Oral irrigator

Abstract

This disclosure provides an oral cleaning device that allows teeth to be cleaned hands-free without using a toothbrush. [Solution] The oral irrigator comprises a sheet-shaped vibration generating section that generates vibrations, a fluid passage section 30 that faces the dental arch by sandwiching the vibration generating section and is formed to allow cleaning fluid to pass through, a cleaning fluid storage section 50 that stores the cleaning fluid, and a power supply.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an oral irrigator.

Background Art

[0002] Generally, a method using a toothbrush has been widely used for cleaning teeth since ancient times. Also, a method of cleaning using a toothbrush equipped with an ultrasonic generating function, and a method of cleaning by jetting water onto teeth and gums in a jet type are also used. These methods can be easily used and are convenient from the viewpoint of removing dirt from the parts to be polished, but it was necessary to insert a toothbrush or a jet washer into the oral cavity and always hold and operate them.

[0003] The above-mentioned toothbrush, jet washer, etc. are troublesome during the busy time before going to work. Also, for those with physical disabilities or those who need care, it is burdensome to clean their teeth themselves, and for users or patients who cannot brush their teeth by themselves in care facilities or hospitals, the burden on caregivers or nurses to clean their teeth was also great. Therefore, a hands-free tooth cleaning device has been demanded.

[0004] In order to clean the oral cavity hands-free, a hands-free type automatic toothbrush device (see Patent Document 1) that enables a toothbrushing operation while holding the device with an oral insertion unit held in the oral cavity is disclosed. Also, an oral irrigator including a vibration generating unit that generates an electrical signal for generating vibration by sound waves or ultrasonic waves, and a cleaner body that is inserted into the user's oral cavity during oral cleaning is disclosed (see Patent Document 2).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

[0006] The objective of this disclosure is to provide an oral cleaning device that allows teeth to be cleaned hands-free without the use of a toothbrush. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] As a result of diligent research to solve the above problems, the inventors have discovered a device that can clean the inside of the mouth by vibration while the mouth is filled with a cleaning solution, and have completed this disclosure.

[0008] In other words, this disclosure is as follows: [1] A sheet-shaped vibration generating unit that generates vibrations, The aforementioned vibration generating section is sandwiched between two fluid passages that face the dental arch and are formed to allow cleaning fluid to pass through, A cleaning liquid storage section for storing the cleaning liquid, Power supply and Equipped with, Oral irrigator. [2] The oral irrigator according to [1] above, wherein the liquid passage section comprises an upper support plate and a lower support plate, each having a through-hole formed through which the cleaning liquid passes. [3] The oral irrigator according to [2] above, wherein the vibration generating part is arranged along the upper support plate and the lower support plate. [4] The oral irrigator according to [2] or [3] above, characterized in that it has a gap of 3 mm or more between the lower surface of the upper support plate and the upper surface of the lower support plate. [5] An oral irrigator according to any of [1] to [4] above, wherein the frequency of the vibration is 200 Hz to 800 Hz. [6] The oral irrigator according to any one of [1] to [5] above, wherein the vibration generating section is equipped with a piezoelectric element, and the vibration is generated by the piezoelectric element. [7] The oral irrigator according to any of the above [6], wherein the piezoelectric element is held in place by a soft material capable of transmitting vibrations so that its surface is not exposed. 〔8〕The oral irrigator according to the above-mentioned 〔6〕 or 〔7〕, wherein the piezoelectric element is waterproofed. 〔9〕The oral irrigator according to any one of the above-mentioned 〔1〕 to 〔8〕, wherein the cleaning liquid is electrolytically neutral sterilized water.

Advantages of the Invention

[0009] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to clean the oral cavity, particularly teeth, hands-free.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0010] [Figure 1] It is a plan view showing the basic configuration of the oral cleaning device of the present embodiment. [Figure 2] It is a perspective view showing the basic configuration of the oral cleaning device of the present embodiment. [Figure 3] It is a plan view showing the basic configuration of the vibration generating section in the oral cleaning device of the present embodiment. [Figure 4] It is a plan view showing the basic configuration of the liquid passage section in the oral cleaning device of the present embodiment. [Figure 5] It is a perspective view showing the basic configuration of the liquid passage section in the oral cleaning device of the present embodiment. [Figure 6] It is a perspective view showing the basic configuration of the lower support plate in the oral cleaning device of the present embodiment. [Figure 7] It is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A' of FIG. 4 in the oral cleaning device of the present embodiment. [Figure 8] It is a left side view showing the basic configuration of the oral cleaning device of the present embodiment. [Figure 9] It is a cross-sectional view taken along the line B-B' of FIG. 4 in the oral cleaning device of the present embodiment.

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0011] Subsequently, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the attached drawings to facilitate understanding of the present invention. In the drawings, parts not related to the description may be omitted from illustration.

[0012] Hereinafter, embodiments for implementing the present invention (hereinafter simply referred to as "the present embodiment") will be described in detail. The following present embodiment is an exemplification for explaining the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention to the following content. The present invention can be appropriately modified and implemented within the scope of its gist.

[0013] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, an oral irrigator 10 according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure includes a sheet-like vibration generating unit 20 that generates vibrations, a liquid passage unit 30 that sandwiches the vibration generating unit 20 and faces the dental arch, and through which a cleaning liquid passes, a cleaning liquid storage unit 50 that stores the cleaning liquid, and a control housing 71.

[0014] The user holds the oral irrigator 10 in the mouth, sandwiches the liquid passage unit 30 with the upper dental arch and the lower dental arch, and puts the oral cleaning liquid into the oral cavity. Next, the user turns on the power of the oral irrigator 10 to generate vibrations from the vibration generating unit 20 to clean the oral cavity. When the cleaning is completed, the user takes out the oral irrigator 10 from the mouth and discharges the cleaning liquid from the mouth.

[0015] Hereinafter, each member and the like will be described.

[0016] [Vibration generating unit] The vibration generating unit 20 generates vibrations, and the vibrations are propagated to the cleaning liquid. With the vibrations and the cleaning liquid, it becomes possible to efficiently clean the oral cavity such as teeth and gums. As shown in FIG. 3, the vibration generating unit 20 is formed on the sheet by a holding member 21. The holding member 21 holds the surface of the vibrator 22 so as not to be exposed and to be disposed on substantially the same plane.

[0017] The holding member 21 may be any member through which the vibration of the vibrator 22 can be propagated, and examples thereof include elastomers such as styrene-based elastomers and silicone. The hardness of the holding member 21 is, for example, 0 to 50 in terms of Shore A hardness.

[0018] The thickness of the vibration generating unit 20 is, for example, 1.5 mm to 4 mm, 2 to 3 mm.

[0019] In Figure 3, the oscillator 22 is a piezoelectric element (also called a piezoelectric element). However, it is not limited to a piezoelectric element; any element that generates vibration or a driving source may be used.

[0020] In Figure 3, the piezoelectric elements are joined to the diaphragm and are held in place by a holding member 21 made of a soft material capable of transmitting vibrations, so that their surfaces are not exposed. While the vibration generating unit 20 in Figure 3 has three vibrators 22, it is not limited to this configuration. The shape of the vibrators 22 is also arbitrary; for example, it may be U-shaped or other shapes that conform to the teeth.

[0021] The dimensions of the piezoelectric elements can be adjusted as needed depending on the number to be installed, but for example, the length is 10-120 mm, 15-50 mm, the width is 8-12 mm, 9-11 mm, and the thickness is 0.1-0.3 mm, 0.15-0.25 mm. The dimensions of the diaphragm can be adjusted as needed according to the dimensions of the piezoelectric elements, and the material is, for example, 42 alloy (Ni-Fe).

[0022] The vibration frequencies generated by the transducer 22 are, for example, 200Hz to 800Hz, 300Hz to 600Hz, 300Hz to 500Hz, and 300Hz to 400Hz. Since the oral irrigator 10 of this disclosure generates vibrations in the oral cavity, there are concerns about the effects on the brain and the blood through the blood vessels if ultrasound is generated. Also, ultrasound can cause pain in the gums and oral lining. Therefore, by setting the vibrations to the above frequencies, it is possible to suppress the concerns about the effects of vibrations generated in the oral cavity.

[0023] The transducer 22 is preferably waterproofed. Specifically, the transducer 22 may be coated with a protective agent to prevent the infiltration of components of a soft material that interfere with the function of the transducer, such as plasticizers, and may be held by the soft material while coated with the protective agent. The protective agent prevents components such as plasticizers from the holding member 21 from entering the transducer 22 over time, which would reduce the vibration function of the transducer 22. The protective agent can be any material that can prevent the infiltration of components of a soft material that interfere with the function of the transducer, such as urethane resin, epoxy resin, or UV-curing resin.

[0024] The transducer 22 has two cables 41 connected to it, which connect the transducer 22 to the control unit 60 and supply power from the drive power supply. These cables 41 are also held in place by the holding member 21 so that their surfaces are not exposed.

[0025] [Liquid passage part] As shown in Figures 4-6, the fluid passage section 30 is positioned opposite the dental arch by sandwiching the vibration generating section 20, and is formed to allow cleaning fluid to pass through it. This fluid passage section 30 includes an upper support plate 32 and a lower support plate 33, each having a through-hole 31 through which cleaning fluid can pass, and is connected to the cleaning reservoir section 50 and the control housing 71 via a neck section 34.

[0026] The upper support plate 32 prevents the upper teeth from coming into contact with the upper surface of the vibration generating unit 20, and the lower support plate 33 prevents the lower teeth from coming into contact with the lower surface of the vibration generating unit 20. The upper support plate 32 is also equipped with a cleaning fluid inlet 35 through which cleaning fluid from the cleaning fluid reservoir flows in.

[0027] The material of the fluid-conducting section 30 can be any material with sufficient hardness so that when lightly clamped by the upper or lower teeth, the upper support plate 32 or lower support plate 33 bends and does not come into contact with the vibration-generating section 20 it houses. Resins such as ABS, PS (polystyrene), PP (polypropylene), PE (polyethylene), and elastomer can be used, but are not particularly limited.

[0028] The fluid passage section 30 is formed to allow the cleaning fluid to pass through. In Figures 4 to 6, as an example of a structure formed to allow the cleaning fluid to pass through, the upper support plate 32 and the lower support plate 33 are provided with oval-shaped through-holes 31. The through-hole 31 in the upper support plate 32 allows the cleaning fluid, which has passed from the cleaning fluid reservoir 50 through the cleaning fluid inlet 35, to immerse the entire vibration generating section 20, and to transmit vibrations from the vibrator 22 to the cleaning fluid. In addition, the through-hole 31 in the lower support plate 33 allows the cleaning fluid in the fluid passage section 30 to pass downward from the lower support plate 33, making it possible to immerse the lower part of the oral cavity, tongue, and lower teeth of the oral irrigator 10 with the cleaning fluid.

[0029] The shape, size, width, and number of the through-holes 31 are not particularly limited, as long as they are of a size that prevents the teeth from directly touching the vibration generating part 20 or hindering the vibration of the vibration generating part when the fluid passage part 30 is sandwiched between the upper and lower teeth. In Figures 4-6, the shape of the through-holes 31 is oval, but they may be round, elliptical, polygonal (such as a square), striped, or grid-like. The through-holes 31 may also be a mesh-like structure of holes. In Figures 4-6, there are 30 through-holes 31 in both the upper support plate 32 and the lower support plate 33, but this can be adjusted as appropriate depending on the size and shape of the through-holes 31.

[0030] As shown in Figures 7 and 8, the outer periphery of the upper support plate 32 has a long side wall 36a in the vertically upward direction relative to the upper support plate 32 and a short side wall 37a in the vertically downward direction relative to the upper support plate 32, while the inner periphery of the upper support plate 32 has a medium side wall 38a in the vertically upward direction relative to the upper support plate 32. Similarly, the outer periphery of the lower support plate 33 has a long side wall 36b in the vertically downward direction relative to the upper support plate 32 and a short side wall 37b in the vertically upward direction relative to the upper support plate 32, while the inner periphery of the lower support plate 33 has a medium side wall 38b in the vertically downward direction relative to the lower support plate 33. The short side wall 37a of the upper support plate 32 and the short side wall 37b of the lower support plate 33 come into contact, forming a gap (not shown) capable of accommodating the vibration generating section 20. The height of the gap is the sum of the heights of the short side wall 37a of the upper support plate 32 and the short side wall 37b of the lower support plate 33.

[0031] The long lateral walls 36a, 36b and the medium lateral walls 38a, 38b prevent vibrations from being absorbed by the endooral lining, allowing vibrations to be efficiently transmitted to the upper and lower dentitions. Furthermore, while brushing with a toothbrush requires opening the mouth and moving the toothbrush, which can cause splashing, the long lateral walls 36a and 36b located near the anterior teeth prevent oral cleaning solution from leaking out of the mouth or splashing, even when the mouth is not completely closed with the lips.

[0032] The heights of the long side walls 36a, 36b and the middle side walls 38a, 38b are, for example, 2mm to 10mm, 3mm to 7mm, and 4mm to 6mm. Alternatively, the heights of the long side walls 36a, 36b and the middle side walls 38a, 38b may be varied so that the height of the area where the anterior teeth are close together when the fluid-conducting portion 30 is bitten with the teeth is higher than the height of the area where the posterior teeth are close together.

[0033] As shown in Figure 9, the neck portion 34 of the fluid passage section 30 has a cavity 40 at its upper side through which cleaning fluid from the cleaning fluid reservoir 50 flows. One end of the cavity 40 is connected to the cleaning fluid reservoir 50, and the other end is connected to the cleaning fluid inlet 35. The lower side of the neck portion 34 of the fluid passage section 30 is a wiring path 42 through which a cable 41 that supplies power from the drive power supply to the vibrator 22 passes.

[0034] The thickness of the upper support plate 32 and the lower support plate 33 is, for example, 1 mm to 2.5 mm, and the width should be wider than the width of the dental arch, for example, 1.0 mm to 2.8 mm. Depending on the width of the dental arch, for example, the width may be smaller on the anterior side and wider on the posterior side.

[0035] In Figures 4 and 5, the upper support plate 32 and the lower support plate 33 are fixed with screws 44, but the fixing method is not limited to screws; they may also be fitted together, bonded by ultrasonic welding, heat welding, or solvent welding, and the upper support plate 32 and the lower support plate 33 may be formed as a single unit.

[0036] The gap houses the vibration generating unit 20 within the fluid passage section 30 and immerses the vibration generating unit 20 in cleaning fluid from the cleaning fluid reservoir 50. Furthermore, by providing this gap, even if the user grips the fluid passage section 30 tightly between the upper and lower teeth, the fluid passage section 30 and the vibration generating unit 20 will not come into direct contact, thus preventing the suppression of vibration transmission from the vibration generating unit 20.

[0037] The height of the gap, that is, the distance between the lower surface of the upper support plate 32 and the upper surface of the lower support plate 33, can be adjusted as appropriate according to the thickness of the vibration generating part 20, for example, 3mm to 10mm or 5mm to 8mm. Also, the height of the gap 39a between the lower surface of the upper support plate 32 and the upper surface of the vibration generating part 20 in the gap, and / or the height of the gap 39b between the upper surface of the lower support plate 33 and the lower surface of the vibration generating part 20 in the gap, for example, 0.5mm or more, 1mm to 4mm or 2mm to 3mm.

[0038] The fluid-conducting portion 30 may have at least a portion of its surface, for example, the long side wall 36, covered with a soft material such as silicone. Since the fluid-conducting portion 30 comes into direct contact not only with the upper or lower teeth but also with the gums in the oral cavity, it is possible to prevent gum injury or pain caused by contact between the fluid-conducting portion 30 and the gums when the user holds the oral irrigator 10 in their mouth.

[0039] The vibration generating unit 20 is positioned along the upper support plate 32 and the lower support plate 33. This arrangement allows for efficient propagation of vibrations from the small amount of power supplied from the drive power supply to both the upper and lower dental arches. Furthermore, it makes it possible to make the oral irrigator 10 itself compact, making it easier for the user to place the oral irrigator 10 in their mouth and to close their mouth, thereby further preventing splashing. Moreover, by improving the efficiency of vibration propagation with this arrangement, teeth can be cleaned using vibrations from the drive power supply, realizing a hands-free device that does not require an electrical outlet.

[0040] (Washing fluid reservoir) The cleaning reservoir 50 stores the cleaning fluid. As described above, this cleaning reservoir 50 is in communication with the cleaning fluid inlet 35 via the cavity 40.

[0041] The capacity of the cleaning reservoir 50 is, for example, 20 to 100 mL. The cleaning reservoir 50 is positioned so that its bottom is higher than the upper support plate 32 when the oral irrigator 10 is placed horizontally.

[0042] A partition is usually formed in the cleaning fluid reservoir 50, the cavity 40, or the cleaning fluid inlet 35 to prevent the cleaning fluid from the reservoir 50 from flowing out into the fluid passage 30. When a user uses the oral irrigator 10, the partition is opened by a predetermined operation, such as pressing the power button, while the oral irrigator 10 is held in the mouth with the teeth, allowing the cleaning fluid to flow from the cleaning fluid reservoir 50 to the fluid passage 30. The partition can be, for example, a solenoid valve. The cleaning fluid reservoir 50, the cavity 40, or the cleaning fluid inlet 35 may also be equipped with a mechanism, such as a backflow prevention valve, to prevent the cleaning fluid from flowing back into the cleaning fluid reservoir 50 or cavity 40 when the oral irrigator 10 is tilted or for other reasons.

[0043] For example, the cleaning liquid can be supplied to the cleaning reservoir 50 by providing an inlet (not shown) on the top surface of the cleaning reservoir 50 and pouring the cleaning liquid through that inlet.

[0044] (Cleaning solution) Oral rinses are liquids that can remove dirt or plaque attached to teeth, or kill or bacteriostatically kill bacteria that cause periodontal disease or tooth decay, and that are safe to put in the mouth. Examples include hypochlorous acid water such as high-concentration hypochlorous acid water, neutral electrolyzed functional water, reduced alkaline bubble electrolyzed water, cetylpyridinium chloride, chlorhexidine glucuronate, benzethonium chloride, and chlorhexidine glucuronate. The concentration of hypochlorous acid water can be, for example, 1000 ppm or less, 500 ppm or less, 100 ppm or less, 50 ppm or less, 10 ppm or less, or 0 ppm as the effective chlorine concentration. The pH of hypochlorous acid water can be, for example, pH 8.0 to pH 10.0. The rinses may also contain compounds that can suppress inflammation or stop bleeding in the oral cavity, for example, tranexamic acid tablets or dipotassium glycyrrhizinate.

[0045] (Control unit, power supply) A control housing 71 is in contact with the lower surface of the cleaning fluid reservoir 50. Inside the control housing 71 are a control unit 60 and a drive power supply (not shown), and a power button (not shown) is provided on the surface of the control housing. The control unit 60 applies a drive voltage to the vibrator 22 to cause vibration from the vibrator 22 in the vibration generating unit 20. The drive voltage is connected to the vibrator 22 by a cable 41. The drive power supply is connected to the power button and the control unit.

[0046] The neck portion 34 and the cleaning reservoir portion 50, or the neck portion 34 and the control housing 71, may be detachably connected. For example, the electrodes of the cable 41 from the vibrator 22 are exposed on the lower side of the end of the neck portion 34 and are energized by contacting the plunger-equipped electrode pins on the control housing 71 side.

[0047] Power sources include, for example, rechargeable batteries and dry cell batteries. Rechargeable batteries can be charged using, for example, contactless charging with an electromagnetic induction coil or charging via pogo pin connection. An example of a power button is a tact switch.

[0048] Furthermore, in order to enhance the cleaning effect in the oral cavity, it is preferable that the oral irrigator 10 be held horizontally in the oral cavity so that not only the lower teeth but also the upper teeth are immersed in the cleaning solution. On the other hand, if the user moves their jaw or tilts their body, causing their head to bend forward, the molars of the upper teeth will not be easily immersed in the cleaning solution. For this reason, the oral irrigator 10 may be equipped with a tilt sensor, for example, in the control housing 71, and a tilt warning unit may be provided to visually or audibly communicate to the user when a predetermined tilt angle is detected. For example, this could be indicated by a lamp in a position visible to the user in the cleaning solution reservoir 50, or by emitting an alarm sound. The predetermined tilt angle is, for example, 5 degrees or more, preferably 10 degrees or more, and more preferably 20 degrees or more.

[0049] Furthermore, since the oral irrigator 10 is equipped with a power supply, it may also be equipped with wireless communication means such as Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, so that information such as the date, time, and number of times the oral cavity is cleaned can be transmitted to a smartphone or tablet device, allowing the usage status of the oral irrigator 10 to be monitored.

[0050] Next, the operation (usage) of the oral irrigator 10 will be explained based on Figures 1 and 2.

[0051] (Step S1) Preparation stage The user opens the inlet (not shown) on the top surface of the cleaning fluid reservoir 50, pours the cleaning fluid into the cleaning fluid reservoir 50, and closes the inlet. Next, the user opens their mouth and positions the oral irrigator 10 in their mouth so that the upper teeth are positioned above the upper support plate 32 of the fluid passage section 30 and the lower teeth are positioned below the lower support plate 33 of the fluid passage section 30. The user lightly holds the fluid passage section 30 between their upper and lower teeth so as not to distort the upper support plate 32 and the lower support plate 33. The user then grasps the cleaning fluid reservoir 50 and the control housing 71 and positions the oral irrigator 10 horizontally in their mouth.

[0052] (Step S2) Usage stage When the user presses the power button on the oral irrigator 10, the cleaning solution from the cleaning solution reservoir 50 is poured into the oral cavity through the cleaning solution inlet 35, and the vibration generating unit 20, the upper teeth, and the lower teeth are immersed in the cleaning solution. Furthermore, the vibrator 22 vibrates and the vibrations are transmitted to the cleaning solution, and the teeth, gums, and other parts of the oral cavity are cleaned by the synergistic effect of the physical force from the vibration and the chemical force from the cleaning solution. The cleaning time depends on the degree of plaque attached to the teeth, but for example, it is 1 to 5 minutes or 2 to 4 minutes.

[0053] If the tilt sensor detects that the oral irrigator 10 is tilted, the upper molars and front teeth will no longer be immersed in the cleaning solution, so an alarm sounds to prompt the user to keep the oral irrigator 10 horizontal.

[0054] (Step S3) Completion stage Once cleaning is complete, the user presses the power button to stop the vibration. Next, the user grasps the cleaning solution reservoir 50 and the control housing 71, removes the oral irrigator 10 from the mouth, and spits out the cleaning solution. If necessary, the user may then rinse their mouth. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0055] 10 Oral irrigators 20 Vibration generating section 21 Retaining member 22 transducers 30 Liquid passage part 31 Penetration 32 Upper support plate 33 Lower support plate 34 Neck 35 Cleaning fluid inlet 36a,b long side wall 37a,b short side wall 38a,b Median wall 39a, 39b gap 40 hollow 41 Cables 42 Wireway 44 screws 50 Washing fluid reservoir 60 Control Unit 71 Control enclosure

Claims

1. A sheet-shaped vibration generating unit that generates vibrations, The aforementioned vibration generating section is sandwiched between two fluid passages that face the dental arch and are formed to allow cleaning fluid to pass through, A cleaning liquid storage section for storing the cleaning liquid, Power supply and Equipped with, Oral irrigator.

2. The oral irrigator according to claim 1, wherein the liquid passage section comprises an upper support plate and a lower support plate, each having a through-hole formed through which the cleaning liquid passes.

3. The oral irrigator according to claim 2, wherein the vibration generating part is arranged along the upper support plate and the lower support plate.

4. The oral irrigator according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that a gap of 3 mm or more is provided between the lower surface of the upper support plate and the upper surface of the lower support plate.

5. The oral irrigator according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the frequency of the vibration is 200 Hz to 800 Hz.

6. The oral irrigator according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the vibration generating section is equipped with a piezoelectric element, and the vibration is generated by the piezoelectric element.

7. The oral irrigator according to any one of claims 6, wherein the piezoelectric element is held by a soft material capable of transmitting vibrations so that its surface is not exposed.

8. The oral irrigator according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the piezoelectric element is waterproofed.

9. The oral irrigator according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the cleaning solution is electrolyzed neutral sterilizing water.

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