Oral Care Implement Liquid Delivery System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional oral care implements, such as toothbrushes, face challenges in effectively delivering active agents to specific areas of the mouth during brushing without clogging issues and with efficient reservoir management.
Innovation Solution
An oral care implement with a displaceable reservoir and a user-activated micro piezoelectric pump system that delivers a predetermined amount of active agent through outlets located near the bristles or other areas of the toothbrush head, minimizing clogging risks and allowing for easy replacement of the reservoir.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a reservoir is integrated into the toothbrush handle, then active agents can be delivered during brushing, but the device becomes more complex and harder to manufacture
Solution Approach 1:
The reservoir is designed as a separate, replaceable component rather than being permanently integrated into the toothbrush handle. This segmentation allows the reservoir to be manufactured independently and swapped out when depleted, reducing the complexity of the main toothbrush structure while maintaining the active agent delivery function.
Solution Approach 2:
A removable reservoir component acts as an intermediary between the toothbrush handle and the active agent delivery system. This intermediary component simplifies the overall device architecture by allowing the reservoir to be replaced rather than requiring complex internal reservoir integration.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the reservoir is located in the handle, then the delivery system can function, but the distance for fluid delivery increases causing clogging
Solution Approach 1:
The reservoir is positioned dynamically in the neck portion of the toothbrush, closer to the head than in conventional handle locations. This dynamic repositioning reduces the fluid delivery distance and minimizes clogging risks while maintaining the delivery function.
3Quantity of substance
If a larger reservoir volume is used, then more active agent can be stored, but the toothbrush becomes heavier and more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The reservoir is designed as a separate, replaceable component that can be optimized for volume independently of the toothbrush handle. Users can replace the reservoir when depleted, allowing for adequate active agent storage without permanently increasing the toothbrush weight.
4Ease of operation
If the reservoir is made replaceable, then replenishment is easier, but the manufacturing process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The reservoir is segmented as a separate, replaceable component with standardized interfaces for attachment and detachment. This segmentation simplifies the manufacturing process by allowing the reservoir to be produced independently and assembled into the toothbrush, while also enabling easy user replacement.
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 enables efficient delivery of various active agents for therapeutic and hygienic benefits, reduces clogging and reservoir volume, and allows for easy replenishment, enhancing the effectiveness of oral care while maintaining a low manufacturing cost.
Implementation Method 1
a user-activated micro piezoelectric pump system that delivers a predetermined amount of active agent
Data Source
AI summary
An oral care implement (1) includes a head (12), a handle (10), a neck portion (11) connecting the head and the handle, and a reservoir (15) which contains at least one active agent. The implement has an activator (22) for activating a delivery device which delivers the active agent to one or more outlets (50). A powered delivery device (18) disposed in the head to deliver a liquid from the reservoir via the outlet. A wide variety of types of active agents may be administered at appropriate and accurate doses for therapeutic, hygienic, and/or other benefit.