Cross-Shaped Oral Hygiene Filaments for Interdental Cleaning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional oral hygiene devices with tufts of filaments struggle to effectively clean interdental areas and the gingival margin due to low bending stiffness, leading to reduced plaque removal efficiency and increased wear of cross-shaped filaments, which can cause discomfort and decreased consumer acceptance.
Innovation Solution
A cleaning section for an electric oral hygiene device featuring a carrier with cross-shaped first cleaning elements at the inner portion and circular or trilobal second cleaning elements at the outer rim, providing enhanced interdental penetration and reduced mechanical stress, along with a low packing factor to improve capillary effects and toothpaste retention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If the length of filaments is increased to improve interdental penetration, then the bending stiffness decreases, but this leads to reduced plaque removal efficiency and increased filament wear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by using filaments with varying cross-sectional areas along their length. The filaments have a larger cross-sectional area at the base and a smaller cross-sectional area at the free end, creating a gradient structure. This allows the filament to have higher bending stiffness at the base for structural support while maintaining flexibility at the tip for effective plaque removal and interdental penetration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite materials by combining filaments of different materials with varying properties within the same tuft. Some filaments have higher stiffness while others are more flexible, creating a composite structure that balances penetration capability with plaque removal efficiency and reduces overall wear.
2Area of moving object
If the cross-sectional area of filaments is increased to compensate for reduced bending stiffness, then the plaque removal efficiency improves, but this creates an unpleasant brushing sensation and may injure the gums
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses local quality by varying the cross-sectional area of filaments along their length and using different filament materials with different surface characteristics. The filaments have optimized local properties at different positions - larger cross-section at the base for strength and smaller cross-section at the tip for comfort - thereby achieving effective plaque removal without causing gum injury or unpleasant brushing sensation.
3Productivity
If cross-shaped filaments are used to improve cleaning properties and scraping action, then the plaque removal efficiency increases, but the mechanical stress on filament tips increases leading to accelerated wear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by using cross-shaped filaments only in specific regions where enhanced scraping action is needed, while using circular or other shaped filaments in other regions. Additionally, the cross-shaped filaments have varying cross-sectional areas along their length, with a larger base section to reduce stress concentration at the tips, thereby maintaining plaque removal efficiency while reducing wear and extending service life.
4Ease of manufacture
If standard tufts are used for oral hygiene, then the manufacturing is simple, but they do not provide sufficient capillary effects to remove plaque and debris effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs porous materials by incorporating filaments with micro-porous structures that enhance capillary effects. These porous filaments can effectively draw out and remove plaque and debris from tooth surfaces through capillary action, significantly improving plaque removal efficiency while maintaining compatibility with standard tuft manufacturing processes.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enhances cleaning efficiency and comfort by improving penetration into interdental spaces, reducing filament wear, and providing a softer brushing sensation while maintaining effective plaque removal and toothpaste interaction.
Implementation Method 1
a carrier (16) mounted for driven rotation and/or oscillating rotation around a rotation axis (22)
Implementation Method 2
standard tufts do not provide sufficient capillary effects to remove plaque and debris from the teeth and gum surfaces during brushing
Data Source
AI summary
A cleaning section for an electric oral hygiene device includes a carrier mounted for driven rotation and/or oscillating rotation around a rotation axis, at least a plurality of first cleaning elements and a plurality of second cleaning elements, the cleaning elements being mounted on a mounting surface of the carrier. The carrier has an outer rim and an inner portion. The plurality of first cleaning elements are arranged at the inner portion of the carrier, and the plurality of second cleaning elements are arranged at the outer rim of the carrier. The plurality of first cleaning elements have a longitudinal axis and a substantially cross-shaped cross-sectional area extending in a plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the cross-shaped cross-sectional area having four projections and four channels, the projections and channels being arranged in an alternating manner.