Micron-sized fog visor cleaning device

Abstract

A micron-sized mist dental cleaning device includes a console that generates pressurized air and pressurized water. The console is connected to a mouth guard that is in the form of an outer ridge and an inner ridge with a space between them for a patient's teeth. The mouth guard includes a receiver for receiving the pressurized air and water and has tubes for dispensing the pressurized air and pressurized water along the outer ridge and the inner ridge, respectively. The mouth guard also includes openings along the inner side of the outer ridge and the outer side of the inner ridge that face the location of the patient's teeth when the mouth guard is installed in the patient's mouth. The tubes for the pressurized air and water intersect at an angle at each opening so that they are used to eject micron-sized mist from the openings toward the user's teeth to provide initial plaque removal.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the cleaning of teeth in the elderly and disabled, and more specifically, to spraying micron-sized mist onto teeth to clean them. Background Technology

[0002] Older adults and people with disabilities may not brush their teeth at all or not brush them thoroughly enough to maintain oral hygiene. This could be due to neglect or physical limitations. Therefore, their caregivers may have to brush their teeth to prevent medical conditions.

[0003] The article by Hihara et al., “Effectiveness and safety of a new dental plaqueremoval device utilizing micro mist spray for removing oral biofilm invitro,” BMC Oral Health (2021) 21:286, describes the removal of oral biofilm from the oral mucosa to prevent the risk of respiratory and gastrointestinal infections in older adults. A micromist unit (MSM unit) was proposed to remove dental plaque using a high-speed spray of fine water droplets. The MSM unit has been shown to be significantly more effective than conventional air ablation devices; however, this is a dentist-only device with only one outlet.

[0004] In their article "Removal Mechanism of Artificial Dental Plaque by Impact of Micro-Droplets," ECS Journal of Solid-State Science and Technology 2162-8777 (January 2019), Uehara et al. disclosed a mechanical evaluation of the effect of a single water droplet on an artificial dental plaque model used as a biofilm. The outlet has a water nozzle parallel to two air nozzles, and for functional purposes, the outlet's handheld component needs to be oriented at a 60° angle from a distance of 8 mm from the surface. High-speed imaging was used to visualize the instantaneous impact of the droplet on the biofilm.

[0005] Korean patent application KR10-1995572B1 discloses the use of pulsed water to generate so-called water bubbles on the outside of a mouthguard that covers both the upper and lower teeth. This type of full mouthguard poses a choking hazard to elderly patients, especially when using water bubbles.

[0006] U.S. Patent No. 6,199,773 to Holt et al. discloses a fluid and air nozzle assembly capable of propelling a stream of clean fluid and air mixture toward a vehicle headlight. The fluid and air mix outside the nozzle opening.

[0007] Having a device that can at least partially treat the teeth of the elderly or disabled, thereby improving their health and helping to reduce the workload of their caregivers, would be very beneficial. Summary of the Invention

[0008] This invention relates to the removal of early plaque from the teeth of elderly and disabled individuals who may not brush thoroughly to maintain oral hygiene, by spraying a micron-sized mist onto the teeth using a mouthpiece or end effector device with multiple outlets. This may also help reduce the workload of their caregivers. Because the amount of water used is very small, a suction source is not required. Therefore, the potential risk of choking is reduced, which can lead to fatal pneumonia in the elderly due to accidental water entering their trachea.

[0009] According to one embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus is provided for precisely removing initial dental plaque from the teeth of elderly and disabled individuals using a minimal amount of water. The apparatus includes a control console for adjusting a micron-level mist flow, and a mouthpiece or end effector for generating the micron-level mist. The mouthpiece is placed in the mouth of the elderly or disabled individual to remove initial dental plaque.

[0010] The mouthpiece has multiple outlets for delivering micron-sized mist. The number of outlets depends on the patient's oral condition; ideally, there will be outlets aligned with specific plaque-accumulating areas on each tooth, such as between teeth and at the gingival junction. Water and air channels are built into the mouthpiece to deliver water and air to each outlet.

[0011] The outlet design of the mouthpiece that generates micron-sized mist is a key element of this invention. It depends on the angle at which the air and water flows intersect at the opening in the mouthpiece to form micron-sized mist. Attached Figure Description

[0012] The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent when considered in conjunction with the following detailed description and accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals denote like elements in the various views, wherein:

[0013] Figure 1A This is a photograph showing the control console and two mouthguards that constitute the device of the present invention. Figure 1B It is a close-up of a mouthpiece, showing the tubing that supplies pressurized water and air to it. Figure 1C The rear panel of the console is shown, with water and air outlets leading to the pipes;

[0014] Figure 2 These are perspective views of the top, front, and right side of the mouthguard according to the present invention;

[0015] Figure 3These are perspective views of the top, front, and left side of the mouthguard according to the present invention;

[0016] Figure 4 The view shows the bottom, front, and left side perspective views of the mouthpiece according to the present invention, illustrating the air and water channel structure.

[0017] Figure 5 This is an enlarged view of the air and water channels intersecting at the opening of the vent, forming a micron-sized mist; and

[0018] Figure 6A This is a perspective view of the top, front, and left side of a mouthguard with a bracket or handle. Figure 6B This is a perspective view of the bottom, front, and left side of a mouthguard with a bracket or handle. Detailed Implementation

[0019] Figure 1A The basic components of the present invention are shown, forming a micron-level mist mouthguard cleaning system. These include a control console with an internal pressurized air generator and a pressurized water generator within a housing 10. The air pressure generator can be a conventional diaphragm pump (not shown), which can be turned on or off via a button 11 located on the right side of the inclined front of the housing 10. The amount of air pressure is controlled by a knob 12 below button 11 on the inclined front of the housing 10. The water pressure generator can be a conventional peristaltic pump (not shown), which can be turned on or off via a button 13 located at the center of the inclined front. The amount of water pressure is controlled by a knob 14 below button 13. An output button 15 on the left side of the inclined front controls the combined output of the air and water generators, while buttons 16 and 17 individually control air A and water W, respectively.

[0020] exist Figure 1A Next to the outer casing 10 are two examples 18 and 19 of the mouth guard of the present invention. Arranged immediately adjacent to each mouth guard are dental molds for testing the present invention. Although in Figure 1A Not shown in the image, but Figure 1B and 1C Two channel tubes 27 and 28 are shown, extending from outlet 21 on the rear panel of housing 10 to receiver 20 on the mouthpiece 18 in use. The light-colored channel tube 27 delivers pressurized air, and the dark-colored channel tube 28 delivers pressurized water, respectively.

[0021] Figure 2 An enlarged top perspective view of a mouthguard 18 is shown. It has an outer semicircular ridge 22 and an inner semicircular ridge 24, which are designed so that a person's teeth can be positioned between these two ridges along the entire dental arch. There are openings 23, 25 on the inside of the outer ridge and the outside of the inner ridge, where the spray leaves the mouthguard and is guided to the critical areas of the user's teeth.

[0022] The receiver 20 is located in front of the outer ridge 22. For example... Figure 2 As shown, receiver 20 has two holes that connect from the control console to air and water passage pipes 27 and 28. Figure 3 As shown, each ridge contains independent internal channels positioned one above the other, such as channel 36 for water and channel 37 for air. The connection from receiver 20 to inner ridge 24 is achieved via tubes 32, 34, as... Figure 4 As shown. Channel 36 extends the entire length of the outer ridge 22. Channel 37 extends the entire length of the inner ridge. (As shown) Figure 3 and 4 As shown, there are two ridges in each of the two ridges 22 and 24, one for air and one for water, positioned so that one is above the other.

[0023] Micron-sized mist is generated at each outlet. To achieve this, the intersection angle α between the two channels (air and water) at the micron-sized mist outlet must be between 40° and 50°. This angular arrangement is as follows: Figure 5 As shown. Once combined, pressurized air and water generate a micron-sized mist ejected from openings 23 on the outer ridge and 25 on the inner ridge to contact the patient's teeth. As a result, the mist ejected from the outlet is effective at very close contact distances, such as 1-4 mm from the outlet to the tooth / gingiva.

[0024] Therefore, the mouthpiece's multiple outlets 23, 25 deliver micron-sized mist to the teeth. The amount of spray or mist at each outlet is adjusted using knobs 12, 14, based on the patient's oral condition. Outlets 23, 25 are targeted at specific plaque-accumulating areas of each tooth, ideally the interdental and gingival junctions. Because pressurized water and air channels are built into the mouthpiece, they are mixed together to deliver micron-sized mist at each outlet.

[0025] The variable flow rates from the control console to the nozzle are: water: 20-90 ml / min; air: 40-60 L / min. Therefore, to generate micron-sized mist, each outlet should ideally have 1-20 ml / min of water and 0.5-40 L / min of air. The size of the micron-sized mist is 10-40 micrometers in diameter.

[0026] Mouth protectors can be 3D printed to be customized for each user. The procedure can be simplified as follows: 1) Obtain an impression of the user's teeth using impression material or an intraoral scanner; 2) Design and print the mouth protector based on the impression case; 3) Place the mouth protector into the user's mouth, depending on whether it is positioned in the lower or upper jaw; 4) Press the on / off button on the control panel; and 5) Adjust the water and air flow to clean the initial plaque. Depending on the patient's oral health, 10-60 seconds is usually sufficient to remove the initial plaque.

[0027] Although mouth protectors can be placed in the patient's mouth and held there by caregivers, as Figure 6A and 6B As shown, it may be more convenient to attach the mouthguard to the end of the horizontal arm of the bracket or handle 40, which allows the mouthguard to be held horizontally and secured in a position convenient for the patient. In this arrangement, caregivers can more easily hold the handle 40 rather than the mouthguard itself. The patient then only needs to bite down on the mouthguard for about one minute. Furthermore, the end of the horizontal arm should be rotatable, or the handle should be able to remain inverted so that once the upper teeth have been cleaned, the mouthguard can be rotated inverted to clean the lower teeth.

[0028] Therefore, this invention enables the initial cleaning of dental plaque using a mouthpiece device with multiple micron-level mist outlets. Because the amount of water used is minimal, a suction source is not required, thus reducing the potential risk of suffocation, which can lead to fatal pneumonia in elderly patients due to accidental water entering the trachea.

[0029] While the invention has been explained in conjunction with certain embodiments, it should be understood that various modifications will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the specification. Therefore, it should be understood that the invention disclosed herein is intended to cover such modifications falling within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A micron-level mist teeth cleaning device, comprising: Pressurized air source; Pressurized water source; as well as A mouth protector, in the form of a semi-circular outer ridge and a semi-circular inner ridge, with space between them for the teeth of the patient's dental arch, further includes two channel receivers for receiving pressurized air and water respectively, and internal tubes for distributing pressurized air and pressurized water along the outer and inner ridges respectively. The mouth protector also includes openings along the inner side of the outer ridge and the outer side of the inner ridge, which face the patient's teeth when the mouth protector is installed in the patient's mouth; and The tubes for air and water intersect at an angle between 40° and 50° at each opening, allowing them to spray micron-sized mist from the openings.

2. The micron-level mist tooth cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein, The micron-sized fog consists of particles with a diameter of 10-40 micrometers.

3. The micron-level mist tooth cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein, The pressurized air and water sources are contained within the control panel, and the amount of air and water pressure is independently controlled by a dial on the control panel.

4. The micron-level mist tooth cleaning device according to claim 3, wherein, The console also includes buttons that control the output of pressurized air and water individually or together.

5. The micron-level mist tooth cleaning device according to claim 3, wherein, The console also includes buttons that turn pressurized air and water generation on or off, respectively.

6. The micron-level mist dental cleaning device according to claim 3 further includes a dual-channel tube for guiding pressurized air and water from the control console to the receiver of the mouth protector, respectively.

7. The micron-level mist dental cleaning device according to claim 1 further includes a support frame or handle with a horizontal arm, which supports the mouth guard when cleaning one row of upper and lower teeth in the patient's mouth, and the support frame or handle has a rotatable end, or can be used upside down, so that the mouth guard is flipped to clean the other row of upper and lower teeth.

8. The micron-level mist tooth cleaning device according to claim 4, wherein, The variable flow rate from the control console to the nozzle is 20-90 ml / min of water and 40-60 liters / min of air, which produces a micromist at each outlet using 1-20 ml / min of water and 0.5-40 liters / min of air.

9. The micron-level mist tooth cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein, The air pressure pipe and water pressure pipe in the inner and outer ridges of the mouth protector are positioned such that one is located on top of the other.

10. A method for micron-level mist cleaning of a patient's teeth, comprising the following steps: A mouth protector is provided in the form of a semi-circular outer ridge and a semi-circular inner ridge, with space between them for the teeth of a patient's dental arch. The mouth protector also includes two channel receivers for receiving pressurized air and water respectively, and internal tubes for distributing pressurized air and pressurized water along the outer and inner ridges respectively. The mouth protector also includes openings along the inner side of the outer ridge and the outer side of the inner ridge, which face the position of the patient's teeth when the mouth protector is installed in the patient's mouth. The tubes for air and water intersect at each opening at an angle between 40° and 50°, such that they are used to spray micron-sized mist from the openings. Place the mouth guard in the user's mouth according to either the lower jaw or upper jaw position; Turn on and adjust the water and air flow to clean initial plaque for 10 to 60 seconds, allowing micron-level mist to reach and clean the teeth; Stop the flow and flip the nozzle; Place the mouthguard in the user's mouth according to the other position of the lower or upper jaw; Turn on and adjust the water and air flow to clean the initial plaque for an additional 0 to 60 seconds, allowing the micron-sized mist to reach and clean the teeth.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein, The mouth protector is custom-made for the patient and is manufactured through the following steps: Impressions of the patient's teeth are obtained using impression materials or an intraoral scanner; Design a mouth protector based on the mold case; as well as The designed mouth protector was 3D printed.

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