Method for improving cleaning efficiency

Abstract

In one example, a method of operating an oral irrigator includes determining a first input characteristic of the oral irrigator, determining a first output characteristic of the oral irrigator associated with the first input characteristic, determining, based on the first input characteristic and the first output characteristic, a path from the first output characteristic to a second output characteristic, where the second output characteristic is associated with a second input characteristic. The second output characteristic can be configured to be closer to a target cleaning efficacy than the first output characteristic.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to health and personal hygiene devices, and more specifically to oral irrigators and electric toothbrushes.

[0002] Cross-references to related applications This application relates to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 622,317, filed January 18, 2024, entitled “METHOD FOR INCREASING FLOSSING EFFICACY”; U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 637,279, filed April 22, 2024, entitled “METHOD FOR INCREASING FLOSSING EFFICACY”; and U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 652,896, filed May 29, 2024, entitled “METHOD FOR INCREASING FLOSSING EFFICACY”, all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Background Technology

[0003] Oral irrigators (also known as water flossers) are typically used to clean a user's teeth and gums by releasing a pressurized fluid stream into the user's mouth. The fluid impacts the teeth and gums to remove debris. Typically, oral irrigators include a fluid supply source (such as a reservoir) that is fluidly connected to the tip of the irrigator via a pump. In many cases, users may use oral irrigators at pressures that result in less effective cleaning than recommended. For example, users may use an oral irrigator at a low-pressure setting that results in less effective cleaning than a high-pressure setting. Using such low pressure can cause pain or discomfort for users whose oral tissues are not accustomed to high-pressure oral irrigation. Inefficient cleaning due to lower-than-recommended pressure settings can negatively impact a user's oral health. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In some embodiments, a computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions for implementing a method for operating an oral irrigator, the method comprising: determining a first input characteristic of the oral irrigator; determining a first output characteristic of the oral irrigator associated with the first input characteristic; and determining a path from the first output characteristic to a second output characteristic based on the first input characteristic and the first output characteristic, wherein the second output characteristic is associated with a second input characteristic.

[0005] Optionally, in some embodiments, the first input characteristic or the second input characteristic includes at least one of the fluid's pressure, flow rate, or pulsation.

[0006] Optionally, in some embodiments, the first output characteristic or the second output characteristic includes cleaning effectiveness.

[0007] Optionally, in some embodiments, the oral irrigator further includes a fluid reservoir, a pump, and a terminal in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir via the pump; and the first input characteristic includes at least one of fluid pressure, fluid flow, or fluid pulsation in the terminal.

[0008] In some embodiments, the path includes increasing the value of a first output characteristic over a period of time to achieve a second output characteristic. This may also include modifying the values ​​of two or more output characteristics over a period of time to achieve the values ​​of two or more second output characteristics.

[0009] In some embodiments, this time period is defined as at least two separate uses of the oral irrigator.

[0010] In some embodiments, an oral irrigator includes a pump, a housing surrounding the pump, a reservoir coupled to the housing, a terminal in fluid communication with the reservoir and the pump, and a cleaning effectiveness enhancement module configured to operate the oral irrigator along a path between a starting point and a target point.

[0011] In some embodiments, an oral irrigator includes a pump; a housing surrounding the pump; a reservoir coupled to the housing; a terminal in fluid communication with the reservoir and the pump; and a cleaning efficacy improvement module configured to gradually increase pressure output over time based on initial settings and clinical goals.

[0012] Optionally, a method for operating an oral irrigator is disclosed. The method includes: determining a first output characteristic associated with a first user setting; determining a path from the first output characteristic to a second output characteristic over a period of time; based on the path, increasing the first output characteristic to an intermediate output characteristic during a first operation of the oral irrigator; and based on the path, increasing the intermediate output characteristic to the second output characteristic during a second operation of the oral irrigator.

[0013] In some embodiments, adding a first output characteristic to an intermediate output characteristic includes modifying the first input characteristic by an intermediate amount.

[0014] In some embodiments, user feedback is generated to indicate that a second output characteristic has been achieved.

[0015] In some embodiments, the first output characteristic includes a value of one of the fluid unit diameter, fluid unit volume, fluid unit velocity, and / or fluid unit frequency, wherein the fluid unit is output by an oral irrigator. Additionally, the second output characteristic includes a variation in the value of at least one of the fluid unit diameter, fluid unit volume, fluid unit velocity, and / or fluid unit frequency.

[0016] Optionally, in some embodiments, the path includes an incremental change between the first output characteristic and the second output characteristic.

[0017] In some embodiments, the first output characteristic is a first value of fluid pressure, and the second output characteristic is a second value of fluid pressure that is higher than the first value.

[0018] In some embodiments, the first output characteristic includes mechanical and electrical characteristics.

[0019] Optionally, in some embodiments, a method of cleaning using an oral irrigator includes: configuring the oral irrigator to generate a first set of output characteristics; operating the oral irrigator under the first set of output characteristics for a certain period of time; modifying the configuration of the oral irrigator to generate a second set of output characteristics, wherein the second set of output characteristics is closer to a target set of output characteristics than the first set of output characteristics; and after a predetermined period of time, modifying the configuration of the oral irrigator to generate the target set of output characteristics.

[0020] In some embodiments, a user notification is generated regarding modifying the configuration of the oral irrigator to generate a second set of output characteristics, and a user notification is generated regarding modifying the configuration of the oral irrigator to generate a target set of output characteristics.

[0021] In some embodiments, the predetermined time period includes a predetermined number of times the user uses the oral irrigator. In other embodiments, the predetermined time period is several days, weeks, or months.

[0022] In some embodiments, modifying the configuration of the oral irrigator to generate a second set of output characteristics is based on the path between a first set of output characteristics determined by the processing element and a target set of output characteristics.

[0023] In some embodiments, the path determines a predetermined amount of time, and in some embodiments, it determines the time and a step-by-step adjustment factor to achieve the target group output characteristics.

[0024] Optionally, in some embodiments, configuring the oral irrigator to generate a second set of output characteristics includes modifying one or more operating characteristics of the oral irrigator via a processor. In some embodiments, configuring the oral irrigator to generate a second set of output characteristics includes having the user replace the tip of the oral irrigator based on a notification generated to the user by the processor of the oral irrigator.

[0025] Optionally, in some embodiments, a method for operating an oral cleaning device is disclosed, the method comprising: receiving user input to a first control button to activate the oral cleaning device; operating the oral cleaning device to generate a first set of output characteristics; receiving user input to a second control button to activate a guided mode configuration of the oral cleaning device; generating a modified set of output characteristics different from the first set of output characteristics, wherein the modified set of output characteristics is adjusted stepwise relative to the first set of output characteristics based on a stepwise adjustment factor; and receiving user input to the first control button to deactivate the oral cleaning device.

[0026] In some embodiments, a user notification is generated regarding modifying the configuration of the oral irrigator to generate a second set of output characteristics, and a user notification is generated regarding modifying the configuration of the oral irrigator to generate a target set of output characteristics.

[0027] In some embodiments, the predetermined time period includes a predetermined number of times the user uses the oral irrigator.

[0028] In some embodiments, modifying the configuration of the oral irrigator to generate a second set of output characteristics is based on the path between a first set of output characteristics determined by the processing element and a target set of output characteristics.

[0029] In some embodiments, the configuration of the oral irrigator for generating the second set of output characteristics includes: the user replacing the tip of the oral irrigator based on a notification generated to the user by the processor of the oral irrigator.

[0030] In some embodiments, a method is disclosed that includes operating an oral cleaning device. The method includes: receiving user input to a first control button to activate the oral cleaning device; operating the oral cleaning device to generate a first set of output characteristics; receiving user input to a second control button to activate a guided mode configuration of the oral cleaning device; generating a modified set of output characteristics different from the first set of output characteristics, wherein the modified set of output characteristics is adjusted stepwise relative to the first set of output characteristics based on a stepwise adjustment factor; and receiving user input to the first control button to deactivate the oral cleaning device.

[0031] In some embodiments, the method may further include: receiving user input to a first control button to initiate an oral cleaning device for another cleaning process; generating and modifying a set of target group output characteristics with different output characteristics based on a guided mode configuration; and operating the oral cleaning device under the target group output characteristics.

[0032] In some embodiments, the processing element generates a modified set of output characteristics.

[0033] In some embodiments, a modified set of output characteristics is closer to achieving the target effectiveness of the oral cleaning device compared to the first set of output characteristics.

[0034] In one embodiment, an oral cleaning device is disclosed, comprising a handle, a tip coupled to the handle, a drive component positioned within the handle and configured to generate output characteristics of the tip, and a guidance mode module communicating with the drive component. The guidance mode module is configured to determine a path from an initial set of output characteristics to a target set of output characteristics based on user settings, and to increase the output characteristics of the drive component from the initial set of output characteristics to the target set of output characteristics over a certain period of time.

[0035] In one embodiment, the drive assembly includes a pump and a motor, and the oral cleaning device is an oral irrigator. In another embodiment, the drive assembly includes a motor and an output shaft, and the cleaning device is a toothbrush.

[0036] In one embodiment, the guidance mode module modifies the path based on feedback from the user. Attached Figure Description

[0037] Figure 1A A front elevation view of an example of an oral irrigator is shown.

[0038] Figure 1B It shows Figure 1A A rear perspective view of the oral irrigator.

[0039] Figure 1C It shows Figure 1A Bottom plan view of the oral irrigator.

[0040] Figure 2 A perspective view of another example of an oral irrigator is shown.

[0041] Figure 3 yes Figure 1A-Figure 2 A simplified diagram of the oral irrigator.

[0042] Figure 4 yes Figure 1A-Figure 2 A simplified diagram of the cleaning efficiency improvement module of the oral irrigator.

[0043] Figure 5 This is a simplified diagram showing the control. Figure 1A-Figure 2 Example output of the method for improving the cleaning effectiveness of the oral irrigator module.

[0044] Figure 6 It is used to operate the cleaning effectiveness improvement module. Figure 1A-Figure 2 A flowchart illustrating an example of a method using an oral irrigator.

[0045] Figure 7It is used to operate the cleaning effectiveness improvement module. Figure 1A-Figure 2 A flowchart illustrating an example of a method using an oral irrigator.

[0046] Figure 8 This is a view of an embodiment of a control panel for an oral health device, including an embodiment of its user interface display.

[0047] Figure 9 yes Figure 8 A detailed view of a portion of the user interface.

[0048] Figure 10A It is in the first configuration Figure 8 The transition view of the user interface.

[0049] Figure 10B It is in the second configuration Figure 8 The transition view of the user interface.

[0050] Figure 11A It is in the first configuration Figure 8 The transition view of the user interface.

[0051] Figure 11B It is in the second configuration Figure 8 The transition view of the user interface.

[0052] Figure 11C It is in the third configuration Figure 8 The transition view of the user interface.

[0053] Figure 11D It is in the fourth configuration Figure 8 The transition view of the user interface.

[0054] Figure 12 An embodiment including its user interface display Figure 8 The view of the control panel.

[0055] Figure 13A It is in the first configuration Figure 8 or Figure 12 A detailed view of the user interface, showing a portion of it or the transitions of its parts.

[0056] Figure 13B It is in the second configuration Figure 8 or Figure 12 A detailed view of the user interface, showing a portion or Figure 13A The transition of the part.

[0057] Figure 13C It is in the third configuration Figure 8 or Figure 12A detailed view of the user interface, showing a portion or Figure 13A The transition of the part.

[0058] Figure 14A It is in the first configuration Figure 8 or Figure 12 A detailed view of the user interface, showing a portion of it or the transitions of its parts.

[0059] Figure 14B It is in the second configuration Figure 8 or Figure 12 A detailed view of the user interface, showing a portion or Figure 14A The transition of the part.

[0060] Figure 14C It is in the third configuration Figure 8 or Figure 12 A detailed view of the user interface, showing a portion or Figure 14A The transition of the part.

[0061] Figure 15A It is in the first configuration Figure 8 or Figure 12 A detailed view of the user interface, showing a portion of it or the transitions of its parts.

[0062] Figure 15B It is in the second configuration Figure 8 or Figure 12 A detailed view of the user interface, showing a portion or Figure 15A The transition of the part.

[0063] Figure 15C It is in the third configuration Figure 8 or Figure 12 A detailed view of the user interface, showing a portion or Figure 15A The transition of the part.

[0064] Figure 16A It is in the first configuration Figure 8 or Figure 12 A detailed view of the user interface, showing a portion of it or the transitions of its parts.

[0065] Figure 16B It is in the second configuration Figure 8 or Figure 12 A detailed view of the user interface, showing a portion or Figure 16A The transition of the part.

[0066] Figure 17A It is in the first configuration Figure 8 or Figure 12A detailed view of the user interface, showing a portion of it or the transitions of its parts.

[0067] Figure 17B It is in the second configuration Figure 8 or Figure 12 A detailed view of the user interface, showing a portion or Figure 17A The transition of the part.

[0068] Figure 18 yes Figure 8 or Figure 12 A detailed view of the control panel or part of the user interface.

[0069] Figure 19 yes Figure 8 or Figure 12 A detailed view of a part of the control panel or user interface.

[0070] Figure 20 yes Figure 8 or Figure 12 A detailed view of the control panel or part of the user interface.

[0071] Figure 21A It is in the first configuration Figure 8 or Figure 12 A detailed view of the user interface, showing a portion of it or the transitions of its parts.

[0072] Figure 21B It is in the second configuration Figure 8 or Figure 12 A detailed view of the user interface, showing a portion or Figure 21A The transition of the part.

[0073] Figure 22A It is in the first configuration Figure 8 or Figure 12 A detailed view of the user interface, showing a portion of it or the transitions of its parts.

[0074] Figure 22B It is in the second configuration Figure 1A or Figure 5 A detailed view of the user interface, showing a portion or Figure 22A The transition of the part.

[0075] Figure 23A It is in the first configuration Figure 1A or Figure 5 A detailed view of the user interface, showing a portion of it or the transitions of its parts.

[0076] Figure 23B It is in the second configuration Figure 1A or Figure 5A detailed view of the user interface, showing a portion or Figure 23A The transition of the part.

[0077] Figure 24A This is an embodiment of its user interface display included in the first configuration. Figure 8 The view of the control panel.

[0078] Figure 24B It is included in the second configuration Figure 24A User interface display Figure 8 The view of the control panel.

[0079] Figure 25A It is in the third configuration Figure 24A A detailed view of the user interface display.

[0080] Figure 25B It is in the fourth configuration Figure 24A A detailed view of the user interface display. Detailed Implementation

[0081] Some examples of this disclosure include oral health devices with cleaning effectiveness improvement or pressure enhancement modules, such as oral irrigators, toothbrushes, or combinations of toothbrushes and irrigators. The cleaning effectiveness improvement module alters one or more characteristics of the fluid flow (e.g., pressure, flow rate) or other output settings (e.g., brush movement) to produce an output (e.g., fluid flow) that improves cleaning performance over time compared to the original settings or input characteristics. The cleaning effectiveness improvement module may also enhance the user's experience (e.g., perceived comfort) when cleaning his or her teeth or gums. It should be noted that although many examples are discussed with reference to oral irrigators, the disclosed embodiments are applicable to other types of oral health devices, such as electric toothbrushes and / or combinations of toothbrushes and irrigators. Therefore, the discussion of any particular example is intended to be illustrative only.

[0082] In embodiments including an oral irrigator, it includes a motor and a pump connected to and controlled by the motor. The pump is fluidly connected to a fluid supply source and pumps fluid from the supply source to an outlet (such as a tip). A cleaning effectiveness improvement module is configured to alter one or more output characteristics (or a set of output characteristics) of the device based on cleaning optimization, which may be specific to a particular user (e.g., progressively adjusted based on user comfort, usage, etc.) and / or specific to a particular device. The cleaning effectiveness module may communicate with the motor and provide one or more control signals to the motor to alter one or more characteristics of the motor, such as speed, acceleration, power, or torque. Because the motor is connected to the pump, when the cleaning effectiveness improvement module alters the speed or other characteristics of the motor, the output characteristics of the pump may also change accordingly; for example, increasing the motor speed will result in an increase in flow rate.

[0083] Oral irrigators may have one or more output characteristics modified by one or more input characteristics or a group of input characteristics. Output characteristics directly affect the cleaning effectiveness of the oral irrigator. For example, output characteristics include the diameter of the fluid element or “fluid mass” output by the irrigator at a given time, the volume of the fluid element, the velocity of the fluid element, and / or the frequency of the fluid element. Input characteristics refer to those features that affect or otherwise modify one or more output characteristics, both mechanical and electrical. Examples of input characteristics may include physical characteristics of the oral irrigator, such as the orifice size of the outlet or tip, nozzle length or shape, reservoir size (and therefore including fluid capacity and running time), tip angle, drivetrain or motor characteristics, etc. Other examples of input characteristics may include operating characteristics such as pressure, pump stroke, stroke speed and acceleration (e.g., linear or nonlinear cycle), flow rate, pump frequency, and / or the pulsation applied to the fluid by the motor and pump within the conduit supplying fluid to the tip.

[0084] The cleaning effectiveness improvement module can change one or more input characteristics over time, for example, gradually increasing the user's pressure during a period of time or gradually decreasing the pressure over a period of time, or including intervals. Alternatively or additionally, the cleaning effectiveness improvement module can prompt the user to modify one or more characteristics, for example, suggesting recommended cleaning settings that can be improved compared to the initial user settings. The cleaning effectiveness improvement module can increase the pressure and / or flow of fluid passing through the endpiece during or between cleaning processes. In another example, the cleaning effectiveness improvement module can prompt the user (e.g., via notification or feedback) to modify mechanical input characteristics to replace an endpiece with a smaller orifice with one having a relatively larger orifice. For example, the processing element can illuminate an indicator (such as a light-emitting diode (LED)) to indicate to the user that the installed endpiece has been replaced with another. In yet another example, the pump's output characteristics can be changed based on fluid flow that can "massage" the user's gums at various frequencies, such as pulsed output, whereby the fluid pulses (i.e., the flow intermittently turns on and off), and optionally pulses at longer intervals and / or lower pressures than in cleaning modes.

[0085] In some instances, an oral irrigator may include a cleaning mode or a normal mode and a guided mode (e.g., a power or enhancement mode, a guided mode, or a user training mode). During normal mode, the oral irrigator may include a relatively stable fluid flow or may include a fluid flow with slight pulsations (e.g., due to the mechanical characteristics of the pump). In normal mode, the output characteristics can be set by the user via a user interface. During guided mode, a cleaning power enhancement module may alter one or more input characteristics of the irrigator, such as fluid pressure, flow and / or pulse length, period, frequency, or duty cycle, which in turn alters one or more output characteristics. For example, the cleaning power enhancement module may alter a control signal to selectively change the power level supplied to the motor. In a specific embodiment, power may be selectively increased, which may cause the motor to move the pump to cause an increase in pressure, flow, pulsation, and / or other output characteristics.

[0086] In one instance of the guided mode, output characteristics (such as the pressure of the output fluid) may be increased over time to effectively remove more debris, plaque, and / or other contaminants from the user's mouth compared to lower pressures. Alternatively or additionally, the pressure may be increased to a level known to provide therapeutic benefits to the user's gums and other oral tissues.

[0087] In one instance, the output characteristics produced by the cleaning efficacy enhancement module, compared to manual operation, could be longer fluid pulses or fluid units, or interruptions in the fluid flow. Increased pulse length or the length between fluid units allows the fluid flow to massage the user's gums, enhancing blood flow and providing a pleasant experience. The pulses can be timed to coordinate with the capillary recovery of the gingival tissue (i.e., timed to allow blood to return to the tissue between each fluid pulse) and provide therapeutic benefits to the gums.

[0088] The guidance mode can alter one or more characteristics of the control signal based on user input. For example, a user can select a guidance mode and then change the frequency, amplitude, or shape of the control signal, such as changing the shape or frequency of a voltage waveform. In other instances, the guidance mode can apply a predetermined signal to the motor. For example, a control signal can be determined for the guidance mode, and a stored signal can be applied when the guidance mode is activated by the user. In these instances, the cleaning effectiveness improvement module may include multiple control signals, which may be associated with different guidance modes.

[0089] In other instances, the cleaning effectiveness enhancement module may include stored signals that can be selected by the user to achieve a predetermined pulse effect, and one or more signals may be modified to allow the user to dynamically change the pulse effect. In some instances, the guided mode takes user-input settings or preferences and adjusts them progressively over time to achieve a desired performance level (e.g., cleaning performance). Progressive adjustments may be made at regular intervals (e.g., increasing by one level each time the flusher is used), or they may be made irregularly (e.g., a pressure shift from the initial pressure to one and a half times the initial pressure may be quick, but a transition from one and a half times the initial pressure to twice the initial pressure is slower, as the latter is more likely to cause user discomfort). See, for example, the reference. Figure 5 The discussion of paths 502 and 504. Other types of step adjustments can be implemented as desired. Furthermore, step adjustments or other modification factors can be changed attributable to user feedback. For example, if a user indicates that the step adjustment is too fast or too aggressive, the processing element in the flusher can slow down the step adjustment process, reverse it, or otherwise make the step adjustment less aggressive. For example, the processing element can utilize user feedback to reduce the step adjustment from twice the initial pressure setting to one and three-quarters of the initial pressure setting.

[0090] In addition to providing a guided mode, the oral irrigator's cleaning effectiveness enhancement module or another processing element can alter one or more output characteristics of the oral irrigator to provide feedback to the user. As a first example, during normal mode, the guided mode can be automatically activated once or multiple times to instruct the user to move to different teeth or different parts of the mouth. As a second example, the guided mode can be activated after a predetermined time period to remind the user that the cleaning time (which can be set by the user or predetermined) has ended. As a third example, the guided mode can be automatically activated for certain time periods; for example, every 30 seconds in normal mode, the guided mode can be interspersed with manual cleaning to activate a certain time period to provide enhanced cleaning effectiveness; that is, the guided mode can increase pressure at selected intervals during the cleaning time period, and / or can be effective throughout the entire cleaning time.

[0091] In other instances, the cleaning efficacy enhancement module can be used in conjunction with other rinsing devices. For example, a guided mode can be implemented in a nasal irrigator, and the fluid flow rate and pressure can be varied to massage the user's nasal tissues. In these instances, the pulse frequency and control signals may differ from those of an oral irrigator, but therapeutic effects can still be provided.

[0092] In other instances, cleaning effectiveness enhancement modules can be used with other dental instruments to provide enhanced cleaning. For example, a cleaning effectiveness enhancement module can be incorporated into an electric toothbrush. In this example, the cleaning effectiveness enhancement module can change the motor speed or power to alter the vibration or bristle movement or oscillation.

[0093] See Figure 1A-Figure 2 The oral irrigator 100 includes a reservoir 104 with a cap operatively attached to a base 102. In one example, the cap 120 is attached to the base 102 via a protrusion, allowing the reservoir 104 to be removed from the base 102 while the cap 120 remains attached. However, the cap can also be attached in many other ways, such as being completely detachable or attached to a portion of the reservoir 104. The reservoir 104 is adapted to contain a fluid 186, such as water or mouthwash. As the oral irrigator 100 discharges fluid 186 from its tip 114, the fluid 186 may have a fluid level 188 that decreases over time. Removing the reservoir 104 from the base 102 is independent of removing the cap 120 from the base 102. In these embodiments, the user can open the cover 120 to remove the reservoir while the cover 120 remains fixed to the base 102, which helps prevent the cover 120 from being lost or damaged when the reservoir 104 is removed (such as when the reservoir is removed for refilling).

[0094] The cover may include one or more vents. The vents allow airflow into the reservoir 104, enabling air to circulate between the reservoir 104 and the storage compartment. For example, the vents may be configured to enhance evaporation in the storage compartment to allow stored accessories to dry and to facilitate the evaporation of any fluid 186 leaking from the reservoir 104 into the storage compartment. The cover may further include one or more mechanisms, such as stops, that interact with the protrusion (or other connecting element) to limit rotation of the cover in one or more directions. These stops can be used to prevent the cover from rotating into the protrusion when the reservoir 104 is removed from the base, which can help prevent damage to the cover and / or the protrusion. Furthermore, the rotation limit on the cover can assist the user when replacing the reservoir 104 on the base after removal, as the user can fit the reservoir 104 between the top surfaces of the cover and the base without having to lift the cover.

[0095] The oral irrigator may further include a storage compartment for receiving accessories, such as, but not limited to, a tip or brush for the handle. In one embodiment, the storage compartment is defined by the sidewalls of the reservoir 104 and the sidewalls of the protrusion. In this embodiment, the protrusion may further include one or more accessory mounts that removably attach the accessory to the base. As an example, the accessory mount may be an orifice similar in shape and size to the tip receiving orifice for the handle. The storage compartment may be shielded by portions of the base 102 and the reservoir 104 to protect the accessories stored therein from debris and particles in the environment.

[0096] The oral irrigator may also include a drainage system with a drain outlet 138 to facilitate the drainage or evaporation of fluid 186 leaking from the reservoir 104 or dripping from the fitting. As an example, the oral irrigator 100 may include a drain channel defined in the top surface of the base, which abuts against the bottom of the reservoir seat. The drain channel is in fluid communication with a drain outlet that allows fluid 186 from the storage compartment and / or other areas of the base 102 to drain. The drainage system helps prevent fluid accumulation in certain areas of the base 102 or storage compartment due to leaks, splashes, spills, etc.

[0097] The oral irrigator 100 may include a base 102, a removable reservoir 104, and a handle 106. The base 102 may provide support for the reservoir 104 and the handle 106, and may house many of the drive and power components of the oral irrigator 100. For example, the base 102 may house a pump, a control circuit system, and / or a motor, which will be discussed in more detail herein.

[0098] The base 102 may include a lower base 128 and an upper base 130. The lower base 128 forms a platform or tray located within the upper base 130. The lower base 128 provides support for one or more internal components of the oral irrigator 100. The upper base 130 surrounds these components to conceal them and provide protection for them. The base 102 may include a plurality of feet 132a, 132b, 132c, and 132d to support the base 102 on a surface such as a countertop.

[0099] The base 102 may also include a clamp 134 or other structure to releasably support the handle 106. In some instances, the clamp 134 may be a C-clamp; however, other attachment mechanisms are also contemplated. The base 102 may also include a hose cavity 136 or a hose box that receives and supports the hose 118 in a folded position. Although not shown, in some instances, the hose cavity 136 may include one or more arms on which the hose 118 may be wound. The hose cavity 136 may be recessed into the upper base 130, flush with the upper base body, or extend outward from the upper base body. The hose cavity 136 may be defined by a removable rear wall attached to the base 102. The base 102 may include vents 144 and / or vents 146 to allow airflow within the base 102 to facilitate heat dissipation or drying within the base 102. The cover 120 may also include one or more vents, such as vent 150, which may also facilitate drying, heat dissipation, or allow air to enter the reservoir 104 as the fluid 186 level drops.

[0100] Figures 1A to 1C The oral irrigator 100 shown is a benchtop irrigator. However, in some instances, the oral irrigator may be a handheld irrigator. Figure 2 An example of it (oral irrigator 100') is shown in the front perspective view. See also Figure 2 In an example where the oral irrigator 100' is a handheld unit, the reservoir 104 and handle 106 may be connected together. The reservoir 104 may include a removable cavity that can be filled by the user and then reattached to the handle 106. Additionally, in these examples, internal components of the oral irrigator 100' (such as the motor, pump, and control circuitry) may be included within the handle 106, rather than within the base unit. The description of the oral irrigator herein generally refers to, for example... Figures 1A-1C The oral irrigators 100 and 100' are shown. However, it should be noted that this description also applies to... Figure 2 The oral irrigator 100' shown is only an example of an internal component of the base being included in the handle 106.

[0101] See again Figures 1A to 1C The oral irrigator 100 includes a cover 120 for a reservoir 104. The cover 120 is operatively connected to and rotatable relative to a base 102. When the reservoir 104 is attached to the base 102, the cover 120 covers the reservoir 104. The reservoir 104 can be removed from the base 102 to allow for refilling. The reservoir 104 can be of substantially any size or shape and can be modified as desired, for example, as... Figure 2 As shown, the reservoir is included as a cavity attached to the handle.

[0102] Handle 106 is removable from base 102 and in fluid communication with reservoir 104. For example, hose 118 is fluidly connected to reservoir 104 via a hose connector, allowing hose 118 to fluidly connect reservoir 104 to handle 106 and tip 114. In instances where reservoir 104 is incorporated into handle 106 (e.g., oral irrigator 100'), hose 118 may be located inside handle 106 or may be omitted (e.g., the fluid path may be defined through the handle housing rather than a tube). In some instances, handle 106 may include multiple internal components such as check valves, bypass valves, pause buttons, etc. In these instances, handle 106 may be used to change one or more characteristics of the flow of fluid 186 output from tip, either separately from or in addition to the characteristics used to control the fluid output within base 102. As mentioned above, although many components such as pumps, reservoirs, etc., are discussed herein as incorporated into base 102, in some instances these components may be contained within handle 106. For example, such as Figure 2 As shown, the handheld oral irrigator 100' may include a portable reservoir 104 attached to a handle 106, the handle having a pump within the handle 106. Therefore, any discussion of specific examples of the handle and base is intended to be illustrative only.

[0103] The tip 114 can be selectively removed from the handle 106. For example, a pop-out button 126 can selectively release the tip 114 from the handle 106. The tip 114 defines a fluid path fluidly connected to the hose 118. The tip 114 includes an outlet 122 from which fluid 186 from the reservoir 104 is discharged from the outlet 122 from the oral irrigator 100 and / or the oral irrigator 100' into the user's mouth. The tip 114 is generally configured to be inserted into the user's mouth and to discharge fluid 186 onto the user's teeth, gums, tongue, etc. In some instances, the outlet portion 122 of the tip 114 may be shaped as a nozzle, or may include a nozzle, or may be shaped as other configurations depending on the desired cleaning function (e.g., a tongue scraper). Although the tip 114 is shown, in other embodiments, the oral irrigator may include other accessories such as a brush head, a nozzle with one or more bristles or cleaning elements, etc. Therefore, the description of the tip 114 as the outlet 122 of the oral irrigator 100 is intended to be illustrative only. The outlet 122 includes a diameter that can be used to determine the diameter of the fluid unit or fluid pulse, since the fluid unit flows out of the outlet 122 and typically expands to fill the entire area of ​​the outlet 122. The outlet 122 also defines the shape of the fluid unit, which can be further used to adjust the output characteristics of the fluid unit.

[0104] See Figure 3 and Figure 4 The oral irrigators disclosed herein, such as oral irrigator 100 and / or oral irrigator 100', include a control assembly 180, which may include a cleaning effectiveness improvement module 172. The control assembly may further include one or more of a power supply 116, a motor 142, and a pump 178. The motor and pump may form part of a drive assembly when the cleaning device is an irrigator; and in embodiments where the cleaning device is a toothbrush, a drive assembly may be included that generates motion in the tip (e.g., via a drive shaft or output shaft).

[0105] In some embodiments, the control component includes one or more input buttons, such as a first control actuator 110, a start button 112, a control actuator 113, and / or a second control actuator 124. The first control actuator 110, the start button 112, the control actuator 113, or other buttons or actuators may be arranged on a control panel 121, which is disposed on, coupled to, or integrally formed with the base 102. Figure 3 This is a simplified block diagram of the control components, showing the electrical (solid lines) and / or mechanical (dashed lines) connections between selected parts.

[0106] See Figure 3 and Figure 4Power supply 116 (which may be a cable, battery, inverter, rectifier or other power converter, capacitor or other power source) is connected to cleaning efficiency improvement module 172, motor 142, and (optionally) one or more start buttons (such as first control actuator 110, start button 112, control actuator 113 and / or second control actuator 124). For example, start button 112 may communicate with a switch module that communicates with control component 180 and / or power supply 116 to selectively start motor 142.

[0107] In some instances, the control component 180 may be a printed circuit board that includes one or more traces or connections for transmitting signals between the cleaning effectiveness improvement module 172, the motor 142, and / or the power supply 116.

[0108] The cleaning effectiveness improvement module 172 selectively controls input characteristics, such as by controlling the motor 142, to change one or more characteristics of the oral irrigator 100 or oral irrigator 100'. For example, as Figure 4 As shown in the diagram, the cleaning efficiency improvement module 172 includes a signal generator 166 and one or more processing elements 170. The processing element 170 may include one or more processors or control chips that process and execute instructions. The signal generator 166 may be a component of substantially any type that generates voltage signals to control one or more characteristics of the motor 142. For example, the signal generator 166 may generate one or more repetitive or non-repetitive electronic signals (e.g., voltage waveforms) applied to the motor 142. In certain embodiments, the signal generator 166 may be a function generator that generates electrical waveforms within a range of frequencies. Exemplary waveforms include sine waves, square waves, sawtooth waves, triangle waves, and so on. Additionally, the signal generator 166 may be configured to generate modified waveforms (i.e., combined waveforms) that include two or more waveform characteristics, and may be configured to change the pump's speed and acceleration. For example, the processing element 170 may be configured to apply a nonlinear signal (such as a waveform or a changing waveform) to the motor to change the pump's acceleration at certain points within a cycle. Continuing with this example, the motor can be a brushless motor, and the control signal changes the voltage at selected parts of the pump cycle to produce a nonlinear pump cycle, for example, the force during the vacuum phase (when fluid is drawn from the reservoir) is less than the force during the discharge phase (when fluid is discharged from the pump).

[0109] Control component 180 may include memory 182. Memory 182 is used by control component 180 to store instructions (e.g., software code) for processing element 170, as well as stored data such as user preference data, input characteristics (e.g., one or more or groups of input characteristics), output characteristics (e.g., one or more or groups of output characteristics), control programs, etc. Memory 182 may be, for example, magneto-optical storage, read-only memory, random access memory, erasable programmable memory, flash memory, or a combination of one or more types of memory components.

[0110] Figure 4 This is a simplified circuit diagram of an example of the cleaning efficiency improvement module 172. The signal generator 166 can communicate with the amplifier 174 and the gating circuit 176 or a switch. The signal generator 166 can communicate with the processing element 170, which determines the signal generated by the signal generator 166. In some instances, the signal generator 166 is incorporated into the processing element 170, such that the processing element 170 performs the function of the signal generator 166 to generate a signal and apply it to the motor 142.

[0111] Amplifier 174 amplifies the signal generated by signal generator 166 before applying it to motor 142. For example, amplifier 174 may be an operational amplifier or a differential amplifier. Amplifier 174 may communicate with both motor 142 and signal generator 166. In some instances, amplifier 174 may be configured to receive feedback from its output to provide a more consistent output signal. However, it should be noted that the configuration of amplifier 174, as well as the type of amplifier and input used, may vary depending on the type of motor 142 and signal generator 166. Additionally, amplifier 174 may be omitted depending on the output voltage and / or other system characteristics of signal generator 166. In these cases, the signal may be applied directly or indirectly to motor 142 without amplification.

[0112] Amplifier 174 can communicate with gating circuit 176 or a switch. Gating circuit 176 selectively supplies the output of amplifier 174 to motor 142. For example, when gating circuit 176 is deactivated, motor 142 may not receive a signal from signal generator 166, but instead can receive a constant power signal. As another example, when gating circuit 176 is deactivated, motor 142 is isolated from any signal or power supply to prevent motor 142 from starting. In this example, gating circuit 176 supplies power to motor 142, and the signal generated by signal generator 166 alters the signal transmitted through gating circuit 176. Continuing this example, during normal mode, motor 142 receives a constant voltage signal; and during guided mode, motor 142 can receive a variable signal. As yet another example, the start-up voltage of gating circuit 176 can be changed to control the current transmission to motor 142. Specifically, in the example where the gate circuit 176 is a transistor, the gate circuit 176 can be slightly activated during a mode to allow a small amount of current to travel between its source and drain, and can then be fully activated to allow full current flow. By controlling the speed and / or torque of the pump 178, variations in current can be used to increase or decrease the flow and / or pressure of fluid 186 in the terminal 114. Variations in current can be used to pulse signals to the motor or to slow down the motor 142 to affect the output performance of the pump 178.

[0113] The gating circuit 176 may be a switch or other selectively activated component. In one example, the gating circuit 176 may be a transistor, such as a metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET), such as an N-channel MOSFET. However, other types of transistors or gating circuits, as well as other components that can be used to selectively provide communication between two or more components, are also contemplated. In some embodiments, the signal generator, amplifier 174, gating circuit 176, and / or other components driving the motor may be included in the controller. In some embodiments, the controller may also be included within the processing element 170.

[0114] The oral irrigator's cleaning efficiency improvement module 172 and other control circuitry can be implemented in a variety of different ways that can be varied as desired. Therefore, Figures 3 to 4 The illustrations shown are intended to be illustrative and not restrictive.

[0115] Figure 5 This is a simplified diagram illustrating an example output 500 of the method for controlling the cleaning effectiveness improvement module (e.g., the outputs of method 600 and / or method 700, see reference). Figure 6 and Figure 7(A more detailed discussion follows). For brevity, the description of output 500 refers to oral irrigator 100, but it should be understood that the method is equally applicable to oral irrigator 100 and other devices disclosed herein. In one example, the processing element 170 of oral irrigator 100 may control one or more input characteristics 514 to change one or more output characteristics, such as cleaning effectiveness 516 (e.g., changing from a first output characteristic to a second output characteristic and / or a target output characteristic). For example, oral irrigator 100 may begin operation from an input characteristic starting point 506. For example, input characteristic starting point 506 may be an initial pressure setting for oral irrigator 100. Input characteristic starting point 506 may be associated with a cleaning effectiveness or target output characteristic starting point 512. For example, when combined with one or more input characteristics (such as orifice size, pulsation frequency, and / or flow rate), input characteristic starting point 506 (e.g., pressure) may result in an output characteristic that achieves a desired cleaning effectiveness of oral irrigator 100 (e.g., a target output characteristic or target set of output characteristics that results in the desired cleaning effectiveness). The oral irrigator 100 can store or receive a cleaning effectiveness target point 510, which is generally associated with enhanced oral cleaning compared to a cleaning effectiveness starting point 512.

[0116] The cleaning effectiveness target point 510 may be associated with one or more output characteristics, such as the orifice size of outlet 122, pulsation frequency, and / or flow rate. Similar to the cleaning effectiveness starting point 512, the cleaning effectiveness target point 510 may be associated with an input characteristic target point 508, such as pressure, fluid element diameter, fluid element volume, fluid element velocity, and / or fluid element frequency. In many embodiments, the pressure at the input characteristic target point 508 may be higher than the pressure at the input characteristic starting point 506. The oral irrigator 100 may, as in a method performed via processing element 170, execute one or more paths, such as path 502 and / or path 504, between the starting point 518 (e.g., the intersection of input characteristic starting point 506 and cleaning effectiveness starting point 512) and the target point 520 (e.g., the intersection of input characteristic target point 508 and cleaning effectiveness target point 510).

[0117] In an example of path 502, processing element 170 can increase input characteristic 514 at a relatively slow rate (e.g., over a period of time, such as a user's predetermined number of uses or a certain duration), and slowly increase cleaning efficacy 516 over a period of time, for example, gradually increasing it over multiple uses of the irrigator. The advantage of path 502 is that the user is more likely to accept or tolerate changes in input characteristic 514 and experiences less discomfort than if input characteristic 514 increased more rapidly (e.g., as in path 504), because the user has more time to develop tolerance over time. In path 504, processing element 170 can increase input characteristic 514 faster than, for example, in path 502. The advantage of path 504 compared to path 502 is that the user can reach the cleaning efficacy target point 510 more quickly, leading to better oral health outcomes more rapidly. Example paths 502 and 504 (or other generated intervals) are described only as examples. Any number of different paths can be defined. Some paths can be linear, exponential, periodic, random, or follow any suitable mathematical function that describes the slope, gradient, or angle of the path as steep, gentle, or variable. Paths can also gradually increase, decrease, and then gradually increase again as required by the user's comfort and tolerance (e.g., paths can take the form of steadily increasing intervals).

[0118] In some instances, this path may include user prompts to replace the terminal, which may complement or separate from changes to electronic input characteristics. Other mechanical input characteristics may include other types of user prompts or notifications, such as display icons, sound outputs, and / or visual outputs to the user.

[0119] Now refer to Figure 6The methods for operating the oral irrigator 100 and / or oral irrigator 100', including the cleaning effectiveness improvement module 172, are discussed in more detail. For brevity, the description of method 600 refers to oral irrigator 100, but it should be understood that the method is equally applicable to oral irrigator 100' and other devices disclosed herein. Although the exemplary methods depict a particular sequence of operations, this sequence may be changed without departing from the scope of this disclosure. For example, some of the depicted operations may be performed in parallel or in a different order without materially affecting the functionality of the method. In other instances, different components of the exemplary devices or systems implementing the methods may perform functions substantially simultaneously or in a particular order. Relatedly, the processor or processing element of the oral irrigator may perform many operations to automatically change, for example, the configuration of the oral irrigator (e.g., modifying input characteristics), and / or generate notifications to the user to allow manual changes to the input characteristics. However, some operations (such as the user manually changing the end caps with different orifice sizes to change the input characteristics) may be performed manually, but are typically performed upon prompting generated by the processing element.

[0120] Figure 6 It is a reference Figure 7 A method 600 for activating the guided mode is described in more detail. Method 600 may begin with operation 602 and may activate the oral irrigator 100. For example, a user may select a first control actuator 110, a start button 112, a control actuator 113, a second control actuator 124, etc., to turn on the oral irrigator 100. Once the oral irrigator 100 is activated, method 600 may proceed to operation 604. In operation 604, processing element 170 may determine whether the guided mode has been activated. For example, processing element 170 may determine whether the user has provided input to one of the actuators or buttons 110, 112, 113, 124, etc., to select the guided mode. In a specific embodiment, a switch associated with the first control actuator 110, the start button 112, the control actuator 113, and / or the second control actuator 124 may provide input to processing element 170 when the corresponding button / actuator is pressed or otherwise activated. As another example, the oral irrigator 100 can automatically activate the guidance mode after a selected time period, for example, after 30 seconds of operation.

[0121] If the guided mode is not activated, the method may proceed to operation 614, which will be discussed in more detail herein. However, if the guided mode is activated in operation 604, method 600 may proceed to operation 606. In operation 608, signal generator 166 may generate control signal 184. Control signal 184 may be selected from predetermined signals or may be generated based on one or more user inputs or other factors, such as as referenced. Figure 7 A more detailed discussion follows.

[0122] Once the signal generator 166 generates the control signal 184, method 600 can proceed to operation 608. In operation 608, the control signal 184 can be applied to the motor 142. For example, a gating circuit 176 can be activated to provide the control signal 184 from the signal generator 166 to the motor 142. When the control signal 184 is applied to the motor 142, the motor 142 can drive mechanical couplings, such as drive shafts, belts, pulleys, etc., connected to the motor 142 based on the signal. For example, the motor 142 can selectively speed up, slow down, or stop the rotation of the mechanical couplings, and / or reduce or decrease the torque generated by the mechanical couplings. Changes in the movement of the drive shaft can produce corresponding changes in the pump 178, thus altering the output of the pump 178, changing the input characteristics 514 of the fluid 186 flowing from the end 114 (e.g., pressure, flow rate, pulsation, etc.), thereby altering the cleaning efficiency 516, for example, as shown in the reference. Figures 5-7 As discussed above. For example, input feature 514 may be based on path 502, path 504, or another path between starting point 518 and target point 520.

[0123] Following operation 608, method 600 may proceed to operation 610. In operation 610, processing element 170 may determine whether to end the guided mode. For example, a user may provide a second input to the oral irrigator 100 by selecting one of the first control actuator 110, the start button 112, the control actuator 113, and / or the second control actuator 124 to indicate that he or she wishes to return to normal mode. As another example, the oral irrigator 100 may have a predetermined time period (e.g., 1 minute) for the guided mode, and once the allocated time has elapsed, processing element 170 may determine to end the guided mode.

[0124] In operation 610, if the guided mode has not terminated, method 600 may proceed to operation 612. In operation 612, processing element 170 may determine whether the same control signal 184 should be applied to motor 142, or whether a different signal should be applied. If the control signal 184 remains the same, method 600 may return to operation 608, and the control signal 184 may continue to be applied to motor 142. However, in operation 612, if a new signal is desired, method 600 may return to operation 606, and signal generator 166 may generate a new control signal 184. For example, a user may wish to change the pressure, flow rate, pulse frequency, or transition between pulses during guided mode, or completely disable guided mode. In these cases, processing element 170 may receive user input to change the control signal and may instruct signal generator 166 to create a new control signal or change the current control signal. This is described in more detail with reference to operation 716 of method 700.

[0125] Continue reading Figure 6 If the guided mode terminates in operation 610, method 600 may proceed to operation 614. In operation 614, processing element 170 may provide a constant control signal 184 to motor 142. In other words, a normal mode signal may be applied to motor 142, and in some cases, the normal mode signal may be substantially constant. When motor 142 receives the normal mode signal, its motion will be constant, and any pulses in the fluid 186 output will be attributable to the reciprocating motion characteristics of pump 178, rather than to the variable motion of motor 142.

[0126] After operation 614, method 600 may proceed to operation 616. In operation 616, processing element 170 may determine whether continued cleaning is desired. For example, processing element 170 may determine whether the user has deactivated the power start button 112 or another button or switch. As another example, the oral irrigator 100 may be configured to have an activation time corresponding to a predetermined "cleaning" length, and the oral irrigator 100 may automatically shut off once the time length has elapsed.

[0127] If continued cleaning is desired, method 600 may return to operation 604. However, if no further cleaning is desired, method 600 may proceed to operation 618. In operation 618, processing element 170 may deactivate motor 142. As an example, processing element 170 may disconnect power supply 116 from motor 142. After operation 618, method 600 may proceed to the final state of operation 620. It should be noted that in many cases, the guided mode characteristics can be configured to gradually increase the output characteristics over time, and therefore the method can be repeated in multiple uses of the oral irrigator (e.g., different cleaning processes by the user). In this way, the activation of the guided mode in any given cleaning process may change the output characteristics of the previous cleaning process, but the output characteristics during this cleaning process may remain consistent throughout the process. In other words, for example, an increase in pressure may occur at the beginning of a new cleaning process, rather than midway through any process. However, in other cases, the increase may begin during the first process and be fully in place during the second process.

[0128] Figure 7An example method 700 (e.g., a guided mode) for controlling the cleaning effectiveness improvement module 172 is illustrated. For brevity, the description of method 700 relates to oral irrigator 100, but it should be understood that the method is equally applicable to oral irrigator 100' and other devices disclosed herein. Although the exemplary method depicts a particular sequence of operations, this sequence may be changed without departing from the scope of this disclosure. For example, some of the depicted operations may be performed in parallel or in a different order without materially affecting the function of the method. In other instances, different components of the exemplary device or system implementing the method may perform their functions substantially simultaneously or in a particular order.

[0129] According to some examples, method 700 includes receiving input characteristics at operation 702. For example, in operation 702, processing element 170 may receive pressure settings from user input such as a first control actuator 110, a start button 112, a control actuator 113, a second control actuator 124, etc. In another example, the input characteristics may be stored in memory 182 associated with processing element 170 and may be retrieved from memory 182 by processing element 170.

[0130] According to some examples, method 700 includes receiving a cleaning effectiveness target or setting at operation 704. For example, in operation 702, processing element 170 may receive a cleaning effectiveness target from user input such as a first control actuator 110, a start button 112, a control actuator 113, a second control actuator 124, etc. In another example, the cleaning effectiveness target may be stored in a memory 182 associated with processing element 170 and may be retrieved from memory 182 by processing element 170. In some examples, the cleaning effectiveness target may be determined through clinical studies that investigate the effects of various input characteristics (e.g., orifice size, pulsation frequency, pressure, and / or flow) on the oral health effects of one or more output characteristics of the oral irrigator. The cleaning effectiveness target may be determined based on user characteristics including age, sex, and / or medical history.

[0131] According to some examples, method 700 includes determining a path from starting point 518 to target point 520 at operation 706. For example, in operation 706, processing element 170 may select a path, such as path 502 and / or path 504, or another suitable path between the starting point and the target point. In some examples, the path may be retrieved from memory 182. In other examples, the path may be received via user input, such as a first control actuator 110, a start button 112, a control actuator 113, and / or a second control actuator 124. In some examples, the user may select from one or more predetermined paths stored in memory 182.

[0132] In some instances, the time-varying path or settings may be algorithmically determined based on user input (e.g., pressure settings and feedback), stored in memory 182, and actuated by a controller or processing element 170. In other instances, the information may be generated via a machine learning model or algorithm used to select different paths for a particular set of inputs. In some embodiments, paths may be stored in memory 182, and the user may select a path from stored options (e.g., memory 182 may include three path options for the user to choose from). In some instances, processing element 170 may select paths based on user demographics such as age, ethnicity, dental history, medical history, gender, etc. In some instances, the oral irrigator may communicate with another device (e.g., a server, smartphone, tablet, etc.) via wired or wireless communication (e.g., Ethernet, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, etc.) and may dynamically update and render paths based on real-time input and user feedback. In some instances, the oral irrigator may send usage data and user input to a server, and the server may send updated or modified paths back to the irrigator for execution.

[0133] According to some examples, method 700 includes at operation 708 adding input feature 514 based on a path selected or received in operation 706. For example, processing element 170 may add one or more input features 514 (e.g., path 502, path 504, etc.) according to a selected path. Depending on the selected path, the input features(s) 514(s) can be selected or controlled to achieve a desired cleaning effectiveness 516. In another example, processing element 170 may prompt the user (e.g., by illuminating indicator 117a or indicator 117b, which may be LEDs or other lights) to change input parameters, such as replacing the installed tip 114 with a tip having a larger or smaller orifice or other features.

[0134] According to some examples, in operation 710, processing element 170 determines whether the cleaning effectiveness 516 target has been achieved (e.g., whether the input characteristic 514 has been sufficiently adjusted so that the cleaning effectiveness 516 is close to or equal to the cleaning effectiveness target point 510 or target point 520). If the target has been achieved, method 700 may proceed to operation 712, and processing element 170 may store the input characteristic 514 in memory 182. If the target has not been achieved, method 700 may proceed to operation 716, and processing element 170 may receive user feedback.

[0135] According to some examples, in operation 712 of method 700, processing element 170 may store input characteristics for achieving cleaning effectiveness target point 510, such as stored in memory 182.

[0136] According to some examples, method 700 ends at operation 714, and subsequent use of the oral irrigator 100 can utilize the input characteristic 514 stored in operation 712 without performing method 700. For example, in operation 6060 of method 600, processing element 170 can retrieve the stored input characteristic from memory and generate signal 184 based on it.

[0137] In operation 702, processing element 170 may receive user feedback, such as via one or more inputs (e.g., a first control actuator 110, a start button 112, a control actuator 113, and / or a second control actuator 124). For example, the user may indicate that input characteristic 514 is too high and desires a lower value for the input characteristic (e.g., the pressure of fluid 186 in the distal 114). In another instance, the user may indicate that input characteristic 514 is too low and desires a higher value. In some instances of method 700, operation 716 is optional.

[0138] According to some examples, in operation 718, processing element 170 determines whether the feedback received in operation 716 is opposite to the path determined in operation 706. If the feedback is opposite to the path, method 700 may return to operation 706, and processing element 170 may select a different or altered path. For example, if the initial path selected in operation 706 is a relatively aggressive path, such as path 504, and the user indicates in operation 716 that input characteristic 514 (e.g., pressure) is too high, then upon returning to operation 706, processing element 170 may select a relatively gentler path, such as path 502, for example, with smaller increases between setpoints and further dispersion of setpoints over time.

[0139] If, in operation 718, the received user feedback is not the opposite of the path (or no feedback is received), then method 700 may return to operation 708 and may continue to change the input characteristics 514 along the selected path.

[0140] In many instances, the execution cycle of method 700 can be separated by the discrete usage process of the oral irrigator 100. For example, method 700 can be executed in which the processing element 170 changes the input characteristic 514 once per use in operation 708 (e.g., once daily). In other instances, method 700 may change the input characteristic 514 over periods of days, weeks, or months. This relatively phased implementation of method 700 can have the advantage of allowing the user to gradually adapt to the increasing input characteristic 514 with minimal discomfort, while achieving the cleaning efficacy target point 510 within a reasonable timeframe and with good user tolerance.

[0141] Go to Figures 8 to 25BAn embodiment of a control panel 800 with a user interface display 808 is shown. For example, such as Figure 8 , Figure 12 , Figure 24A and Figure 24B As shown, the control panel 800 may include one or more physical buttons or switches suitable for receiving user input. The display 808 may be any device capable of dynamically displaying symbols, letters, numbers, etc., to form a user interface. In some embodiments, the display 808 may be a liquid crystal display, a light-emitting diode display, etc. The display 808 may have a backlight, or may not. The display may communicate with processing elements to allow dynamic changes in icons or other display elements to indicate the current state or provide feedback to the user during use. Various features (e.g., icons or other outputs visible on the display 808) may be configured to have aesthetic features, such as being visually pleasing to the user and conveying information to the user.

[0142] Physical buttons on the control panel 800 can operate one or more functions of any oral irrigator disclosed herein. For example, the control panel may include a power button 802 for turning the oral irrigator on or off. The control panel 800 may include a user configuration button 804 for selecting between two or more users who may store custom user preferences in the device's memory. The control panel 800 may also include a mode button 806. The mode button can enable or toggle between the "guided" mode disclosed herein and the regular irrigation mode. The control panel 800 may also include one or more pressure adjustment controls 810, 812 that allow the device to increase or decrease the fluid pressure or flow rate delivered by the oral irrigator.

[0143] User interface display 808 may include one or more portions that display various data, such as providing user feedback on device configuration, operating parameters, user configuration, and / or selected mode. For example, display 808 may include a user configuration display portion 814 that displays the device's active user configuration, such as the user configuration selected by user configuration button 804. Display 808 may include a user configuration selection portion 816 that displays numbers or other identifiers (e.g., active user configuration) associated with the device's user configuration. In some embodiments, user configuration selection portion 816 may include one or more alphanumeric displays, such as two-segment or seven-segment displays capable of displaying numbers, letters, or other symbols associated with the user's user configuration of the oral irrigator. Display 808 may include a pressure selection portion 818 that includes an alphanumeric display capable of displaying numbers, letters, or other symbols associated with the oral irrigator's pressure level, flow level, or "flush force." Display 808 may include a timer portion 824 that indicates elapsed or pending flush time. For example, as... Figures 11A to 11DAs shown, all or part of the timer section 824 may flash, blink, or move to indicate that the oral irrigator is working. The display 808 may include one or more mode sections 820, 822. Either mode section 820, 822 may be adjustable to indicate the mode of the oral irrigator (e.g., selected via mode button 806). For example, mode section 820 may display a "guide" icon when the oral irrigator is in "guide" mode; and the "guide" icon may be hidden when the oral irrigator is not in "guide" mode. Similarly, mode section 822 may display an oral irrigator icon when the oral irrigator is in regular oral irrigator mode; and the oral irrigator icon may be hidden when the oral irrigator is not in regular oral irrigator mode.

[0144] The control panel 800 and / or display 808 may include additional controls, buttons, icons, or inputs. Some of the controls, buttons, icons, or inputs shown may be optional, and / or their arrangement or shape may differ from that shown.

[0145] See Figure 25A and 25B In one instance, display 808 may include an icon representing a user (e.g., a person, such as in the form of a human silhouette or other construct). Specifically, in one embodiment, the icon includes a first circular shape representing a person's head and a second semi-circular shape representing a person's shoulders, but other aesthetic representations are also conceivable. In some cases, display 808 may have limited shape configuration options, and thus, by employing simple yet representative shapes, messages can be clearly conveyed to the user without the need for expensive or complex display screens or animations.

[0146] In various embodiments, such as those including a human-shaped icon, the icon may transition from a first state (such as a blank state or a sad face) to a second state (such as a smiling face or other emotional expression). In these embodiments, the icon may convey a human emotional state to indicate whether a flossing time or other cleaning procedure has been followed. It should be noted that, although Figure 25A and Figure 25B A human figure is shown as the icon, but other icon shapes, including character shapes, can also be used.

[0147] in conclusion The above description has broad applicability. For example, while the examples disclosed herein may focus on a guiding model for oral irrigators, it should be recognized that the concepts disclosed herein are equally applicable to other motor-driven devices where variations in motion may be desired. Similarly, although the cleaning effectiveness improvement module is discussed with reference to the guiding model, the devices and techniques disclosed herein are equally applicable to altering the pulse frequency or pressure of the outlet fluid for other applications (e.g., generating a faster pulse frequency, higher pressure, and / or higher flow for faster or more effective cleaning). Therefore, the discussion of any example is intended to be exemplary only and is not intended to limit the scope of this disclosure (including the claims) to these examples.

[0148] Although the invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that changes in form and detail may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The invention is limited only by the scope of the following claims.

[0149] All directional references (e.g., up, down, upward, downward, left, right, left-right, top, bottom, above, below, vertical, horizontal, clockwise, and counterclockwise) are used for identification purposes only to aid the reader in understanding embodiments of the invention and do not constitute limitation, particularly on the location, orientation, or purpose of the invention, unless specifically stated in the claims. Connection indications (e.g., attachment, coupling, connection, joining, etc.) should be understood broadly and may include intermediate members between a series of elements, as well as relative movement between elements. Therefore, a connection indication does not necessarily mean that two elements are directly connected and fixed to each other.

Claims

1. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions for carrying out a method for operating an oral irrigator, the method comprising: Determine the first input characteristics of the oral irrigator; Determine a first output characteristic of the oral irrigator associated with the first input characteristic; Based on the first input characteristic and the first output characteristic, a path from the first output characteristic to the second output characteristic is determined, wherein the second output characteristic is associated with the second input characteristic.

2. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the first input characteristic and the second input characteristic include at least one of fluid pressure, flow rate, or pulsation.

3. The computer-readable medium according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first output characteristic and the second output characteristic include cleaning effectiveness.

4. The computer-readable medium according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The oral irrigator further includes: Fluid reservoirs, pumps, and The end portion that is in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir via the pump; and The first input characteristic includes at least one of fluid pressure in the terminal, fluid flow, or fluid pulsation, or the orifice size of the terminal outlet.

5. The computer-readable medium according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the path includes increasing the value of the first output characteristic over a period of time to achieve the second output characteristic.

6. The computer-readable medium of claim 5, wherein the time period includes at least two separate uses of the oral irrigator.

7. An oral irrigator, comprising: Pump; The housing surrounding the pump; A reservoir connected to the housing; The end portion that is in fluid communication with the reservoir and the pump; as well as A cleaning efficiency improvement module configured to operate the oral irrigator along a path between a starting point and a target point.

8. The oral irrigator of claim 7, further comprising the control panel or user interface display described herein.

9. A method of operating an oral irrigator, comprising: Determine the first output characteristic associated with the first user settings; Determine the path from the first output characteristic to the second output characteristic within a certain time period; Based on the path, the first output characteristic is increased to an intermediate output characteristic during the first operation of the oral irrigator; as well as Based on the path, the intermediate output characteristic is added to the second output characteristic during the second operation of the oral irrigator.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein adding the first output characteristic to the intermediate output characteristic comprises modifying the first input characteristic by an intermediate amount.

11. The method according to any one of claims 9 to 10, comprising generating user feedback to indicate that the second output characteristic has been achieved.

12. The method according to any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the first output characteristic includes a value of one of fluid unit diameter, fluid unit volume, fluid unit velocity and / or fluid unit frequency, wherein the fluid unit is output by the oral irrigator.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the second output characteristic includes a variation in the value of at least one of the fluid element diameter, the fluid element volume, the fluid element velocity, and / or the fluid element frequency.

14. The method according to any one of claims 9 to 13, wherein the path includes an incremental change between the first output characteristic and the second output characteristic.

15. The method according to any one of claims 9 to 13, wherein the first output characteristic is a first value of fluid pressure, and the second output characteristic is a second value of fluid pressure, the second value being higher than the first value.

16. The method according to any one of claims 9 to 13, wherein the first output characteristic includes mechanical characteristics and electrical characteristics.

17. A method for cleaning using an oral irrigator, comprising: Configure the oral irrigator to generate a first set of output characteristics; Operate the oral irrigator for a certain period of time under the first set of output characteristics; The configuration of the oral irrigator is modified to generate a second set of output characteristics, wherein the second set of output characteristics is closer to the target set of output characteristics than the first set of output characteristics. After a predetermined time period, the configuration of the oral irrigator is modified to generate the target group output characteristics.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising: Generate a user notification regarding the modification of the oral irrigator's configuration to generate the second set of output characteristics; And generate a user notification regarding modifying the configuration of the oral irrigator to generate the target group output characteristics.

19. The method according to any one of claims 17 and 18, wherein the predetermined time period includes a predetermined number of times the user uses the oral irrigator.

20. The method according to any one of claims 17 to 19, wherein modifying the configuration of the oral irrigator to generate the second set of output characteristics is based on the path between the first set of output characteristics and the target set of output characteristics determined by the processing element.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the path determines the predetermined amount of time.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein configuring the oral irrigator to generate the second set of output characteristics includes modifying one or more operating characteristics of the oral irrigator via a processor.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein configuring the oral irrigator to generate the second set of output characteristics comprises: The user is notified by a notification generated by the processor of the oral irrigator to replace the tip of the oral irrigator.

24. A method of operating an oral hygiene device, comprising: Receive user input to the first control button to activate the oral cleaning device; Operate the oral cleaning device to generate a first set of output characteristics; Receive user input to the second control button to activate the guided mode configuration of the oral cleaning device; Generate a modified set of output characteristics that differs from the first set of output characteristics, wherein the modified set of output characteristics is based on a stepwise adjustment factor adjusted relative to the first set of output characteristics. as well as The system receives user input to the first control button to deactivate the oral hygiene device.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising: Receive user input to the first control button to start the oral cleaning device for another cleaning process; as well as Based on the guidance mode configuration, a target set of output characteristics different from the modified set of output characteristics is generated; as well as The oral cleaning device is operated under the target group output characteristics.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the processing element generates the modified set of output characteristics.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein the modified set of output characteristics is closer to achieving the target effectiveness of the oral cleaning device compared to the first set of output characteristics.

28. An oral hygiene device, comprising: handle; Connected to the end of the handle; A drive assembly positioned within the handle and configured to produce the output characteristics of the distal end; A guidance mode module that communicates with the driving component, wherein the guidance mode module is configured to determine a path from an initial group output characteristic to a target group output characteristic based on user settings, and to increase the output characteristic of the driving component from the initial group output characteristic to the target group output characteristic within a certain time period.

29. The oral cleaning device of claim 28, wherein the drive assembly comprises a pump and a motor, and the oral cleaning device is an oral irrigator.

30. The oral cleaning device of claim 28, wherein the guidance mode module modifies the path based on feedback from the user.

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