Oral Cleaning Device with Integrated Sensors for Non-Invasive Health Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current oral healthcare systems are obtrusive and inconvenient, making it difficult for users to provide biologic samples periodically for analysis, as they typically require medical professional intervention and cause user discomfort.
Innovation Solution
An electronic oral cleaning system with a personal care apparatus that includes a controller, tooth-based sensors, and an actuator, which non-obtrusively acquires and transmits information such as temperature, pH levels, bacterial levels, and glucose levels to a remote server for analysis, using low-energy wireless communication, allowing for periodic health monitoring without user discomfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If obtrusive methods (swabs, medical professional intervention) are used to obtain biologic samples, then sample acquisition is achieved, but user comfort deteriorates and convenience worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The toothbrush system performs self-diagnosis and sample collection functions automatically during regular brushing. The sensors mounted on the toothbrush head collect oral health data (pH, temperature, bacterial presence) without requiring separate medical intervention, allowing the system to serve itself for both cleaning and diagnostic purposes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces obtrusive mechanical sampling methods (swabs requiring manual insertion) with integrated electronic sensors that automatically detect and measure oral parameters during brushing. The mechanical toothbrush structure itself becomes the sampling platform, eliminating the need for separate swabbing actions.
2Reliability
If medical professional intervention is required to obtain samples, then proper sample handling is ensured, but user accessibility and periodic monitoring frequency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables users to independently collect and analyze oral health samples during their regular toothbrushing routine. The integrated sensors and onboard processing allow the toothbrush to autonomously perform sample collection, analysis, and data storage without requiring external medical professional involvement for each sampling event.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables continuous monitoring by integrating sensors into the toothbrush that operates on a regular daily basis. Instead of periodic professional visits, the continuous brushing action provides ongoing sample collection opportunities, maintaining continuous useful action for health monitoring.
3Loss of information
If traditional biologic sample collection methods are used, then diagnostic information is obtained, but user compliance and periodic sampling deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The toothbrush serves multiple functions simultaneously: mechanical cleaning, sensor-based sample collection, real-time analysis, and data storage. This multi-functionality allows the single device to perform both hygiene and diagnostic roles, increasing the frequency of sampling without adding separate procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically performs sample collection and analysis during routine brushing, requiring no additional user effort beyond normal toothbrushing. The automated nature of sample acquisition eliminates the burden of separate sampling procedures, thereby increasing user compliance and sampling frequency.
Data Source
AI summary
A personal care system (100) includes a personal care appliance (107) having a body (141), and at least one cavity (109). The body may be configured to receive a cleaning tool (111) at one end and may include at least one controller (122) which may be situated within the at least one cavity. The controller may be configured to: determine whether a personal care mode is activated; obtain sensor information from at least one tooth-based sensor (152) of a tooth portion (112), when it is determined that a personal care mode is activated; and transmit the sensor information to at least one of a remote server (102) and a base portion (132).