Proximity Sensor Oral Care Implement Usage Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Dental practitioners face challenges in monitoring the usage of oral health care implements, such as toothbrushes, leading to inadequate cleaning and increased risk of dental plaque and associated oral health issues due to lack of adherence to recommended usage and replacement schedules.
Innovation Solution
An oral health care system equipped with a proximity sensor that detects usage and transmits data to a data transfer medium for storage and processing, allowing for accurate tracking and display of usage metrics, enabling informed recommendations for users.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If usage monitoring of dental implements is implemented through patient inquiry, then data collection is simple, but measurement accuracy and reliability are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/manual inquiry method with an electronic sensor-based system. A proximity sensor detects when the toothbrush is in use by sensing changes in electrical capacitance, automatically recording usage data without requiring patient participation or manual reporting, thereby achieving both ease of data collection and high measurement accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary sensor system between the patient and the practitioner. The proximity sensor acts as a mediator that objectively measures usage and transmits data electronically, eliminating the need for direct patient-practitioner inquiry while ensuring accurate monitoring
2Device complexity
If no usage monitoring system is implemented, then device complexity is low, but compliance with usage schedules cannot be ensured
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback system where usage data is automatically captured by the proximity sensor, stored, and transmitted to both the patient and practitioner. This continuous feedback loop provides real-time monitoring and enables timely interventions to ensure compliance with usage and replacement schedules
Solution Approach 2:
The toothbrush system performs self-monitoring through the integrated proximity sensor that automatically detects and records usage without requiring patient action. The system serves itself by autonomously tracking compliance and communicating status to stakeholders
3Quantity of substance
If manual tracking methods are used, then implementation cost is low, but data accuracy and reliability are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive manual tracking methods with a cost-effective electronic sensor system. The proximity sensor uses electrical capacitance detection, a low-cost technology, to achieve precise automated monitoring, significantly reducing implementation costs while improving data accuracy
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 system effectively monitors and tracks the usage of oral health care implements, enhancing compliance with recommended usage schedules and reducing the risk of dental plaque and related oral health problems.
Implementation Method 1
The human body, including the oral cavity, possesses the property of being a good capacitor, such that the human body has a detectable capacitance. The capacitance of the human body is significant enough to affect changes in an electrical circuit with capacitance.
Data Source
AI summary
An oral health care implement and system are provided for use during oral health care activities. The oral health care implement has a proximity sensor, most often in the embodiment of a capacitive sensor. The proximity sensor provides usage time and instance measurements in a plurality of proposed formats. The oral health care system has an oral health care implement, a first data transfer medium, and any combination of: a second data transfer medium, a network storage device, and a third data transfer medium. The system provides means for collecting usage measurements and transmitting data into a readable, usable form for the user via an oral health care implement.