 120 and to the third electrical contact 132. The third electrical contact 132 is formed of a conductive material such as metal and, because it is coupled to the power source 120, substantially acts as the positive terminal of the power source.

[0029] In the exemplary embodiment, the fourth electrical contact 142 is located within the cavity 147 forming the fourth mechanical connector 141. More specifically, in the exemplary embodiment, the fourth electrical contact 142 is located on the bottom 143 of the fourth mechanical connector 141. However, the present invention is not so limited in all embodiments, and in other embodiments, the fourth electrical connector 142 may be located on the side wall 144. In addition, in the exemplary embodiment, the fourth electrical contact 142 is depicted as a flat plate-like member. However, the fourth electrical contact 142 may adopt other structural configurations, including extending vertically from the bottom 143 similar to a pin to facilitate engagement with the electrical contact of the tray component 200, as described in more detail below.

[0030] The fourth electrical contact 142 is operably coupled to the negative terminal of the power source 120. In the exemplary embodiment, this is shown to be achieved by a wire coupled to the negative terminal of the power source 120 and to the fourth electrical contact 142. The fourth electrical contact 142 is formed of a conductive material such as metal and, due to its coupling to the power source 120, substantially acts as the negative terminal of the power source.

[0031] In an exemplary embodiment, the power component 100 includes an actuator 150 located on an outer surface 111 of the housing 110. In an exemplary embodiment, the actuator 150 is a depressible button, but it can be a slide switch, a conductive switch, or any other type of mechanism that may be desired. The actuator 150 is operably coupled to the power source 120 so that when the tray component 200 is coupled to the power component 100, actuation of the actuator 150 causes the power source 120 to transmit power to the tray component 200 (and specifically, to its electrodes as described below), as described below.

[0032] The tray component 200 is the portion of the oral treatment device 1000 that is intended to be placed in the user's mouth during treatment. Therefore, the tray component 200 is preferably at least partially formed of a ductile or flexible or rubber-like material to enhance comfort when worn by the user. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and in other embodiments, the tray component 200 may be formed of a rigid material such as plastic, metal, etc. In some embodiments, the tray component 200 may include a rigid core and a soft or flexible cover on a portion or the entirety of the rigid core, the cover being formed of a rubber-like material such as a thermoplastic elastomer.

[0033] The tray member 200 includes a bottom 201 forming an occlusal surface of the tray member 200, an inner sidewall 202 extending from the bottom 201, and an outer sidewall 203 extending from the bottom 201. The inner and outer sidewalls 202 are spaced apart from each other by the bottom 202 so that the inner and outer sidewalls 202 extend from opposite ends of the bottom. The bottom 201, the inner sidewall 202, and the outer sidewall 203 together form a tooth receiving channel 204 of the tray member 200, in which the user's teeth are positioned during treatment.

[0034] In an exemplary embodiment, both the inner sidewall 202 and the outer sidewall 203 extend upward from the bottom 201 and downward from the bottom 201, which may be best as shown in FIG. Figure 3Thus, in an exemplary embodiment, the tray member 200 includes an upper tooth receiving channel (which is the tooth receiving channel 204) and a lower tooth receiving channel 205. This enables the tray member 200 to be positioned within the oral cavity with the user's upper teeth positioned within the upper tooth receiving channel 204 and the user's lower teeth simultaneously positioned within the lower tooth receiving channel 205 (or vice versa). However, the present invention is not so limited in all embodiments. In some embodiments, the tray member 200 may include only one of the tooth receiving channels 204, 205, such that the inner sidewall 202 and the outer sidewall 203 may extend from the bottom 201 in only one direction.

[0035] The tray component 200 includes a first electrode 210 positioned along the inner sidewall 202 along the upper tooth receiving channel 204 and a second electrode 211 positioned along the outer sidewall 203. The tray component 200 also includes a first electrode 212 positioned along the inner sidewall 202 along the lower tooth receiving channel 204 and a second electrode 213 positioned along the outer sidewall 203. Thus, the first electrode 210 and the second electrode 211 are located on opposite sides of the upper tooth receiving channel 204, and the first electrode 212 and the second electrode 213 are located on opposite sides of the lower tooth receiving channel 205. As mentioned above, in some embodiments, the lower tooth receiving channel 205 may be omitted.

[0036] The first and second electrodes 210, 211, 212, 213 may be formed of any of a number of different materials depending on their end use. For example, if the first and second electrodes 210, 211, 212, 213 are to be used for tooth whitening treatment, the electrodes may be formed of titanium, while if the first and second electrodes 210, 211, 212, 213 are to be used for antibacterial treatment, the electrodes may be formed of zinc. In the exemplary embodiment, portions of the first and second electrodes 210, 211, 212, 213 are shown exposed to the tooth receiving channels 204, 205. However, the present invention is not so limited in all embodiments, and in other embodiments, the first and second electrodes 210, 211, 212, 213 may be embedded within one of the inner sidewall 202 and the outer sidewall 203.

[0037] Although titanium and zinc are two potential materials for electrodes, in other embodiments, other materials may be used depending on the desired treatment. The table provided below indicates some additional electrode materials that can be used with the oral care composition that can be used in conjunction with those electrodes and the indication or ongoing treatment. It should be noted that in the table provided below, platinum can be substituted for platinum-coated titanium (PtTi) for all indications.

[0038]

[0039] In some embodiments, the material of the first electrode 210 and the second electrode 211 on opposite sides of the upper tooth receiving channel 204 may be different from the material of the first electrode 212 and the second electrode 213 on opposite sides of the lower tooth receiving channel 205. Thus, for example, the first electrode 210 and the second electrode 211 may be formed of titanium and used for whitening, and the first electrode 212 and the second electrode 213 may be formed of zinc and used for antibacterial treatment. Thus, the first electrode 210 and the second electrode 211 may require a different polarity than the first electrode 212 and the second electrode 213, and this may be achieved by the invention described herein.

[0040] refer to Figures 1 to 4 , the surface of the outer side wall 203 of the tray component 200 facing away from the tooth receiving channels 204, 205 forms the rear surface 206 of the tray component 200. In addition, the tray component 200 includes a connection feature 207 protruding from the rear surface 206 of the tray component 200. The end of the connection feature 207 forms a second engagement surface 208 of the tray component 200. The second engagement surface 208 of the tray component 200 is configured to dock, mate, or otherwise interact with the first engagement surface 113 of the power component 100 when the tray component 200 is coupled to the power component 100. To this end, in an exemplary embodiment, the second engagement surface 208 is concave to mate with the convex shape of the first engagement surface 113 of the power component 100. However, the shape of the second engagement surface 208 may be changed to match or correspond to the shape of the first engagement surface 113.

[0041] The tray component 200 also includes a first connection member 220 and a second connection member 240. The first connection member 220 and the second connection member 240 are configured to cooperate with the third connection member 130 and the fourth connection member 140 of the power component 100 to facilitate mechanically and electrically coupling the tray component 200 to the power component 100. To this end, the first connection member 220 includes a first mechanical connector 221 and a first electrical contact 222, and the second connection member 240 includes a second mechanical connector 241 and a second electrical contact 242. The first electrical contact 222 is operably coupled to the first electrode 210, and the second electrical contact 242 is operably coupled to the second electrode 211. In an exemplary embodiment, this is achieved using wires, but other techniques may be used, including extending the first electrical contact 222 and the second electrical contact 242 directly from the first electrode 210 and the second electrode 211, etc.

[0042] As will be further described below, the first mechanical connector 221 of the tray component 200 mates with one of the third mechanical connector 131 and the fourth mechanical connector 141 of the power component 100, and the second mechanical connector 241 of the tray component 200 mates with the other of the third mechanical connector 131 and the fourth mechanical connector 141 of the power component 100, thereby physically or mechanically coupling the tray component 200 to the power component 100. In addition, when the first mechanical connector 221 and the second mechanical connector 241 of the tray component 200 mate with the third mechanical connector 131 and the fourth mechanical connector 141 of the power component 100, the first electrical contact 222 and the second electrical contact 242 of the tray component 200 come into contact with the third electrical contact 132 and the fourth electrical contact 142 of the power component 100. Because the third electrical contact 132 and the fourth electrical contact 142 of the power component 100 are operably coupled to the power source 120 , and the first electrical contact 222 and the second electrical contact 242 of the tray component 200 are operably coupled to the first electrode 210 and the second electrode 211 , this also operably couples the first electrode 210 and the second electrode 211 to the power source 120 .

[0043] In an exemplary embodiment, the first mechanical connector 221 includes a first protrusion 223 that protrudes from the second engagement surface 208 of the tray component 200. Similarly, the second mechanical connector 241 includes a second protrusion 243 that protrudes from the second engagement surface 208 of the tray component 200. Furthermore, in an exemplary embodiment, the first electrical contact 222 is located on the first protrusion 223, and the second electrical contact 242 is located on the second protrusion 243. More specifically, the first electrical contact 222 is exposed at a distal end 224 of the first protrusion 223, and the second electrical contact 242 is exposed at a distal end 244 of the second protrusion 243. In an exemplary embodiment, an outer surface of the first electrical contact 222 is flush with the distal end 224 of the first protrusion 223, and an outer surface of the second electrical contact 242 is flush with the distal end 244 of the second protrusion 243. However, in other embodiments, the first and second electrical contacts 222 and 242 may be recessed relative to the distal ends 224 and 244 of the first and second protrusions 223 and 243. The exact position and location of the first and second electrical contacts 222 and 242 along the protrusions 223 and 243 do not limit the present invention as long as the first and second electrical contacts 222 and 242 of the tray component 200 contact the third and fourth electrical contacts 142 of the power component 100 when the tray component 200 is coupled to the power component 100.

[0044] In an exemplary embodiment, the first protrusion 223 includes a locking feature 225 formed thereon, and the second protrusion 243 includes a locking feature 245 formed therein. In an exemplary embodiment, the locking features 225, 245 are recessed. Therefore, the locking features 225, 245 are configured to cooperate with the locking features 136, 146 of the power component 100 to facilitate maintaining the power component 100 and the tray component 200 in an attached state when so desired. Although in the exemplary embodiment, the locking features 225, 245 of the first mechanical connector 221 and the second mechanical connector 241 of the tray component 200 are recesses, and the locking features 136, 146 of the third mechanical connector 131 and the fourth mechanical connector 141 of the power component 100 are protrusions, this may be reversed in other embodiments (i.e., the locking protrusions may be formed on the first mechanical connector 221 and the second mechanical connector 241 of the tray component 200, and the locking recesses may be formed on the third mechanical connector 131 and the fourth mechanical connector 141 of the power component 100).

[0045] Other structural configurations are also possible to lock the first mechanical connector 221 and the second mechanical connector 241 of the tray component 200 to the third mechanical connector 131 and the fourth mechanical connector 141 of the power component 100. In some embodiments, the locking features 136, 146, 225, 245 can be omitted, and the connection between the tray component 200 and the power component 100 can be achieved by interference or friction type fit between the first mechanical connector 221 and the second mechanical connector 241 and the third mechanical connector 131 and the fourth mechanical connector 141.

[0046] Furthermore, although in the exemplary embodiment, the first mechanical connector 221 and the second mechanical connector 241 of the tray component 200 include protrusions (i.e., the first protrusion 223 and the second protrusion 243), and the third mechanical connector 131 and the fourth mechanical connector 141 of the power component 100 include cavities or recesses 137, 147, in other embodiments, this may be reversed. Thus, the first mechanical connector 221 and the second mechanical connector 241 of the tray component 200 may include cavities or recesses, while the third mechanical connector 131 and the fourth mechanical connector 141 of the power component 100 include protrusions that mate with the cavities or recesses. In other embodiments, the first mechanical connector 221, the second mechanical connector 241, the third mechanical connector 131, and the fourth mechanical connector 141 may include interlocking features that couple together by a sliding action, and the interlocking features need not include mating protrusions and cavities / recesses in all embodiments. The first mechanical connector 221, the second mechanical connector 241, the third mechanical connector 131, and the fourth mechanical connector 141 may include hooking elements, adhesives, hooks, bolts and mating openings, mating threads, etc. In addition, in the exemplary embodiment in which the first mechanical connector 221, the second mechanical connector 241, the third mechanical connector 131, and the fourth mechanical connector 141 are protrusions and cavities, the mechanical connectors are shown as having a circular cross-sectional shape. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and this shape may be a polygonal shape as long as the shapes correspond to each other to facilitate coupling.

[0047] exist Figure 1 and 2 , the oral treatment device 1000 is depicted in a first attachment configuration, whereby the tray component 200 is coupled to the power component 100. In this arrangement / configuration, the first connection member 220 of the tray component 200 cooperates with the third connection member 130 of the power component 100, while the second connection member 240 of the tray component 200 simultaneously cooperates with the fourth connection member 140 of the power component 100. Specifically, the first mechanical connector 221 of the tray component 200 mechanically cooperates with the third mechanical connector 131 of the power component 100. And more specifically, in this embodiment, the protrusion 223 of the first mechanical connector 221 of the tray component 200 is disposed within the cavity / recess 137 of the third mechanical connector 131 of the power component 100. Similarly, the second mechanical connector 241 of the tray component 200 mechanically cooperates with the fourth mechanical connector 141 of the power component 100. And more specifically, in this embodiment, the protrusion 243 of the second connection member 241 of the tray component 200 is seated within the cavity / recess 147 of the fourth mechanical connector 141 of the power component 100 .

[0048] When the first mechanical connector 221 and the third mechanical connector 131 and the second mechanical connector 241 and the fourth mechanical connector 141 are physically / mechanically coupled together in this manner, a connection also exists among / between the electrical contacts. Figure 2 As shown in , coupling the first mechanical connector 221 and the third mechanical connector 131 together also causes the first electrical contact 222 of the tray component 200 to contact the third electrical contact 132 of the power component 100. In addition, since the first electrical contact 222 is operably coupled to the first electrode 210 and the third electrical contact 132 is operably coupled to the positive terminal of the power source 120, such contact between the first electrical contact 222 and the third electrical contact 132 operably couples the first electrode 210 to the positive terminal of the power source 120.

[0049] In addition, coupling the second mechanical connector 241 and the fourth mechanical connector 141 together also causes the second electrical contact 242 of the tray component 200 to contact the fourth electrical contact 142 of the power component 100. Specifically, as Figure 2 As shown in , coupling the second mechanical connector 241 and the fourth mechanical connector 141 together also causes the second electrical contact 242 of the tray component 200 to contact the fourth electrical contact 142 of the power component 100. In addition, since the second electrical contact 242 is operably coupled to the second electrode 211, and the fourth electrical contact 142 is operably coupled to the negative terminal of the power source 120, such contact between the second electrical contact 242 and the fourth electrical contact 142 operably couples the second electrode 211 to the negative terminal of the power source 120.

[0050] As noted above, the oral treatment device 1000 is configured to be modular. According to the present invention, this means that the tray component 200 can also be coupled to the power component 100 via the engagement between the first connection member 220 and the fourth connection member 130 and the engagement between the second connection member 240 and the third connection member 140. Such a modification to the coupling will cause a change / reversal of the polarity of the first electrode 210 and the second electrode 211. Specifically, when the tray component 200 is coupled to the power component 100 in the manner described above, the first electrode 210 is coupled to the positive terminal of the power supply 120, and the second electrode 211 is coupled to the negative terminal of the power supply 120. When the first connection member 220 is coupled to the fourth connection member 130 and the second connection member 240 is coupled to the third connection member 140, the first electrode 210 is coupled to the negative terminal of the power supply 120, and the second electrode 211 is coupled to the positive terminal of the power supply 120. Thus, depending on the treatment being performed and the polarity of the electrodes 210, 211 required for that treatment, the user can simply flip one of the tray component 200 and the housing component 100 relative to the other and reconnect them into the second assembled configuration very easily.

[0051] To do this, first refer to Figure 4 , the oral treatment device 1000 can be assembled from a first configuration ( Figure 1 ) is changed to the second assembly configuration ( Figure 6 ). The first step of this process is to separate the tray component 200 from the power component 100. Figure 4 As indicated by the arrows, the power component 100 is pulled away from the tray component 200 with only enough force to separate the first mechanical connector 221 and the second mechanical connector 241 from the third mechanical connector 131 and the fourth mechanical connector 141 to separate the power component 100 from the tray component 200. Next, the tray component 200 is rotated 180° relative to the power component 100, or the power component 100 is rotated 180° relative to the tray component 200. Figure 4 In FIG. 1 , the rotation arrow is indicated relative to the power component 100 such that the power component 100 is the one that rotates, but the present invention does not require this, and either the tray component 200 or the power component 100 may rotate relative to the other.

[0052] refer to Figure 5 , showing the oral treatment device 1000, wherein the power component 100 has been rotated 180° relative to the tray component 200. Figure 5 In FIG. 1 , the bottom surface of the power component 100 is visible, while in FIG. Figure 1 and 4 In FIG. 1 , the top surface of the power component 100 is visible, thus indicating that the power component 100 has been rotated. Figure 5As shown in , the next step of the process is to reattach the power component 100 to the tray component 200 by moving the power component 100 and the tray component 200 toward each other until the first connection member 220 and the second connection member 240 of the tray component 200 engage or mate with the third connection member 130 and the fourth connection member 140 (shown in phantom lines) of the power component 100. However, because the power component 100 has been rotated relative to the tray component 200, the first connection member 220 of the tray component 200 will now mate with the fourth connection member 140 of the power component 100, and the second connection member 240 of the tray component 200 will mate with the third connection member 130 of the power component. This change will also cause a reversal of the polarity of the first electrode 210 and the second electrode 211.

[0053] refer to Figure 6 and 7 , showing the oral treatment device 1000 in a second assembly configuration. As noted above, in the second assembly configuration, the first connection member 220 of the tray component 200 cooperates with the fourth connection member 140 of the power component 100, and the second connection member 240 of the tray component 200 will cooperate with the third connection member 130 of the power component. Therefore, the first contact element 222 of the tray component 200 contacts the fourth contact element 142 of the power component 100, thereby operably connecting the first electrode 210 to the negative terminal of the power source 120. Similarly, the second contact element 242 of the tray component 200 contacts the third contact element 132 of the power component 100, thereby operably connecting the second electrode 211 to the positive terminal of the power source 120. Therefore, with Figure 1 and 2 Compared to the first assembly configuration shown in , the polarity of the first electrode 210 and the second electrode 211 has been reversed.

[0054] Figure 7 and 8 The tray component 200 and the power component 100 are schematically shown in a disassembled state but ready to be coupled into one of the first and second attachment configurations. Figure 7 In the embodiment, after the tray component 200 and the power component 100 are attached, the first electrode 210 will be operably coupled to the positive terminal of the power source, and the second electrode 211 will be operably coupled to the negative terminal of the power source. Figure 8, after the tray component 200 and the power component 100 are attached, the first electrode 210 will be operably coupled to the negative terminal of the power source, and the second electrode 211 will be operably coupled to the positive terminal of the power source. Therefore, this again shows that the power component 100 and the tray component 200 can be coupled together in two different configurations by rotating one of the power component 100 and the tray component 200 relative to the other, which will reverse the polarity of the first electrode 210 and the second electrode 211.

[0055] Reference Fig.10 , showing an oral treatment kit 2000 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The oral treatment kit 2000 generally includes the power component 100 described above, the first tray component 300 that is the same as the tray component 200 described above, and the second tray component 400 that is the same as the tray component 200 described above. The first tray component 300 and the second tray component 400 are structurally identical, with the only difference being that they may contain electrodes having different materials. For the sake of brevity, the structural details of the power component 100 and the first tray component 300 and the second tray component 400 will not be described herein, and it should be understood that the description of the power component 100 provided above and the description of the tray component 200 described above are applicable.

[0056] In this embodiment, both the first tray component 300 and the second tray component 400 are configured to be mechanically / physically and electronically coupled to the power component 100 in exactly the same manner as described above. Thus, mechanically coupling the first tray component 300 or the second tray component 400 to the power component 100 also results in operatively coupling the electrodes of the first tray component 300 or the second tray component 400 to the power supply of the power component 100.

[0057] The first tray member 300 includes an inner sidewall 302, an outer sidewall 303, and an upper tooth receiving cavity 304 defined therebetween. In addition, the first tray member 300 includes a first electrode 310 positioned along the inner sidewall 302 and a second electrode 311 positioned along the outer sidewall 303, the first electrode 310 and the second electrode 311 being located on opposite sides of the upper tooth receiving channel 304 (and as described above, may also include electrodes located on opposite sides of the lower tooth receiving channel).

[0058] The second tray member 400 includes an inner sidewall 402, an outer sidewall 403, and an upper tooth receiving cavity 404 defined therebetween. In addition, the second tray member 400 includes a first electrode 310 positioned along the inner sidewall 402 and a second electrode 411 positioned along the outer sidewall 303, the first electrode 410 and the second electrode 411 being located on opposite sides of the upper tooth receiving channel 404 (and as described above, may also include electrodes located on opposite sides of the lower tooth receiving channel).

[0059] In some embodiments, the first electrode 310 and the second electrode 311 of the first tray component 300 may be formed of a first material, and the first electrode 410 and the second electrode 411 of the second tray component 400 may be formed of a second material different from the first material. For example, the first material may be titanium, and the second material may be zinc. Of course, in other embodiments, other materials may be used. Therefore, both the first tray component 300 and the second tray component 400 may be used with the power component 100 to provide different treatments to the user based on the material of the electrodes and the type of oral treatment composition placed in the corresponding tooth receiving channel during treatment. In addition, in other embodiments, the first electrode 310 and the second electrode 311 of the first tray component 300 may be formed of the same material as the first electrode 410 and the second electrode 411 of the second tray component 400, so that the same power component 100 can be used for two tray components 300, 400 that are the same but belong to different users.

[0060] The first tray component 300 includes: a first connection member 320, which includes a first mechanical connector 321 and a first electrical contact 322; and a second connection member 340, which includes a second mechanical connector 341 and a second electrical contact 342. The first electrical contact 322 is operably coupled to the first electrode 310, and the second electrical contact 342 is operably coupled to the second electrode 311. The second tray component 400 includes: a first connection member 420, which includes a first mechanical connector 421 and a first electrical contact 422; and a second connection member 440, which includes a second mechanical connector 441 and a second electrical contact 442. The first electrical contact 422 is operably coupled to the second electrode 411, and the second electrical contact 442 is operably coupled to the first electrode 410.

[0061] As can be seen, the first tray component 300 is intended to be coupled to the power component 100 such that the first electrical contact 322 is coupled to the negative terminal of the power source and the second electrical contact 342 is coupled to the positive terminal of the power source. Thus, for the first tray component 300, the first electrode 310 is operably coupled to the negative terminal of the power source and the second electrode 311 is operably coupled to the positive terminal of the power source. Of course, this can be reversed in the manner mentioned above and can depend on the specific materials of the electrodes 310, 311 and the specific treatment being provided.

[0062] In addition, the second tray component 400 is intended to be coupled to the power component 100 such that the first electrical contact 422 is coupled to the positive terminal of the power source and the second electrical contact 442 is coupled to the negative terminal of the power source. Thus, for the second tray component 400, the first electrode 410 is operably coupled to the positive terminal of the power source and the second electrode 411 is operably coupled to the negative terminal of the power source. Of course, this can be reversed in the manner mentioned above and can depend on the specific materials of the electrodes 410, 411 and the specific treatment being provided.

[0063] Therefore, it should be understood that tray components 300, 400 that are identical to each other except for the difference in the material of the electrodes can be used with the same power component 100 to provide different treatments to the user. Both tray components 300, 400 can be coupled to the power component 100 in any of the configurations described above (i.e., the first attachment configuration or the second attachment configuration) based on the desired polarity of the electrodes of the tray component.

[0064] The range used throughout the text is used as a shorthand way of describing each value within the range. Any value within the range can be selected as the endpoint of the range. In addition, all references cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. If a definition in the present disclosure conflicts with a definition in the cited reference, the present disclosure shall prevail.

[0065] Although the present invention has been described with respect to specific examples (including currently preferred modes for carrying out the present invention), it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that there are numerous variations and permutations of the systems and techniques described above. It should be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural and functional modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the present invention should be broadly interpreted as set forth in the appended claims.

Claims

1. An oral treatment device, include: A power component comprising a housing having a cavity and a power source located in the cavity; a tray member including a tooth receiving channel, a first electrode operably coupled to a first electrical contact, and a second electrode operably coupled to a second electrical contact, the first electrode and the second electrode being located on opposite sides of the tooth receiving channel; and wherein the tray component is removably coupled to the power component in: (1) a first configuration whereby the first electrical contact is operably coupled to a positive terminal of the power source and the second electrical contact is operably coupled to a negative terminal of the power source; and (2) a second configuration whereby the first electrical contact is operably coupled to the negative terminal of the power source and the second electrical contact is operably coupled to the positive terminal of the power source; and The housing of the electrical component includes a first engagement surface, and the tray component includes a second engagement surface that cooperates with the first engagement surface when the tray component is attached to the electrical component.

2. An oral treatment device according to claim 1, wherein in the second configuration the power component has been rotated 180° relative to its position in the first configuration.

3. The oral treatment device according to claim 1 further includes a first connecting cavity and a second connecting cavity formed in the first joint surface of the shell of the power component, a third electrical contact located in the first connecting cavity and operably connected to the positive terminal of the power supply, and a fourth electrical contact located in the second connecting cavity and operably connected to the negative terminal of the power supply, wherein the first electrical contact of the tray component contacts one of the third electrical contact and the fourth electrical contact to operably connect the first electrode to one of the positive terminal and the negative terminal of the power supply, and wherein the second electrical contact of the tray component contacts the other of the third electrical contact and the fourth electrical contact to operably connect the second electrode to the other of the positive terminal and the negative terminal of the power supply.

4. The oral treatment device according to claim 3 further includes a first connecting ridge and a second connecting ridge extending from the second joint surface of the tray, the first electrical contact is located on the first connecting ridge, and the second electrical contact is located on the second connecting ridge, and wherein the first connecting ridge is disposed in one of the first connecting cavity and the second connecting cavity, and the second connecting ridge is disposed in the other of the first connecting cavity and the second connecting cavity to connect the tray component to the electrical component.

5. The oral treatment device according to claim 1, further comprising: include: The tray component comprises: a first mechanical connector along which the first electrical contact is located; and a second mechanical connector, the second electrical contact being located along the second mechanical connector; The housing of the power component comprises: a third mechanical connector along which is located a third electrical contact operatively coupled to a positive terminal of the power source; and A fourth mechanical connector is provided along which a fourth electrical contact is positioned that is operably coupled to a negative terminal of the power source.

6. The oral treatment device according to claim 5, further comprising: include: wherein in the first configuration, the first mechanical connector is coupled to the third mechanical connector such that the first electrical contact is in contact with the third electrical contact, and the second mechanical connector is coupled to the fourth mechanical connector such that the second electrical contact is in contact with the fourth electrical contact; and Wherein in the second configuration, the first mechanical connector is coupled to the fourth mechanical connector so that the first electrical contact contacts the fourth electrical contact, and the second mechanical connector is coupled to the third mechanical connector so that the second electrical contact contacts the third electrical contact.

7. An oral treatment device according to claim 5 or claim 6, wherein the first mechanical connector and the second mechanical connector include a protrusion extending from the rear surface of the tray member, and wherein the third mechanical connector and the fourth mechanical connector include a cavity configured to receive one of the protrusions.

8. The oral treatment device according to claim 1, further comprising: include: a first protrusion extending from the rear surface of the tray member, the first electrical contact being exposed at a distal end of the first protrusion; a second raised portion extending from the rear surface of the tray member, the second electrical contact being exposed at a distal end of the second raised portion; a first connection cavity formed in the housing of the power component, a third electrical contact operatively coupled to the positive terminal of the power source being located on a bottom of the first connection cavity; a second connection cavity formed in the housing of the power component, a fourth electrical contact operatively coupled to the negative terminal of the power source being located on a bottom of the second connection cavity; wherein in the first configuration, the first protrusion is disposed within the first connection cavity and the first electrical contact contacts the third electrical contact, and the second protrusion is disposed within the second connection cavity and the second electrical contact contacts the fourth electrical contact; and Wherein in the second configuration, the first protrusion is disposed in the second connection cavity and the first electrical contact contacts the fourth electrical contact, while the second protrusion is disposed in the first connection cavity and the second electrical contact contacts the third electrical contact.

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