Movable Oral Irrigator Nozzle for Wider Interdental Cleaning

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing oral hygiene products, such as oral irrigators and brush-jet combination toothbrushes, have limited cleaning efficacy due to narrow cleaning lines and shallow impact angles of the cleaning fluid, which fail to effectively clean interdental spaces and subgingival areas compared to conventional string flossing.

Innovation Solution

A head component for oral hygiene products that includes a nozzle configured to move during the emission of cleaning fluid, allowing it to change direction and angle, thereby increasing the cleaning footprint and impact angle to cover a larger interdental space.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of substance

If a small diameter jet of cleaning fluid is used to limit total fluid use, then fluid consumption is reduced, but the cleaning line becomes narrow and cleaning efficacy is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefluid consumptionVSAvoidcleaning efficacy

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of substanceVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The nozzle is made movable rather than fixed, allowing it to change direction and angle during operation. The nozzle can rotate between a first resting position and a first cleaning position, and between a second resting position and a second cleaning position, enabling dynamic adjustment of the cleaning fluid trajectory to cover larger interdental spaces despite using a small diameter jet

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The cleaning action is extended from a single narrow line into multiple dimensions by allowing the nozzle to orient in different directions. The nozzle can emit cleaning fluid at various angles (first axis and second axis) to reach different surfaces including interproximal surfaces, subgingival areas, and tooth contact points, transforming a one-dimensional cleaning line into a multi-dimensional cleaning pattern

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Quantity of substance

If a narrow cleaning line is used to limit fluid use, then total fluid use is reduced, but the ability to clean interdental spaces and subgingival areas is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetotal fluid useVSAvoidcleaning coverage

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The movable nozzle design allows the system to adapt its cleaning trajectory dynamically. The nozzle can be positioned at different angles and orientations to target specific areas such as interproximal surfaces, subgingival regions, and tooth contact points, providing versatile cleaning coverage across different anatomical locations without requiring large volumes of fluid

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The cleaning action is extended from a single narrow line into multiple dimensions by allowing the nozzle to orient in different directions. The nozzle can emit cleaning fluid at various angles (first axis and second axis) to reach different surfaces including interproximal surfaces, subgingival areas, and tooth contact points, transforming a one-dimensional cleaning line into a multi-dimensional cleaning pattern

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Device complexity

If a fixed nozzle orientation is used, then the structure is simple, but the cleaning fluid only reaches interproximal surfaces at shallow impact angles reducing cleaning efficacy

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenozzle structureVSAvoidcleaning efficacy

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The nozzle is designed with movable joints (first joint and second joint) that allow it to rotate between multiple positions. The nozzle can move from a first resting position to a first cleaning position, and from a second resting position to a second cleaning position, enabling dynamic adjustment of the cleaning fluid trajectory to cover larger interdental spaces and achieve steeper impact angles on interproximal surfaces

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The cleaning action is extended from a single narrow line into multiple dimensions by allowing the nozzle to orient in different directions. The nozzle can emit cleaning fluid at various angles (first axis and second axis) to reach different surfaces including interproximal surfaces, subgingival areas, and tooth contact points, transforming a one-dimensional cleaning line into a multi-dimensional cleaning pattern

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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 nozzle movement enhances cleaning efficacy by expanding the cleaning area to include interproximal surfaces, providing improved cleaning performance even with small diameter jets and reducing reliance on brushing orientation.

Implementation Method 1

the first nozzle is configured to be moveable by emitting the burst of cleaning fluid to rotate the first fluid outlet

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluid pressure: Pressure Increase

Data Source

PatentUS20260108333A1Head component for an oral hygiene product

Publication Date: 2026.04.23 KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS NV

AI summary

Proposed is a head component for an oral hygiene product for cleaning teeth by emitting a cleaning fluid. The head component comprises a nozzle configured, in use, to emit a burst of cleaning fluid to the teeth of user via a fluid outlet located at the end of the first nozzle. The nozzle is configured to be moveable by emitting the burst of cleaning fluid to rotate the fluid outlet from a resting position to a different, cleaning position.