toothbrush

Abstract

To improve the accuracy of saliva testing. [Solution] The toothbrush 100 comprises a main body 1 and a brush head 2 that is detachably attached to the main body 1. The main body 1 comprises an examination area 10 into which the user's saliva T is introduced, and an examination unit 11 that performs an examination of the saliva T introduced into the examination area 10. The brush head 2 has a collection section 23 for collecting saliva T and a guide path 24 for guiding the saliva T collected by the collection section 23 to the examination area 10.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a toothbrush.

Background Art

[0002] For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2022-055303 (Patent Document 1) discloses a toothbrushing apparatus capable of inspecting the intraoral environment of a user. Hereinafter, the reference numerals shown in parentheses in the description of the background art are those from Patent Document 1.

[0003] In the invention disclosed in Patent Document 1, a recess (211) is provided in a brush head (21) that is inserted into the user's mouth during toothbrushing, and a saliva detection module (80) is arranged in this recess (211). The saliva detection module (80) that has come into contact with saliva can inspect the blood content, pH value, blood glucose level, and the like of the saliva.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problem to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] In the invention disclosed in Patent Document 1, since it is necessary to bring saliva into contact with the saliva detection module (80) during toothbrushing, the saliva detection module (80) is arranged in the brush head (21) that is inserted into the user's mouth. That is, in the user's mouth, in addition to collecting saliva, the inspection of the saliva is also performed. However, since impurities that are not inspection targets, such as toothpaste and food residue, may also be mixed in the mouth, the accuracy of saliva inspection by the saliva detection module (80) may decrease.

[0006] In light of the above situation, there is a need to improve the accuracy of saliva testing in toothbrushes that are capable of testing saliva. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The main body and A brush head that is detachably attached to the main body, A toothbrush equipped with, The main body comprises an examination area into which the user's saliva is introduced, and an examination unit that performs an examination of the saliva introduced into the examination area. The brush head is provided with a collection section for collecting saliva and a guide path for guiding the saliva collected by the collection section to the examination area.

[0008] In this configuration, the collection unit for collecting the user's saliva and the testing area where the saliva is tested are connected via a guide path. This ensures a sufficient distance between the saliva collection area and the testing area. Consequently, compared to configurations where testing is performed at the saliva collection area, it is easier to extract only the saliva to be tested, thus improving the accuracy of the saliva test. Furthermore, in this configuration, the testing unit is located in the main body, which is a consumable item that requires relatively frequent replacement, rather than in the brush head, which is a consumable item that requires relatively frequent replacement. Since the testing unit is relatively expensive, placing it in the main body, which requires less frequent replacement, also has the advantage of making it easier to keep running costs down.

[0009] Further features and advantages of the technology relating to this disclosure will become clearer from the following description of exemplary and non-limiting embodiments, with reference to the drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] Overall view of a toothbrush [Figure 2] Conceptual diagram of the inspection [Figure 3] Diagram showing the structure of the brush head [Figure 4] A diagram showing the structure of a brush head according to the second embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0011] [First Embodiment] A first embodiment of the toothbrush will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0012] As shown in Figure 1, the toothbrush 100 comprises a main body 1 and a brush head 2 that is detachably attached to the main body 1.

[0013] The main body 1 is the part held by the user. The brush head 2 is the part inserted into the user's mouth and used directly for brushing teeth. Therefore, the brush head 2 is a consumable item and requires periodic replacement. The main body 1 does not require replacement, or if replacement is necessary, it is done less frequently than the brush head 2.

[0014] The toothbrush 100 according to this embodiment is an electric toothbrush that assists the user in brushing their teeth by automatically moving the brush head 2 using electricity as a power source. In this embodiment, the main body 1 comprises a power supply unit 12 and a drive unit 13 that drives the brush head 2 using the power from the power supply unit 12.

[0015] The power supply unit 12 is configured, for example, using a rechargeable lithium-ion battery. The drive unit 13 is configured, for example, to convert the rotation of a motor into vibration. In this example, the drive unit 13 assists the user in brushing their teeth by transmitting vibration to the brush head 2. The power supply unit 12 can be turned on or off by the user by operating the switch 14.

[0016] The brush head 2 comprises a head 20, which is the tip of the brush head 2, and a neck 21 that is formed continuously with the head 20.

[0017] The head 20 is provided with bristle tufts 22. Among the constituent elements of the brush head 2, at least the head 20 is inserted into the user's oral cavity during tooth brushing, and dental plaque and the like can be removed from the teeth by the bristle tufts 22 provided on the head 20.

[0018] When tooth brushing is performed, saliva is secreted into the user's oral cavity. This toothbrush 100 is configured to be capable of testing the saliva by utilizing the fact that saliva is secreted during tooth brushing. Thereby, the user's oral environment can be grasped, and the user's healthcare can be supported.

[0019] In order to enable such testing, in the toothbrush 100 according to the present disclosure, the main body portion 1 includes a test area 10 into which the user's saliva T is introduced, and a test unit 11 that tests the saliva T introduced into the test area 10. As described above, the toothbrush 100 of the present example is an electric toothbrush that obtains power from a power supply unit 12 to move the brush head 2. Taking advantage of this configuration, in the present embodiment, the test unit 11 is also configured to obtain power from the power supply unit 12.

[0020] In the present embodiment, the test area 10 is disposed at a connection portion L of the main body portion 1 that connects to the brush head 2. With such a configuration, the test area 10 can be exposed by removing the brush head 2 from the main body portion 1. Therefore, the test area 10 can be easily cleaned, and excellent maintainability is achieved. Accordingly, appropriate testing can be performed even with repeated use.

[0021] In the present embodiment, the test unit 11 is configured to perform microscopic testing on a target object. In other words, the test unit 11 is configured to make fine substances such as bacteria contained in saliva clear enough to be confirmed even by human visual acuity.

[0022] The test area 10 includes a test surface S1 with which the saliva T comes into contact. The test unit 11 is configured to capture an image of the saliva T that has come into contact with the test surface S1 and acquire image capture data.

[0023] The inspection surface S1 may be curved or flat. For example, if the inspection surface S1 is flat, it becomes possible to spread the saliva that comes into contact with the inspection surface S1 thinly, making it easier to create a condition suitable for microscopic examination.

[0024] In this embodiment, the inspection unit 11 comprises a semiconductor chip 11a and a stage 11b that supports the semiconductor chip 11a. In this example, the semiconductor chip 11a is configured using a microimaging device (MID).

[0025] As shown in Figure 2, the MID (Micro-Inspector Diode) is configured to recognize minute objects such as bacteria by forming a fine mesh structure using semiconductors, depending on the fineness of the mesh. The resolution is determined by the pitch of the photodiode elements.

[0026] Thus, with the toothbrush 100 according to this disclosure, saliva T secreted during brushing can be collected, guided to the testing area 10, and tested for bacteria and other substances in the saliva T by the testing unit 11. In other words, the toothbrush 100 has a structure in which the part for collecting saliva T and the part for testing saliva T are separated. Saliva may contain impurities such as toothpaste and food debris that are unnecessary for testing the user's oral environment. However, by ensuring a distance between the part for collecting saliva T and the part for testing saliva T, as in the toothbrush 100 according to this disclosure, it becomes easier to extract only the saliva T to be tested. This is expected to improve the accuracy of the test.

[0027] As shown in Figure 3, the brush head 2 has an inlet 23 that allows saliva T to flow into the inside of the brush head 2. The inlet 23 corresponds to the "collection section" and is the part that collects saliva T in this example. The inlet 23 is the part that is inserted into the user's mouth when brushing teeth.

[0028] The testing area 10 is the part into which the user's saliva T is introduced. The testing area 10 is located away from the inlet 23. Unlike the inlet 23, which is inserted into the user's mouth, the testing area 10 is located outside the user's mouth even during use. The saliva T introduced into the testing area 10 is tested by the testing unit 11.

[0029] The brush head 2 has a guide path 24 that directs saliva T that flows into the inlet 23 to the inspection area 10. In this embodiment, the guide path 24 includes an internal head space 24a formed inside the head 20, an internal neck space 24b formed inside the neck 21 and continuous with the internal head space 24a, and a storage space 24c formed continuous with the internal neck space 24b. However, the configuration is not limited to this, and the guide path 24 may be, for example, a slit formed along the outer surface of the brush head 2.

[0030] The saliva T collected at the inlet 23 flows sequentially through the head space 24a, the neck space 24b, and the storage space 24c. The storage space 24c is adjacent to the testing area 10. The saliva T that reaches the testing area 10 via the storage space 24c is placed on the stage 11b of the testing unit 11 and is tested by the semiconductor chip 11a.

[0031] Thus, in the toothbrush 100 according to this disclosure, the inlet section 23, which is the part that collects saliva T, and the inspection area 10, which is the part that tests the saliva T, are separated. As a result, in the process of saliva T reaching the inspection area 10, it becomes easier to extract only saliva T, which has higher fluidity than toothpaste, food debris, etc.

[0032] In this embodiment, the tip of the brush head 2 (head 20) is provided with mounting holes H for the brush bristles 22. The inlet 23 is constructed using these mounting holes H. With this configuration, saliva T, which has relatively high fluidity, is easily guided to the mounting holes H by capillary action along the brush bristles 22. Therefore, substances other than saliva T, such as toothpaste and food debris, which have relatively low fluidity, are easily captured by the brush bristles 22 and prevented from being guided to the mounting holes H.

[0033] In this embodiment, the mounting hole H includes a brush support hole Ha for supporting the brush bristles 22 and a brush fixing hole Hb for fixing the brush bristles 22. The brush head 2 is provided with a plurality of brush support holes Ha and the same number of brush fixing holes Hb. A pair of brush support holes Ha and brush fixing holes Hb form one set. The brush bristles 22 are arranged so as to pass through the corresponding brush support holes Ha and brush fixing holes Hb.

[0034] The brush support hole Ha is configured to support the brush bristles 22 with a gap G between it and the bristles 22. The brush support hole Ha is in communication with the internal space 24a of the head. This configuration makes it easy to guide saliva T flowing along the brush bristles 22 into the internal space 24a of the head.

[0035] In this embodiment, a filter 25 is provided at some point in the guide path 24. The filter 25 is configured to capture objects other than saliva T. These objects other than saliva T include, for example, toothpaste or food debris. This configuration makes it easier to extract only the saliva T to be tested, contributing to improved testing accuracy. In this example, the filter 25 is provided in the space 24b inside the neck.

[0036] According to the toothbrush 100 described above, it becomes easier to extract only the saliva T that is to be tested, thus improving the accuracy of saliva T testing.

[0037] [Second Embodiment] Next, a second embodiment of the toothbrush 100 will be described. The following will primarily describe the differences from the first embodiment. Points not specifically described are the same as those of the first embodiment.

[0038] Figure 4 shows a toothbrush 200 according to the second embodiment.

[0039] In this embodiment, a flow-promoting mechanism 5 is provided to facilitate the flow of saliva T in the guide path 24. By promoting the flow of saliva T, it is easier to guide saliva T into the examination area 10.

[0040] In this embodiment, the flow promotion mechanism 5 includes a pipe 50 that constitutes part of the guide path 24, and a suction unit 51 that creates negative pressure inside the pipe 50.

[0041] In this embodiment, a groove 26 into which the tube 50 is fitted is formed in the neck 21. The tube 50 is positioned in the brush head 2 by being fitted into this groove 26. With the tube 50 fitted into the groove 26, one end of the tube 50 communicates with the internal space 24a of the head, and the other end of the tube 50 communicates with the storage space 24c.

[0042] When using the toothbrush 200, the user can insert the tube 50 into the groove 26. After using the toothbrush 200, the user can remove the tube 50 from the groove 26.

[0043] In this embodiment, the suction section 51 has an internal space continuous with the tube 50. The suction section 51 is constructed using an elastic material and can be compressed along with the internal space by the user's operation. The action of the compressed suction section 51 and the internal space returning to their original state generates negative pressure inside the tube 50. Then, the saliva T in the head's internal space 24a is sucked in and guided to the examination area 10.

[0044] In this second embodiment, an example was described in which the flow promotion mechanism 5 is equipped with a suction unit 51. However, the flow promotion mechanism 5 is not limited to such an example, and may be equipped with, for example, a vibrating unit, which facilitates the guidance of saliva T in the guide path 24 to the inspection area 10 by the action of vibration. Alternatively, the flow promotion mechanism 5 may be equipped with a rotatable helical flow path, which centrifuges saliva T and foreign matter by the rotation of the flow path.

[0045] [Other Embodiments] Next, other embodiments will be described.

[0046] (1) In the above embodiment, an example was described in which the inspection area 10 is located in the connection portion L between the main body 1 and the brush head 2. However, the invention is not limited to such an example. For example, the inspection area 10 may be located inside the main body 1.

[0047] (2) In the above embodiment, an example was described in which the inlet portion 23 is configured using the mounting hole H of the brush bristles 22. However, the invention is not limited to such an example. The inlet portion 23 can be provided at any location in the brush head 2 that is inserted into the user's mouth. For example, the inlet portion 23 may be a hole that communicates with the internal space 24a of the head or the internal space 24b of the neck.

[0048] (3) In the above embodiment, an example was described in which the filter 25 is provided in the neck space 24b. However, the invention is not limited to this example. The filter 25 may be provided in the head space 24a or in the storage space 24c.

[0049] (4) In the above embodiment, an example was described in which the drive unit 13 assists the user in brushing their teeth by transmitting vibrations to the brush head 2. However, the embodiment is not limited to this example. For example, the drive unit 13 may be configured to rotate a part of the head 20 on which the brush bristles 22 are provided.

[0050] (5) In the above embodiment, an example was described in which the inspection unit 11 is equipped with a semiconductor chip 11a configured using a microimaging device (MID). However, the invention is not limited to such an example. For example, the inspection unit 11 may be configured using a microscope with an optical system equipped with lenses, a focusing mechanism, etc.

[0051] (6) In the above embodiment, an electric toothbrush was used as an example of toothbrush 100. However, the invention is not limited to such examples and can also be applied to a manual toothbrush.

[0052] (7) The configurations disclosed in the embodiments described above can be applied in combination with configurations disclosed in other embodiments, as long as they do not cause any inconsistencies. With regard to other configurations, the embodiments disclosed herein are merely illustrative in all respects. Therefore, various modifications can be made as appropriate without departing from the spirit of this disclosure.

[0053] [Summary of this embodiment] The following is a summary of this embodiment.

[0054] The main body and A brush head that is detachably attached to the main body, A toothbrush equipped with, The main body comprises an examination area into which the user's saliva is introduced, and an examination unit that performs an examination of the saliva introduced into the examination area. The brush head is provided with a collection section for collecting saliva and a guide path for guiding the saliva collected by the collection section to the examination area.

[0055] In this configuration, the collection unit for collecting the user's saliva and the testing area where the saliva is tested are connected via a guide path. This ensures a sufficient distance between the saliva collection area and the testing area. Consequently, compared to configurations where testing is performed at the saliva collection area, it is easier to extract only the saliva to be tested, thus improving the accuracy of the saliva test. Furthermore, in this configuration, the testing unit is located in the main body, which is a consumable item that requires relatively frequent replacement, rather than in the brush head, which is a consumable item that requires relatively frequent replacement. Since the testing unit is relatively expensive, placing it in the main body, which requires less frequent replacement, also has the advantage of making it easier to keep running costs down.

[0056] The aforementioned testing area includes a testing surface that comes into contact with the saliva, Preferably, the inspection unit is configured to image the saliva in contact with the inspection surface and acquire the image data.

[0057] This configuration makes it easy to form a thin film of saliva along the inspection surface, thus preparing the saliva for imaging. Consequently, good imaging data can be obtained, improving the accuracy of the examination.

[0058] The inspection area is preferably located at the connection point between the main body and the brush head.

[0059] With this configuration, the inspection area can be exposed by removing the brush head from the main body, making it easy to clean. Therefore, it offers excellent maintainability and allows for proper inspection even with repeated use.

[0060] A brush mounting hole is provided at the tip of the brush head. The collection section is preferably configured using the mounting hole, and allows the saliva to flow into the inside of the brush head.

[0061] This configuration allows for the collection of the user's saliva using the mounting hole in the brush. Since the mounting hole, which serves as the saliva collection area, is located at the tip of the brush head, it is easier to maintain a sufficient distance between the saliva collection area and the saliva testing area. Therefore, it is easier to extract only the saliva to be tested, thereby improving the accuracy of the saliva test.

[0062] It is preferable that a flow-promoting mechanism is provided to facilitate the flow of saliva in the aforementioned guideway.

[0063] This configuration facilitates the flow of saliva in the pathway, making it easier for saliva to reach the testing area. Consequently, it becomes easier to secure a sufficient amount of saliva for testing.

[0064] It is preferable that the aforementioned guideway is equipped with a filter.

[0065] This configuration allows impurities such as toothpaste and food debris to be removed from the saliva introduced into the pathway before it reaches the testing area, making it easier to extract only the saliva to be tested. [Industrial applicability]

[0066] The technology described herein can be used in toothbrushes. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0067] 100: Toothbrush 1: Main body 10: Inspection Area 11: Inspection Unit 2: Brush head 20: Head 22: Brush bristles 23:Inflow part (collection part) 24: Taxiway 25: Filter 5: Flow promotion mechanism H: Mounting hole L: Connecting part S1: Inspection surface T: Saliva

Claims

1. The main body and A brush head that is detachably attached to the main body, A toothbrush equipped with, The main body comprises an examination area into which the user's saliva is introduced, and an examination unit that performs an examination of the saliva introduced into the examination area. A toothbrush having a collection section for collecting saliva and a guide path for guiding the saliva collected by the collection section to the examination area.

2. The aforementioned testing area includes a testing surface that comes into contact with the saliva, The toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein the inspection unit is configured to image the saliva in contact with the inspection surface and acquire the image data.

3. The toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein the inspection area is located at the connection point between the main body and the brush head.

4. The tip of the brush head is provided with a hole for attaching the brush bristles. The toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein the collection section is configured using the mounting hole and allows the saliva to flow into the inside of the brush head.

5. The toothbrush according to claim 1, further comprising a flow-promoting mechanism that facilitates the flow of saliva in the guide channel.

6. The toothbrush according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the guideway is provided with a filter.

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