Personalized Oral Care System Using Preliminary Action TRIZ Principle
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing oral care systems do not account for individual oral characteristics, such as sensitivity, when determining brushing routines or evaluating brushing sessions, leading to ineffective cleaning and potential discomfort for users.
Innovation Solution
An oral care system that includes a toothbrush with sensors and a data processing unit to collect and analyze brushing session data, combined with user input, to determine personalized brushing routines and evaluations based on unique oral characteristics, such as sensitivity and tooth structure, adjusting brushing time and motion accordingly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a standardized brushing routine is provided for all users, then the system is simple to operate, but it cannot account for individual oral characteristics such as sensitivity
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by collecting oral characteristic data before the brushing routine begins. Users input information about their oral characteristics (sensitivity, tooth structure, etc.), and the system uses this data to pre-configure personalized brushing routines, allowing the toothbrush to adapt without requiring real-time complex processing during use
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the brushing routine into multiple zones or areas of the mouth, allowing different brushing parameters (pressure, motion, duration) to be applied to different regions based on the user's oral characteristics. This enables personalized adaptation while keeping the overall system structure manageable
2Ease of operation
If brushing parameters are adjusted for sensitive areas, then user comfort is improved, but the system requires more complex data collection and processing
Solution Approach 1:
The system collects oral characteristic data in advance before brushing begins, eliminating the need for complex real-time sensing and processing during use. Users provide information about their oral characteristics through simple inputs, and the system pre-calculates appropriate brushing parameters, maintaining ease of operation while improving comfort
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where users can confirm or modify the collected oral characteristic data, and the system provides feedback about how the brushing routine will be adjusted based on this data, ensuring the parameters are appropriate for user comfort without requiring overly complex automated detection
3Adaptability or versatility
If the system collects and analyzes oral characteristic data, then personalized brushing routines can be determined, but the time required for data collection increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs data collection as a preliminary action that can be completed quickly before the main brushing routine. By gathering oral characteristic data in advance and storing it for use during brushing, the system minimizes time disruption while still achieving full personalization capability
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables users to provide their own oral characteristic data through self-input mechanisms, eliminating the need for complex automated analysis that would require additional processing time. Users quickly input relevant information about their oral health, and the system uses this data to generate personalized routines without requiring extensive data collection or analysis time
Data Source
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AI summary
In one embodiment, the invention can be an oral care system that includes a toothbrush; a programmable processor configured to receive oral characteristic data indicative of an oral characteristic of a user; and determine for the user, based at least in part on the oral characteristic data, at least one of a suggested brushing routine and a brushing evaluation for a brushing session.