Devices, systems, and methods for detecting biomarkers

Abstract

An oral care implement, oral care system and / or method for detecting the presence or absence of hemoglobin / blood in the oral cavity of a user. An oral care implement may include a cavity for receiving a saliva sample from a user and a closure member that may close the cavity for purposes discussed herein. An oral care system may include a handle, a replacement head, and a collection cup, wherein the replacement head and the collection cup are removably coupled to the handle. A user's saliva sample may be introduced into the collection cup. The handle may include a sensor that may obtain information related to the presence or absence of hemoglobin / blood in the oral cavity or in a saliva sample of the user. The sensor may be operably coupled to a processor that may determine whether hemoglobin is present in the sample based on information obtained by the sensor.

Description

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0002] This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 417,530, filed on October 19, 2022, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. Background Art

[0003] There are several different causes for gum and other oral bleeding. Some of them are mechanical problems, such as excessive brushing force, using a toothbrush with hard bristles, incorrect brushing or flossing force, or improper denture assembly. Gum disease may also cause bleeding due to inflammation of the gum tissue. Other important causes may be systemic, such as medications (e.g., blood thinners), pregnancy (hormonal changes), diabetes, vitamin deficiencies (e.g., lack of C or K), leukemia, etc. Although the American Dental Association recommends that people with bleeding gums see a dentist or doctor, most people do not feel pain when they have bleeding gums, so this advice is ignored. Therefore, it is necessary to provide consumers with devices, systems and / or methods for detecting blood in the oral cavity. Summary of the invention

[0004] The present invention may relate to an oral care appliance, an oral care system, and / or a method for detecting the presence or absence of hemoglobin / blood in the oral cavity of a user. The oral care appliance may include a cavity for receiving a saliva sample from a user and a closure member that can seal the cavity for the purposes discussed herein. The oral care system may include a handle, a replacement head, and a collection cup, wherein the replacement head and the collection cup are detachably connected to the handle. The user's saliva sample can be introduced into the collection cup. The handle may include a sensor that can obtain information related to the presence or absence of hemoglobin / blood in the oral cavity or in the user's saliva sample. The sensor can be operably connected to a processor that can determine whether hemoglobin is present in the sample based on the information obtained by the sensor.

[0005] In one aspect, the present invention can be an oral care device comprising: a body comprising a cavity configured to receive a saliva sample from a user, the cavity comprising a first opening, and the user's saliva can be introduced into the cavity through the first opening; a first closing member, the first closing member can be changed between: (1) a closed state, wherein the first closing member closes the first opening of the cavity and prevents the user's saliva from entering or leaving the cavity through the first opening; and (2) an open state, wherein the first opening provides a first channel into the cavity, and the user's saliva can be introduced into or removed from the cavity through the first channel; and at least one sensor, the at least one sensor being configured to emit light into the cavity and receive a reflected portion of the emitted light to obtain data that can be used to determine whether hemoglobin is present in the user's saliva located in the cavity.

[0006] In another aspect, the present invention can be an oral care system comprising: a handle comprising a grip portion and a stem portion, the handle comprising at least one sensor; a replacement head comprising a sleeve portion and a head portion having a tooth cleaning element extending therefrom, the replacement head being configured to be removably coupled to the handle; a collection cup comprising a collection chamber, the collection cup being configured to be removably coupled to the handle; and wherein when the collection cup is coupled to the handle and a saliva sample of a user is located in the collection chamber, the at least one sensor is configured to obtain data that can be used to determine whether hemoglobin is present in the saliva sample of the user located in the collection chamber.

[0007] In another aspect, the present invention may be a method for detecting blood in an oral cavity, the method comprising: performing a brushing action with a toothbrush, the toothbrush comprising a handle and a replacement head detachably connected to the handle, the replacement head comprising tooth cleaning elements, the tooth cleaning elements engaging teeth and gums of a user's oral cavity during the brushing action; removing the replacement head from the handle after completing the brushing action; attaching a collection cup to the handle of the toothbrush; introducing a saliva sample from the user's oral cavity into a collection chamber of the collection cup before rinsing the user's oral cavity; emitting a first light of a first wavelength and a second light of a second wavelength into the collection chamber via a sensor located in the handle of the toothbrush; receiving reflected portions of the first light and the second light via the sensor of the toothbrush; and transmitting a first signal indicating a first intensity of the reflected portion of the first light and a second signal indicating a second intensity of the reflected portion of the second light from the sensor to a processor; and calculating a ratio of the first intensity to the second intensity via the processor to determine whether hemoglobin is present in the sample.

[0008] In yet another aspect, the present invention may be an oral care system comprising: a handle comprising a gripping portion and a stem portion, the handle comprising at least one sensor; a collection cup comprising a top end, a bottom end, a collection chamber comprising a bottom, and a channel different from the collection chamber; wherein the collection cup is configured to be removably coupled to the handle by inserting at least a distal portion of the stem portion of the handle into the channel of the collection cup so that the at least one sensor of the handle is aligned with the collection chamber; and wherein when the collection cup is coupled to the handle and a saliva sample of a user is located in the collection chamber, the at least one sensor is configured to obtain data that can be used to determine whether hemoglobin is present in the saliva sample of the user located in the collection chamber.

[0009] In another aspect, the present invention can be an oral care system comprising: a handle comprising a grip portion and a stem portion, the handle comprising at least one sensor; a collection cup comprising a collection chamber; wherein the collection cup is configured to be removably coupled to the handle so that the at least one sensor of the handle is adjacent to or aligned with the collection chamber; and wherein when the collection cup is coupled to the handle and a saliva sample of a user is positioned in the collection chamber, the at least one sensor is configured to obtain data that can be used to determine whether hemoglobin is present in the saliva sample of the user positioned in the collection chamber.

[0010] Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter.It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] The present invention will be more fully understood from the detailed description and accompanying drawings, in which:

[0012] Figure 1 is a front perspective view of an oral care implement according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0013] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A rear perspective view of an oral care appliance;

[0014] Figure 3 yes Figure 1 An exploded front perspective view of an oral care implement of showing a replacement head thereof separated from its handle;

[0015] Figure 4 is along Figure 1 A cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV of ;

[0016] Figure 4A yes Figure 4 a close-up view of area IVA in which the closure member is in an open state;

[0017] Figure 5 yes Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a sensor of an oral care appliance;

[0018] Fig. 6A and Figure 6B According to an embodiment of the present invention Figure 5 Schematic diagram of a sensor transmitting light into a saliva sample and receiving reflected light;

[0019] Figure 7 yes Figure 1 a close-up perspective view of a head portion of an oral care implement showing a cover member in a closed state;

[0020] Figure 8 yes Figure 1 a close-up perspective view of a head portion of an oral care implement showing a cover member in an open state;

[0021] Fig. 9 The user deposits the saliva sample into Figure 1 A schematic diagram of a cavity of an oral care appliance;

[0022] Fig.10 is a schematic diagram showing a cavity for rinsing an oral care implement;

[0023] Fig.11 A system for detecting blood in the oral cavity is shown, the system comprising an oral care implement and a portable electronic device in operable communication with each other;

[0024] Fig.12 yes Fig.11 An electrical block diagram of the oral care appliance and electronic components of the portable electronic device of the system;

[0025] Fig.13 is a perspective view of an oral care system according to one embodiment of the present invention, the oral care system including a handle, a replacement head, and a collection cup;

[0026] Fig.14 yes Fig.13 A perspective view of a handle and a replacement head of an oral care system in an attached state;

[0027] Fig.15 yes Fig.13 A top perspective view of a collection cup of an oral care system;

[0028] Fig.16 yes Fig.13 A top view of a collection cup;

[0029] Fig.17 is along Fig.16A cross-sectional view taken along line XVII-XVII of ;

[0030] Fig.18A According to the first embodiment of the present invention, Fig.16 A cross-sectional view taken along line XVIII-XVIII of ;

[0031] Fig.18B According to the second embodiment of the present invention, Fig.16 A cross-sectional view taken along line XVIII-XVIII of ;

[0032] Fig.19 yes Fig.13 A rear perspective view of the handle and collection cup of the oral care system in an attached state;

[0033] Fig. 20 yes Fig.13 A front view of the handle and collection cup of the oral care system in an attached state;

[0034] Fig.21 is along Fig. 20 A cross-sectional area taken along line XXI-XXI of , wherein the saliva sample of the user is located in the collection chamber of the collection cup;

[0035] Fig. 22 is a front perspective view of a head of an oral care implement according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0036] Fig.23 According to one embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 22 A cross-sectional view taken along line XXIII-XXIII;

[0037] Fig.24 According to another embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 22 A cross-sectional view taken along line XXIII-XXIII;

[0038] Fig.25 is a front perspective view of a head of an oral care implement according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0039] Fig.26 According to one embodiment of the present invention, Fig.25 A cross-sectional view taken along line XXVI-XXVI of ; and

[0040] Fig. 27 According to another embodiment of the present invention, Fig.25 A cross-sectional view taken along line XXVI-XXVI. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0041] 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.

[0042] The description of illustrative embodiments according to the principles of the present invention is intended to be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which are considered to be 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 the 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 interpreted as referring to the orientation as described later or as shown in the accompanying drawings in the discussion. Unless explicitly stated, these relative terms are only for the convenience of description and do not require the device to be constructed or operated in a specific orientation. Unless expressly described otherwise, terms such as "attach", "attach", "connect", "couple", "interconnect", etc. refer to a relationship in which structures are fixed or attached to each other directly or indirectly through intermediate structures, as well as an attachment or relationship in which the two are movable or rigid. In addition, the features and benefits of the present invention are illustrated by reference to exemplary embodiments. Therefore, the present invention should obviously not be limited to such exemplary embodiments illustrating some possible non-limiting combinations of features that may exist alone or in other combinations of features; the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims.

[0043] Features of the present invention may be implemented in software, hardware, firmware, or a combination thereof. The computer or software programs described herein are not limited to any particular implementation and may be implemented in an operating system, an application, a foreground or background process, a driver, or any combination thereof. The computer program may be executed on a single computer or server processor or on multiple computer or server processors.

[0044] The processors described herein may be any central processing unit (CPU), microprocessor, microcontroller, computing or programmable device, or circuit configured to execute computer program instructions (e.g., code). The various processors may be embodied in any suitable type of computer and / or server hardware (e.g., desktop, laptop, notebook, tablet, cellular phone, etc.), and may include all conventional auxiliary components required to form a functional data processing device, including but not limited to buses, software and data storage (e.g., volatile and non-volatile memory), input / output devices, graphical user interfaces (GUIs), removable data storage, and wired and / or wireless communication interface devices including Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, LAN, etc.

[0045] The computer executable instructions or programs (e.g., software or code) and data described herein may be programmed into and tangibly embodied in a non-transitory computer readable medium, which may be accessed and retrieved by a corresponding processor as described herein, configuring and directing the processor to perform the desired functions and processes by executing the instructions encoded in the medium. It should be noted that the non-transitory "computer readable medium" as described herein may include, but is not limited to, any suitable volatile or non-volatile memory that can be written to and / or read by a processor operably connected to the medium, including random access memory (RAM) and its various types, read-only memory (ROM) and its various types, USB flash memory, and magnetic or optical data storage devices (e.g., internal / external hard disks, floppy disks, tapes CD-ROMs, DVD-ROMs, optical disks, ZIP TM drives, Blu-ray discs, etc.).

[0046] In certain embodiments, the present invention or its components may be embodied in the form of computer-implemented processes and apparatuses (e.g., processor-based data processing and communication systems or computer systems for practicing those processes). The present invention may also be embodied in the form of software or computer program code embodied in a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, which, when downloaded into and executed by a data processing and communication system or computer system, configures a processor to generate specific logic circuits configured to implement the process.

[0047] The invention described herein relates to devices (i.e., oral care appliances, such as toothbrushes), systems and methods for detecting one or more biomarkers in the oral cavity. In one embodiment, the biomarker can be blood or hemoglobin. Therefore, the device, system and / or method can use a sensor measuring the hemoglobin level in saliva / toothpaste slurry to detect the presence of blood. As used herein, the term saliva includes pure saliva and saliva mixed with toothpaste (which can be referred to as toothpaste slurry in this article). Toothpaste slurry is a fluid formed in the user's oral cavity during brushing, and is included in the definition of the term saliva as used herein. In one aspect, the detection of blood in the oral cavity can occur during brushing, so the sensor can be described as being located on a toothbrush in this article. In another aspect, the detection of blood in the oral cavity can be completed by testing the user's saliva sample after the brushing activity is completed or at any time the user desires. The sensor for detecting the presence of hemoglobin (which indicates blood) can include an optical transmitter and an optical receiver. The optical transmitter can emit visible light and infrared light, and the intensity of the reflected light (i.e., the light reflected back from the saliva sample / toothpaste slurry) is received by the optical receiver. Since hemoglobin has a strong red color, it absorbs green light while reflecting most of the red and infrared light back. Therefore, using the ratio of the reflected light intensity (red / green and / or infrared / green) and applying this data to a processing algorithm, hemoglobin can be quantified. The information obtained can be stored on a memory device in the toothbrush, or automatically transmitted to a mobile phone (or other portable electronic device) application (software application), or both. In either case, the information can be provided to the user (as a log of all information or as an indication of the presence of blood in the toothpaste slurry) so that the user can be informed of bleeding gums.

[0048] Additional information regarding hemoglobin / blood testing technology related to the disclosure set forth herein can be found in U.S. Patent Publication No. 2022 / 0257968 and International Patent Publication No. WO2022 / 098552, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

[0049] Reference Figures 1 to 3 , an oral care implement 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention is shown. In an exemplary embodiment, the oral care implement 100 includes a body 101 extending from a proximal end 102 to a distal end 103 along a longitudinal axis AA. The body 101 may include a handle portion 110 and a replacement head 120 removably coupled to the handle portion 110. In other embodiments, the body 101 may be a unitary structure including an integrally formed and attached handle portion and a head portion.

[0050] The handle portion 110 of the oral care implement 100 includes a grip portion 111 that is generally configured to be grasped and manipulated by a user and a stem portion 112 that facilitates attachment of a replacement head 120 to the handle portion 110. The replacement head 120 includes a sleeve portion 121 and a head portion 122. The sleeve portion 121 is sized and configured to fit over the stem portion 112 of the handle portion 110 for coupling the replacement head 120 to the body 110. Thus, when the replacement head 120 is coupled to the handle portion 110, the stem portion 112 of the handle portion 110 is nested within the sleeve portion 121 (and possibly the head portion 122) of the replacement head 120. The replacement head 120 can be coupled to the handle portion 110 using a friction / interference fit or via a mechanical interaction, such as where the replacement head 120 has a protrusion or recess that matches a recess or protrusion on the handle portion 110. As shown in FIG. Figure 2 1, handle portion 110 may include a protrusion 115 on a lower portion of stem portion 112 that nests within a recess or hole 123 formed in replacement head 120, and more specifically, within sleeve portion 121 thereof. In other embodiments, different techniques (i.e., magnetic, mechanical, interference, threaded, protrusion / detent, etc.) for coupling replacement head 120 to handle portion 110 of oral care implement 100 may be used in accordance with the invention described herein. Replacement head 120 and handle portion 110 are shown generally, and the invention is not limited by the shape, size, and / or geometry of these components.

[0051] The replacement head 120 also includes a cleaning element 124 extending from the head portion 122. The cleaning element 124 may include bristles, elastomeric fingers, sheets, rubber elements, combinations thereof, and the like. Specifically, the cleaning element 124 may be any feature or structure known to be used for cleaning teeth, gums, and other oral surfaces. The pattern, configuration, material, shape, rigidity, and the like of the cleaning element are not limiting the present invention. The tooth cleaning element 124 of the present invention may be connected to the head portion 122 of the replacement head 120 in any manner known in the art. For example, the cleaning element / tooth engaging element 124 may be mounted to the head portion 122 of the replacement head 120 using nails / anchors, in-mold tufting (IMT), anchor free tufting (AFT), PTt anchor free tufting, and the like. The tooth cleaning element 124 formed by an elastomeric material may be injection molded onto the head portion 122 of the replacement head 120.

[0052] In certain embodiments, the exact structure, pattern, orientation and material of tooth cleaning element 124 do not limit the present invention.Therefore, the term "tooth cleaning element" can be used in this article to refer to any structure that can be used for cleaning, polishing or wiping teeth and / or oral soft tissue (for example, tongue, cheek, gums, etc.) by relative surface contact in a general sense.The common examples of " tooth cleaning element " include but are not limited to bristle tufts, filament bristles, fiber bristles, nylon bristles, spiral bristles, rubber bristles, elastomeric projections, flexible polymer projections, its combination and / or the structural member comprising such material or combination.Suitable elastomeric material includes any biocompatible elastic material applicable to oral hygiene equipment.In order to provide optimal comfort and cleaning benefits, the elastomeric material of tooth or soft tissue engagement element has a hardness characteristic within the range of A8 to A25 Shore hardness.A suitable elastomeric material is styrene-ethylene / butylene-styrene block copolymer (SEBS) manufactured by GLS company.However, SEBS material from other manufacturers or other materials within and outside the hardness range can be used.

[0053] Although in an exemplary embodiment, the oral care appliance 100 is an oral care appliance comprising a handle portion 110 and a replacement head 120 that are detachably coupled together, in other embodiments, the oral care appliance 100 can be an integral component comprising a handle and a head that are fixedly coupled together, such as most conventional manual toothbrushes on the market. Having a detachable replacement head 120 can be desirable because it can extend the use of the oral care appliance 100 by enabling the user to replace the replacement head 120 and therefore also the bristles 124 when they become worn, while reusing the handle portion 110 that may include expensive circuits and electronic components, as further described below. However, the techniques and components described herein can be used on a more conventional manual toothbrush including a replaceable replacement head. Therefore, unless specifically stated so, the present invention is not limited to requiring a toothbrush to include a replacement head in all embodiments. As described herein, the body 101 refers to the handle portion 110 and the head portion 122, regardless of whether they are formed as an integral structure or formed as a part of two different components that are configured to be detachably coupled together. The oral care implement100can also include a neck portion104located between the grip portion111 of the handle portion110and the head portion122. The neck portion104can be formed by a sleeve portion121 of the replacement head120.

[0054] Reference Figures 1 to 4, the oral care appliance 100 includes at least one sensor 200, which is configured to obtain data that can be used to determine whether hemoglobin (and therefore, blood) is present in a saliva sample of a user, as described below. In an exemplary embodiment, at least one sensor 200 is positioned along the stem 112 of the handle portion 110, and more specifically, positioned within the stem 112 of the handle portion 110. The stem 112 is elongated along the longitudinal axis AA and includes a proximal portion 113 adjacent to the grip portion 111 and a distal portion 114 positioned farthest from the grip portion 111. At least one sensor 200 can be positioned along the distal portion 114 of the stem 112 or positioned within the distal portion 114 of the stem 112. However, the present invention is not so limited in all embodiments, but the position of the sensor 200 can be modified and can depend on the position of the cavity into which the saliva sample of the user can be introduced. That is, in some embodiments, the sensor 200 can be positioned adjacent to the cavity or aligned with the cavity, which will be further described below. Additional details about the sensor will also be referred to below Figure 5 , Fig. 6A and Figure 6B supply.

[0055] Briefly, the oral care appliance 100 includes electronic circuitry that includes a sensor for acquiring and / or generating a signal associated with detecting the presence of hemoglobin (and therefore blood) in a user's saliva sample (or toothpaste slurry). The oral care appliance 100 (and the associated system described below) is capable of detecting and measuring hemoglobin / blood using several wavelengths (two to three or more) in the visible and / or infrared regions. Thus, no reagents, assays, wet chemical preparations, and / or specialized equipment are required to detect hemoglobin / blood using the techniques described herein.

[0056] Components of the electronic circuit can be located within the handle portion 110 of the oral care implement 100, which is a non-replaceable portion of the toothbrush. In this regard, the handle portion 110 of the oral care implement 100 (which can include a grip portion 111 and a stem portion 112) can include a cavity or otherwise hollow area 116 within which components of the electronic circuit (e.g., a sensor) are located. Since the electronic circuit is located within the handle portion 110 rather than the replacement head 120, when the cleaning elements 124 on the replacement head 120 become worn, a new replacement head 120 can be attached to the handle portion 110 to extend the useful life of the oral care implement 100. This is one reason it may be desirable to form the oral care implement 100 so that it includes a handle portion 110 and a removable replacement head 120.

[0057] The oral care implement 100 also includes a power source 199 that is operably coupled to the sensor 200 to provide power to the sensor 200. The power source 199 may form part of the electronic circuit described above. The power source 199 may be a battery located within the grip portion 111 of the handle portion 110, but the specific location of the power source 199 may not be limiting in all embodiments. That is, in some embodiments, the power source 199 may be located along or within the stem portion 112. Fig.12 Additional details regarding the various electronic components that may be housed within the oral care implement100are discussed.

[0058] The oral care appliance 100 may include a power button 198 positioned along the exterior of the grip portion 111 of the handle portion 110. The power button 109 may be a depressible button configured to power on and off the oral care appliance 100, which may include powering on and off the sensor 200 and powering on and off the vibration unit, thereby enabling the tooth cleaning element 124 to vibrate to perform effective cleaning of the teeth and gums. That is, in some embodiments, the oral care appliance 100 may be an electric toothbrush. Of course, in other embodiments, the oral care appliance 100 may be a manual toothbrush and therefore may not include any vibration elements. The power button 109 may alternatively be a slidable switch, a conductive switch, or other types of switches commonly used in the operation of a toothbrush or other oral care appliances.

[0059] The body 101 of the oral care appliance 100 may include a cavity 130 configured to receive a saliva sample of a user (which may include a toothpaste slurry, as described herein). In an exemplary embodiment, the cavity 130 is positioned along the replacement head 120 of the body 101. That is, the cavity 130 extends from a first opening 131 in the front surface 126 of the replacement head 120 to a second opening 132 in the rear surface 127 of the replacement head 120. However, the exact position of the cavity 130 may be changed. For example, in some embodiments, the cavity 130 may be positioned along the gripping portion 111 of the handle portion 110. In such an embodiment, the sensor 200 may also be repositioned to be positioned adjacent to the cavity or aligned with the cavity. In addition, in an embodiment in which the body 101 is an integral / single-piece structure so that the head is fixed to the handle portion 110 rather than being formed as a part of a replaceable replacement head, the cavity 130 may be formed in the neck 104 of such an embodiment. Therefore, variations that may fall within the scope of the present invention are possible.

[0060] The oral care implement 100 may include a first closure member 140 that can be changed between: (1) a closed state, in which the first closure member 140 closes the first opening 131 of the cavity 130; and (2) an open state, in which the first closure member 140 does not completely close the first opening 131 of the cavity 130, such that there is a passage into the cavity 130 through the first opening 131. In an exemplary embodiment, the first closure member 140 is part of or coupled to the replacement head 120. However, depending on the position of the cavity 130, the position of the first closure member 140 may also be changed. The first closure member 140 is opened when the cavity 130 is opened. Figure 1 is depicted in the closed state, and in Figure 4A 140 is depicted in an open state. The first closure member 140 can be changed between the closed state and the open state by manual interaction by a user or automatically via electric operation. The exemplary embodiment shows manual operation and will be discussed in more detail below, but electric operation can also be used so that the user can simply press a button or otherwise actuate some type of actuation mechanism to change the first closure member 140 from the closed state to the open state, and vice versa.

[0061] The first closing member 140 may include a door 141 that covers the first opening 131 when the first closing member 140 is in a closed state. The door 141 may have a first surface 142 that faces outward and is exposed when the first closing member 140 is in a closed state. The first closing member 140 may include a tab 143 that extends or protrudes from the first surface 142 of the door 141. The tab 143 may protrude from the door 141 so that it can be grasped by a user to change the first closing member 140 between the closed state and the open state.

[0062] The body 101 may include a slot 128 in which the tab 143 may slide as the first closure member 140 changes between the closed state and the open state. In an exemplary embodiment, the slot 128 is formed in the front surface 126 of the sleeve portion 121 of the replacement head 120. The slot 128 may extend axially from the first opening 131 in the front surface 126 of the sleeve portion 121 of the replacement head 120. In an exemplary embodiment, the slot 128 extends downward from the first opening 131 toward the grip portion 111 of the handle portion 110. However, the present invention is not so limited, and the slot 128 may extend upward or laterally or diagonally or in any desired direction from the first opening 131. As should be understood, when a user grasps the tab 143 and slides the tab 143 along the slot 128, the door 141 moves or slides relative to the first opening 131 to open / close the first opening 131 as described herein. Although in the exemplary embodiment, the first closure member 140 slides relative to the replacement head 120, in other embodiments, the first closure member 140 may be attached to the replacement head 120 via a hinge so that the first closure member 140 pivots relative to the replacement head 120 like a conventional door. Other movements of the first closure member 140 between the open state and the closed state may also be permissible within the scope of the invention claimed herein.

[0063] As described above, in an exemplary embodiment, the cavity 130 extends from the first opening 131 to the second opening 132. In other embodiments, the second opening 132 may be omitted and the cavity 130 may include only the first opening 131. However, in exemplary embodiments in which the cavity 130 includes the second opening 132, the oral care implement 100 may include a second closure member 150 that can be changed between: (1) a closed state in which the second closure member 150 closes the second opening 132 of the cavity 130; and (2) an open state in which the second closure member 150 does not completely close the second opening 132 of the cavity 130 such that there is a passage into the cavity 130 through the second opening 132. In an exemplary embodiment, the second closure member 150 is part of the replacement head 120 or is coupled to the replacement head 120. However, depending on the position of the cavity 130, the position of the second closure member 140 may also change. The second closure member 150 is Figure 2 is depicted in the closed state, and in Figure 4A150 is depicted in an open state. The second closure member 150 can be changed between the closed state and the open state by manual interaction by a user or automatically via electric operation. The exemplary embodiment shows manual operation and will be discussed in more detail below, but electric operation can also be used so that the user can simply press a button or otherwise actuate some type of actuation mechanism to change the second closure member 150 from the closed state to the open state, and vice versa.

[0064] The second closing member 150 may include a door 151 that covers the second opening 132 when the second closing member 150 is in a closed state. The door 151 may have a first surface 152 that faces outward and is exposed when the second closing member 150 is in a closed state. The second closing member 150 may include a tab 153 that extends or protrudes from the first surface 152 of the door 151. The tab 153 may protrude from the door 151 so that it can be grasped by a user to change the second closing member 150 between the closed state and the open state.

[0065] The body 101 may include a slot 129 in which the tab 153 may slide as the second closure member 150 changes between the closed state and the open state. In an exemplary embodiment, the slot 129 is formed in the rear surface 127 of the sleeve portion 121 of the replacement head 120. The slot 129 may extend axially from the second opening 132 in the rear surface 127 of the sleeve portion 121 of the replacement head 120. In an exemplary embodiment, the slot 129 extends downward from the second opening 132 toward the grip portion 111 of the handle portion 110. However, the present invention is not so limited, and the slot 129 may extend upward or laterally or diagonally or in any desired direction from the second opening 132. As should be understood, when a user grasps the tab 153 and slides the tab 153 along the slot 129, the door 151 moves or slides relative to the second opening 132 to open / close the second opening 132 as described herein. Although in the exemplary embodiment, the second closure member 150 slides relative to the replacement head 120, in other embodiments, the second closure member 150 may be attached to the replacement head 120 via a hinge so that the second closure member 150 pivots relative to the replacement head 120 like a conventional door. Other movements of the second closure member 150 between the open state and the closed state may also be permissible within the scope of the invention claimed herein.

[0066] In an exemplary embodiment, the sleeve portion 121 of the replacement head 120 defines the sleeve cavity 105. That is, the sleeve portion 121 of the replacement head 120 can be hollow to define the sleeve cavity 105. When the replacement head 120 is coupled to the handle portion 110, the shaft portion 112 of the handle portion 110 can be nested within the sleeve cavity 105. In an exemplary embodiment, the distal portion 114 of the shaft portion 112, in which the at least one sensor 200 is positioned, is axially aligned with the cavity 130. That is, an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis AA will intersect the first opening 131 and the second opening 132 of the cavity 130, and will also intersect the distal portion 114 of the shaft portion 112, and more specifically the sensor 200 positioned therein or along it. Since the cavity 130 is configured to receive a saliva sample of a user, the sensor 130 aligned with the cavity 130 allows the sensor 130 to obtain data that can be used to determine whether hemoglobin is present in the saliva sample of the user.

[0067] Cavity 130 can be formed by a portion of sleeve cavity 105 extending between first opening 131 and second opening 132. In other embodiments, particularly embodiments where oral care implement 100 is of unitary construction, cavity 130 can be a through hole extending between two openings 131, 132, a recess or pocket having only one opening, such as opening 131, and the like.

[0068] The exact location of the at least one sensor 200 as shown in the figures is not a limitation of the present invention in all embodiments. In particular, in other embodiments, the at least one sensor 200 can be positioned proximal to the cavity 130 but adjacent to the cavity 130, wherein the sensor 200 faces in a distal direction toward the cavity 130. In this manner, while not axially aligned with the cavity 130, the sensor 200 can nonetheless be able to make measurements and obtain data related to the presence or absence of hemoglobin / blood in a sample located in the cavity 130.

[0069] In an exemplary embodiment, when the replacement head 120 is coupled to the handle portion 110, the distal portion 114 of the stem portion 112 is positioned along or within the cavity 130. The distal portion 114 of the stem portion 112 can form a collection surface on which a user's saliva sample can be placed. In some embodiments, the front surface of the distal portion 114 of the stem portion 112 may include a recess or well in which a sample can be collected. This can help keep the user's saliva sample on the distal portion 114 of the stem portion 112 when operating the sensor 200 to obtain data from the sample. In other embodiments, the distal portion 114 of the stem portion 112 may not extend into the cavity 130, but may be positioned directly below and adjacent to the cavity 130. In such an embodiment, the user's saliva sample can be located in an empty space within the cavity 130, and the sensor 200 can be directed toward the sample to measure and obtain data therefrom as described herein.

[0070] Reference Figure 5 , at least one sensor 200 will be described in more detail according to one embodiment of the present invention. At least one sensor 200 is preferably small so that it can be assembled in the stem portion 112 and / or the head portion 122 of the oral care appliance 100 as depicted in the figure. In an exemplary embodiment, at least one sensor 200 includes a transmitter 210 and a receiver 202. In addition, in an exemplary embodiment, the transmitter 210 includes a first light source 211, a second light source 212, and a third light source 213. Although three light sources are depicted in the exemplary embodiment, the present invention is not so limited in all embodiments. Specifically, in some alternative embodiments, the transmitter 210 may include only the first light source 211 and the second light source 212, but not also the third light source 213. An example of at least one sensor 200 is the MAX30105 from Maxim Integrated, but the present invention is not limited to this in all embodiments, and other sensors can be used. In some embodiments, the transmitter 210 can be a broadband white light emitter. In such an embodiment, the receiver 220 can have multiple channels to detect reflected light of different wavelengths, respectively.

[0071] In an exemplary embodiment, at least one sensor 200 is a single structure including all the features / components described herein. However, the present invention is not so limited, and in some other embodiments, the sensor may include multiple sensors that are independent and different from each other. For example, the sensor may include a discrete light source that is separate from and away from the receiver. Therefore, the term sensor as used herein includes the case of using a single sensor with all necessary components, as well as the case of using multiple sensors in a combination of all necessary components.

[0072] The first light source 211 is configured to emit the light of the first wavelength, the second light source 212 is configured to emit the light of the second wavelength different from the first wavelength, and the third light source is configured to emit the light of the third wavelength different from the first wavelength and the second wavelength. For example, in one embodiment, the first light source 211 is configured to emit a wavelength of 625nm to 740nm, more specifically in the range of 640nm to 680nm, and more specifically about 660nm red light. In addition, in one embodiment, the second light source 212 is configured to emit a wavelength of 520nm to 590nm, more specifically 520nm to 540nm, and more specifically 525nm to 530nm in the range of green light. In addition, in one embodiment, the third light source 213 is configured to emit a wavelength of 700nm to 1 micron, and more specifically 830nm to 930nm, and more specifically 860nm to 900nm in the range of infrared light. In an exemplary embodiment, each of the first light source 211, the second light source 212, and the third light source 213 is a light emitting diode, but other types of light sources may be used in alternatives. Thus, the transmitter 210 of the at least one sensor 200 may include multiple light sources, such that each light source emits light of a different wavelength. The receiver 220 may be a broad spectrum light detector, such that it can detect reflected light of all wavelengths mentioned herein (i.e., it can detect at least red light, green light, and infrared light).

[0073] Although the above description describes three ranges of light (red, green and infrared), the invention is not so limited in all embodiments. In other embodiments, additional wavelengths and light sources of the same or different wavelengths may be used to enhance the measurements obtained.

[0074] At least one sensor 200 can be operably coupled to a processor 230 such that measurements, data, or other information detected and / or obtained by the at least one sensor 200 can be transmitted as signals to the processor 230 for processing. The oral care implement 100 can include a processor 230 such that the processor 230 can be located within the handle portion 110 of the oral care implement 100. Alternatively, the processor 230 can be part of a separate electronic device, such as a smart phone, that can operably communicate with the oral care implement 100. This will be described below with reference to Fig.11 and Fig.12 Further discussion.

[0075] The processor 230 may be pre-programmed with an algorithm or other work in association with a software application containing the algorithm so that the processor 230 can use the information acquired by the at least one sensor 200 to perform various calculations to determine whether the at least one sensor 200 detects hemoglobin, and therefore also blood. Specifically, the processor 230 can perform calculations and then use the pre-programmed algorithm to determine whether the results of these calculations indicate the presence of hemoglobin / blood, and if so, how much.

[0076] Reference Fig. 6A and Figure 6B , the operation of at least one sensor 200 will be described. Fig. 6A The at least one sensor 200 is schematically depicted positioned so that light emitted by the at least one sensor 200 can contact and be reflected by a user's saliva sample 250 located in the cavity 130 of the oral care implement 100. Fig. 6A In the embodiment, the user's saliva sample 250 does not contain any blood. Figure 6B The at least one sensor 200 is schematically depicted positioned so that light emitted by the at least one sensor 200 can contact and be reflected by a user's saliva sample 251 located in the cavity 130 of the oral care implement 100. Figure 6B In the present disclosure, the user's saliva sample 251 may contain blood. As described above, toothpaste slurry is a liquid preparation containing toothpaste and saliva. When the present disclosure relates to saliva, this may refer to pure saliva or saliva mixed with toothpaste, such as toothpaste slurry. In addition, if blood is present in the mouth, the blood will mix with the liquid preparation and also form part of the user's saliva and / or toothpaste slurry. Therefore, at least one sensor 200 is configured to detect the presence of blood in the user's saliva sample (e.g., toothpaste slurry), which will in turn indicate bleeding in the oral cavity (i.e., bleeding gums, etc.).

[0077] First refer to Fig. 6A , at least one sensor 200 is performing a sensing operation on a saliva sample 250 of a user that does not contain any blood. Therefore, the saliva sample 250 of the user contains saliva, and possibly toothpaste, but no blood. In this embodiment, a first light source 211 emits a first light 214 (e.g., red light) at a first wavelength toward the saliva sample 250 of the user, a second light source 212 emits a second light 215 (e.g., green light) at a second wavelength toward the saliva sample 250 of the user, and a third light source 213 emits a third light 216 (e.g., infrared light) at a third wavelength toward the saliva sample 250 of the user. In a complex matrix such as that of a saliva / toothpaste slurry, the abrasive particles and bubbles in the toothpaste slurry reflect light of different wavelengths with similar efficiencies. Therefore, as Fig. 6AAs shown, the first light 214 , the second light 215 , and the third light 216 are all reflected by the user's saliva sample 250 as a reflected portion 217 of the first light, a reflected portion 218 of the second light, and a reflected portion 219 of the third light.

[0078] Reference Figure 6B , at least one sensor 200 is performing a sensing operation on a saliva sample 251 of a user containing blood. Therefore, the saliva sample 251 of the user contains toothpaste, saliva, and blood produced by bleeding from the gums or other oral tissue surfaces. In this embodiment, the first light source 211 emits a first light 214 (e.g., red light) at a first wavelength toward the saliva sample 251 of the user, the second light source 212 emits a second light 215 (e.g., green light) at a second wavelength toward the saliva sample 251 of the user, and the third light source 213 emits a third light 216 (e.g., infrared light) at a third wavelength toward the saliva sample 251 of the user. Due to the strong red color of hemoglobin in red blood cells, hemoglobin will strongly absorb green light and reflect most of the red light and infrared light back.

[0079] Therefore, if Figure 6B As shown, the first light 214 and the third light 216 are reflected from the user's saliva sample 251 as a reflected portion 217 of the first light and a reflected portion 219 of the third light. However, the second light 215 (which is green light in the exemplary embodiment) is absorbed by the user's saliva sample 251. Figure 6B In the embodiment, it is shown that none of the second light 215 is reflected back to the receiver 220 of the at least one sensor 200. However, in actual operation, some of the second light 215 is reflected back, but not with the light from Fig. 6A The second light 218 reflected from the user's saliva sample 250 without blood has a reduced intensity compared to the amount of second light 215 reflected back from the user's saliva sample 250 without blood, because hemoglobin absorbs some of the second light 215. Therefore, the second light 218 reflected from the user's saliva sample 250 without blood has a greater intensity than the second light 218 reflected from the user's saliva sample 251 containing blood, because hemoglobin in the blood absorbs some of the second light 215.

[0080] Therefore, at the desired time, at least one sensor 200 transmits the first light 214, the second light 215, and the third light 216 into the cavity 130. The first light 214, the second light 215, and the third light 216 contact the user's saliva sample 250, 251 in the cavity 130, and the reflected portion 217 of the first light, the reflected portion 218 of the second light, and the reflected portion 219 of the third light are received by the receiver 220 of the at least one sensor 200. Regardless of whether the user's saliva sample contains blood, the intensity of the reflected portion 217 of the first light and the reflected portion 219 of the third light (red light and infrared light) is relatively unchanged. However, when the user's saliva sample does not contain blood, the intensity of the reflected portion 218 of the second light (green light) is greater than when it contains blood. Therefore, at least one sensor 200 generates a first signal indicating the first intensity of the reflected portion 217 of the first light, a second signal indicating the second intensity of the reflected portion 218 of the second light, and a third signal indicating the third intensity of the reflected portion 219 of the third light.

[0081] Since the intensity of the reflected portion 218 of the second light decreases when blood is present in the user's saliva sample, and the intensities of the reflected portion 217 of the first light and the reflected portion 219 of the third light remain substantially the same regardless of whether blood is present in the user's saliva sample, the ratio of the reflected light intensities can be used to identify and quantify hemoglobin / blood. Therefore, the processor 230 can have an algorithm that can calculate the ratio and determine whether (and how much) hemoglobin and blood are present.

[0082] Due to their operative connection, the first signal, the second signal, and the third signal (but the third signal can be omitted because the system can also operate in the case where the at least one sensor 200 only transmits red light or infrared light and green light) are transmitted from the at least one sensor 200 to the processor 230. The processor 230 is equipped with an algorithm that directs it to use the first signal, the second signal, and the third signal to perform calculations to help determine whether hemoglobin / blood is present in the toothpaste slurry. Specifically, the processor 230 is configured to calculate the ratio of the first intensity of the first light 217 to the second intensity of the second light 218 and / or the ratio of the third intensity of the third light 219 to the second intensity of the second light 218. As should be understood, if hemoglobin / blood is present in the toothpaste slurry, the intensity of the reflected portion 218 of the second light is less than the intensity in the case where hemoglobin is not present in the toothpaste slurry. Thus, if hemoglobin / blood is present in the toothpaste slurry, the ratio of the first intensity of the first light 217 to the second intensity of the second light 218 and the ratio of the third intensity of the third light 219 to the second intensity of the second light 218 increase (due to the reduced denominator in the ratio calculation) compared to the case where hemoglobin / blood is not present in the toothpaste slurry. Using this understanding and the developed algorithm, the processor 230 can make a determination as to whether hemoglobin / blood is present in the toothpaste slurry, and if so, how much.

[0083] For example, the processor 230 or algorithm may be provided with predetermined thresholds for various ratios, the predetermined thresholds being calculated such that when the ratio exceeds the predetermined threshold, the processor 230 will be informed that hemoglobin / blood has been detected. Thus, the processor 230 may be programmed such that if the ratio of the first intensity of the first light 217 to the second intensity of the second light 218 exceeds a first predetermined threshold and / or the ratio of the third intensity of the third light 219 to the second intensity of the second light 218 exceeds a second predetermined threshold, then hemoglobin / blood is present.

[0084] Reference Figures 7 to 10 , the operation and use of the oral care implement 100 will be described to obtain data that can be used to determine whether hemoglobin is present in the saliva of a user. Figure 7The oral care appliance 100 is shown in which the first closure member 140 is in a closed state. Typically, when a user brushes their teeth with the tooth cleaning elements 124 of the oral care appliance 100, the first closure member 140 will remain in a closed state. This prevents the user's saliva and / or toothpaste slurry from entering the cavity 130 during brushing. In some embodiments of the present invention, it is desirable to test the user's saliva / toothpaste slurry for the presence of blood after brushing is completed or at other times that the user desires that are not during brushing activities. For example, the user may wish to test their saliva for blood after flossing. By keeping the first closure member 140 closed during brushing, the user's saliva will not enter the cavity 130 during brushing, so the user can only obtain a good reading of blood in the saliva after brushing is completed. Of course, if the user desires to obtain information about the presence of blood / hemoglobin in the saliva / toothpaste slurry during brushing, the user may wish to keep the first closure member 140 open during brushing so that the user's saliva / toothpaste slurry can enter the cavity 130 during brushing activity.

[0085] Although in Figure 7 140, but in this step, the second closure member 150 may also be in a closed state. In some embodiments, if the first closure member 140 is in an open state during brushing, the second closure member 150 will be in a closed state so that the saliva / toothpaste slurry can be collected in the cavity 130. In other embodiments, the first closure member 140 and the second closure member 150 can remain in a closed state during brushing so that the saliva sample is introduced into the cavity 130 only after brushing is completed or at other times not during brushing activity.

[0086] See also Figure 8 , showing an oral care implement 100 in which the first closure member 140 has been removed from Figure 7 The closed state shown is changed to an open state. In an exemplary embodiment, this is achieved by sliding the second closing member 140 relative to the replacement head 120 (or generally the body 101) of the oral care implement 100. In particular, the user can grasp the tab 143 of the first closing member 140 and slide the tab 143 along the groove 128 formed in the front surface 126 of the replacement head 120 (or the body 101). As the tab 143 slides downward in the groove 128, the door 141 slides downward to expose the first opening 131 of the cavity 130. Figure 8 As shown, the first opening 131 is exposed and provides a passage from the outside into the cavity 130. Figure 8, the distal end portion 114 of the shaft portion 112 is visible in the cavity 130 because the distal end portion 114 of the shaft portion 112 is axially aligned with the cavity 130 as described above. In addition, the sensor 200 is aligned with the first opening 131. As described above, in some embodiments, the shaft portion 112 can terminate at the proximal end of the cavity 130. Figure 8 In the embodiment of the present invention, the second closing member 150 can be maintained in the closed state.

[0087] Next, refer to Fig. 9 , with the first closing member 140 in an open state and the second closing member 150 in a closed state, the user can introduce the user's saliva sample (or toothpaste slurry sample) 190 into the cavity 130 of the oral care appliance 100. In an exemplary embodiment, this is achieved by the user spitting directly into the cavity 130. However, the present invention is not so limited, and the user can draw the sample from the user's mouth and introduce it into the cavity 130 in other ways. The user can use a syringe to collect the sample from the user's mouth and then discharge the sample into the cavity 130. Therefore, it should be understood that there are various techniques that can be used to introduce the saliva / toothpaste slurry sample into the cavity 130. By making the first closing member 140 in an open state, the sample 190 can be introduced and enter the cavity 130 through the first opening 131. By making the second closing member 150 in a closed state, the sample 190 is kept in the cavity 130 and cannot pass through the second opening 132 (as mentioned above, the second opening 132 can be omitted in some embodiments).

[0088] After sample 190 is introduced into cavity 130, sensor 200 may be activated to emit light into cavity 130 and receive a reflected portion of the light, as described above with reference to Figure 5 , Fig. 6A and Figure 6B The sensor can collect data or other information that can be used by the processor to determine whether hemoglobin is present in the user's saliva located in the cavity 130. The above discussion applies to this process and will not be repeated here for the sake of brevity.

[0089] After the at least one sensor 200 has performed its measurement function and obtained data that can be used to determine whether hemoglobin is present in the sample 190, the user can flush the chamber 130. Fig.10In one embodiment, the user can change the second closure member 150 from a closed state to an open state to expose the second opening 132. The first closure member 140 and the second closure member 150 can be independently changeable between their respective open and closed states. The user can then rinse the cavity 130 by flowing water or a cleaning solution through the cavity 130. The water or cleaning solution can flow through the first opening 131, through the cavity 130, and then flow out through the second opening 132 (or can flow in the opposite direction). In other embodiments, the user can remove the replacement head 120 from the handle portion 110 and then rinse the cavity 130.

[0090] Reference Fig.11 and Fig.12 , a system 500 for detecting blood in the oral cavity. The system 500 includes an oral care appliance 100 and a portable electronic device 300 that are operatively communicated with each other. The oral care appliance 100 is the same as that described above with reference to Figures 1 to 4 The oral care implements described herein, therefore the above description is applicable.

[0091] The oral care appliance 100 may include an electronic circuit that may include a processor 230, a power source 199, a sensor 200, a memory device 260 (which may alternatively be part of the processor 230 in some embodiments), a Bluetooth module 261, and an indicator 262. However, in some embodiments, the processor 230, the memory device 260, and / or the indicator 262 may be omitted. Therefore, in some embodiments, the electronic circuit of the oral care appliance 100 may only include the sensor 200 (which includes a transmitter 210 and a receiver 220) and the power source 199, and the Bluetooth module 261. In the case where the oral care appliance 100 is an electric toothbrush, the oral care appliance 100 may also include a motor 263.

[0092] The reason why the oral care appliance 100 may not include the processor 230, the memory device 260, and the indicator 262 (but in some embodiments, it may include any of one or more of these components) is because these components may be included as part of a portable electronic device 300 that communicates with the oral care appliance 100. Specifically, the portable electronic device 300 may be a smart phone, tablet computer, computer, or similar device that includes a processor 301, a memory 302, a user interface 303, a blood testing software application 304, and a Bluetooth module 305. The portable electronic device 300 may also include a display 306 (which may be the same as the user interface 303 or different from the user interface 303). In an exemplary embodiment, since the Bluetooth module 261 is incorporated into the oral care appliance 100 and the Bluetooth module 305 is incorporated into the portable electronic device 300, the processor 301 of the portable electronic device 300 is in operative communication with the sensor 200 of the oral care appliance 100 via Bluetooth (when the oral care appliance 100 and the portable electronic device 300 are close enough to each other to allow such a Bluetooth connection). Of course, Bluetooth is merely one exemplary way in which the oral care appliance 100 and the portable electronic device 300 can communicate. In other embodiments, there may be a wired connection between the oral care appliance 100 and the portable electronic device 300, or they may communicate using other wireless protocols (infrared wireless communication, satellite communication, radio, microwave, Zigbee, Z-wave, etc.). Of course, in some embodiments, the sensor 200 may have a built-in microcontroller.

[0093] In this embodiment, the sensor 200 will operate as described above. Therefore, the transmitter 210 of the sensor 200 includes a plurality of light sources emitting light of different wavelengths, and the receiver 220 of the sensor 200 receives the reflected light. The sensor 200 then generates a signal indicating the intensity of the various reflected lights. In this embodiment, the signal is then transmitted from the sensor 200 of the oral care appliance 100 to the processor 301 of the portable electronic device 300 via Bluetooth or otherwise. As long as the oral care appliance 100 and the portable electronic device 300 are operatively communicating (via Bluetooth or other wireless technology or by a wired connection), the transmission of these signals from the sensor 200 of the oral care appliance 100 to the processor 301 of the portable electronic device 300 can occur.

[0094] In an alternative embodiment, the processing can all occur within the oral care appliance 100. In such an embodiment, as described herein, the processor 230 of the oral care appliance 100 can receive a signal from the sensor 200 and determine whether hemoglobin / blood is present in the sample. In such an embodiment, if there is no reason to transmit information from the oral care appliance 200 to an external device such as a portable electronic device 300, the Bluetooth module 261 can be omitted. In addition, in such an embodiment, the oral care appliance 100 can include an indicator 262, which can be a visual, tactile or auditory indicator component. For example, when hemoglobin is detected or when hemoglobin is detected to be above a specific threshold, the indicator 262 can flash a color to indicate. When hemoglobin is not detected or the hemoglobin level is below a threshold, the indicator 262 may not flash, or may flash a different color. Alternatively, the indicator 262 can vibrate or emit a specific sound to indicate the presence or absence of hemoglobin in the test sample.

[0095] In some embodiments, information associated with the signals and information detected by the sensor 200 may be initially stored in the memory 260 and / or processor 230 of the oral care appliance 100 and then transferred in batches to the processor 301 of the portable electronic device 300. Thus, data or information corresponding to a plurality of different brushing activities may be initially stored in the memory 260 and / or processor of the toothbrush 230. This may be used in situations where a user is brushing their teeth when the oral care appliance 100 is not in operable communication with the portable electronic device 300. In this manner, the oral care appliance 100 will initially store all data and then, after the oral care appliance 100 becomes operably coupled to the portable electronic device 300, the data may be transferred to the portable electronic device 300 for further processing as described herein (automatically or in response to manual user input). In such an embodiment, the processor 230 may be capable of processing the data such that the processor 230 may activate the indicator 262 when it determines that hemoglobin / blood is present in the oral cavity or toothpaste slurry.

[0096] As described above, the portable electronic device 300 may have a blood testing software application 304 downloaded thereon. Thus, the user may open the blood testing software application 304 and place the oral care appliance 100 in operable communication (wireless or wired) with the portable electronic device 300. Alternatively, the operable connection between the oral care appliance 100 and the portable electronic device 300 may cause the blood testing software application 304 to be automatically launched on the portable electronic device 300. In such a case, when the sensor 200 of the oral care appliance 100 collects information / data related to the intensity of the reflected light, the sensor 200 transmits this data / information to the processor 301 of the portable electronic device 300. In some embodiments, such transmission of data / information from the sensor 200 to the processor 301 may occur automatically as long as the oral care appliance 100 and the portable electronic device 300 are in operable communication with each other. Of course, as described above, the data / information may alternatively (or additionally) be stored locally on the memory device 260 of the oral care appliance 100 and then transmitted to the portable electronic device 300 in batches. The processor 301 of the portable electronic device 300 may make this data / information available to the user on the portable electronic device 300 in a variety of ways using the blood testing software application 304 .

[0097] Reference Fig.13 , an oral care system 1000 according to one embodiment of the present invention is shown. The oral care system 1000 generally includes a handle 1100, a replacement head 1200, and a collection cup 1300. The replacement head 1200 is detachably coupled to the handle 1100. The replacement head 1200 can be detachably coupled to the handle 1000 to perform oral care functions, such as teeth cleaning. When the replacement head 1200 is coupled to the handle 1100, the assembled device can be referred to as an oral care appliance or a toothbrush. The collection cup 1300 is also detachably coupled to the handle 1100. The collection cup 1300 can be coupled to the handle to perform sensing, testing, or measuring functions, such as testing the presence of hemoglobin / blood in a saliva or toothpaste slurry sample. According to an exemplary embodiment, only one of the replacement head 1200 and the collection cup 1200 can be coupled to the handle 1100 at a time. In some embodiments, the oral care system 1000 can include only the handle 1100 and the collection cup 1300.

[0098] The handle 1100 includes a grip portion 1110 and a stem portion 1120 extending from the distal end of the grip portion 1110. The grip portion 1110 may include an inner cavity (in the Fig.21110). The grip portion 1110 may be grasped and held by a user during use. The shaft portion 1120 may include an inner cavity that accommodates at least one sensor 1150. The sensor 1150 may be the same as the sensor 200 described above, and thus the description of the structure and function of the sensor 200 is applicable to the sensor 1150 and will not be described herein for the sake of brevity. In particular, Figure 5 , Fig. 6A and Figure 6B And the disclosures set forth herein in connection with these figures apply to sensor 1150 .

[0099] The shaft portion 1120 of the handle 1100 may include a proximal portion 1121 positioned adjacent to the grip portion 1110 and a distal portion 1122 positioned furthest from the grip portion 1110. The sensor 1150 may be positioned within the distal portion 1122 of the shaft portion 1120 or along the distal portion 1122 of the shaft portion 1120. The shaft portion 1120 may include a first connection feature 1123 and a second connection feature 1124. The proximal portion 1121 of the shaft portion 1120 may include the first connection feature 1123. In an exemplary embodiment, the first connection feature 1123 may be a protrusion or boss positioned along the proximal portion 1121 of the shaft portion 1120. However, the present invention is not so limited, and the first connection feature 1123 may take other forms, including holes, slots, threads, snap-fit ​​features, friction-fit features, etc., to name a few. The first connection feature 1123 of the stem portion 1120 of the handle 1100 is configured to engage or mate with a connection feature of the replacement head 1200 discussed below to facilitate connection between the replacement head 1200 and the handle 1100 .

[0100] The distal portion 1122 of the stem portion 1120 may include a second connection feature 1124. The distal portion 1122 of the stem portion 1120 may terminate at a distal end 1125 of the stem portion 1120. The second connection feature 1124 may include one or more protrusions 1126 protruding from the distal end 1125 of the stem portion 1120. In other embodiments, the second connection feature 1124 may be formed by the shape of the distal portion 1122 of the stem portion 1120 (protrusions 1126 may be omitted in some embodiments). In yet other embodiments, the second connection feature 1124 may include the shape of the distal portion 1122 combined with one or more protrusions 1126. In other embodiments, the second connection feature 1124 may take other forms, such as features of a snap-fit ​​or friction-fit connection, threads, etc. The second connection feature 1124 may be separate and distinct from the first connection feature 1123.

[0101] The replacement head 1200 includes a sleeve portion 1210 and a head portion 1220. The sleeve portion 1210 includes a sleeve cavity 1211, and when the replacement head 1200 is coupled to the handle 1100, the shaft portion 1120 of the handle 1100 is positioned in the sleeve cavity 1211. The sleeve portion 1210 includes a bottom end 1212 having an opening 1213, which provides access to the sleeve cavity 1211. The replacement head includes a third connection feature 1215. In an exemplary embodiment, the sleeve portion 1210 of the replacement head 1200 includes the third connection feature 1215. Further, in an exemplary embodiment, the third connection feature 1215 includes a hole 1216 formed through the sleeve portion 1210. The hole 1216 can extend from the bottom end 1212 upward toward the head portion 1220. The hole 1216 of the third connection feature 1215 can be configured to receive the protrusion of the first connection feature 1123 of the handle 1100 to facilitate the coupling between the replacement head 1200 and the handle 1100. In alternative embodiments, the first connection feature 1123 can be a hole, and the third connection feature 1215 can be a protrusion. In still other embodiments, the first connection feature 1123 and the third connection feature 1215 can take other forms that allow the first connection feature 1123 and the third connection feature 1215 to engage with each other to facilitate the coupling of the replacement head 1200 to the handle 1100, such as threads, friction fit, snap fit, etc. For example, the idea is that there is some such engagement or contact or fit between the first connection feature 1123 and the third connection feature 1215 that prevents the replacement head 1200 from simply sliding off the handle 1100 if the orientation is reversed. Thus, the first and third connection features 1123, 1215 should create some engagement between the replacement head 1200 and the handle 1100 that helps retain the replacement head 1200 on the handle 1100 when they are attached. The connection features may be as simple as the shape of the shaft 1120 and lumen 1211 that creates a friction fit.

[0102] The head portion 1220 of the replacement head 1200 includes a front surface 1221 having tooth cleaning elements 1222 positioned thereon and protruding therefrom. The details of the structure, material and pattern of the tooth cleaning elements 1222 are the same as those provided above with reference to the tooth cleaning elements 124, except for the exceptions set forth herein. According to an exemplary embodiment, the tooth cleaning elements 1222 form a cleaning element area 1223. In addition, the cleaning element area 1223 defines an opening or cavity 1224, which is formed by a portion of the head portion 1220 that does not have any cleaning elements 1222 extending therefrom. Therefore, there is a portion of the head portion 1220 that does not contain any cleaning elements 1222, and the portion is surrounded by the cleaning elements 1222 to form a cavity 1224 within the cleaning element area 1223. Of course, in other embodiments, the spacing between the cleaning elements 1222 of the cleaning element area 1223 can be different from the spacing shown, so that there is no cavity per se, but still a gap is retained in the cleaning element area 1223.

[0103] Simple reference Fig.14 , the replacement head 1200 is shown coupled to the handle 1110. The stem 1120 is nested within the sleeve cavity 1211 of the replacement head 1200. The proximal portion 1121 and the distal portion 1122 can be nested within the sleeve cavity 1211. In some embodiments, the proximal portion 1121 can be nested within the sleeve portion 1210 of the replacement head 1200, and the distal portion 1122 of the stem 1120 can be nested within the head portion 1220 of the replacement head 1200. When the replacement head 1220 is coupled to the handle 1110, the cavity 1224 in the bristle area 1223 can be aligned with the sensor 1150. Therefore, the sensor 1150 can be configured to emit light into the user's oral cavity by emitting light through the cavity 1224 during brushing. In some embodiments, the head portion 1220 can be transparent to allow light emitted from the sensor 1150 to pass through the head portion 1220. Using this structure, the sensor 1150 can be configured to obtain data that can be used to determine whether hemoglobin is present in the user's oral cavity during brushing activities. That is, when the user brushes or otherwise cleans the oral cavity with the replacement head 1200, the sensor 1150 can emit and receive light as described herein to obtain data about the presence or absence of hemoglobin / blood from the oral cavity. Additional details on this are described in U.S. Patent Publication No. 2022 / 0257968, which is previously incorporated herein by reference.

[0104] Alternatively (or additionally), sensor 1150 (or some additional sensor) may be configured to perform additional or alternative functions when replacement head 1200 is coupled to handle 1110. For example, sensor 1150 or some additional or alternative sensor may be configured to detect or measure the presence or absence of an oral cavity, the presence or absence of oral disease (i.e., plaque, gum disease, etc.) on the oral cavity, etc. When replacement head 1220 is coupled to handle 1110, sensor or some additional or alternative sensor may be configured to perform any of one or more functions described in U.S. Patent No. 11,406,480, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0105] In other embodiments, the cleaning element area 1223 may not have the cavity 1224, and data may not be obtained during the brushing activity. Instead, the oral care system 1000 can be used to test hemoglobin / blood in a user's saliva sample after the brushing activity is completed, for example using the collection cup 1300 described below. In other embodiments, the oral care system 1000 may be able to test blood / hemoglobin using the collection cup 1300 during the brushing activity as described herein and also after the brushing activity or at any other desired time. The data from the sensor 1150 can be processed internally within the oral care appliance (or its handle 1100), and / or the data can be processed by an external electronic device such as a mobile phone, tablet computer, computer, etc., as described above with reference to Fig.11 and Fig.12 The discussion of data processing provided above is fully applicable to the embodiment of the oral care system 1000.

[0106] Reference Figures 15 to 18A , the collection cup 1300 will be further described. The collection cup 1300 can be formed of glass, but this is not required, and the collection cup 1300 can be formed of other materials, such as plastic. The collection cup 1300, or at least the portion of the collection cup 1300 that is aligned with the sensor 1150 when the collection cup 1300 is coupled to the handle 1100, can be transparent or light-transmissive so that light emitted by the sensor 1150 can pass through the collection cup 1300. The collection cup 1300 includes a bottom end 1301, a top end 1302, an outer surface 1303, and a collection cavity 1310 having a top opening 1313 at the top end 1302. The collection cavity 1310 is defined by a bottom 1311 and an inner surface 1312 of the body of the collection cup 1300, which extends from the bottom 1311 of the collection cup 1300 to the top end 1302. The collection cavity 1310 extends along a cavity axis BB in a direction from the bottom 1311 to the top end 1302. The collection cup 1300 also includes a base portion 1320 located between the bottom 1311 of the collection chamber 1310 and the bottom end 1302 of the collection cup 1300 .

[0107] The collection cup 1300 includes a fourth connection feature 1340 configured to engage with the second connection feature 1124 of the handle 1100 to facilitate connection between the collection cup 1300 and the handle 1100, as will be described in more detail below. The fourth connection feature 1340 may include a channel 1341 formed in the base portion 1320. The channel 1341 may extend from an opening 1342 in the outer surface 1303 of the collection cup 1300 to an end wall 1343. In other embodiments, the channel 1341 may extend from one opening in the outer surface 1303 to another opening in the outer surface, rather than having an end wall 1343. In an exemplary embodiment, the channel 1341 includes an opening 1344 in the bottom end 1301 of the collection cup 1300 along its entire length. However, the present invention is not so limited in all embodiments, and the channel 1341 may have a bottom, rather than extending through the bottom end 1301.

[0108] The channel 1341 can be elongated along the channel axis CC in a direction from the opening 1342 to the end wall 1343. The channel axis CC can be oriented perpendicularly relative to the cavity axis BB. The channel 1341 can be defined by a first sidewall 1345 located on a first side of the channel axis CC, a second sidewall 1346 located on a second side of the channel axis CC, and a top 1347 extending between the first sidewall 1345 and the second sidewall 1346. As described, although in the exemplary embodiment, the channel 1341 extends through the opening 1344 in the bottom end 1302 of the collection cup 1300, the channel 1341 can also have a bottom. The top 1347 of the channel 1341 can be generally aligned with the bottom 1311 of the collection chamber 1310. The first sidewall 1345 and the second sidewall 1346 can include a linear portion and an inward curved portion or a curved portion, wherein the inward curved portion or the curved portion is located between the linear portion and the bottom end 1301 of the collection cup 1300. The incurved portions or curved portions may bend inwardly toward each other to form a locking feature that helps retain the distal portion 1122 of the stem 1120 of the handle 1100 in the channel 1341 when the collection cup 1300 is coupled to the handle 1100. Other shapes and configurations of the channel 1341 and its boundaries may be used in other embodiments.

[0109] In an exemplary embodiment, there are two holes 1348 in the end wall 1343. Each hole 1348 is configured to receive one of the protrusions 1126 of the handle 1100 when the collection cup 1300 is coupled to the handle 1100. Specifically, when the collection cup 1300 is coupled to the handle 1100, the distal portion 1122 of the stem 1120 is nested within the channel 1341, and the protrusion 1126 is nested within the hole 1148. In other embodiments, the protrusion 1126 and the hole 1148 can be omitted, and nesting the distal portion 1122 of the stem 1120 within the channel 1341 can be sufficient to couple the collection cup 1300 to the handle 1100. The collection cup 1300 can be slidably coupled to the handle 1100 by sliding the distal portion 1122 of the stem 1120 into the channel 1341 in the direction of the channel axis CC.

[0110] The channel 1341 may be directly below and aligned with the bottom 1311 of the collection chamber 1310. In other words, the bottom 1311 may cover the channel 1341. In some embodiments, any axis parallel to the cavity axis BB that intersects the bottom 1311 of the collection chamber 1310 will also intersect the channel 1341. Thus, when the collection cup 1300 is coupled to the handle 1100, the sensor 1150 positioned along or within the distal end portion 1122 of the stem 1120 will be below and aligned with the bottom 1311 of the collection chamber 1310. That is, an axis parallel to the cavity axis BB that intersects the sensor 1150 will also intersect the bottom 1311. By aligning the sensor 1150 with the bottom 1311 of the collection chamber 1310, the sensor 1150 will be able to perform its testing / measuring / sensing function on the saliva sample contained in the collection chamber 1310.

[0111] The inner surface 1312 of the body of the collection cup 1300 is angled toward the cavity axis BB so that the bottom 1311 of the collection cavity 1310 has a smaller footprint or area than the top opening 1313 of the collection cavity 1310. Different portions of the inner surface 1312 of the body of the collection cup 1300 can be oriented at different angles relative to the cavity axis BB. For example, as in Fig.17 As seen in FIG. 1 , the front-most portion 1314 of the inner surface 1312 is minimally angled relative to the cavity axis BB and may even be oriented parallel to the cavity axis BB. The rear-most portion 1315 of the inner surface 1312 has a top portion that is linear and a bottom portion that is angled relative to the cavity axis BB at a much greater angle than the front-most portion 1314. Then, as shown in FIG. Fig.18A As best seen in FIG. 1 , the sides 1316 , 1317 of the inner surface 1312 are oriented at the same angle relative to the cavity axis BB.

[0112] Due to the various angles of the inner surface 1312 of the side wall as described herein, the bottom 1311 of the collection chamber 1310 can be in the shape of a capsule or pill or a two-dimensional spherical cylinder. The capsule or pill or spherical cylinder shape can cut off one of its round ends to form the final shape of the bottom 1311, although this is not required in all embodiments. In some embodiments, the bottom 1311 can be considered to have an arched shape. Therefore, the area of ​​the bottom 1311 of the collection chamber 1310 is much smaller than the area of ​​the top opening 1313. Creating a small bottom provides a greater possibility that the saliva sample introduced into the collection chamber 1310 will cover the entire bottom, which can create an environment for better measurement results from the sensor 1150.

[0113] The area of ​​the top opening 1313 of the collection chamber 1310 may be 200 mm 2 Up to 500mm 2 , more specifically 300mm 2 Up to 450mm 2 , more specifically 330mm 2 Up to 400mm 2 , and more specifically 350 mm 2 Up to 370 mm 2 In some embodiments, the area of ​​the bottom 1311 may be 40 mm 2 Up to 150 mm 2 , more specifically 50 mm 2 Up to 120 mm 2 , more specifically 60 mm 2 Up to 100mm 2 , and more specifically 80mm 2 Up to 100mm 2 In some embodiments, the ratio of the area of ​​the top opening 131 to the area of ​​the bottom 1311 can be in the range of 3:1 to 5:1, more specifically 3.5:1 to 4.5:1, and still more specifically 3.8:1 to 4.2:1. By forming the bottom 1311 with a small footprint, it is ensured that the saliva or toothpaste slurry contained in the collection chamber 1310 will cover the bottom 1311, which will enable the sensor 1150 to perform better measurements when detecting blood / hemoglobin in the sample.

[0114] The bottom portion 1311 may have a length L1 and a width W1. The length L1 may be greater than the width W1. A ratio of the length L1 to the width W1 may be 1.5:1 to 3.5:1, more specifically 1.8:1 to 3.0:1, and even more specifically 2.0:1 to 2.5:1.

[0115] Brief reference Fig.18B, a collection cup 1300a is shown. The collection cup 1300a is identical to the collection cup 1300, except for the position / orientation of the channel 1341a. In particular, in this embodiment, the channel 1341a is elongated in a direction parallel to the inner surface of the collection cup 1300 from the opening 1342a in the bottom end 1302a of the collection cup 1300a to the end wall 1343a. When the collection cup 1300 is connected to the handle 1100 and contains a sample, the handle 1100 can be maintained approximately horizontally (plus or minus 20°) to prevent the sample from overflowing. When the collection cup 1300a is connected to the handle 1100 and contains a sample, the handle 1100 is maintained approximately vertically (plus or minus 20°) to prevent the sample from overflowing. In other respects, the collection cup 1300a and the collection cup 1300 are identical. That is, the only difference between the two is the position and orientation of the channels 1341, 1341a. Furthermore, the orientation of the channel 1341a can be changed depending on the shape of the inner surface of the collection cup 1300a. That is, if one of the sidewalls of the inner surface of the collection cup 1300a is vertical, the channel 1341a can also be vertical (i.e., parallel to the axis BB) rather than being oriented at an angle relative to the axis BB as shown.

[0116] In an alternative embodiment, at least a portion of the inner surface of the side wall of the collection cup can be oriented vertically rather than angled as shown. In such an embodiment, the channel configured to receive the distal portion of the stem portion of the handle can also be oriented vertically, which will allow the toothbrush to be held vertically while supporting the collection cup in an upright orientation. In some embodiments, the orientation of the channel (vertical or angled) can correspond to the orientation of the inner surface of the side wall adjacent to the channel to ensure that the sensor can obtain accurate measurements.

[0117] Figures 19 to 21 The oral care system 1000 is shown in which the collection cup 1300 is removably coupled to the handle 1100. As previously described, this is accomplished by sliding the distal portion 1122 of the stem 1120 of the handle 1100 into the channel 1341 of the collection cup 1300. After being so coupled, the inwardly curved portion of the wall of the channel 1341 can prevent the distal portion 1122 of the stem 1120 from being pulled through the opening 1344 of the channel 1341 formed in the bottom end 1301 of the collection cup 1300. Thus, when the collection cup 1300 is coupled to the handle 1100, the distal portion 1122 of the stem 1120 (where the sensor 1150 is located) is located within the channel 1341 of the collection cup 1300.

[0118] As described above, the channel 1341 of the collection cup 1300 can be aligned with the bottom 1311 of the collection chamber 1310. The bottom 1311 of the collection chamber 1310 can be directly above the channel 1341. Therefore, when the distal end portion 1122 of the stem 1120 of the handle 1100 is located in the channel 1341 of the collection cup 1300, the sensor 1150 is aligned with the bottom 1311 of the collection chamber 1310. This enables the sensor 1150 to easily perform a measurement of the user's saliva sample 1390 located in the collection chamber 1310. The user's saliva sample 1390 can be introduced into the collection chamber 1310 by the user spitting directly into the collection chamber 1310 or by scooping or otherwise (via a syringe or otherwise) removing the sample from the user's mouth and introducing it into the collection chamber 1310.

[0119] When the collection cup 1300 is coupled to the stem 1120, the proximal portion 1121 of the stem 1120 may be exposed. That is, the distal portion 1122 of the stem 1120 may be located within the channel 1341, but the proximal portion 1121 may not be covered by the collection cup 1300. Thus, the collection cup 1300 may be attached only to the distal portion 1122 of the stem 1120, leaving the remainder of the stem 1120 uncovered and exposed. The proximal portion 1121 may not fit within the channel 1341 due to size limitations, or the distal end of the stem 1120 may abut against an end wall of the channel 1341 when the collection cup 1300 is fully coupled to the stem 1120 of the handle 1100.

[0120] In an embodiment using a collection cup 1300a, although the sensor 1150 is not located below the bottom 1311a of the collection chamber 1310a, the sensor 1150 will still be aligned with the collection chamber 1310a. Instead, the sensor 1150 will be located beside the collection chamber 1310a and positioned adjacent to the bottom 1311a of the collection chamber 1310a to ensure that the sensor 1150 can still perform measurements of saliva samples located on the bottom 1311a of the collection chamber 1310a.

[0121] like Fig.21 As best shown in FIG. 1 , the handle 1100 may include a power source 1199 for powering the sensor 1150. The handle 1100 may include additional electronic components, including those described above with reference to FIG. Fig.12 Those described.

[0122] According to one embodiment of the present invention, a user may use the oral care system 1000 as follows. First, the user may attach the replacement head 1200 to the handle 1100 and perform a brushing activity with it. After completing the brushing activity, the user may detach the replacement head 1200 from the handle 1100. The user may then attach the collection cup 1300 to the handle 1100 in the manner described herein. Next, and before rinsing the user's mouth / oral cavity, the user may introduce a sample of the saliva / toothpaste slurry into the collection chamber 1310 of the collection cup 1300. In some embodiments, the user may introduce the saliva / toothpaste slurry into the collection chamber 1310 before attaching the collection cup 1300 to the handle 1100, although in other embodiments this may be done after attaching the collection cup 1300 to the handle 110. Next, the sensor 1150 may be activated to emit various lights of various wavelengths as described herein into the collection chamber 1310. Light from the sensor 1150 can be directed toward the sample 1390 in the collection chamber 1310. The sensor 1150 will receive the reflected portions of the light as described herein. Next, signals indicating the intensity of the various reflected portions of the light can be transmitted to a processor. The processor can be located within the handle 1100, or can be part of a separate electronic device as described herein. The processor can then calculate the ratio of the intensities of the different reflected lights to determine whether hemoglobin is present in the sample. The details of the operation and process of the sensor 1150 are exactly as described above, and for the sake of brevity, are not repeated herein.

[0123] After the measurement is completed, the collection cup 1300 can be removed from the handle 1100 and rinsed. In some embodiments, the sensor 1150 may need to be calibrated periodically. In such an embodiment, an object such as paper, calibration solution, etc. can be placed on the bottom 1311 of the collection chamber 1310 while the collection cup 1300 is coupled to the handle 1100. The sensor 1150 can then be activated and calibrated with the paper or calibration solution located on the bottom 1311 of the collection chamber 1310.

[0124] Reference Fig. 22 , shows an oral care implement 2000 according to another embodiment. Fig. 22, only a portion of the head 2100 of the oral care appliance 2000 is shown. The head 2100 may be a replacement head, or may be an integral part of the overall oral care appliance structure. Many of the features and concepts disclosed above are relevant to the oral care appliance 2000, and therefore only the differences will be described below. Therefore, it should be understood that for all features not explicitly described with reference to the oral care appliance 2000, the above disclosure is relevant to the oral care appliance 000 or may be relevant to the oral care appliance 000. For example, the details of the handle, sensor, electronic circuitry, etc. described above may be applicable to the oral care appliance 2000.

[0125] The head 2100 includes a front surface 2101 having tooth cleaning elements 2103 extending therefrom and a rear surface 2102 opposite the front surface 2102. In addition, in an exemplary embodiment, the head 2100 includes a cavity 2110. In alternative embodiments, the cavity 2110 can be located along the neck or handle of the oral care appliance 2000, rather than being located on the head 2100, as described above. However, positioning the cavity 2110 on the head 2100 ensures that saliva and / or toothpaste slurry generated during brushing will flow into the cavity 2110, where it can be monitored by sensors for hemoglobin or blood testing or for any other purpose, some of which have been described above. In an exemplary embodiment, the cavity 2110 extends from a first opening 2111 on the front surface 2101 of the head 2100 and a second opening 2112 on the rear surface 2102 of the head 2100. The first opening 2111 may have a larger cross-sectional area than the second opening 2112 to allow the user's saliva or toothpaste slurry (saliva mixed with toothpaste) to enter the cavity 2110 more easily than leaving, thereby providing time for the sensor to make its measurement. Therefore, the cavity 2110 extends through the full thickness of the head 2100. However, the present invention is not so limited, and the cavity 2110 may be open on the front surface 2101 and closed on the rear surface 2102 so that the cavity 2110 may have a bottom. Alternatively, the cavity 2110 may be open on the rear surface 2102 and closed on the front surface 2101. The cavity 2110 may be defined by a side wall 2115 extending in a direction between the front surface 2101 and the rear surface 2102 of the head 2100.

[0126] In addition, despite the Fig. 2221. Although not shown in the drawings, the oral care implement 2000 may include a closure member configured to close one or both of the first opening 2111 and the second opening 2112. That is, the closure member may change between a closed state, in which the first opening 2111 and / or the second opening 2112 are closed and the cavity 2110 is not accessible, and an open state, in which the first opening 2111 and / or the second opening 2112 are open and the cavity 2110 is accessible. The closure member may be a sliding member as described above, or the closure member may change between the open / closed states in other ways (e.g., pivoting about a hinge). The closure member may change between the open and closed states by manual interaction of a user or automatically.

[0127] The oral care implement 2000 may include one or more sensors 2200 that may be used to detect blood or hemoglobin in a saliva sample of a user, or may be used for other purposes as described herein.

[0128] Reference Fig.23 , one embodiment of the oral care appliance 2000 will be described with specific reference to the positioning of the sensor 2200. The sensor 2200 may include a transmitter 2210 and a receiver 2220. The transmitter 2210 may include one or more light sources 2211, some details of which have been provided above and apply here. The details of the receiver 2220 and the manner in which it works with the transmitter 2210 to make measurements are described above, and those descriptions apply here. The main differences between the above discussion and the embodiments of the oral care appliance 2000 relate to the placement and / or positioning of the sensor 2200 and its transmitter 2210 and receiver 2220.

[0129] The head 2100 of the oral care implement 2000 includes a mid-plane ZZ. The sidewall 2115 of the cavity 2110 includes a first sidewall portion 2116 located on a first side of the mid-plane ZZ and a second sidewall portion 2117 located on a second side of the mid-plane ZZ. In this embodiment, the sensor 2200 is located on the first sidewall portion 2116 of the sidewall 2115 of the cavity 2110. More specifically, both the transmitter 2210 and the receiver 2220 are located on the first sidewall portion 2116 of the sidewall 2115 of the cavity 2110. Therefore, light emitted from the transmitter 2210 can be emitted toward a sample in the cavity 2110, reflected from the second sidewall portion 2117, and then received by the receiver 2220 for processing.

[0130] Reference Fig.24 , an alternative version of the head 2100 is shown. Fig.24, the receiver 2220 is located on the first side wall portion 2116 , and the transmitter 2210 is located on the second side wall portion 2117 .

[0131] It should be noted that in both embodiments, the sensors 2200 are oriented so that they are not facing either of the openings 2111, 2112 into the cavity 2110. That is, the cavity 2110 has a cavity axis HH extending from the opening 2111 in the front surface 2101 to the opening 2112 in the rear surface 2102 (or, in the absence of two openings, the cavity axis HH extends between the front surface 2101 and the rear surface 2102 of the head 2100). The transmitter 2110 is oriented so that it emits light (or electromagnetic radiation) in a direction generally transverse to the cavity axis HH. For example, if the sensor 2200 is located on the bottom of the cavity and facing upward, the sensor 2200 will likely face the oral cavity where many red objects (such as lips, cheeks, and tongue) are present. When this type of sensor is facing the oral cavity, it is possible that hemoglobin detection may be affected based on the detection of other red objects (such as lips, cheeks, and tongue). Thus, by positioning the sensor 2200 on the side wall 2115 of the cavity 2110 as shown and described, the sensor 2200 is not affected by red objects of the oral cavity and a better hemoglobin / blood measurement can be made. The position of the transmitter 2110 can be modified from the position shown so that it is more centrally positioned to further reduce the amount of electromagnetic radiation that can pass through the openings 2111, 2112. Other modifications, such as the type of transmitter and the choice of its electromagnetic radiation emission path, can be selected and modified to further enhance functionality and operation.

[0132] Figure 25 to Figure 27 Shows something like Figure 22 to Figure 24 Implementation of the invention with some minor modifications. Specifically, Fig.25 An oral care implement 3000 is shown, which includes a head 3100 having a front surface 3101 and a rear surface 3102. There are tooth cleaning elements 3103 extending from the front surface 3101. The head 3100 includes a cavity 3110. The cavity 3110 can extend from an opening 3111 in the front surface 3101 to an opening 3112 in the rear surface 3102. Alternatively, the cavity 3110 can be open on only one of the front surface 3101 and the rear surface 3102, but not on the other. The cavity 3115 can be bounded or defined by a sidewall 3115. The oral care implement 3000 can include one or more sensors 3200 located on the sidewall 3115.

[0133] The head 3100 may have a longitudinal axis YY and a transverse axis XX, wherein the transverse axis XX is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis YY and passes through the cavity 3110. In this embodiment, the cavity 3110 may have a Fig.26 and Fig. 27 The cavity axis WW is shown. The cavity axis WW extends from a first opening 3111 in the front surface 3101 to a second opening 3112 in the rear surface 3102. The sensor 3200 may include a transmitter 3210 and a receiver 3220. The sidewall 3115 may include a first sidewall portion 3116 located on a first side of the transverse axis XX and a second sidewall portion 3117 located on a second side of the transverse axis XX. The first sidewall portion 3116 may be upward toward the distal end 3104 of the head 3100, and the second sidewall portion 3117 may be downward toward the handle (not shown) of the oral care implement 3000.

[0134] exist Fig.26 In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 , a sensor 3200 including both a transmitter 3210 and a receiver 3220 may be located on the first sidewall portion 3116. Fig. 27 , the receiver 3220 can be located on the first sidewall portion 3116, and the transmitter 3210 can be located on the second sidewall portion 3117. In either case, the transmitter 3210 is configured to emit light in the direction of the longitudinal axis YY. In other words, the transmitter 3210 is configured to emit light or electromagnetic radiation in a direction substantially perpendicular to the cavity axis WW. Therefore, most of the light is not emitted outwardly through either of the openings 3111, 3112 and into the oral cavity, where hemoglobin measurements may be affected by the red color of objects in the oral cavity (e.g., lips, gums, tongue, and cheeks).

[0135] In these embodiments, the user's saliva can enter the cavity 2110, 3110 during brushing. The user's saliva can mix with the toothpaste so that it is a toothpaste slurry (which is a mixture of toothpaste and saliva) that flows into the cavity 2110, 3110 during brushing. The sensor 2200, 3200 will obtain measurements from the toothpaste slurry to determine whether hemoglobin / blood is present in the toothpaste slurry, and if so, how much. Therefore, since the toothpaste slurry automatically enters the cavity 2110, 3110 during brushing, no additional steps are required by the user. Instead, during the brushing activity, when the toothpaste slurry naturally flows into the cavity 2110, 3110, the sensor 2200, 3200 will simply take measurements. Figure 22 to Figure 27 As shown, by positioning the sensor 2200 on the side walls 2115, 3115 of the cavity 2110, 3110, red objects in the user's mouth will not interfere with the ongoing measurement (or such interference will be reduced compared to an embodiment in which the sensor is located on the bottom of the cavity facing upward toward the front opening).

[0136] In some embodiments, the head 2100 may be formed of a translucent material, a semi-opaque material (e.g., beige), or a light blocking material (e.g., black). In some embodiments, the head 2100 may be formed of black (e.g., black resin), which may be superior in avoiding interference compared to a white head or a translucent or semi-opaque material.

[0137] Data collection and analysis

[0138] Interference from lips and tongue use the same as in this article Figure 22 to Figure 27 The oral care implements 2000, 3000 were measured using a prototype commensurate with the range. The following steps were taken:

[0139] 1. Place the toothbrush head in air to measure the baseline signal.

[0140] 2. Then place your lips and tongue over the inlet and outlet windows in the toothbrush head.

[0141] 3. Record the absorbance and calculate the red / green ratio in each case and summarize in Table 1 below:

[0142] Table 1: Red / green ratios recorded in air in the absence of an object (baseline), in the presence of the lips and in the presence of the tongue.

[0143]

[0144] The percent changes in absorbance in the presence of lips and tongue compared to the corresponding baselines are summarized in Table 2 below:

[0145]

[0146] Tables 1 and 2 clearly show that relative to the design shown in U.S. Patent Publication No. 20220257968, as specifically referenced herein Figure 22 to Figure 27 The new design is improved in reducing interference from other red objects. In addition, light blocking materials (e.g., using black resin to form the head of the toothbrush) perform better in reducing interference than semi-transparent or semi-opaque materials (beige resin).

[0147] As used throughout, ranges are used as shorthand for describing individual values ​​and each value within a range. Any value within a range can be selected as the endpoint of the range. In addition, all references cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. In the event that a definition in the present disclosure conflicts with a definition of the cited reference, the present disclosure shall prevail.

[0148] Although the present invention has been described with respect to specific examples (including currently preferred modes for carrying out the present invention), those skilled in the art will appreciate that there are many variations and permutations of the above-described systems and techniques. 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 described in the appended claims.

[0149] Example claim set

[0150] Exemplary claim 1. An oral care device comprising: a body, the body including a cavity configured to receive a saliva sample from a user, the cavity including a first opening, and the user's saliva can be introduced into the cavity through the first opening; a first closing member, the first closing member can change between: (1) a closed state, wherein the first closing member closes the first opening of the cavity and prevents the user's saliva from entering or leaving the cavity through the first opening; and (2) an open state, wherein the first opening provides a first channel into the cavity, and the user's saliva can be introduced into or removed from the cavity through the first channel; and at least one sensor, the at least one sensor being configured to emit light into the cavity and receive a reflected portion of the emitted light to obtain data that can be used to determine whether hemoglobin is present in the user's saliva located in the cavity.

[0151] Exemplary claim 2. The oral care implement of exemplary claim 1 wherein the first closure member is changeable between the closed state and the open state by sliding relative to the body of the oral care implement.

[0152] Exemplary claim 3. An oral care appliance according to exemplary claim 2, wherein the first closing member is configured to be manually changed between the closed state and the open state by a user, or wherein the first closing member is configured to automatically change between the closed state and the open state in response to actuation of an activation element.

[0153] Exemplary claim 4. An oral care device according to exemplary claim 2 or exemplary claim 3, wherein the first closing member includes a door covering the first opening when the first closing member is in the closed state, and a tab protruding from the door, wherein the base includes a groove, and the tab is configured to slide in the groove as the cover member changes between the closed state and the open state.

[0154] Exemplary claim 5. An oral care device according to any one of exemplary claims 1 to 4, wherein the cavity further includes a second opening, the second opening forming a second channel into the cavity, the user's saliva can be introduced into the cavity and / or removed from the cavity through the second channel, and the oral care device further includes a second closing member, the second closing member can be changed between: (1) a closed state, wherein the second closing member closes the second opening of the cavity and prevents the user's saliva from entering or leaving the cavity through the second opening; and (2) an open state, wherein the second opening forms the second channel, the user's saliva can be introduced into the cavity or removed from the cavity through the second channel.

[0155] Exemplary claim 6. The oral care implement of exemplary claim 5 wherein the first closure member and the second closure member are independently changeable between the closed state and the open state.

[0156] Exemplary claim 7. An oral care device according to exemplary claim 5 or exemplary claim 6, wherein the body includes a front surface and a rear surface opposite to the front surface, and wherein the first opening is formed in the front surface of the body, and the second opening is formed in the rear surface of the body, so that the cavity is a through hole extending through the body from the front surface to the rear surface.

[0157] Exemplary claim 8. An oral care implement according to any one of exemplary claims 1 to 7, wherein the body includes a handle portion, a head portion having a tooth cleaning element extending therefrom, and a neck portion located between the handle portion and the head portion, and wherein the cavity is positioned along the neck portion of the body.

[0158] Exemplary claim 9. An oral care implement according to any one of exemplary claims 1 to 7, wherein the main body comprises: a handle having a gripping portion and a stem portion; and a replacement head detachably connected to the handle, the replacement head comprising a head portion and a sleeve portion defining a sleeve cavity, wherein when the replacement head is connected to the handle, the stem portion of the handle is nested in the sleeve cavity, and the replacement head also comprises a plurality of tooth cleaning elements connected to the head portion of the replacement head and extending from the head portion of the replacement head.

[0159] Exemplary claim 10. The oral care implement of exemplary claim 9, wherein the at least one sensor is positioned along the stem portion of the handle, and when the replacement head is coupled to the handle, the at least one sensor is adjacent to or aligned with the cavity.

[0160] Exemplary claim 11. An oral care device according to exemplary claim 9 or exemplary claim 10, wherein the cavity is formed in the sleeve portion of the replacement head, wherein the first opening is located on the front surface of the sleeve portion of the replacement head, and wherein the first closing member is capable of sliding between the closed state and the open state relative to the sleeve portion of the replacement head.

[0161] Exemplary claim 12. An oral care device according to exemplary claim 11, wherein the replacement head includes a second opening located on a rear surface of the sleeve portion of the replacement head, and the oral care device also includes a second closing member, which is capable of sliding relative to the sleeve portion of the replacement head between: (1) a closed state, wherein the second closing member closes the second opening of the cavity and prevents the user's saliva from entering or leaving the cavity through the second opening; and (2) an open state, wherein the second opening provides the second channel, and the user's saliva can be introduced into or removed from the cavity through the second channel.

[0162] Exemplary claim 13. An oral care appliance according to any one of exemplary claims 1 to 12, wherein the at least one sensor is configured to: emit a first light of a first wavelength; emit a second light of a second wavelength; receive reflected portions of the first light and the second light; and generate a first signal indicating a first intensity of the reflected portion of the first light and a second signal indicating a second intensity of the reflected portion of the second light.

[0163] Exemplary claim 14. A blood testing system, comprising: an oral care appliance according to exemplary claim 13; and a processor, the processor being operably connected to the at least one sensor and configured to receive the first signal and the second signal and calculate a ratio of the first intensity to the second intensity to determine whether hemoglobin is detected in the user's saliva sample when the user's saliva sample is present in the cavity or the body of the oral care appliance.

[0164] Exemplary claim 15. A blood testing system according to exemplary claim 14, wherein the at least one sensor is further configured to emit a third light of a third wavelength, receive a reflected portion of the third light, and generate a third signal indicating a third intensity of the reflected portion of the third light, and wherein the processor is configured to receive the third signal and calculate a ratio of the third intensity to the second intensity to determine whether hemoglobin is detected in the user's saliva sample.

[0165] Exemplary claim 16. The blood testing system according to exemplary claim 15, wherein the first light is one of red light and infrared light, the second light is green light, and the third light is the other of red light and infrared light.

[0166] Exemplary claim 17. The blood testing system of any one of exemplary claims 14 to 16, wherein the oral care implement comprises the processor.

[0167] Exemplary claim 18. The blood testing system according to any one of exemplary claims 14 to 16, further comprising a portable electronic device, the portable electronic device including the processor, wherein the oral care appliance is configured to electronically communicate with the portable electronic device to facilitate transmission of the first signal and the second signal from the oral care appliance to the processor of the portable electronic device for processing.

[0168] Exemplary claim 19. A blood testing system according to any one of exemplary claims 14 to 18, wherein the oral care appliance further comprises a visual, tactile or auditory indicator to provide a user with various indications of the presence or absence of hemoglobin in the user's saliva sample.

[0169] Exemplary claim 20. The blood testing system of exemplary claim 19, wherein the visual, tactile or auditory indicator provides an indication to the user when the amount of hemoglobin detected in the user's saliva sample is above a threshold value.

[0170] Exemplary claim 21. An oral care system comprising: a handle, the handle including a gripping portion and a stem portion, the handle including at least one sensor; a replacement head, the replacement head including a sleeve portion and a head portion having a tooth cleaning element extending therefrom, the replacement head being configured to be removably coupled to the handle; a collection cup including a collection chamber, the collection cup being configured to be removably coupled to the handle; and wherein when the collection cup is coupled to the handle and a saliva sample of a user is located in the collection chamber, the at least one sensor is configured to obtain data that can be used to determine whether hemoglobin is present in the saliva sample of the user located in the collection chamber.

[0171] Exemplary claim 22. The oral care system according to exemplary claim 21, further comprising: the handle comprising a first connection feature and a second connection feature; the replacement head comprising a third connection feature, the replacement head being configured to be removably connected to the handle via engagement between the first connection feature of the handle and the third connection feature of the replacement head; and the collection cup comprising a fourth connection feature, the collection cup being configured to be removably connected to the handle via engagement between the second connection feature of the handle and the fourth connection feature of the collection cup.

[0172] Exemplary claim 23. An oral care system according to exemplary claim 22, wherein the rod portion of the handle includes a proximal portion positioned adjacent to the gripping portion and a distal portion positioned farthest from the gripping portion, the proximal portion including the first connecting feature, and the distal portion including the second connecting feature.

[0173] Exemplary claim 24. An oral care system according to exemplary claim 23, wherein the proximal portion and the distal portion of the stem are nested in the cavity of the replacement head when the replacement head is connected to the handle, and wherein the collection cup includes a channel so that when the collection cup is connected to the handle, the distal portion of the stem is nested in the channel of the collection cup and the proximal portion of the stem remains exposed.

[0174] Exemplary claim 25. An oral care system according to exemplary claim 24, wherein the at least one sensor is positioned along the distal portion of the stem so that when the collection cup is coupled to the handle, the at least one sensor is aligned with the collection cavity of the collection cup.

[0175] Exemplary claim 26. An oral care system according to any one of exemplary claims 21 to 25, wherein the tooth cleaning elements define a cleaning element area, the cleaning element area includes an opening, the opening forming a channel from a distal end of the cleaning element area to a front surface of the head portion of the replacement head, when the replacement head is connected to the handle, the channel is aligned with the at least one sensor, and wherein the at least one sensor is configured to obtain data that can be used to determine whether hemoglobin is present in the user's mouth during brushing activities using the handle and the attached replacement head.

[0176] Exemplary claim 27. An oral care system according to any one of exemplary claims 21 to 26, wherein the sensor is positioned along a distal portion of the rod portion of the handle, wherein when the replacement head is connected to the handle, the distal portion of the rod portion of the handle is aligned with the head portion of the replacement head, and wherein when the collection cup is connected to the handle, the distal portion of the rod is aligned with the collection chamber of the collection cup.

[0177] Exemplary claim 28. An oral care system according to any one of exemplary claims 21 to 27, wherein the collection chamber of the collection cup includes a bottom and a side wall, the collection cup includes a top end, a bottom end and a base portion located between the bottom of the collection chamber and the bottom end of the collection cup, the base portion includes a channel, and the channel is configured to receive at least a distal portion of the stem portion of the handle to connect the collection cup to the handle.

[0178] Exemplary claim 29. The oral care system of exemplary claim 28, wherein the collection chamber includes a chamber axis extending vertically between the top end and the bottom end of the collection cup, and wherein the channel is elongated along a channel axis that is perpendicular to the chamber axis.

[0179] Exemplary claim 30. An oral care system according to exemplary claim 28 or exemplary claim 29, wherein the side wall of the collection cup includes an inner surface, wherein a portion of the inner surface of the side wall is angled toward the cavity axis of the collection cavity in a direction from the top end of the collection cup to the bottom end of the collection cup.

[0180] Exemplary claim 31. The oral care system of any one of exemplary claims 28 to 30, wherein the bottom of the collection cup comprises a two-dimensional spherocylinder shape.

[0181] Exemplary claim 32. The oral care system of any one of exemplary claims 28 to 31, wherein the channel of the collection cup is located directly below the bottom of the collection cup, the bottom and the channel being elongated along axes that are parallel to each other.

[0182] Exemplary claim 33. An oral care system according to any one of exemplary claims 28 to 32, wherein the channel terminates at an end wall, the end wall includes at least one hole, and wherein the handle includes at least one protrusion extending from the distal end of the stem portion, and when the collection cup is connected to the handle, the at least one protrusion is received in the at least one hole.

[0183] Exemplary claim 34. An oral care system according to any one of exemplary claims 21 to 33, wherein the at least one sensor is configured to: emit a first light of a first wavelength; emit a second light of a second wavelength; receive reflected portions of the first light and the second light; and generate a first signal indicating a first intensity of the reflected portion of the first light and a second signal indicating a second intensity of the reflected portion of the second light.

[0184] Exemplary claim 35. The oral care system according to exemplary claim 34 further includes a processor, which is operably connected to the at least one sensor and is configured to receive the first signal and the second signal and calculate a ratio of the first intensity to the second intensity to determine whether hemoglobin is present in the user's saliva sample.

[0185] Exemplary claim 36. An oral care system according to exemplary claim 35, wherein the at least one sensor is further configured to emit a third light of a third wavelength, receive a reflected portion of the third light, and generate a third signal indicating a third intensity of the reflected portion of the third light, and wherein the processor is configured to receive the third signal and calculate a ratio of the third intensity to the second intensity to determine whether hemoglobin is present in the user's saliva sample.

[0186] Exemplary claim 37. The oral care system of exemplary claim 36, wherein the first light is one of red light and infrared light, the second light is green light, and the third light is the other of red light and infrared light.

[0187] Exemplary claim 38. The oral care system of any one of exemplary claims 35 to 37, wherein the handle comprises the processor.

[0188] Exemplary claim 39. An oral care system according to any one of exemplary claims 35 to 37, wherein the handle is part of an oral care appliance and further comprises a portable electronic device, the portable electronic device including the processor, wherein the oral care appliance is configured to electronically communicate with the portable electronic device to facilitate transmission of the first signal and the second signal to the processor of the portable electronic device for processing.

[0189] Exemplary claim 40. The oral care system of any one of exemplary claims 21 to 39, wherein the collection cup includes a channel configured to receive at least a distal portion of the stem of the handle to couple the collection cup to the handle.

[0190] Exemplary claim 41. The oral care system of exemplary claim 40, wherein the channel is formed in at least one of a base portion of the collection cup and a sidewall of the collection cup.

[0191] 42. A method for detecting blood in an oral cavity, the method comprising: performing a brushing action with a toothbrush, the toothbrush comprising a handle and a replacement head removably connected to the handle, the replacement head comprising tooth cleaning elements, the tooth cleaning elements engaging teeth and gums of a user's oral cavity during the brushing action; removing the replacement head from the handle after completing the brushing action; attaching a collection cup to the handle of the toothbrush; introducing a saliva sample from the user's oral cavity into a collection chamber of the collection cup before rinsing the user's oral cavity; emitting a first light of a first wavelength and a second light of a second wavelength into the collection chamber via a sensor located in the handle of the toothbrush; receiving reflected portions of the first light and the second light via the sensor of the toothbrush; and transmitting a first signal indicating a first intensity of the reflected portion of the first light and a second signal indicating a second intensity of the reflected portion of the second light from the sensor to a processor; and calculating a ratio of the first intensity to the second intensity via the processor to determine whether hemoglobin is present in the sample.

[0192] Exemplary claim 43. The method of exemplary claim 42, wherein the saliva from the user's mouth is introduced into the collection chamber of the collection cup before or after the collection cup is attached to the handle of the toothbrush.

[0193] Exemplary claim 44. The method according to exemplary claim 41 or exemplary claim 42 further includes connecting the replacement head to the handle during the brushing activity: emitting first light of the first wavelength and second light of the second wavelength into the oral cavity via the sensor during the brushing activity; receiving a second reflected portion of the first light and a second reflected portion of the second light via the sensor of the toothbrush during the brushing activity; transmitting a third signal indicating a third intensity of the second reflected portion of the first light and a fourth signal indicating a fourth intensity of the second reflected portion of the second light from the sensor to the processor; and calculating a ratio of the third intensity of the second reflected portion of the first light to the fourth intensity of the second reflected portion of the second light via the processor to determine whether hemoglobin is present in the oral cavity during the brushing activity.

[0194] Exemplary claim 45. The method of any one of exemplary claims 42 to 44, wherein the first light is red light or infrared light, and the second light is green light.

[0195] Exemplary claim 46. An oral care system, comprising: a handle, the handle including a gripping portion and a stem portion, the handle including at least one sensor; a collection cup, the collection cup including a top end, a bottom end, a collection chamber including a bottom, and a channel different from the collection chamber; wherein the collection cup is configured to be removably connected to the handle by inserting at least a distal portion of the stem portion of the handle into the channel of the collection cup so that the at least one sensor of the handle is aligned with the collection chamber; and wherein when the collection cup is connected to the handle and a saliva sample of a user is located in the collection chamber, the at least one sensor is configured to obtain data that can be used to determine whether hemoglobin is present in the saliva sample of the user located in the collection chamber.

[0196] Exemplary claim 47. An oral care system according to exemplary claim 46, wherein the channel includes an end wall, the end wall includes at least one hole, the handle includes at least one protrusion extending from the distal end of the stem portion, and when the collection cup is connected to the handle, the at least one protrusion is received in the at least one hole in the end wall.

[0197] Exemplary claim 48. The oral care system of exemplary claim 45 or exemplary claim 46, wherein the channel is located below the bottom of the collection cup, the channel and the bottom are elongated along axes that are parallel to each other.

[0198] Exemplary claim 49. The oral care system of any one of exemplary claims 45 to 47, wherein the bottom of the collection cup comprises a two-dimensional spherocylinder shape.

[0199] Exemplary claim 50. The oral care system of any one of exemplary claims 45 to 49, wherein the collection cup includes a base portion located between the bottom of the collection chamber and the bottom end of the collection cup, the base portion including the channel.

[0200] Exemplary claim 51. The oral care system of exemplary claim 50, wherein the channel is located entirely within the base portion of the collection cup.

[0201] Exemplary claim 52. An oral care system according to any one of exemplary claims 45 to 49, wherein the channel extends from an opening in the bottom end of the collection cup to an end wall, and the channel is elongated along a channel axis parallel to the cavity axis of the collection cavity.

[0202] Exemplary claim 53. An oral care system according to any one of exemplary claims 45 to 52, wherein the collection chamber includes an open top end having a first area, and the bottom of the collection chamber has a second area, and the ratio of the first area to the second area is in the range of 3:1 to 5:1.

[0203] Exemplary claim 54. An oral care system according to any one of exemplary claims 45 to 53, wherein the at least one sensor is configured to: emit a first light of a first wavelength; emit a second light of a second wavelength; receive reflected portions of the first light and the second light; and generate a first signal indicating a first intensity of the reflected portion of the first light and a second signal indicating a second intensity of the reflected portion of the second light.

[0204] Exemplary claim 55. The oral care system according to exemplary claim 54 further includes a processor, which is operably connected to the at least one sensor and is configured to receive the first signal and the second signal and calculate a ratio of the first intensity to the second intensity to determine whether hemoglobin is present in the user's saliva sample.

[0205] Exemplary claim 56. An oral care system according to exemplary claim 55, wherein the at least one sensor is further configured to emit a third light of a third wavelength, receive a reflected portion of the third light, and generate a third signal indicating a third intensity of the reflected portion of the third light, and wherein the processor is configured to receive the third signal and calculate a ratio of the third intensity to the second intensity to determine whether hemoglobin is present in the saliva sample of the user.

[0206] Exemplary claim 57. The oral care system of exemplary claim 56, wherein the first light is one of red light and infrared light, the second light is green light, and the third light is the other of red light and infrared light.

[0207] Exemplary claim 58. The oral care system of any one of exemplary claims 55 to 57, wherein the handle comprises the processor.

[0208] Exemplary claim 59. An oral care system according to any one of exemplary claims 55 to 57, wherein the handle is part of an oral care appliance and further comprises a portable electronic device, the portable electronic device including the processor, wherein the oral care appliance is configured to electronically communicate with the portable electronic device to facilitate transmission of the first signal and the second signal to the processor of the portable electronic device for processing.

[0209] Exemplary claim 60. An oral care system comprising: a handle, the handle comprising a gripping portion and a stem portion, the handle comprising at least one sensor; a collection cup comprising a collection chamber; wherein the collection cup is configured to be removably coupled to the handle so that the at least one sensor of the handle is adjacent to or aligned with the collection chamber; and wherein when the collection cup is coupled to the handle and a saliva sample of a user is located in the collection chamber, the at least one sensor is configured to obtain data that can be used to determine whether hemoglobin is present in the saliva sample of the user located in the collection chamber.

Claims

1. An oral care device, comprising: a body comprising a cavity configured to receive a saliva sample from a user, the cavity comprising a first opening through which the saliva of the user can be introduced into the cavity; a first closure member capable of changing between: (1) a closed state, wherein the first closure member closes the first opening of the cavity and prevents saliva of the user from entering or leaving the cavity through the first opening; and (2) an open state, wherein the first opening provides a first passage into the cavity through which saliva of the user can be introduced into or removed from the cavity; as well as At least one sensor is configured to emit light into the cavity and receive a reflected portion of the emitted light to obtain data that can be used to determine whether hemoglobin is present in the saliva of the user located in the cavity.

2. The oral care implement of claim 1, wherein the first closure member is changeable between the closed state and the open state by sliding relative to the body of the oral care implement.

3. An oral care appliance according to claim 2, wherein the first closing member includes a door covering the first opening when the first closing member is in the closed state, and a tab protruding from the door, wherein the base includes a groove, and the tab is configured to slide in the groove as the cover member changes between the closed state and the open state.

4. An oral care device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the cavity further includes a second opening, the second opening forming a second channel into the cavity, and the user's saliva can be introduced into the cavity and / or removed from the cavity through the second channel, and the oral care device further includes a second closing member, the second closing member can be changed between: (1) a closed state, wherein the second closing member closes the second opening of the cavity and prevents the user's saliva from entering or leaving the cavity through the second opening; and (2) an open state, wherein the second opening forms the second channel, and the user's saliva can be introduced into the cavity or removed from the cavity through the second channel.

5. The oral care implement of claim 4, wherein the first closure member and the second closure member are independently changeable between the closed state and the open state.

6. An oral care device according to claim 4 or claim 5, wherein the body includes a front surface and a rear surface opposite to the front surface, and wherein the first opening is formed in the front surface of the body, and the second opening is formed in the rear surface of the body, so that the cavity is a through hole extending through the body from the front surface to the rear surface.

7. An oral care implement according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the body includes a handle portion, a head portion having tooth cleaning elements extending therefrom, and a neck portion located between the handle portion and the head portion, and wherein the cavity is positioned along the neck portion of the body.

8. The oral care implement of any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the at least one sensor is configured to: emitting a first light of a first wavelength; emitting a second light of a second wavelength; receiving the first light and reflected portions of the second light; and A first signal indicative of a first intensity of the reflected portion of the first light and a second signal indicative of a second intensity of the reflected portion of the second light are generated.

9. A blood testing system, comprising: The oral care device according to claim 8; and and a processor operably coupled to the at least one sensor and configured to receive the first signal and the second signal and calculate a ratio of the first intensity to the second intensity to determine whether hemoglobin is detected in the user's saliva sample when the user's saliva sample is present in the cavity or the body of the oral care implement.

10. The blood testing system of claim 9, wherein the at least one sensor is further configured to emit a third light of a third wavelength, receive a reflected portion of the third light, and generate a third signal indicating a third intensity of the reflected portion of the third light, and wherein the processor is configured to receive the third signal and calculate a ratio of the third intensity to the second intensity to determine whether hemoglobin is detected in the user's saliva sample.

11. The blood testing system of any one of claims 9 to 10, wherein the oral care implement further comprises a visual, tactile or auditory indicator to provide a user with various indications of the presence or absence of hemoglobin in the user's saliva sample.

12. An oral care system comprising: a handle, the handle comprising a grip portion and a shaft portion, the handle comprising at least one sensor; a replacement head including a sleeve portion and a head portion having tooth cleaning elements extending therefrom, the replacement head being configured to be removably coupled to the handle; a collection cup including a collection chamber, the collection cup being configured to be removably coupled to the handle; as well as Wherein when the collection cup is coupled to the handle and a saliva sample of a user is located in the collection chamber, the at least one sensor is configured to obtain data that can be used to determine whether hemoglobin is present in the saliva sample of the user located in the collection chamber.

13. The oral care system of claim 12, further comprising: said handle comprising a first connection feature and a second connection feature; the replacement head comprising a third connection feature, the replacement head being configured to be removably coupled to the handle via engagement between the first connection feature of the handle and the third connection feature of the replacement head; and The collection cup includes a fourth connection feature, the collection cup being configured to be removably coupled to the handle via engagement between the second connection feature of the handle and the fourth connection feature of the collection cup.

14. An oral care system according to claim 13, wherein the stem portion of the handle includes a proximal portion positioned adjacent to the grip portion and a distal portion positioned farthest from the grip portion, the proximal portion including the first connecting feature, and the distal portion including the second connecting feature.

15. An oral care system according to claim 14, wherein the proximal portion and the distal portion of the stem are nested in the cavity of the replacement head when the replacement head is connected to the handle, and wherein the collection cup includes a channel so that when the collection cup is connected to the handle, the distal portion of the stem is nested in the channel of the collection cup and the proximal portion of the stem remains exposed.

16. The oral care system of claim 15, wherein the at least one sensor is positioned along the distal portion of the stem such that the at least one sensor is aligned with the collection cavity of the collection cup when the collection cup is coupled to the handle.

17. An oral care system according to any one of claims 12 to 16, wherein the collection chamber of the collection cup includes a bottom and a side wall, the collection cup includes a top end, a bottom end and a base portion located between the bottom of the collection chamber and the bottom end of the collection cup, the base portion includes a channel, and the channel is configured to receive at least a distal portion of the stem portion of the handle to connect the collection cup to the handle.

18. The oral care system of claim 17, wherein the collection chamber includes a chamber axis extending vertically between the top end and the bottom end of the collection cup, and wherein the channel is elongated along a channel axis that is perpendicular to the chamber axis.

19. An oral care system according to claim 17 or claim 18, wherein the side wall of the collection cup includes an inner surface, wherein a portion of the inner surface of the side wall is angled toward the cavity axis of the collection cavity in a direction from the top end of the collection cup to the bottom end of the collection cup.

20. The oral care system of any one of claims 17 to 19, wherein the bottom of the collection cup comprises a two-dimensional spherocylinder shape.

21. The oral care system of any one of claims 17 to 20, wherein the channel of the collection cup is located directly below the base of the collection cup, the base and the channel being elongated along axes that are parallel to each other.

22. An oral care system according to any one of claims 17 to 21, wherein the channel terminates at an end wall, the end wall includes at least one hole, and wherein the handle includes at least one protrusion extending from the distal end of the stem portion, and when the collection cup is connected to the handle, the at least one protrusion is received in the at least one hole.

23. A method for detecting blood in the oral cavity, the method comprising: performing a teeth brushing activity with a toothbrush comprising a handle and a replacement head removably coupled to the handle, the replacement head comprising tooth cleaning elements that engage the teeth and gums of a user's mouth during the teeth brushing activity; After completing the brushing activity, removing the replacement head from the handle; attaching a collection cup to the handle of the toothbrush; Before rinsing the user's mouth, introducing a saliva sample from the user's mouth into the collection chamber of the collection cup; emitting first light at a first wavelength and second light at a second wavelength into the collection chamber via a sensor located in the handle of the toothbrush; receiving, via the sensor of the toothbrush, reflected portions of the first light and the second light; as well as transmitting from the sensor to a processor a first signal indicative of a first intensity of the reflected portion of the first light and a second signal indicative of a second intensity of the reflected portion of the second light; as well as A ratio of the first intensity to the second intensity is calculated via the processor to determine whether hemoglobin is present in the sample.

24. An oral care system, comprising: a handle, the handle comprising a grip portion and a shaft portion, the handle comprising at least one sensor; a collection cup, the collection cup comprising a top end, a bottom end, a collection chamber including a bottom, and a channel distinct from the collection chamber; wherein the collection cup is configured to be removably coupled to the handle by inserting at least a distal portion of the stem portion of the handle into the passageway of the collection cup such that the at least one sensor of the handle is aligned with the collection chamber; as well as Wherein when the collection cup is coupled to the handle and a saliva sample of a user is located in the collection chamber, the at least one sensor is configured to obtain data that can be used to determine whether hemoglobin is present in the saliva sample of the user located in the collection chamber.

25. An oral care system, comprising: a handle, the handle comprising a grip portion and a shaft portion, the handle comprising at least one sensor; a collection cup including a collection chamber; wherein the collection cup is configured to be removably coupled to the handle such that the at least one sensor of the handle is adjacent to or aligned with the collection chamber; and Wherein when the collection cup is coupled to the handle and a saliva sample of a user is located in the collection chamber, the at least one sensor is configured to obtain data that can be used to determine whether hemoglobin is present in the saliva sample of the user located in the collection chamber.

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