Camera-Based Oral Care Tracking Without Toothbrush Sensors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing oral care devices lack affordable and effective sensors to accurately monitor and guide oral health care routines, particularly in brushing and flossing, leading to inconsistent user performance and limited feedback.
Innovation Solution
A computer vision-based method using existing devices with cameras to analyze video data of users performing oral care routines, employing neural networks to track the motion of personal care devices and user body parts, determining parameter values such as brushing time and technique, and providing feedback without the need for dedicated sensors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If sensors (gyroscopes) are embedded within the toothbrush to provide guided brushing, then measurement precision of brushing performance is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a camera to capture visual images of the toothbrush and user's hand during brushing, then processes these images to create a digital representation of brushing motion. This optical copy replaces the need for physical sensors embedded in the toothbrush, achieving motion tracking without complex sensor integration
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical sensor-based motion detection system with an optical system using camera imaging and computer vision algorithms. The mechanical gyroscopes are substituted with a visual field-based approach that tracks hand and toothbrush movement through image processing
2Measurement precision
If sensors are embedded within the toothbrush to track motion, then measurement precision is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a visual copy of the brushing motion through camera imaging, eliminating the need for expensive sensor components. This approach uses standard camera technology and software processing instead of specialized motion sensors, significantly reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining measurement capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a camera-based system that uses disposable or readily available imaging technology rather than expensive, durable sensor components. The visual tracking approach uses standard computational resources that are increasingly inexpensive, making the system affordable for mass production
3Device complexity
If video data processing is used to analyze user motion, then device complexity is reduced, but loss of information occurs during video data processing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback loop where video data is continuously captured, processed, and used to provide real-time guidance to the user. The system analyzes the visual information and returns actionable feedback about brushing performance, ensuring that information loss is minimized through continuous monitoring and correction
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary processing of video data by identifying and tracking key features (hand position, toothbrush position, motion patterns) before final analysis. This preliminary action ensures that critical motion information is captured and preserved during the processing pipeline, minimizing information loss
4Reliability
If guided brushing feedback is provided to users, then oral health care quality is improved, but user bias persists in brushing patterns
Solution Approach 1:
The patent provides real-time feedback to users about their brushing performance, including which areas have been brushed and for how long. This feedback mechanism helps users become aware of their brushing biases and encourages them to adjust their behavior to achieve more uniform coverage of all tooth surfaces
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses periodic visual feedback during the brushing process, showing users their progress in real-time intervals. This periodic information delivery helps users maintain consistent brushing patterns by continuously reminding them of areas that need attention, gradually eliminating brushing biases over time
Data Source
AI summary
Proposed concepts thus aim to provide schemes, solutions, concept, designs, methods and systems pertaining to assisting an oral health care routine of a user. It has been realized that captured video of the user and/or a personal care device during performance of an oral health care routine may be analysed to obtain motion data that may then be leveraged to determine at least one parameter value of the personal health care routine. That is, insights may be derived into the user's performance of an oral health care routine based on movements of their body and/or a personal care device, such as a toothbrush. Such video may be obtained using existing or conventional devices that include cameras already owned by a user.