Device for cleaning surfaces in the oral cavity

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for cleaning surfaces, in particular surfaces in the oral cavity, wherein: the device comprises a bite piece; the bite piece is arranged such that, in its functional position, it is mounted centrally in the mouth such that the device is controlledly fixed by biting down with at least two incisors of the upper and lower jaw; at least two shuttles are arranged on both sides of the bite piece to act as a cleaning unit; and the shuttles are cleaning units which are designed to engage around at least one tooth or one jaw region and to clean said at least one tooth or jaw region using filaments or filament arrangements.

Description

[0001] DEVICE FOR CLEANING ORAL SURFACES

[0002] The invention relates to a device for cleaning surfaces and its use.

[0003] In the field of dental cleaning, improvements are constantly being sought. Conventional cleaning with a toothbrush and toothpaste has numerous disadvantages.

[0004] Conventional toothpastes contain up to 20% abrasive ingredients, which, combined with excessive brushing pressure, can lead to significant tooth wear over time. With increasing average life expectancy, this now leads to teeth being so worn or damaged by abrasive brushing that problems arise.

[0005] In addition, the conventional manual toothbrush has the disadvantage that it can damage the gums, especially if brushed improperly, making periodontal disease a common problem. The majority of the biofilm that creates contamination is located directly above or below the gums, making cleaning at or near the gums particularly important. This is particularly difficult for toothbrushes because the brush comes into contact with the gums and irritates them.

[0006] Manual tooth cleaning involves the user removing plaque using filaments on brush heads of various designs, in which the individual bristles abrasively scrub the tooth surface. This abrasive cleaning method is associated with a continuous reduction in tooth enamel. Incorrect use leads to increased enamel erosion and poor cleaning results.

[0007] The main cause of incorrect use is the limited space in the mouth, which means that a toothbrush doesn't reach all areas equally well. Another problem is that users are forced to move the toothbrush blindly over their teeth without receiving any feedback on the cleaning process. Modern electric toothbrushes, in which the brush head makes circular or vibrating movements, often have pressure control and apps that reduce human error, but this approach cannot completely eliminate it without significantly increasing cleaning time.

[0008] In addition, users' cleaning practices are not very systematic, resulting in areas that are over-plastered while others are under-cleaned. Furthermore, there is often little variation in cleaning practices, so such cleaning errors are not corrected.

[0009] The plaque (oral biofilm) that forms as a result of bacterial processes and from which tartar forms in later stages is a comparatively well-adhering and well-coherent film of dirt that cannot be easily removed, even if it is cleaned off in direct contact with the toothbrush, and certainly not in the interdental spaces, into which the toothbrush can only penetrate to a limited extent or not at all.

[0010] In addition, many attempts have been made to develop so-called ultrasonic toothbrushes, in which the vibration of the toothbrush, which serves to clean and ultimately, together with toothpaste, achieves an abrasive cleaning effect, is superimposed with high-frequency vibrations that supposedly produce a cleaning effect. However, it has been shown that such toothbrushes are not capable of coupling the ultrasound into the oral cavity in a way that would produce any detectable cleaning effect. Such so-called ultrasonic toothbrushes are therefore no better than a conventional manual toothbrush.

[0011] Other electric toothbrushes, in which the brush head makes circular or vibrating movements, often have pressure control, but ultimately these movements also lead to abrasive brushing.

[0012] From DE 20 2016 101 191 Ul a brush head for an electric toothbrush is known, which is intended to encompass the tooth on all sides and on which bristles are arranged for cleaning.

[0013] US 3,401,690 A discloses a cleaning device in which ultrasound is applied to a surface via a fluid via a clamp that covers at least one tooth. US 2005 / 091,770 A discloses a toothbrush that works like a normal electric toothbrush but also has an ultrasonic generator designed to inject acoustic energy into a cleaning fluid.

[0014] US 2017 / 0189,149 A1 discloses a system for whitening teeth using an ultrasonic device. A mouthpiece is provided for this purpose, each with a volume for the upper and lower jaws. Ultrasonic generators are arranged in the mouthpiece, facing the teeth, and can apply ultrasonic energy to the tooth surface.

[0015] This is intended to create an effect known as ultrasound streaming, whereby the temperature must be controlled and the formation of bubbles prevented, as these impede the transmission of ultrasound. A frequency of 20 kHz to 100 kHz is used, with the goal of deliberately inducing cavitation, causing vapor bubbles to form and implode on the surface of the tooth, creating local temperatures of up to 5000 Kelvin and local pressures of up to 1000 atmospheres.

[0016] The disadvantage here is that the energies introduced are so high that tissue damage is practically unavoidable.

[0017] The object of the invention is to provide a device for cleaning surfaces which enables systematic, simple, fast and efficient cleaning of biofilm.

[0018] The problem is solved with the features of claim 1.

[0019] Advantageous further developments are identified in the dependent subclaims.

[0020] It is a further object to specify a use of the device.

[0021] The problem is solved with the features of claims 18 to 20.

[0022] The device according to the invention has a device for stabilizing a cleaning device for the controlled and error-free cleaning of surfaces, in particular in the oral cavity. The device comprises a bitepiece, which is mounted in the center of the mouth to ensure controlled fixation of the device over the incisors. Several so-called shuttles are arranged adjacent to the bitepiece. These are cleaning devices designed to encompass at least one tooth or jaw region and to clean it with filaments or filament arrangements. These filaments or filament arrangements are, in particular, movably driven. These shuttles can be guided from the bitepiece over a jaw branch in the direction of the rearmost teeth.

[0023] This movement can be performed automatically or manually by the user. The teeth can be cleaned from up to three sides simultaneously. For this purpose, the tooth or teeth are gripped by the shuttle. The shuttle is equipped with abrasive shearing elements, namely the filaments or filament assemblies. The shuttle can be equipped with sealing lips that form a more or less enclosed cleaning chamber around the filaments or filament assemblies.

[0024] In particular, automated, selective cleaning of surfaces such as teeth, interdental spaces, and gums is possible. Selectivity is ensured by controlling the intensity or the duration of the shuttle(s). However, comprehensive cleaning of all surfaces in the oral cavity to be cleaned is also possible. The cleaning intensity and duration can be adjusted to the respective surface. This is particularly advantageous because it allows for optimization of cleaning time and energy consumption, and the intensity can be adjusted to the medically acceptable limits of the respective surface.

[0025] Contaminants such as biofilm or tartar or other contaminants such as food residues are removed by overcoming the cohesive forces in the contaminant and by overcoming the adhesive forces of the contaminant to the cleaning surface by applied shear forces and pressure forces, or their gradients.

[0026] The shear and compressive forces are transferred to the surfaces by the movement of the filaments. These movements are generated by the movement of the shuttle or the filament carriers. The shear forces can be increased by placing particles between the filaments and the cleaning surface. This can be done using a cleaning fluid or toothpaste.

[0027] The invention thus comprises a cleaning device that, through a given fixation, can selectively clean surfaces in the oral cavity, such as tooth surfaces and gums. In the preferred embodiment, the device is fixed in the user's mouth by a bite piece, which defines the positioning of the shuttles in the user's mouth. In the preferred embodiment, the bite piece is mounted in the center so that the fixation occurs over the incisors.

[0028] The bite piece is preferably constructed asymmetrically so that it can adapt to the geometry of the upper and lower incisors.

[0029] Furthermore, the bitepiece can be equipped with soft materials to increase comfort. In the preferred embodiment, the shuttles are guided over the user's teeth via a drive from the bitepiece, allowing the filament-equipped shuttles to remove contaminants and biofilm from the teeth.

[0030] Error-free cleaning is guaranteed because the known fixation point via the bite piece ensures that the shuttles work at the correct angle and in the optimal position.

[0031] This guidance can be done manually by the user or automatically.

[0032] Since the teeth are cleaned by the shuttles from at least two, especially three sides simultaneously, the required contact pressure and cleaning time as well as the intensity can be adapted to the specific teeth.

[0033] The cleaning is achieved by the contact of the filaments with the cleaning surface via a combination of one or more possible movement patterns of the shuttles and / or the filament carriers.

[0034] These movement patterns can include, among other things, varying degrees of linear movement in the direction of the teeth and the overlying translational movement of the entire shuttle through a movement system.

[0035] The intensity of cleaning can be controlled by the frequency and amplitude of the movements as well as the time spent on the teeth.

[0036] All of these precise movement adjustments are impossible without a defined fixation point. The abrasiveness of the cleaning process is controlled, among other things, by cleaning particles, which are either introduced directly into the shuttle by the user or automatically and continuously delivered to the cleaning surface by the device.

[0037] In a first possible embodiment, the device is used by the user dispensing the cleaning fluid into all shuttles, biting down on the bite piece, and then moving the shuttle over the teeth while the device is switched on. The device will adapt to the conditions of the cleaning surface to eliminate any application errors. Preferably, the shuttle(s) are guided along the device, in particular positively guided, to minimize operating errors.

[0038] In another possible embodiment, the device is used in such a way that a user dispenses a cleaning fluid such as toothpaste into all shuttles, bites the bite piece, and then the device automatically guides the shuttle(s) over the teeth. The device will adapt to the conditions of the cleaning surface to eliminate any application errors.

[0039] In another possible embodiment, the device is used in such a way that the user bites down on the bite piece, and the shuttle(s) are then automatically guided over the teeth by the device. As they are guided over the teeth, the device automatically dispenses cleaning fluid onto the cleaning surface.

[0040] The invention thus relates in particular to a device for cleaning surfaces, in particular surfaces in the oral cavity, wherein the device comprises a bite piece, wherein the bite piece is arranged such that it is attached in the functional position in the middle of the mouth such that the device is fixed in a controlled manner by biting at least two incisors of the upper and lower jaw, wherein at least two shuttles are arranged on both sides of the bite piece as a cleaning device, wherein the shuttles are cleaning devices which are designed to engage around at least one tooth or a jaw area and to clean it with filaments or filament arrangements.

[0041] A further development provides that the device is designed for cleaning the teeth and adjacent surfaces in the front area, in particular incisors and canines, and possibly adjacent molars. The device comprises a bite piece, each of which has an upper bite area and a lower bite area, which are connected to one another via a bite piece bridge, but are also spaced apart from one another. A further development provides that the bite areas have a soft or elastic support, which has a receiving groove for one or two incisors, wherein the groove preferably runs transversely to the bite piece bridge.

[0042] A further development provides that the bitepiece bar and the upper bite area and the lower bite area form a double-T structure in cross-section.

[0043] A further development provides that the bite piece is formed in one piece with the other structures of the device.

[0044] A further development provides that the shuttles are arranged to be movable relative to the bite piece, wherein the shuttles are arranged with a carrier each directly or indirectly on a movement device.

[0045] A further development provides that in order to exchange the shuttles, in particular to replace used cleaning filaments, the shuttles are arranged detachably on the carrier.

[0046] A further development provides that the carriers are each arranged on a carrier holder, which in turn are arranged displaceably within the movement device and in particular are arranged on a guide element along which they can be displaced.

[0047] A further development provides that the guide element has at least one guide rod which is cylindrical and passes through a corresponding cylindrical opening of each carrier holder, so that the shuttles can be moved towards the bite piece, in particular towards the bite piece web, and away from it.

[0048] A further development provides that, in order to enable a movement transverse to the course of the at least one guide rod, the supports each have a pivot axis which is arranged on one of the support holders.

[0049] A further development provides that each carrier holder is designed to fulfil a guiding function on the guide rod and the carriers are pivotally arranged on the carrier holder so that a superimposed movement of the shuttles transversely to the oral cavity and into and out of the oral cavity is possible.

[0050] A further development provides that in order to form a limited pivoting capability away from the pivot axis, a groove is formed on the carrier into which a guide stub of the carrier holder extends and thereby limits pivoting about the pivot axis.

[0051] A further development provides that the groove is curved and has a radius which corresponds to the distance from the pivot axis, so that pivoting can be carried out, so that when each carrier with the shaker is moved outwards along the guide rod, the shuttles follow the shape of the teeth or jaw, wherein the carrier can be pivoted about the pivot axis with the aid of the groove and the projections, wherein the pivoting can take place passively.

[0052] A further development provides that in order to bring about an automated movement of the shuttles along the guide rod, each carrier holder is penetrated by a driven spindle, wherein the carrier holder has a corresponding through-opening which has a thread which corresponds to that of the spindle, so that when the spindle rotates, the carrier holder can be moved along the guide rod in accordance with the direction of rotation of the spindle.

[0053] A further development provides that an electric motor drive is provided to drive the spindle, which is arranged to rotate the spindle via a drive such as gears or bevel gears or by means of a direct drive with an electric motor or stepper motor.

[0054] A further development provides that the thickness of the bitepiece bar is so small that the shuttles, especially when they are located on the bitepiece bar between the movement device and the bite areas, have no or only a very small distance from each other.

[0055] A further development provides for the shuttles to be designed with a passive or actively driven filament arrangement.

[0056] A further aspect of the invention relates to the use of a device as described above for cleaning the oral cavity, wherein the user dispenses the cleaning liquid into all shuttles, bites on the bite piece and then moves the shuttle over the teeth while the device is switched on. The device will adapt to the conditions of the cleaning surface in order to eliminate any application errors, wherein the shuttle or shuttles are preferably guided on the device, in particular are positively guided, in order to minimize operating errors. A further aspect of the invention relates to the use of a device as described above for cleaning the oral cavity, wherein a user dispenses a cleaning liquid such as toothpaste into all shuttles, bites on the bite piece and the shuttle or shuttles are then automatically guided over the teeth by the device.

[0057] A further aspect of the invention relates to the use of a device as described above for cleaning the oral cavity, wherein the user bites on the bite piece and the shuttle(s) are then automatically guided over the teeth by the device, wherein cleaning fluid is automatically dispensed by the device onto the cleaning surface.

[0058] The invention is explained by way of example using a drawing, which shows:

[0059] Figure 1: a partially sectioned schematic view of the device;

[0060] Figure 2: a schematic top view of the bite piece;

[0061] Figure 3: a schematic view of the shuttle’s propulsion system;

[0062] Figure 4: a movement pattern;

[0063] Figure 5: the movement pattern in another stage.

[0064] The device according to the invention (Figure 1) serves in particular to clean the teeth and adjacent surfaces in the front region, i.e., in particular, incisors and canines, and possibly adjacent molars. For this purpose, the device 1 firstly has a bite piece 2, each having an upper bite area 3 and a lower bite area 4, which are connected to one another via a bite piece bridge 5, but are also spaced apart from one another. The bite areas 3, 4 preferably have a soft or elastic support 6, which has a receiving groove 7 for one or two incisors. The groove 7 preferably runs transversely to the bite piece bridge 5.

[0065] The bitepiece bar 5 and the upper bite area 3 and the lower bite area 4 form a double-T structure in cross-section.

[0066] The bite piece 2 can be formed integrally with the other structures of the device 1.

[0067] Adjacent to the bite piece 2, a cleaning device 8 is provided on each side, particularly in the form of a shuttle 8. The shuttles 8 are arranged so as to be movable relative to the bite piece 2, with each shuttle being arranged with a carrier 9 on a movement device 10. To exchange the shuttles 8, particularly to replace used cleaning filaments, the shuttles 8 can be detachably arranged on the carrier 9.

[0068] The carriers 9 are each arranged on a carrier holder 14 which in turn is arranged displaceably within the movement device 10 and is arranged in particular on a guide element 11 along which they can be displaced.

[0069] The guide element 11 can, for example, be a guide rod 12, which is, for example, cylindrical and extends through a corresponding cylindrical opening (not shown) of each carrier holder 14. This allows the shuttles 8 to be moved toward the bite piece 2, in particular toward and away from the bite piece web 5.

[0070] In order to provide a movement transverse to the course of the guide rod 12, the supports 9 each have a pivot axis 13 which is arranged on one of the support holders 14.

[0071] Each carrier holder 14 also performs the guiding function on the guide rod, and the carriers 9 are pivotally mounted on the carrier holder 14. To ensure limited pivotability, a groove 15 can be formed on the carrier 9 outwards, away from the pivot axis 13, into which groove a guide stub 16 of the carrier holder extends, thereby limiting pivoting about the pivot axis 13. The groove 15 has a radius that corresponds to the distance from the pivot axis 13, so that pivoting can be carried out. If each carrier 9 with the shuttle 8 is moved outwards along the guide rod 12, the shuttles 8 can follow the shape of the teeth or jaw, whereby the carrier 9 can be pivoted about the pivot axis 13 with the help of the groove 15 and the projections 16, whereby the pivoting can take place passively.

[0072] In order to achieve automated movement of the shuttles along the guide rod 12, each carrier holder can be penetrated by a driven spindle 17, wherein the carrier holder 14 in this case has a corresponding bore which has a thread corresponding to that of the spindle 17, so that upon rotation of the spindle 17, the carrier holder is moved along the guide rod 12 in accordance with the direction of rotation of the spindle 17. To drive the spindle 17, a drive 18, in particular an electric motor drive, can be provided, which is arranged on a side of the movement device 10 opposite the bite piece 2 and the shuttles 8 and can rotate the spindle via bevel gears 19, one of which is provided with an electric motor drive 19 and another of which is arranged transversely thereto on the spindle 17.

[0073] It goes without saying that instead of a bevel gear drive, any other drive, in particular a direct drive with an electric motor or stepper motor, is also conceivable.

[0074] The thickness of the bitepiece bar 5 can be so small that the shuttles 8, especially when they rest on the bitepiece bar 5 between the movement device 10 and the bite areas 3, 4, are only very close to each other in order to ensure that all teeth are reliably cleaned.

[0075] The shuttles 8 are designed with a filament arrangement (not shown) with which cleaning can be carried out.

Claims

Claims 1. Device for cleaning surfaces, in particular surfaces in the oral cavity, wherein the device (1) comprises a bite piece (2), wherein the bite piece (2) is arranged such that it is attached in the functional position in the middle of the mouth such that the device is fixed in a controlled manner by biting at least two incisors of the upper and lower jaw, wherein at least two shuttles (8) are arranged on both sides of the bite piece (2) as a cleaning device, wherein the shuttles (8) are cleaning devices which are designed to engage around at least one tooth or a jaw area and to clean it with filaments or filament arrangements.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the device (1) is designed for cleaning the teeth and adjacent surfaces in the front area, in particular incisors and canines and optionally adjacent molars, wherein the device (1) has the bite piece (2), which has an upper bite area (3) and a lower bite area (4), which are connected to one another via a bite piece web (5) but are also spaced apart from one another.

3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the bite areas (3, 4) have a soft or elastic support (6) which has a receiving groove (7) for one or two incisors, wherein the groove (7) preferably runs transversely to the bite piece web (5).

4. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bite piece web (5) and the upper bite area (3) and the lower bite area (4) form a double-T structure in cross section.

5. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bite piece (2) is formed integrally with the other structures of the device (1).

6. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the shuttles (8) are arranged to be movable relative to the bite piece (2), wherein the shuttles each with a carrier (9) arranged directly or indirectly on a movement device (10).

7. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that for exchanging the shuttles (8), in particular for replacing used cleaning filaments, the shuttles (8) are detachably arranged on the carrier (9).

8. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the carriers (9) are each arranged on a carrier holder (14), which in turn are arranged displaceably with the movement device (10) within the latter and are arranged in particular on a guide element (11) along which they can be displaced.

9. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the guide element (11) has at least one guide rod (12) which is cylindrical and passes through a corresponding cylindrical opening of each carrier holder 14, so that the shuttles (8) can be moved towards the bite piece (2), in particular towards the bite piece web (5) and away from it.

10. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, in order to enable a movement transverse to the course of the at least one guide rod (12), the supports (9) each have a pivot axis (13) which is arranged on one of the support holders (14).

11. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each carrier holder (14) is designed to fulfil a guiding function on the guide rod and the carriers (9) are pivotally arranged on the carrier holder (14).

12. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in order to form a limited pivotability spaced from the pivot axis (13), a groove (15) is formed on the carrier (9), into which groove a guide stub (16) of the carrier holder (14) extends and thereby limits pivoting about the pivot axis 13.

13. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the groove (15) is curved and has a radius which corresponds to the distance from the pivot axis (13), so that a pivoting can be carried out can be moved outwards along the guide rod (12) so that when each carrier (9) with the shuttle (8) is moved outwards, the shuttles (8) follow the shape of the teeth or jaw, the carrier (9) being pivotable about the pivot axis (13) by means of the groove (15) and the projections (16), the pivoting being able to take place passively.

14. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in order to bring about an automated movement of the shuttle (8) along the guide rod (12), each carrier holder (14) is penetrated by a driven spindle (17), wherein the carrier holder (14) has a corresponding through-opening which has a thread which corresponds to that of the spindle (17), so that upon rotation of the spindle (17) the carrier holder (14) can be moved along the guide rod (12) in accordance with the direction of rotation of the spindle (17).

15. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that for driving the spindle (17) there is provided a drive (18), in particular an electric motor drive, which is arranged to rotate the spindle via a drive, such as via gears or bevel gears (19) or by means of a direct drive with an electric motor or stepper motor.

16. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the thickness of the bite piece web (5) is so small that the shuttles (8), in particular when they rest on the bite piece web (5) between the movement device (10) and the bite areas (3, 4), have no or only a very small distance from one another.

17. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the shuttles (8) are designed with a passive or actively driven filament arrangement.

18. Use of a device according to one of the preceding claims for cleaning in the oral cavity, wherein the user dispenses the cleaning liquid into all shuttles, bites on the bite piece and then guides the shuttle in the switched-on state over the teeth, wherein preferably the shuttle or shuttles are guided on the device, in particular positively guided, in order to minimize operating errors.

19. Use according to claim 18, wherein a user uses a cleaning fluid such as Puts toothpaste into all shuttles, bites on the bite piece and the shuttle(s) are then automatically guided over the teeth by the device.

20. Use of a device according to one of claims 1 to 17, wherein the user bites on the bite piece and the shuttle(s) are then automatically guided over the teeth by the device, wherein the device automatically delivers cleaning fluid to the cleaning area is handed over.

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