Magnetorheological Nozzle Diameter Control for Oral Care
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current oral care devices require manual intervention for proper positioning and pressure adjustment, which is time-consuming and reduces user compliance and cleaning efficacy, especially in unique oral geometries.
Innovation Solution
A magnetorheological nozzle system that automatically adjusts its diameter based on measured flexural stress using a magnetorheological liquid and electromagnetic control, allowing for adaptive cleaning in response to user-specific geometry.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the liquid pressure is increased to improve cleaning force, then cleaning efficacy is improved, but user comfort deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The nozzle diameter is made dynamically adjustable through magnetorheological control, allowing the system to adapt the liquid stream characteristics in real-time. The controller modifies the nozzle diameter based on detected treatment parameters, enabling the liquid pressure and stream intensity to be dynamically optimized for both cleaning efficacy and user comfort during different phases of oral care treatment.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the physical parameter of nozzle diameter to control liquid pressure characteristics. By adjusting the nozzle diameter parameter, the system can deliver high-pressure streams for effective plaque removal while transitioning to lower-pressure streams for comfortable gum massage and user-friendly operation, thus resolving the contradiction between cleaning power and comfort.
2Ease of operation
If manual intervention is required for positioning and pressure adjustment, then user control is maintained, but user compliance and cleaning power are reduced due to time consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-adjustment of nozzle diameter and liquid pressure automatically based on sensor-detected treatment parameters. The controller monitors treatment progress and autonomously modifies operational parameters without requiring manual user intervention, thereby maintaining full user control over the treatment process while eliminating time-consuming manual adjustments and maximizing cleaning power delivery.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates sensors that detect treatment parameters and provide feedback to the controller, which then automatically adjusts the nozzle diameter and liquid pressure accordingly. This closed-loop feedback mechanism enables the system to adapt to user-specific oral geometry and treatment needs automatically, improving both ease of operation and cleaning efficacy without requiring manual intervention.
3Device complexity
If the nozzle diameter is fixed, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to user-specific oral geometry deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces complex mechanical adjustment mechanisms with magnetorheological control. Instead of using movable parts, gears, or mechanical linkages to adjust nozzle diameter, the invention employs magnetic fields to control the rheological properties of the liquid or elastomeric material in the nozzle wall, enabling diameter adjustment without traditional mechanical complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the physical state or properties of the magnetorheological liquid or elastomeric material through magnetic field application. By modifying parameters such as viscosity, rigidity, or shape of the material containing magnetic particles, the nozzle diameter can be adjusted adaptively while maintaining a relatively simple overall device structure, thus achieving high adaptability without proportionally increasing device complexity.
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
Enhances cleaning efficacy by automatically adjusting the nozzle diameter to match the user's unique oral geometry, improving comfort and compliance by optimizing liquid pressure distribution.
Implementation Method 1
The adjustable orifice is adjustable between at least a first diameter and a second diameter in response to an applied magnetic field. The nozzle also includes one or more magnets configured to control magnetorheological liquid in the magnetorheological liquid housing to adjust between the different diameters of the adjustable diameter orifice.
Data Source
AI summary
A nozzle (14) for use with a personal care device (10), comprising: (i) a nozzle housing (50/52) defining a central channel (54) through which a stream of liquid and/or air is directed, and comprising a housing orifice (56) at the end of the central channel; (ii) a magnetorheological liquid housing (58) located over at least a portion of the nozzle housing at the housing orifice, and comprising a tip with an adjustable diameter orifice (59) through which the stream of liquid and/or air exits, wherein the adjustable orifice is adjustable between at least a first diameter and a second diameter; and (iii) one or more magnets (62) configured to control magnetorheological liquid (60) in the magnetorheological liquid housing to adjust between the at least first diameter and second diameter of the adjustable diameter orifice.