Oral treatment device

Abstract

An oral treatment device for use in treating an oral cavity of a user is described. The oral treatment device comprises a support; one or more deformable cleaning elements projecting from the support; and a deformation information collection arrangement connected to the one or more cleaning elements and configured to collect and conduct output energy, representative of deformation of the one or more cleaning elements, from the one or more cleaning elements.

Description

[0001] ORAL TREATMENT DEVICE

[0002] BACKGROUND

[0003] Oral treatment devices, such as toothbrushes, for use in treating oral cavities of users are known. Some oral treatment devices have a support comprising a head portion, and cleaning elements, such as tufts of bristles, projecting from a front side of the head portion. Some oral treatment devices have a handle integrally formed with the support. Others are configured to be removably attachable to a handle, for instance so that the handle is usable with several different oral treatment devices.

[0004] SUMMARY

[0005] When a user of an oral treatment device, such as a toothbrush, uses the oral treatment device inadequately, food debris and a biofilm layer on the user’s teeth may not be removed properly, which can result in plaque accumulation. When the user uses the oral treatment device too vigorously, gum injury may result and / or premature damage to cleaning elements of the oral treatment device may occur.

[0006] A first aspect of the present invention provides an oral treatment device for use in treating an oral cavity of a user, the oral treatment device comprising: a support; one or more deformable cleaning elements projecting from the support; and a deformation information collection arrangement connected to the one or more cleaning elements and configured to collect and conduct output energy, representative of deformation of the one or more cleaning elements, from the one or more cleaning elements.

[0007] By collecting the output energy from the one or more cleaning elements, information about the deformation, such as bending or buckling, of the one or more cleaning elements may be captured. This information may be used to monitor use of the oral treatment device and one or more actions may be taken in consequence. Greater accuracy of information may be captured than, for example, monitoring movement of a combination of the whole support and the one or more cleaning elements relative to some point of reference. Accordingly, a better-informed action can be taken. For example, a user of the oral treatment device may be informed about wear of the one or more cleaning elements, about how they are using the oral treatment device, about how they might better use the oral treatment device and / or about when replacement of the oral treatment device is recommended.

[0008] As discussed herein, in some examples the oral treatment device is configured to be removably attachable to a handle. In some other examples, the oral treatment device comprises a handle, such as a handle that is integrally formed with the support. In some examples, the oral treatment device is a brush head or a toothbrush.

[0009] Optionally, the one or more cleaning elements are integrally formed with the deformation information collection arrangement. Such a construction may help to improve collection of the output energy from the one or more cleaning elements, as compared to an arrangement in which the output energy instead needs to navigate a join between the one or more cleaning elements and the deformation information collection arrangement.

[0010] Optionally, the one or more cleaning elements comprise plural cleaning elements, and the deformation information collection arrangement defines plural paths that are coupled to the respective plural cleaning elements and configured to collect and conduct output energy, representative of deformation of the respective plural cleaning elements, from the respective plural cleaning elements. Such an arrangement may help to keep collected streams of output energy, from the respective cleaning elements, separate from each other and help to conduct those streams of output energy towards a destination. This may provide the destination with the ability to collect the streams of output energy, and thus assess, monitor or otherwise handle the deformation of the respective cleaning elements separately, i.e., on a per- cleaning-element basis. This may provide the destination with more information about deformation of the cleaning elements than a comparative system in which output energy from all the cleaning elements is instead merged together on its way to the destination.

[0011] Optionally, the deformation information collection arrangement comprises plural optical fibres that define the respective plural paths. Optionally, the cleaning element, or each of the cleaning elements, is configured to reflect input energy, received from the deformation information collection arrangement, back to the deformation information collection arrangement as the output energy that is collected and conducted by the deformation information collection arrangement. This may enable the oral treatment device to have a fully passive structure for sensing the deformation of the one or more cleaning elements. For example, the deformation information collection arrangement may transmit input energy to the one or more cleaning elements, and (e.g., a distal end of) the cleaning element, or each of the cleaning elements, may reflect some of that input energy back to the deformation information collection arrangement as the output energy. A remainder of the input energy, which is a difference between the input energy and the output energy, may be lost to the surrounding environment through sides of the cleaning elements. The percentage of the input energy that is lost in this way may be dependent on the degree of deformation of the one or more cleaning elements, with a greater degree of deformation resulting in a greater loss of the energy. Accordingly, a magnitude of the output energy, which is collected by and conducted by the deformation information collection arrangement, is therefore indicative of the degree of deformation of the one or more cleaning elements.

[0012] Optionally, the output energy is electromagnetic energy, the one or more cleaning elements are able to conduct the electromagnetic energy, and the deformation information collection arrangement is optically coupled to the one or more cleaning elements and configured to collect the electromagnetic energy from the one or more cleaning elements. This arrangement uses the material of the one or more cleaning elements itself for conducting the electromagnetic energy. That is, the one or more cleaning elements may act as respective optical waveguides. This avoids the need to provide further structure(s) for this purpose.

[0013] Optionally, the electromagnetic energy is visible light. Accordingly, the electromagnetic energy collected by the deformation information collection arrangement may be conveniently viewed by a user of the oral treatment device without requiring conversion into a different form of energy. The oral treatment device may therefore be more efficient, simpler, and less costly, since energy conversion can be lossy and would require the oral treatment device to have additional structure(s) to make the conversion. In some examples, some of the visible light is lost to the surrounding environment through sides of the cleaning elements, during the deformation of the one or more cleaning elements, rather than reflected. This may provide a user of the oral treatment device with a visual indication of how much deformation is being experienced by the one or more cleaning elements.

[0014] Optionally, the output energy is electrical energy, the one or more cleaning elements are able to conduct the electrical energy, and the deformation information collection arrangement is electrical coupled to the one or more cleaning elements and configured to collect the electrical energy from the one or more cleaning elements. For example, the, or each, cleaning element may comprise an electrically conductive path that is electrically connected to the deformation information collection arrangement.

[0015] Optionally, the output energy is acoustic energy, the one or more cleaning elements are able to conduct the acoustic energy, and the deformation information collection arrangement is acoustically coupled to the one or more cleaning elements and configured to collect the acoustic energy from the one or more cleaning elements.

[0016] Optionally, the one or more cleaning elements comprise one or more respective bristle tufts, each of the bristle tufts comprising a plurality of bristles. Each of the bristle tufts may be circular or non-circular.

[0017] Optionally, the one or more cleaning elements consist of plural bristle tufts.

[0018] Optionally, each of the bristles is circular in cross section. Optionally, each of the bristles has a diameter of about 0.1mm to about 0.7mm, such as about 0.2mm to about 0.5mm.

[0019] Optionally, the bristles of each of the bristle tufts are fused together into a respective block of the respective cleaning element. Further optionally, the deformation information collection arrangement is connected to the one or more blocks of the respective one or more cleaning elements and configured to collect and conduct the output energy, representative of deformation of the one or more cleaning elements, from the one or more blocks. Optionally, the cleaning element, or each of the cleaning elements, is made from a polymer. Further optionally, the polymer is Nylon.

[0020] A second aspect of the present invention provides an oral treatment system, comprising: the oral treatment device according to the first aspect of the present invention; an energy source; an energy receiver; and a transmission arrangement; wherein the transmission arrangement is configured to transmit input energy from the energy source to the deformation information collection arrangement and to transmit the output energy from the deformation information collection arrangement to the energy receiver.

[0021] Accordingly, the energy source and energy receiver may be spaced from the one or more cleaning elements, at least by the transmission arrangement. This may enable the oral treatment device to be sufficiently compact for comfortable insertion into a user’s mouth.

[0022] In some examples, the energy receiver is an energy detector.

[0023] Optionally, each of the input energy and the output energy is electromagnetic energy, and the energy source comprises a source of electromagnetic energy.

[0024] Optionally, the electromagnetic energy is visible light, so that the energy source is a light source. Further optionally, the light source comprises one or more light emitting diodes.

[0025] Optionally, the visible light is white light. Optionally, the visible light is blue light. This may facilitate whitening of the user’s teeth. Optionally, the visible light is red light. This may have a therapeutic effect on the user, such as an anti-inflammatory effect.

[0026] Optionally, the energy receiver or energy detector comprises a photodetector. In some other examples, the energy receiver comprises a window through which the electromagnetic output energy can be emitted from the oral treatment system in use, for viewing by a user. Optionally, each of the input energy and the output energy is electrical energy, and the energy source comprises a source of electrical energy, such as a battery. Optionally, the energy detector comprises a device configured to detect or monitor change in an electrical characteristic (such as electrical resistance) of the one or more cleaning elements, arising from deformation of the one or more cleaning elements, based on the output electrical energy received at the device. In such an arrangement, each of the elements on the paths between the energy source and the cleaning element(s) and between the cleaning element(s) and the energy detector would be electrically conductive so as to transmit the electrical energy along those paths.

[0027] Optionally, each of the input energy and the output energy is acoustic energy, and the energy source comprises a source of acoustic energy, such as an ultrasound transducer that is configured to convert electrical energy into mechanical sound energy. Optionally, the energy detector comprises a device configured to monitor the output acoustic energy received at the device, so as to detect change in the output acoustic energy arising from deformation of the one or more cleaning elements. Such a device may be an ultrasound transducer that is configured to convert mechanical sound energy into electrical energy. In such an arrangement, each of the elements on the paths between the energy source and the cleaning element(s) and between the cleaning element(s) and the energy detector would be acoustically conductive so as to transmit the acoustic energy along those paths.

[0028] Optionally, the energy source is configured to output the input energy to the transmission arrangement by pulsing or modulating the input energy so that the input energy comprises a series of energy pulses. For example, when the energy source is a light source, the light source may emit the visible light as a series of flashes. Such pulsed input energy would therefore have a time-varying amplitude. The amplitude of the input energy may be zero or non-zero between the pulses.

[0029] Optionally, the one or more cleaning elements comprise plural cleaning elements, the deformation information collection arrangement defines plural paths that are coupled to the respective plural cleaning elements and configured to collect and conduct respective streams of the output energy, representative of deformation of the respective plural cleaning elements, from the respective plural cleaning elements, and the transmission arrangement defines plural channels that are coupled to the respective plural paths and configured to conduct the respective streams of the output energy from the respective plural paths to the energy receiver.

[0030] Optionally, the transmission arrangement comprises plural optical fibres that define the respective plural channels.

[0031] Optionally, the energy receiver comprises an imaging sensor comprising a plurality of pixels, and wherein the plural channels of the transmission arrangement are coupled to respective sub-sets of the pixels, each of the sub-sets comprising one or more of the pixels. The imaging sensor may be a two-dimensional imaging sensor or a linear array imaging sensor, for example.

[0032] Optionally, the transmission arrangement comprises an optical component that is configured to: receive the input energy from the source of electromagnetic energy and to direct the input energy to the deformation information collection arrangement; and receive the output energy from the deformation information collection arrangement and to direct the output energy to the energy receiver. Having a single optical component that is configured to perform both of these functions may reduce a space required for the transmission arrangement. It may additionally, or alternatively, reduce a number of joints required between components that are to transmit electromagnetic energy. This may be beneficial, as such joints can be locations at which electromagnetic energy may be undesirably lost to the surrounding environment.

[0033] Optionally, the optical component is a V-shaped or Y-shaped component having a first arm that is configured to receive the input energy from the source of electromagnetic energy, a second arm that is configured to direct the output energy to the energy receiver, and a trunk that connects the first and second arms and that is configured to direct the input energy to the deformation information collection arrangement and to receive the output energy from the deformation information collection arrangement. In some examples, the V-shaped or Y- shaped component comprises a bifurcated fibre bundle. The bifurcated fibre bundle may comprise a first sub-bundle of optical fibres that connect the source of electromagnetic energy to a trunk end of the V-shaped or Y-shaped component, and a second sub-bundle of optical fibres that connect the trunk end of the V-shaped or Y-shaped component to the energy receiver. The optical component may therefore define plural parallel channels for directing the output energy to the energy receiver and the input energy towards the deformation information collection arrangement.

[0034] Optionally, the oral treatment system comprises a handle, and the handle comprises the energy source, the energy receiver and the transmission arrangement. Such an arrangement may ensure that these elements are in a part of the oral treatment system that would be away from the support. Accordingly, this may enable the support to be sufficiently compact for comfortable insertion into a user’s mouth and / or may help with ensuring that a centre of mass of the oral treatment system is close to a user’s hand, which may provide a desirable ergonomic advantage.

[0035] Optionally, the handle is integrally formed with the support of the oral treatment device. This may provide a robust oral treatment system that is convenient to hold and operate.

[0036] Optionally, the handle is configured to be removably attachable to the support of the oral treatment device. Therefore, the oral treatment device may be replaceable by, or interchangeable with, another oral treatment device, so that the energy source, the energy receiver, and the transmission arrangement may be used with several oral treatment devices successively. This may reduce how much of the oral treatment system needs to be disposed of when the oral treatment device is too worn to achieve adequate performance, may enable several users (each having their own respective oral treatment device) to share the handle, and / or may make the oral treatment system more compact for storage or transport.

[0037] Optionally, the oral treatment system comprises a processor operatively coupled to the energy receiver, the energy receiver is an energy detector that is configured to output a signal representative of the output energy to the processor, and the processor is configured to cause performance of an action based on the signal received from the energy detector. Accordingly, something may be done in response to the deformation of the one or more cleaning elements. For example, a user of the oral treatment device may be informed about wear of the one or more cleaning elements, about how they are using the oral treatment system, about how they might better use the oral treatment system and / or about when replacement of the oral treatment device is recommended.

[0038] Optionally, the oral treatment system comprises an indicator that is operatively connected to the processor, and the action comprises the indicator providing an indication to a user of the oral treatment system. This may enable the user to be promptly and / or clearly informed of information associated with the deformation of the one or more cleaning elements. For example, the processor may cause the indicator to indicate that the oral treatment device requires replacement, when the processor determines, based on the signal representative of the output energy, that the energy representative of deformation of the one or more cleaning elements is below a threshold and thus that the one or more cleaning elements is / are too worn to be sufficiently effective at cleaning the user’s oral cavity.

[0039] Optionally, the indicator comprises a visual indicator, such as a light or a display screen. Optionally, the indicator comprises an audible indicator, such as a beeper or a buzzer. Optionally, the indicator comprises a haptic indicator, such as a vibrator.

[0040] Optionally, the oral treatment system comprises a memory that is operatively connected to the processor, and the action comprises the memory storing data representative of the output energy. Accordingly, the data may be assessed or handled in the future. In some examples, such data is collected in the memory over multiple uses of the oral treatment system, so that patterns or trends in use of the oral treatment system may be identified over time. This may enable the user to be better informed of information associated with the deformation of the one or more cleaning elements.

[0041] Optionally, the oral treatment system comprises a communication interface that is operatively connected to the processor, and the action comprises the communication interface sending data representative of the output energy from the oral treatment system to a remote destination. This may enable the data representative of the output energy to be stored in memory, and processed or analysed, at the remote destination, remote from the oral treatment system. This may reduce the processing ability required of the oral treatment system itself.

[0042] In some examples, other information may also be communicated from the oral treatment system to the remote destination. For example, the oral treatment system may comprise an orientation sensor (such as an accelerometer) that is configured to sense an orientation of the oral treatment system relative to the Earth, and to send orientation information (based on the orientation sensed) to the remote destination or to the processor for optional transmission to the remote destination. This orientation information may be combined with the data representative of the output energy to gain further insights. For example, the remote destination may be configured to create a plot of the user’s mouth, to map the orientation information to the data representative of the output energy, and to then indicate on the plot the degree of deformation of the one or more cleaning elements in various regions in the user’s mouth. This may help to inform the user about where in their mouth they are using the one or more cleaning elements to apply forces to their oral cavity that are too great or too small. In other examples, these processes may be performed at the oral treatment system itself rather than, or in addition to, the remote destination.

[0043] Optionally, the oral treatment system is a toothbrush, such as an electrically powered toothbrush.

[0044] A third aspect of the present invention provides a handle for attachment to the support of the oral treatment device of the first aspect of the present invention; wherein the handle comprises an energy source, an energy receiver, and a transmission arrangement that is configured to couple to the deformation information collection arrangement when the handle is attached to the oral treatment device; and wherein the transmission arrangement is configured to transmit input energy from the energy source to the deformation information collection arrangement and to transmit the output energy from the deformation information collection arrangement to the energy receiver.

[0045] Optionally, the handle is for removable attachment to the support of the oral treatment device. Optionally, each of the input energy and the output energy is electromagnetic energy, and the energy source comprises a source of electromagnetic energy, such as a light source.

[0046] Optional features of aspects of the present invention may be equally applied to other aspects of the present invention, where appropriate. In particular, for example, the handle of the third aspect of the present invention may have any of the optional features of the optional handle of the oral treatment device of the first aspect of the present invention and / or any of the optional features of the optional handle of the oral treatment system of the second aspect of the present invention.

[0047] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0048] Figure 1 shows a schematic cross-sectional side view of an electrically powered toothbrush, in which a brush head of the electrically powered toothbrush is removably attached to a handle of the electrically powered toothbrush; and

[0049] Figure 2 shows a schematic cross-sectional view, taken at II-II in Figure 1, through a neck portion of the handle of the electrically powered toothbrush of Figure 1.

[0050] DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0051] The Figures show an oral treatment system in the form of an electrically powered toothbrush 1. The toothbrush 1 comprises a handle 10 and an oral treatment device, in the form of a brush head 20, that is shaped and sized to be attachable to, and thereafter detachable from, the handle 10. The brush head 20 is for use in brushing an oral cavity of a user of the toothbrush 1. The brush head 20 is replaceable by, or interchangeable with, another brush head (not shown), so that the handle 10 may be used with several brush heads 20 successively.

[0052] The brush head 20 comprises an elongate support 30 having a head portion 40 and a neck portion 50. The neck portion 50 extends from the head portion 40 in a longitudinal direction of the support 30 and is narrower than the head portion 40 in a lateral direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction. The neck portion 50 has an end distal from the head portion 40 that defines a first interface 21 by which the brush head 20 engages with the handle 10. The first interface 21 comprises a cavity 22 for receipt of a spigot 120 of a second interface 13 of the handle 10, as is described in more detail below.

[0053] The brush head 20 has nineteen deformable cleaning elements 60, in the form of bristle tufts, that project from a front side 42 of the head portion 40. The front side 42 may therefore be considered a bristle bearing surface. The area of the front side 42 occupied by the bristle tufts 60 and the spaces between the bristle tufts 60 is sometimes known as the bristled area. A rear side 44 of the head portion 40, opposite the front side 42, is devoid of any cleaning elements. Each of the bristle tufts 60 is circular in cross section and is flexible so as to be bendable during use. Each of the bristle tufts 60 comprises a bundle of bendable Nylon bristles, or filaments, each of which is circular and has a diameter of about 0.4mm over a majority of a length of the bristle. Ends of the bristles are tapered so as to have a diameter at the tip of between 0.1mm and 0.2mm. The head portion 40 includes a head plate 46 having a flat front side that forms most of the front side 42 of the head portion 40. The head plate 46 is made of ABS. The head plate 46 has plural holes 48 extending therethrough from the flat front side of the head plate 46 to an opposite rear side of the head plate 46, which is at an interior of the head portion 40. The holes 48 are spaced apart from each other by respective gaps. Each of the holes 48 corresponds to one of the bristle tufts 60. Each of the bristle tufts 60 is a first portion of a bundle of bristles that protrudes through one of the holes 48 and that has a tapered distal end. Second portions of the bundles are fused together into respective blocks 62 at the rear side of the head plate 46, inside the head portion 40. Each of the blocks 62 is wider than the associated hole 48 through the head plate 46, so as to prevent the bundles from being pulled through the holes 48.

[0054] The brush head 20 also includes a deformation information collection arrangement 70. The deformation information collection arrangement 70 comprises a group of nineteen optical fibres that define respective optical paths. While only five of the optical fibres are shown in Figure 1 for clarity, all nineteen optical fibres are shown in Figure 2. The optical fibres are fused to the respective blocks 62 at respective first ends 71 of the optical fibres, so as to be optically coupled to the bristle tufts 60. The optical fibres terminate in the cavity 22 at their respective second ends 72. The second ends 72 of the optical fibres together define a first optical interface, which is for connection to a second optical interface 150 of the handle 10, discussed below.

[0055] The Nylon bristles of the bristle tufts 60 are optical waveguides, in that they are able to conduct and intemally-reflect visible light. More specifically, and as described in more detail below, light received into the bristles from the blocks 62 travels inside the bristles to their tips, and the tips reflect at least some of the light back towards the blocks 62. Therefore, in use, each of the bristle tufts 60 reflects some of the input light, received from the deformation information collection arrangement 70, back to the deformation information collection arrangement 70 as output light that is collected and conducted by the deformation information collection arrangement 70. A remainder of the input light, which is a difference between the input light and the output light, is lost to the surrounding environment by leakage through sides of the bristles of the bristle tufts 60. The percentage of the input light that is lost in this way is dependent on the degree of deformation (such as bending, kinking, scoring or roughening) of the bristles, with a greater degree of deformation resulting in a greater loss of the light. Accordingly, a magnitude of the output light, which is collected by and conducted by the deformation information collection arrangement 70, is indicative of the degree of deformation of the bristle tufts 60.

[0056] Discussion will now turn to the handle 10 of the toothbrush 1. The handle 10 is an elongate structure comprising a grip portion 110 and a spigot 120. The grip portion 110 has a first end 111 that is proximal to the spigot 120 and an opposite second end 112 that is distal from the spigot 120 and that defines a first end 11 of the handle 10. The spigot 120 extends from the first end 111 of the grip portion 110 in a longitudinal direction of the handle 10 and is narrower than the grip portion 110 in a lateral direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the handle 10. The spigot 120 has a first end that is proximal to the grip portion 110 and an opposite second end 122 that is distal from the grip portion 110. The second end 122 of the spigot 120 defines a second end 12 of the handle 10 opposite to the first end 11 of the handle 10, and the spigot 120 forms part of the second interface 13 for engaging with the first interface 21 of the brush head 20. More specifically, the spigot 120 is insertable into the cavity 22 of the first interface 21 of the brush head 20, to engage the spigot 120 with the brush head 20 and thereby releasably connect the brush head 20 to the handle 10. The spigot 120 also comprises the second optical interface 150, mentioned above.

[0057] The grip portion 110 of the handle 10 has an outer housing 113. Mounted on the outer housing 113 is a user interface 130, in the form of a button. Inside the outer housing 113, the handle 10 has a processor 131, a memory 132, an indication unit 133, a wireless communication interface 134, a battery 135, an accelerometer 136, a photodetector 137, an array 138 of LEDs that output visible white light when powered, and a Y-shaped optical component 139 that extends into the spigot 120 of the handle 10. The user interface 130, the processor 131, the indication unit 133, the wireless communication interface 134, the accelerometer 136, the photodetector 137 and the array 138 of LEDs are electrically connected to the battery 135 by electrically conductive wires, as indicated by dashed lines in Figure 1, so as to be electrically powered by the battery 135. Moreover, the processor 131 is operatively connected to the user interface 130, the memory 132, the indication unit 133, the wireless communication interface 134, the accelerometer 136, the photodetector 137 and the array 138 of LEDs.

[0058] The Y-shaped optical component 139 is a transmission arrangement comprising a bifurcated fibre bundle having a first arm 141, a second arm 142 and a trunk 143. The bifurcated fibre bundle comprises thirty-eight fibres: a first sub-bundle of nineteen optical fibres within the first arm 141 and the trunk 143, and a second sub-bundle of nineteen optical fibres within the second arm 142 and the trunk 143. The optical fibres of the first sub-bundle of optical fibres optically couple the array 138 of LEDs to the second optical interface 150 at a trunk end of the Y-shaped component 139, and the optical fibres of the second sub-bundle of optical fibres optically couple the second optical interface 150 at the trunk end of the Y- shaped component 139 to the photodetector 137. The second optical interface 150 is for connection to the first optical interface mentioned above so that, when the spigot 120 of the handle 10 is located in the cavity 22 of the brush head 20, to thereby releasably connect the brush head 20 to the handle 10, pairs of the thirty-eight optical fibres of the Y-shaped optical component 139 align, and optically couple with, the nineteen respective optical fibres of the deformation information collection arrangement 70. The Y-shaped optical component 139 is shaped and arranged so as to, in use, transmit visible light from the array 138 of LEDs to the second optical interface 150, and transmit visible light from the second optical interface 150 to the photodetector 137. The photodetector 137 is a two-dimensional imaging sensor having a plurality of pixels, and the nineteen optical fibres of the second sub-bundle in the second arm 142 are optically coupled to respective ones of the pixels. Accordingly, the pixels are respectively able to detect the light travelling through the nineteen optical fibres in the second arm 142 to the photodetector 137. The photodetector 137 is set up to output a signal to the processor 131, the signal being representative of the light received at the pixels of the photodetector 137. The processor 131 is set up to perform a number of actions, in consequence, as described below.

[0059] The indication unit 133 comprises a display screen, a beeper and a vibrator. The display screen is for displaying a plot of the user’s mouth, as described in more detail below. The indication unit 133 is controlled by the processor 131.

[0060] The accelerometer 136 is set up to sense an orientation of the toothbrush 1 relative to the Earth, as would be understood by the skilled reader, and to send orientation information, based on this sensed orientation, to the processor 131.

[0061] The memory 132 stores instructions that are executable by the processor 131 to cause the processor to perform the processes described herein. The processor 131 is configured to access the memory 132 to retrieve and execute these instructions. The processor 131 is programmed, by way of these instructions, to cause the array 138 of LEDs to emit light, on the basis of a user command received at the processor 131 from the user interface 130. Moreover, the processor 131 is programmed to store in the memory 132 data that is representative of the light received at the pixels of the photodetector 137, based on the signal received from the photodetector 137, and data that is representative of the orientation of the toothbrush 1 relative to the Earth, based on the orientation information received from the accelerometer 136. Furthermore, the processor 131 is programmed to cause the wireless communication interface 134 to wirelessly transmit, to a remote destination, such as a smart phone or other mobile electronic device, the data that is representative of the light received at the pixels of the photodetector 137, based on the signal received from the photodetector 137, and the data that is representative of the orientation of the toothbrush 1 relative to the Earth, based on the orientation information received from the accelerometer 136. Still further, the processor 131 is programmed to generate the plot of the user’s mouth, on the basis of the signal received from the photodetector 137 and the orientation information received from the accelerometer 136, and to cause the display screen of the indication unit 131 to display the plot of the user’s mouth during use of the oral treatment system. The processor 131 is also programmed to cause the beeper of the indication unit 131 to beep, and the light of the indication unit 131 to illuminate, when the processor 131 determines, based on the signal received from the photodetector 137, that light received by one or more of the pixels of the photodetector 137 is less than a predetermined threshold brightness.

[0062] Operation of the exemplary toothbrush 1 will now be described, with reference to the Figures.

[0063] During use of the toothbrush 1, the brush head 20 is attached to the handle 10 by way of the user inserting the spigot 120 of the handle 10 into the cavity 22 of the brush head 20. This causes the first and second optical interfaces to align, thereby optically coupling pairs of the thirty-eight optical fibres of the Y-shaped optical component 139 with the nineteen respective optical fibres of the deformation information collection arrangement 70.

[0064] The user then applies dentifrice to the bristle tufts 60 and presses the button of the user interface 130. This pressing of the button causes the user interface 130 to send the user command to the processor 131. The processor 131 receives this user command and, as a consequence, causes the array 138 of LEDs to emit visible white light. This light travels along the nineteen optical fibres of the first sub-bundle in the first arm 141 and the trunk 143 of the V-shaped optical component 139, as indicated by arrow A in Figure 1, to the second optical interface 150. The light passes to the first optical interface, then along the nineteen optical fibres of the deformation information collection arrangement 70 to the blocks 62, and then within the Nylon bristles of the bristle tufts 60 to the distal ends, or tips, of the bristles. At least some of the light is reflected by the distal ends of the bristles. This reflected light travels back along the bristles to the blocks 62, then along the nineteen optical fibres of the deformation information collection arrangement 70 to the first optical interface, and then to the second optical interface 150. Thereafter, the light travels along the nineteen optical fibres of the second sub-bundle in the trunk 143 and the second arm 142 of the Y-shaped optical component 139 to the photodetector 137, as indicated by arrow B in Figure 1. The pixels of the photodetector 137 receive the light from the respective optical fibres of the second subbundle of the Y-shaped optical component 139.

[0065] The user then brushes their teeth and gums with the bristle tufts 60 and the dentifrice thereon.

[0066] A magnitude of the output light, which is collected by and conducted by the deformation information collection arrangement 70, is indicative of the degree of deformation of the bristle tufts 60. The toothbrush 1 is able to provide a number of insights to the user on the basis of this information.

[0067] First, when the brush head 20 is new, the bristle tufts 60 should be in new condition and therefore the tips of the bristles would reflect a relatively high proportion of the input light that travels within the bristles from the deformation information collection arrangement 70. However, with increased use during brushing successive operations, the bristles would become increasingly bent, roughened, or otherwise permanently deformed, leading to an increased amount of the input light being lost through the sides of the bristles. Accordingly, over time, the proportion of the input light that returns to the deformation information collection arrangement 70 as a ’’baseline” level of the output light from the bristles, and thus ultimately to the photodetector 137, will reduce when the toothbrush 1 is stationary and not being used to brush teeth. The signal sent by the photodetector 137 to the processor 131 is representative of the amount of light received at each of the pixels of the photodetector 137, and so the processor 131 is informed about the degree of deformation of the bristle tufts 60. When the processor determines, based on the orientation information from the accelerometer 136 and the signal from the photodetector 137, that the toothbrush 1 is stationary and the baseline amount of light received at one or more of the pixels is lower than a predetermined threshold, the processor 131 causes the beeper of the indication unit 131 to beep, and the light of the indication unit 131 to illuminate, as an indication to the user that the brush head 20 requires replacement.

[0068] It is to be noted that, at the meeting point of the first and second optical interfaces, some of the light transmitted from the array 138 of LEDs might reflect directly to the photodetector 137 without first travelling to and from the bristle tufts 60. However, such light would add to the baseline amount of light received at one or more of the pixels and could therefore be accounted for (e.g., factored out) during analysis at the processor 131 or at the remote destination. In one example, the transmission of the visible light from the array 138 of the LEDs is pulsed, such that the light transmitted from the array 138 of LEDs and the light reflected by the distal ends of the bristles arrive at different times at the meeting point of the first and second optical interfaces. By sampling the pixel values of the photodetector 137 at appropriate times, the light from the array 138 of LEDs reflected directly to the photodetector 137 can be accounted for.

[0069] Second, while a user uses the toothbrush 1 to brush their teeth, the bristle tufts 60 will flex against the teeth. This affects the amount of light that reaches the pixels of the photodetector 137, and thus affects characteristics of the signal that the photodetector 137 sends to the processor 131 during the brushing operation. When the processor 131 determines, based on the orientation information from the accelerometer 136 and the signal from the photodetector 137, that the toothbrush 1 is in motion and the amount of light received at one or more of the pixels is lower than a predetermined threshold, the processor 131 causes the beeper of the indication unit 131 to beep, and the light of the indication unit 131 to illuminate, as an indication to the user that they are currently pressing too hard on their teeth.

[0070] For example, as shown in Figure 2, a first group 70a of the optical fibres of the deformation information collection arrangement 70 is shown to be conducting a relatively high amount of light, a second group 70b of the optical fibres of the deformation information collection arrangement 70 is shown to be conducting a relatively low amount of light, and a third group 70c of the optical fibres of the deformation information collection arrangement 70 is shown to be conducting an amount of light somewhere between that conducted by the optical fibres of the first and second groups 70a, 70b. Accordingly, from this, the processor 131 is able to conclude that the bristle tufts 60 optically connected to the second group 70b of the optical fibres are being deformed more than the other bristle tufts 60. The amount of light received from each of the optical fibres in the second group 70b is lower than a predetermined threshold in this instance, and so the processor 131 causes the beeper of the indication unit 131 to beep and the light of the indication unit 131 to illuminate.

[0071] Third, based on the orientation information from the accelerometer 136 and the signal from the photodetector 137 overtime, the processor 131 causes the display screen of the indication unit 133 to display a plot of the user’s mouth with indications of the degree of deformation of the bristle tufts 60 while the bristle tufts 60 are contacting various regions in the user’s mouth. This provides the user with a map showing areas of their mouth where they press one or more of the bristle tufts 60 relatively forcibly against their teeth, and areas of their mouth where they press one or more of the bristle tufts 60 relatively gently against their teeth. From this plot, the user is able to determine which areas of their mouth are being well cleaned and which they need to clean more thoroughly. The user is also able to determine which areas of their mouth they are applying too much pressure on.

[0072] The processor 131 is also programmed to send the orientation information from the accelerometer 136 and the signal from the photodetector 137 to the remote destination, via the wireless communication interface 134, so that the remote destination is able to store the data and perform similar and more advanced analyses than those performed by the onboard processor 131.

[0073] Whilst particular examples have been described, it should be understood that these are illustrative examples only and that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the claims. For example, in some other examples, the oral treatment device, such as a toothbrush, comprises a handle, such as a handle that is integrally formed with the support. In some embodiments, the bristle tufts (or other cleaning element(s) are integrally formed with the deformation information collection arrangement. In some examples, the oral treatment device has more, or fewer, than nineteen cleaning elements, such as bristle tufts. In some examples, the oral treatment device has only one cleaning element, which may or may not be in the form of a bristle tuft, projecting from the front side of the support. In some examples, the support of the oral treatment device has a neck portion that extends from a head portion of the support in a first direction and is not narrower than (e.g., is of equal width to) the head portion in a lateral direction orthogonal to a first direction. In some embodiments, the oral treatment system does not include a communication interface, such as the wireless communication interface, for transmitting information to a remote destination. In some embodiments, the photodetector is replaced by an energy receiver in the form of a window that ends of the optical fibres of the transmission arrangement abut, so that the light that has passed through these optical fibres is directly viewable through the window by a user.

Claims

CLAIMS1. An oral treatment device for use in treating an oral cavity of a user, the oral treatment device comprising: a support; one or more deformable cleaning elements projecting from the support; and a deformation information collection arrangement connected to the one or more cleaning elements and configured to collect and conduct output energy, representative of deformation of the one or more cleaning elements, from the one or more cleaning elements.

2. The oral treatment device according to claim 1, wherein the one or more cleaning elements are integrally formed with the deformation information collection arrangement.

3. The oral treatment device according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the one or more cleaning elements comprise plural cleaning elements, and wherein the deformation information collection arrangement defines plural paths that are coupled to the respective plural cleaning elements and configured to collect and conduct output energy, representative of deformation of the respective plural cleaning elements, from the respective plural cleaning elements.

4. The oral treatment device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the cleaning element, or each of the cleaning elements, is configured to reflect input energy, received from the deformation information collection arrangement, back to the deformation information collection arrangement as the output energy that is collected and conducted by the deformation information collection arrangement.

5. The oral treatment device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the output energy is electromagnetic energy, the one or more cleaning elements are able to conduct the electromagnetic energy, and the deformation information collection arrangement is optically coupled to the one or more cleaning elements and configured to collect the electromagnetic energy from the one or more cleaning elements.

6. The oral treatment device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the one or more cleaning elements comprise one or more respective bristle tufts, each of the bristle tufts comprising a plurality of bristles.

7. An oral treatment system, comprising: the oral treatment device according to any one of claims 1 to 6; an energy source; an energy receiver; and a transmission arrangement; wherein the transmission arrangement is configured to transmit input energy from the energy source to the deformation information collection arrangement and to transmit the output energy from the deformation information collection arrangement to the energy receiver.

8. The oral treatment system according to claim 7, wherein each of the input energy and the output energy is electromagnetic energy, and wherein the energy source comprises a source of electromagnetic energy.

9. The oral treatment system according to claim 8, wherein the transmission arrangement comprises an optical component that is configured to: receive the input energy from the source of electromagnetic energy and to direct the input energy to the deformation information collection arrangement; and receive the output energy from the deformation information collection arrangement and to direct the output energy to the energy receiver.

10. The oral treatment system according to any one of claims 7 to 9, comprising a handle, wherein the handle comprises the energy source, the energy receiver and the transmission arrangement.

11. The oral treatment system according to claim 10, wherein the handle is configured to be removably attachable to the support of the oral treatment device.

12. The oral treatment system according to any one of claims 7 to 11, comprising a processor operatively coupled to the energy receiver, wherein the energy receiver is an energy detector that is configured to output a signal representative of the output energy to the processor, and wherein the processor is configured to cause performance of an action based on the signal received from the energy detector.

13. The oral treatment system according to claim 12, comprising an indicator that is operatively connected to the processor, and wherein the action comprises the indicator providing an indication to a user of the oral treatment system.

14. The oral treatment system according to claim 12 or claim 13, comprising a memory that is operatively connected to the processor, and wherein the action comprises the memory storing data representative of the output energy.

15. The oral treatment system according to any one of claims 12 to 14, comprising a communication interface that is operatively connected to the processor, and wherein the action comprises the communication interface sending data representative of the output energy from the oral treatment system to a remote destination.

16. A handle for attachment to the support of the oral treatment device of any one of claims 1 to 6; wherein the handle comprises an energy source, an energy receiver, and a transmission arrangement that is configured to couple to the deformation information collection arrangement when the handle is attached to the oral treatment device; and wherein the transmission arrangement is configured to transmit input energy from the energy source to the deformation information collection arrangement and to transmit the output energy from the deformation information collection arrangement to the energy receiver.

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