Oral hygiene appliances

Abstract

To provide an oral hygiene device that can further improve the cleanliness of the oral cavity. [Solution] The oral hygiene device 1 includes a device body 1a that supplies liquid into the oral cavity. Furthermore, the oral hygiene device 1 includes a cathode part 51 and an anode part 52 that come into contact with the liquid inside the device body 1a, a power supply part 53 that applies a voltage between the cathode part 51 and the anode part 52, and a fine bubble generation unit 5 that generates fine bubbles B by electrolyzing the liquid inside the device body 1a.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an oral hygiene appliance.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, as an oral hygiene appliance, an oral cleaning device that supplies liquid from a nozzle into the oral cavity to remove dirt in the oral cavity has been known, as shown in the following Patent Document 1.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Document

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problem to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In this manner, in an oral hygiene appliance that supplies liquid into the oral cavity, it is preferable to further improve the oral cleanability.

[0005] Accordingly, the present disclosure aims to provide an oral hygiene appliance capable of further improving the oral cleanability.

Means for Solving the Problem

[0006] An oral hygiene appliance according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes: an appliance main body that supplies liquid into the oral cavity; a cathode part and an anode part that are in contact with the liquid inside the appliance main body; a power supply part that applies a voltage between the cathode part and the anode part; and a fine bubble generation part that generates fine bubbles by electrolyzing the liquid inside the appliance main body.

Effects of the Invention

[0007] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide an oral hygiene appliance capable of further improving the oral cleanability.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view of an example of an oral irrigation device according to an embodiment, viewed from one side. [Figure 2] This is a perspective view of an example of an oral irrigation device according to an embodiment, viewed from the other side. [Figure 3] This figure shows a liquid storage tank included in an example of an oral irrigation device according to an embodiment. [Figure 4] This figure shows an example of a fine bubble generating device included in an example of an oral irrigation device according to an embodiment. [Figure 5] This figure shows another example of a fine bubble generating device included in an example of an oral irrigation device according to an embodiment. [Figure 6] This is a front view showing a first modified example of the oral irrigation device according to the embodiment. [Figure 7] This is a front view showing a second modified example of the oral irrigation device according to the embodiment. [Figure 8] This is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a cup according to an embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] The embodiments will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. However, unnecessary details may be omitted. For example, detailed explanations of already well-known matters or redundant explanations of substantially identical configurations may be omitted.

[0010] The attached drawings and the following description are provided to enable those skilled in the art to fully understand this disclosure and are not intended to limit the subject matter described in the claims.

[0011] (Embodiment) As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the oral hygiene device 1 according to this embodiment includes an oral irrigation device 10 as the device body 1a.

[0012] The oral irrigation device 10 comprises a device body 3 having a housing (case) 31, a grip part (handling part) 100 that can be held by the user, and a nozzle (mouth irrigation device nozzle) 4 attached to the grip part 100. This oral irrigation device 10 is a device that cleans the inside of the mouth by discharging (squirting) a fluid (liquid) such as water from the discharge port of the nozzle 4 and applying the liquid flow to the teeth, gums, etc. inside the mouth.

[0013] The main body of the device 3 comprises a housing (case) 31 that forms the outer casing and a liquid storage tank 2 that serves as a liquid storage section capable of storing liquid, and is roughly in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped. The housing (case) 31 and the liquid storage tank 2 can be formed using materials such as synthetic resin, but are not limited to these and can be formed using a variety of materials.

[0014] The liquid storage tank 2 comprises a roughly rectangular cylindrical body 21 with openings at the top and bottom, and a bottom wall 22 that closes the lower opening of the cylindrical body 21. The liquid storage tank 2 is detachably attached to the housing (case) 31, and the liquid storage tank 2 can be removed from the housing (case) 31 and liquid can be injected into the storage section 2a through the top opening.

[0015] Furthermore, a pump 33 is built into the housing (case) 31, and the liquid storage tank 2 and the hose 34A are connected via the pump 33. This pump 33 is positioned in the flow path P1 that introduces the liquid in the liquid storage tank 2 to the nozzle 4, and has the function of sucking in the liquid stored in the liquid storage tank 2 and discharging it from the nozzle 4. Therefore, in the oral irrigation device 10 according to this embodiment, the liquid stored in the liquid storage tank 2 is supplied to the hose 34A via the pump 33.

[0016] Further, the housing (case) 31 is provided with a grip holding portion 31a that holds the grip portion 100 when the oral cleaning device 10 (device main body 3) is not in use, and a hose holding portion 31b that holds the hose 34A by winding it therearound. Furthermore, inside the housing (case) 31, a control board and the like for controlling the operation of the pump 33 and the like are installed. A control unit 39 for adjusting the applied voltage of the power supply unit 53 included in the fine bubble generation unit 5 described later is formed on the control board.

[0017] Further, the wiring 35A and the power cord 36A are connected to the housing (case) 31, and power for operating the pump 33 and the like is supplied from the outside via the power cord 36A.

[0018] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 2, the housing (case) 31 is provided with a power switch 37A for switching the power on and off, and by operating this power switch 37A, the power on / off, the fine bubble generation mode, and the like can be switched. In addition, apart from the power switch 37A for switching the power on and off, it is also possible to provide a switching button for switching on and off the driving of the fine bubble generation unit 5.

[0019] Further, in the present embodiment, the housing (case) 31 is provided with fluid pressure changeover switches 38aA and 38bA for switching the fluid pressure of the liquid discharged (ejected) from the nozzle 4. Therefore, in the oral cleaning device 10 according to the present embodiment, by operating the fluid pressure changeover switches 38aA and 38bA in a state where the power is turned on by operating the power switch 37A, the liquid can be discharged (ejected) from the nozzle 4 at a desired fluid pressure.

[0020] The grip section 100 is connected to the housing (case) 31 of the device body 3 via a hose 34A. Furthermore, the grip section 100 is equipped with an operating switch 100a, part of which is exposed on the surface side, allowing the user to switch the liquid spray on or off by operating the operating switch 10a while holding the grip section 100.

[0021] Then, by inserting the bent tip of the nozzle 4 into the oral cavity and driving the pump 33, the liquid in the liquid storage tank 2 is supplied to the flow path P1. The fluid supplied to the flow path P1 then passes through the flow path P1 and is discharged (spurted) to the outside from the discharge port formed at the tip of the nozzle 4. In this way, by discharging (spurting) the liquid to the outside from the discharge port of the nozzle 4 and applying it to, for example, the teeth and gums in the oral cavity, oral cleaning can be performed.

[0022] While water can be used as the liquid dispensed (sprayed) into the oral cavity, it is not limited to water; various liquids can be used. For example, a cleaning solution containing a cleaning agent mixed with water can be used.

[0023] In this embodiment, the cleaning performance of the oral cavity can be further improved. Specifically, the oral hygiene device 1 is equipped with a fine bubble generating unit 5 having a cathode 51, an anode 52, and a power supply unit 53 that applies voltage between the cathode 51 and the anode 52. This fine bubble generating unit 5 is placed inside the liquid storage tank 2. This allows the cathode 51 and the anode 52 to come into contact with the liquid inside the liquid storage tank 2. This also helps to prevent the oral irrigation device 10 from becoming too large.

[0024] Then, with the cathode 51 and anode 52 in contact with the liquid in the storage tank 2, a voltage is applied between the cathode 51 and anode 52 to electrolyze the water contained in the liquid in the storage tank 2, thereby generating fine bubbles B.

[0025] Thus, in this embodiment, when using the oral irrigation device 10, the fine bubble generation unit 5 electrolyzes the liquid in the storage tank 2 to generate fine bubbles B. This allows the liquid containing fine bubbles to be sprayed into the oral cavity when cleaning the oral cavity with the liquid sprayed from the nozzle 4.

[0026] At this time, the fine bubble generation unit 5 is designed to mainly generate fine bubbles B with a diameter of 1 nm to 100 μm. When the diameter of the generated bubbles is set to 100 μm or less, different properties from ordinary bubbles appear. For example, ordinary bubbles with a diameter larger than 100 μm rise rapidly through the water and eventually burst at the water surface. However, fine bubbles (fine bubbles B) with a diameter of 100 μm or less have an extremely small volume, so their rising speed in water is extremely slow, and as a result, they can remain in the water for a long time. Furthermore, fine bubbles (fine bubbles B) have the property of adsorbing dirt such as oil components, thus improving cleaning power. In addition, when fine bubbles (fine bubbles B) burst upon being released into the air, they can remove foreign matter from objects to be cleaned that have foreign matter attached to them.

[0027] Thus, in this embodiment, by spraying a liquid containing fine bubbles B, which are tiny bubbles, into the oral cavity, the fine bubbles B can more effectively remove dirt from the oral cavity.

[0028] The effective removal of dirt by fine bubbles B is thought to be achieved through the following mechanisms.

[0029] First, as the liquid passes through the nozzle 4, it is compressed, causing cavitation to occur within the liquid as it passes through the nozzle 4. At this time, if a liquid containing fine bubbles B passes through the nozzle 4, the fine bubbles B contained in the liquid act as bubble nuclei, generating a large number of fine bubbles B.

[0030] Therefore, when a liquid containing fine bubbles B is ejected from nozzle 4, numerous fine bubbles B collide with and collapse upon dirt attached to oral tissues such as teeth. By causing the fine bubbles B to collide with and collapse upon dirt in this way, the shock waves generated during collapse remove the dirt.

[0031] Furthermore, microfine bubbles, which are a type of fine bubble B with a diameter of 100 nm to 100 μm, are adsorbed to dirt through electrostatic coupling and thus remove the dirt.

[0032] On the other hand, ultrafine bubbles, which are a type of fine bubble B with a diameter of 1 nm to 100 nm, penetrate the adhesion surface of dirt in oral tissues such as teeth, and accumulate on the adhesion surface, causing the dirt to detach from the adhesion surface. Then, microfine bubbles enter the detached portion of the dirt from the adhesion surface, further promoting the detachment of the dirt and removing it from the adhesion surface.

[0033] Thus, by spraying a liquid containing microfine bubbles with a diameter of 100 nm to 100 μm and ultrafine bubbles with a diameter of 1 nm to 100 nm into the oral cavity from nozzle 4, it becomes possible to remove dirt from the oral cavity more effectively.

[0034] Furthermore, by generating fine bubbles (ultrafine bubbles) B ranging from 1 nm to 100 nm, it becomes possible to more reliably penetrate into minute spaces such as gaps between teeth and periodontal pockets, thereby improving the cleaning efficiency of the oral cavity. In addition, by using fine bubbles (ultrafine bubbles) B ranging from 1 nm to 100 nm, the fine bubbles (ultrafine bubbles) B can penetrate into the gaps between teeth and plaque, lifting the plaque S, thus enabling more reliable removal of the plaque S.

[0035] In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 4, the cathode portion 51 and the anode portion 52 are arranged in such a way that a liquid can be interposed between them. Specifically, a spacer 54 is interposed between the plate-shaped cathode portion 51 and the plate-shaped anode portion 52, so that the plate-shaped cathode portion 51 and the plate-shaped anode portion 52 are spaced apart and facing each other in the thickness direction. Multiple sets (four sets in Figure 4) of these opposing cathode portion 51 and anode portion 52 are provided.

[0036] As described above, in this embodiment, the fine bubble generation unit 5 comprises four cathode units 51 and four anode units 52, and the cathode units 51 and anode units 52 are arranged alternately in the thickness direction. At this time, spacers 54 are placed at the ends between adjacent cathode units 51 and anode units 52 so that the cathode units 51 and anode units 52 face each other with a gap in the thickness direction. In this way, the cathode units 51 and anode units 52 face each other in a manner that allows a liquid to be interposed between them.

[0037] This allows fine bubbles B to be generated on the opposing surfaces of the cathode 51 and anode 52 while the opposing surfaces of the cathode 51 and anode 52 are in contact with the liquid, thereby increasing the amount of fine bubbles generated. Furthermore, by positioning the plate-shaped cathode 51 and plate-shaped anode 52 opposite each other in the thickness direction, fine bubbles B can be generated over a wider surface area, further increasing the amount of fine bubbles generated.

[0038] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the cathode portion 51 and the anode portion 52 are arranged to extend in the direction of gravity during use. That is, when the oral irrigation device 10 is in use, the fine bubble generation unit 5 is positioned in the liquid storage tank 2 such that the thickness directions of the plate-shaped cathode portion 51 and the plate-shaped anode portion 52 are substantially aligned horizontally. At this time, the fine bubble generation unit 5 is positioned so that the spacer 54 is located downwards. In this way, fine bubbles B are released from above to the outside of the fine bubble generation unit 5 from the opposing surfaces of the cathode portion 51 and the anode portion 52.

[0039] This allows the fine bubbles B to be released more smoothly from the opposing surfaces of the cathode 51 and anode 52 to the outside of the fine bubble generation unit 5, thereby more reliably preventing the fine bubbles B generated by the fine bubble generation unit 5 from binding before being released to the outside. As a result, more fine bubbles B can be released into the liquid in the storage tank 2, and thus a liquid containing a large amount of fine bubbles B can be supplied to the oral cavity.

[0040] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the cathode 51 and anode 52 are made of carbon electrodes to ensure safety for living organisms while enabling more efficient generation of fine bubbles B. Specifically, rectangular plate-shaped carbon electrodes with a plate thickness of approximately 1 mm, a length of approximately 50 mm in the longitudinal direction, and a length of approximately 25 mm in the transverse direction are used as the cathode 51 and anode 52. Each of the rectangular plate-shaped carbon electrodes is positioned so that its transverse direction is in the direction of gravity when the oral irrigation device 10 is in use. At this time, the distance between adjacent cathode 51 and anode 52 (electrode distance) is approximately 1.7 mm. Therefore, in this embodiment, a roughly rectangular parallelepiped-shaped fine bubble generation unit 5 with a height of approximately 25 mm, a width of approximately 20 mm, and a depth of approximately 50 mm is arranged inside the liquid storage tank 2.

[0041] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the surface roughness of the cathode portion 51 and the anode portion 52 is set to 50 μm or less, thereby enabling the more efficient generation of fine bubbles B.

[0042] Each of the four cathode units 51 and the four anode units 52 is electrically connected to the power supply unit 53 via lead wires. In this way, when the power supply unit 53 is driven and a voltage is applied between the cathode units 51 and anode units 52 with the cathode units 51 and anode units 52 in contact with the liquid in the liquid storage tank 2, the water contained in the liquid in the liquid storage tank 2 is electrolyzed. When the water contained in the liquid in the liquid storage tank 2 is electrolyzed in this way, fine bubbles B containing hydrogen are generated on the surface of the cathode unit 51, and fine bubbles B containing oxygen are generated on the surface of the anode unit 52. The fine bubbles B containing oxygen also have a bactericidal effect against anaerobic bacteria in the oral cavity.

[0043] Furthermore, in this embodiment, a stirring unit 6 is provided inside the liquid storage tank 2, and the liquid inside the liquid storage tank 2 is stirred by this stirring unit 6. This allows the fine bubbles B generated in the fine bubble generation unit 5 and released to the outside of the fine bubble generation unit 5 to be diffused throughout the liquid inside the liquid storage tank 2, thereby making the concentration of fine bubbles B contained in the liquid more uniform. Such a stirring unit 6 can be, for example, a device with blades 62 attached to a rotating shaft 61.

[0044] When using the oral hygiene device 1 configured in this way, the inside of the mouth is cleaned by inserting the tip of the nozzle 4 into the mouth and spraying liquid. At this time, the liquid sprayed into the mouth contains fine bubbles B generated by the cathode 51 and anode 52 that come into contact with the liquid in the storage tank 2.

[0045] Thus, by using the oral hygiene device 1 according to this embodiment, it becomes possible to remove dirt in the oral cavity with the liquid sprayed from the tip of the nozzle 4, as well as with the fine bubbles B supplied to the oral cavity, thereby further improving the cleanliness of the oral cavity.

[0046] Furthermore, it is preferable that the voltage applied between the cathode 51 and the anode 52 when generating fine bubbles B be a DC voltage of 1V to 24V. This allows for effective improvement of oral cleaning performance within a range of use that is safe for living organisms.

[0047] Furthermore, the oral hygiene device 1 may also be equipped with a control unit 39 that adjusts the applied voltage to the power supply unit 53. This makes it possible to adjust the amount of fine bubbles B generated by the fine bubble generation unit 5. In other words, it becomes possible to increase or decrease the amount of fine bubbles B generated depending on the usage of the oral hygiene device 1.

[0048] Furthermore, the control unit 39 can also be configured to reverse the polarity of the voltage applied to the power supply unit 53. For example, by intermittently reversing the polarity of the applied voltage for a few seconds while the power supply unit 53 is running, it becomes possible to suppress the adhesion of scale to the surface of the cathode unit 51 or the anode unit 52 when the oral hygiene device 1 is in use. This suppresses the decrease in the amount of fine bubbles B generated due to scale, thereby extending the lifespan of the oral hygiene device 1.

[0049] As shown in Figure 5, it is also possible to place a diaphragm 55 between the cathode 51 and the anode 52. In this way, the fine bubbles B (fine bubbles B containing hydrogen) generated in the cathode 51 and the fine bubbles B (fine bubbles B containing oxygen) generated in the anode 52 can be separated by the diaphragm 55. When the cathode 51 and the anode 52 are separated by a diaphragm 55 in this way, it is possible to make at least one of the spaces, the cathode-side space 56 between the cathode 51 and the diaphragm 55 and the anode-side space 57 between the anode 52 and the diaphragm 55, a space in which the generated fine bubbles B can be released to the outside.

[0050] For example, as shown in Figure 5, the cathode-side space 56 can be sealed with a spacer 54 so that only the fine bubbles B (oxygen-containing fine bubbles B) generated at the anode 52 are released into the liquid in the storage tank 2. By spraying the oxygen-containing fine bubbles B into the oral cavity in this way, anaerobic bacteria in the oral cavity can be eliminated, making the oral cavity more hygienic. It is also possible to release only the fine bubbles B generated at the cathode 51 into the liquid, or to release both the fine bubbles B generated at the cathode 51 and the fine bubbles B generated at the anode 52 into the liquid.

[0051] Furthermore, the oral irrigation device 10, which serves as the main body of the device 1a, can also be shaped as shown in Figure 6.

[0052] The oral irrigation device 10 shown in Figure 6 comprises a liquid storage tank (liquid storage section) 2, a device body 3, and a nozzle 4.

[0053] The liquid storage tank 2 is formed in a cylindrical shape with a bottom, opening at the top and closed at the bottom. Inside the liquid storage tank 2, a storage section 2a capable of storing liquid is formed. While water can be used as the liquid stored in the storage section 2a, it is not limited to water and various other liquids can be used. For example, a cleaning solution in which a cleaning agent is mixed with water can be used.

[0054] Furthermore, the liquid storage tank 2 is detachably attached to the main body of the device 3, allowing it to be cleaned when separated from the main body of the device 3. This helps to keep the liquid storage tank 2 cleaner. Such a liquid storage tank 2 can be made of, for example, polypropylene resin so that it can be washed in a dishwasher. A liquid supply hole (not shown) is formed on the side of the liquid storage tank 2, allowing liquid to be injected into the storage section 2a, and this liquid supply hole is closed by a liquid supply lid. This allows liquid to be supplied to the storage section 2a inside the liquid storage tank 2 while the liquid storage tank 2 is attached to the main body of the device 3.

[0055] On the other hand, the main body of the device 3 is equipped with a housing (case) 31 that constitutes the outer casing. This housing 31 is roughly cylindrical in shape, elongated vertically, and the main components such as the pump are housed inside this cylinder. Furthermore, the housing 31 is constricted approximately in the middle in the longitudinal direction, making it easy for the user to grip when using the oral irrigator 10. Therefore, in the oral irrigator 10 shown in Figure 6, the constricted portion approximately in the middle in the longitudinal direction of the housing 31 serves as a grip portion (handling portion) 100 that can be grasped by the user. The housing 31 is also equipped with a power switch 37A for starting or stopping the oral irrigator 10 (switching the power on and off).

[0056] Furthermore, a flow path P1 is formed inside the housing 31 (device body 3) for supplying the liquid stored in the liquid storage tank 2 to the nozzle 4.

[0057] Furthermore, a fine bubble generation unit 5, which has a cathode unit 51, an anode unit 52, and a power supply unit 53 that applies voltage between the cathode unit 51 and the anode unit 52, is arranged inside the liquid storage tank 2. This allows the cathode unit 51 and the anode unit 52 to come into contact with the liquid inside the liquid storage tank 2. This also helps to prevent the oral irrigation device 10 from becoming too large.

[0058] Furthermore, a stirring unit 6 is provided inside the liquid storage tank 2, and the liquid inside the liquid storage tank 2 is stirred by this stirring unit 6.

[0059] Furthermore, the fine bubble generation unit 5 and the stirring unit 6 can have the same shape as those described in the above embodiment.

[0060] Furthermore, in the oral irrigation device 10 shown in Figure 6, the liquid storage tank 2 is made of a transparent or translucent resin material, allowing the liquid inside the storage tank 2 to be seen from the outside. This makes it possible to check the generation status of fine bubbles B inside the storage tank 2 from the outside.

[0061] Even with such an oral hygiene device 1, it can achieve substantially the same actions and effects as the oral hygiene device 1 shown in the above embodiment.

[0062] Furthermore, the oral irrigation device 10, which serves as the main body of the device 1a, can also be shaped as shown in Figure 7.

[0063] The oral irrigation device 10 shown in Figure 7 has basically the same configuration as the oral irrigation device 10 shown in Figure 6, but differs from the oral irrigation device 10 shown in Figure 6 in that it has a light source unit 7 that irradiates the liquid in the liquid storage tank 2 with light L1.

[0064] By providing a light source unit 7 and irradiating the liquid in the storage tank 2 with light L1, the visibility of the liquid in the storage tank 2 and the fine bubbles B can be further improved.

[0065] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 8, it is also possible for the oral hygiene device 1 to include a cup 8 as the main body 1a of the device.

[0066] The cup 8 comprises a container body 81 for storing liquid and a handle 82 attached to the container body 81. It is also possible to design the cup without a handle.

[0067] The container body 81 is formed in a cylindrical shape with a bottom, opening upwards and closing at the lower end. Inside the container body 81, a storage section 8a capable of storing liquid is formed. While water can be used as the liquid stored in the storage section 8a, it is not limited to water and various other liquids can be used. For example, a cleaning solution containing a cleaning agent mixed with water can be used.

[0068] The fine bubble generation unit 5, which has a cathode unit 51, an anode unit 52, and a power supply unit 53 that applies a voltage between the cathode unit 51 and the anode unit 52, is arranged inside the container body 81. This allows the cathode unit 51 and the anode unit 52 to come into contact with the liquid inside the container body 81.

[0069] Furthermore, a stirring unit 6 is provided inside the container body 81, so that the liquid inside the container body 81 is stirred by this stirring unit 6.

[0070] Furthermore, the fine bubble generation unit 5 and the stirring unit 6 can have the same shape as those described in the above embodiment.

[0071] By doing so, it is possible to achieve almost the same action and effect as the oral hygiene device 1 shown in the above embodiment.

[0072] Furthermore, if the oral hygiene device 1 is equipped with a cup 8 as the main body 1a of the device, it becomes possible to more easily clean the inside of the mouth using a liquid with a higher cleaning effect.

[0073] (Note) The following technologies are disclosed based on the above description of embodiments.

[0074] (Technology 1) An oral hygiene device comprising: an instrument body for supplying liquid into the oral cavity; a cathode portion and an anode portion that come into contact with the liquid in the instrument body; a power supply portion that applies a voltage between the cathode portion and the anode portion; and a fine bubble generating portion that generates fine bubbles by electrolyzing the liquid in the instrument body.

[0075] Thus, in the oral hygiene device of Technology 1, fine bubbles are generated by electrolyzing the liquid inside the device body using a fine bubble generation unit. This way, the liquid containing the fine bubbles generated inside the device body is supplied to the oral cavity, allowing for more effective removal of oral debris. As a result, it becomes possible to further improve the cleanliness of the oral cavity.

[0076] (Technical 2) The oral hygiene device according to Technical 1, wherein the cathode portion and the anode portion are facing each other in a manner that allows a liquid to be interposed between the cathode portion and the anode portion.

[0077] This allows for more efficient generation of fine bubbles, increasing the amount of fine bubbles produced within the instrument itself, thereby further improving the cleaning performance in the oral cavity.

[0078] (Technical 3) The oral hygiene device according to Technical 2, wherein the cathode portion and the anode portion are plate-shaped, and the cathode portion and the anode portion face each other in the plate thickness direction.

[0079] This allows for an increase in the amount of fine bubbles generated within the instrument itself, thereby further improving the cleaning performance in the oral cavity.

[0080] (Technical 4) The oral hygiene device according to Technical 3, wherein the cathode and anode are arranged to extend in the direction of gravity when the fine bubble generating unit is in operation or in use.

[0081] This method more effectively prevents the fine bubbles generated by the fine bubble generation unit from binding together, allowing for the supply of a larger amount of liquid containing fine bubbles into the oral cavity. As a result, the cleaning efficiency of the oral cavity can be further improved.

[0082] (Technology 5) An oral hygiene device according to any one of the technologies 1 to 4, wherein at least one of the cathode portion and the anode portion is composed of a carbon electrode or a platinum electrode.

[0083] This method allows for more efficient generation of fine bubbles while ensuring safety for the body. As a result, it becomes possible to further improve the cleanliness of the oral cavity while ensuring safety during the use of oral hygiene instruments.

[0084] (Technology 6) An oral hygiene device according to any one of the technologies 1 to 5, wherein the surface roughness of the anode portion and the cathode portion is 50 μm or less.

[0085] This allows for more efficient generation of fine bubbles, increasing the amount of fine bubbles produced in the oral cavity, thereby further improving the cleanliness of the oral cavity.

[0086] (Technology 7) An oral hygiene device according to any one of the technologies 1 to 6, wherein a diaphragm is disposed between the cathode portion and the anode portion, and at least one of the spaces between the cathode portion and the diaphragm (cathode side space) and the anode portion and the diaphragm (anode side space) is a space in which the generated fine bubbles can be released to the outside.

[0087] This allows the fine bubbles generated at the cathode and the fine bubbles generated at the anode to be separated by a membrane. As a result, only the fine bubbles generated at the cathode can be released into the liquid. Alternatively, only the fine bubbles generated at the anode can be released into the liquid. Furthermore, it becomes possible to release both the fine bubbles generated at the cathode and the fine bubbles generated at the anode into the liquid. This allows for the creation of linear treatments with different effects within the oral cavity.

[0088] (Technology 8) An oral hygiene device according to any one of the technologies 1 to 7, further comprising a control unit for adjusting the applied voltage of the power supply unit.

[0089] This makes it possible to adjust the amount of fine bubbles generated by the fine bubble generation unit. In other words, it becomes possible to increase or decrease the amount of fine bubbles generated depending on the usage of the oral hygiene device. Therefore, by generating a more optimal amount of fine bubbles according to the usage of the oral hygiene device, it becomes possible to more effectively improve the cleanliness of the oral cavity regardless of the usage of the oral hygiene device.

[0090] (Technical 9) The oral hygiene device according to Technical 8, wherein the control unit inverts the polarity of the applied voltage of the power supply unit.

[0091] This method prevents scale buildup on the cathode or anode surface during use of oral hygiene devices, thereby suppressing the decrease in fine bubble generation caused by scale. As a result, the lifespan of oral hygiene devices can be extended.

[0092] (Technology 10) An oral hygiene device according to any one of the technologies 1 to 9, wherein the main body of the device comprises a nozzle that sprays liquid into the oral cavity to remove dirt from the oral cavity, a liquid storage tank for storing liquid, and a flow path for introducing the liquid in the liquid storage tank into the nozzle.

[0093] This improves the overall cleanliness of the oral cavity. Furthermore, by allowing the spraying of liquid containing fine bubbles into the oral cavity during oral cleaning, it becomes possible to more effectively improve the cleanliness of the oral cavity.

[0094] (Technical 11) The oral hygiene device according to Technical 10, wherein at least one of the cathode and anode is located inside the liquid storage tank.

[0095] This approach allows for an increase in the amount of fine bubbles generated while suppressing an increase in the overall size of the device. As a result, it becomes possible to improve the usability of oral irrigation devices, which can more effectively enhance the cleaning performance of the oral cavity.

[0096] (Technical 12) The oral hygiene device according to Technical 11, further comprising a stirring section provided in the liquid storage tank for stirring the liquid.

[0097] This allows for a more uniform concentration of fine bubbles in the liquid, resulting in more effective cleaning of the oral cavity.

[0098] (Technical 13) The oral hygiene device according to Technical 11 or Technical 12, wherein the liquid storage tank is formed in such a way that the liquid inside can be seen.

[0099] This allows for external monitoring of the fine bubble generation process within the liquid storage tank, enabling the more reliable supply of a highly effective cleaning solution (a solution containing a large number of fine bubbles) to the oral cavity.

[0100] (Technical 14) The oral hygiene device according to Technical 13, further comprising a light source unit for irradiating the liquid in the liquid storage tank.

[0101] This will improve the visibility of the liquid and fine bubbles inside the storage tank.

[0102] (Technical 15) An oral hygiene device according to any one of the technicals 10 to 14, wherein at least one of the cathode portion and the anode portion is located within the flow path.

[0103] This makes it possible to more effectively prevent the device itself from becoming too large.

[0104] (Technical 16) An oral hygiene device according to any one of the technologies from Technical 1 to Technical 15, wherein the device body is a cup having a container body for storing liquid.

[0105] This makes it easier to clean the inside of the mouth using a more effective cleaning liquid.

[0106] (Technical 17) The oral hygiene device according to Technical 16, further comprising a stirring section provided inside the container body for stirring a liquid.

[0107] This allows for a more uniform concentration of fine bubbles in the liquid, resulting in more effective cleaning of the oral cavity.

[0108] [others] The contents of the oral hygiene device described herein have been explained above, but it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the device is not limited to these descriptions and that various modifications and improvements are possible.

[0109] For example, this disclosure can be applied to embodiments in which the configuration shown in the above embodiments is modified, replaced, added, or omitted. Furthermore, it is possible to combine the components described in the above embodiments and their variations to create new embodiments.

[0110] Furthermore, although the above embodiment illustrates a configuration in which the cathode 51 and anode 52 are arranged inside the liquid storage tank 2, it is also possible to arrange at least one of the electrodes of the cathode 51 and anode 52 inside the flow path P1. This would more reliably prevent the device body 1a from becoming excessively large.

[0111] Furthermore, while the above embodiment illustrates a configuration in which the cathode portion 51 and anode portion 52 extend in the direction of gravity when the instrument body 1a is in use, it is also possible to configure the device so that the cathode portion 51 and anode portion 52 extend in the direction of gravity when the fine bubble generation unit 5 is in operation. For example, it is possible to configure the device so that the fine bubble generation unit 5 can be operated while the oral hygiene instrument 1 is placed on a washbasin or the like, and the user is not holding the grip portion (grip portion 100, handle 82, etc.), and in this case the cathode portion 51 and anode portion 52 extend in the direction of gravity. This also makes it possible to more reliably suppress the binding of the fine bubbles B generated by the fine bubble generation unit 5, and thus it becomes possible to supply more liquid containing fine bubbles B into the oral cavity. As a result, it becomes possible to further improve the cleanliness of the oral cavity.

[0112] Furthermore, the nozzle, flow path, and other detailed specifications (shape, size, layout, etc.) can be modified as needed. [Industrial applicability]

[0113] As described above, the oral hygiene device described herein can further improve the cleanliness of the oral cavity and can therefore be used in various types of oral hygiene devices, including those for home and commercial use. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0114] 1 Oral hygiene appliances 1a Main body of the device 10 Oral irrigation devices 2. Liquid storage tank 39 Control Unit 4 nozzles 5. Fine bubble generation section 51 Cathode section 52 Anode section 53 Power supply section 55 Diaphragm 56 Cathode-side space 57 Anode-side space 6. Stirring section 7 Light source section 8 cups 81 Container body B Fine Bubble P1 channel

Claims

1. The main body of the device that supplies liquid into the oral cavity, A fine bubble generating unit having a cathode and an anode that come into contact with the liquid inside the main body of the device, and a power supply unit that applies a voltage between the cathode and the anode, and generating fine bubbles by electrolyzing the liquid inside the main body of the device, Equipped with, Oral hygiene equipment.

2. The cathode portion and the anode portion are facing each other in such a way that a liquid can be interposed between them. The oral hygiene device according to claim 1.

3. The cathode portion and the anode portion are plate-shaped, The cathode portion and the anode portion are facing each other in the thickness direction of the plate. The oral hygiene device according to claim 2.

4. The cathode and anode portions are arranged to extend in the direction of gravity when the fine bubble generation unit is operating or in use. The oral hygiene device according to claim 3.

5. At least one of the cathode portion and the anode portion is composed of a carbon electrode or a platinum electrode. An oral hygiene device according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. The surface roughness of the anode portion and the cathode portion is 50 μm or less. An oral hygiene device according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

7. A diaphragm is placed between the cathode portion and the anode portion. At least one of the spaces, the cathode-side space between the cathode portion and the diaphragm, and the anode-side space between the anode portion and the diaphragm, is a space capable of releasing the generated fine bubbles to the outside. An oral hygiene device according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

8. The system further includes a control unit that adjusts the applied voltage of the power supply unit. An oral hygiene device according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

9. The control unit reverses the polarity of the applied voltage to the power supply unit. The oral hygiene device according to claim 8.

10. The aforementioned device body is an oral irrigation device having a nozzle that sprays liquid into the oral cavity to remove dirt from the oral cavity, a liquid storage tank for storing liquid, and a flow path for introducing the liquid in the liquid storage tank into the nozzle. An oral hygiene device according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

11. At least one of the cathode and anode is located inside the liquid storage tank. The oral hygiene device according to claim 10.

12. The storage tank further comprises a stirring unit for agitating the liquid, The oral hygiene device according to claim 11.

13. The aforementioned liquid storage tank is constructed in such a way that the liquid inside can be visually observed. The oral hygiene device according to claim 11.

14. The system further comprises a light source unit for irradiating the liquid in the aforementioned storage tank. The oral hygiene device according to claim 13.

15. At least one of the cathode portion and the anode portion is located within the flow path. The oral hygiene device according to claim 10.

16. The aforementioned device body is a cup having a container body for storing liquid. An oral hygiene device according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

17. The container body is further provided with a stirring section for stirring the liquid, The oral hygiene device according to claim 16.

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