Liquid Sheet Cleaning Nozzle for Biofilm Removal with Less Discomfort
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing personal care cleaning devices, such as oral irrigators, face challenges in effectively removing plaque and biofilm without causing user discomfort due to insufficient or excessive water pressure, leading to reduced effectiveness and potential discontinuation of use.
Innovation Solution
The use of personal care cleaning devices configured with orifices that emit liquid sheets under pressure, characterized by a length greater than the width, providing superior substance removal and cleaning efficacy, especially at steep impact angles, combined with optional liquid jets.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If water pressure is increased to improve cleaning effectiveness, then substance removal capability is improved, but user comfort deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The single circular water jet is segmented into multiple liquid sheets (e.g., three sheets) that collectively cover a broader area. This segmentation allows the cleaning force to be distributed across multiple impact zones, achieving effective plaque removal from multiple surfaces simultaneously while reducing the concentrated pressure on any single point, thereby maintaining user comfort.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a one-dimensional circular jet to two-dimensional liquid sheets. This dimensional change expands the impact area perpendicular to the flow direction, allowing the same water volume to cover a larger surface area. The liquid sheets create a broader cleaning zone that effectively removes plaque from extended areas including interproximal spaces, while the distributed pressure profile prevents excessive force concentration that would cause discomfort.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If water pressure is decreased to improve user comfort, then user comfort is improved, but cleaning effectiveness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple liquid sheets are merged to form a composite cleaning structure that covers a broader area. The combined effect of three or more sheets working in parallel achieves cleaning effectiveness equivalent to or greater than a single high-pressure jet, while operating at lower individual pressures that enhance user comfort. The merged sheets create a comprehensive cleaning zone that addresses multiple surfaces simultaneously.
3Device complexity
If circular orifices are used, then device simplicity is maintained, but cleaning effectiveness in hard-to-reach areas deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces symmetric circular orifices with asymmetric elongated slit orifices that generate sheet-shaped flows. This asymmetric geometry is specifically optimized to produce liquid sheets that can penetrate and clean interproximal spaces and hard-to-reach areas more effectively. The elongated shape of the orifices directs the liquid flow into extended sheets that conform better to complex dental surfaces and narrow spaces between teeth.
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
Liquid sheets achieve deeper and more extensive biofilm removal compared to circular jets, enhancing cleaning effectiveness while maintaining user comfort, particularly in interproximal spaces and hard-to-reach areas.
Implementation Method 1
the orifice is configured to shape the exiting liquid and/or air into at least one sheet comprising a length greater than its width at a position of impact on a surface to be cleaned
Data Source
AI summary
A cleaning device (10) comprising: a body portion (12); a nozzle member (14) mounted on the body portion and comprising a nozzle head (16), wherein the nozzle member is configured to allow passage of liquid and/or air from a reservoir in the body to the nozzle head; and an orifice (40) in the nozzle head configured to allow the liquid and/or air to exit the nozzle head, wherein the orifice is configured to shape the exiting liquid and/or air into at least one liquid sheet having a length greater than a width at a target cleaning distance.