Removable Smart Device in Oral Care Implement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current oral health maintenance tools lack the ability to provide regular, user-specific diagnostics and feedback on oral health, making it difficult for individuals to monitor their oral health effectively between dental visits.
Innovation Solution
Integration of a smart device within an oral care implement, such as a toothbrush, equipped with sensors to monitor parameters like orientation and positioning during use, and a transmitter to provide feedback on oral health conditions, including tooth brushing efficacy, bacteria count, gum health, and breath freshness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a smart device is integrated into the toothbrush handle, then oral health monitoring capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates a smart device containing sensors, processors, and memory directly into the toothbrush handle, combining oral cleaning and health monitoring functions into a single unified device. This merging approach enables continuous oral health monitoring while maintaining a compact form factor that users can easily handle during brushing.
Solution Approach 2:
The smart device within the toothbrush handle serves multiple functions: it monitors oral health parameters, stores user data, provides feedback through various interfaces, and communicates with external devices. This multi-functionality allows a single device to replace multiple separate tools, reducing overall system complexity despite the added capabilities.
2Measurement precision
If a cavity is created in the toothbrush handle to house the smart device, then oral health monitoring is enabled, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The toothbrush handle is divided into functional segments, with a specific cavity portion dedicated to housing the smart device. This segmentation allows the handle to be manufactured in parts and then assembled, with the cavity pre-formed to receive the electronic components. The modular approach simplifies manufacturing by allowing separate production of the handle body and smart device integration.
3Adaptability or versatility
If sensors are added to monitor oral health parameters, then diagnostic capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The smart device acts as an intermediary between the physical oral environment and the user, with sensors detecting oral health parameters and the processor analyzing this data. The system provides feedback through intermediaries such as display screens, audio outputs, or wireless communication to external devices. This intermediary layer manages the complexity by abstracting sensor data into meaningful health insights without requiring users to directly interface with individual sensors.
4Ease of repair
If the smart device is made detachable, then ease of repair and cleaning is improved, but reliability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The smart device is designed with a detachable connection to the toothbrush handle, allowing it to be removed and reattached as needed. This dynamic configuration enables users to detach the smart device for cleaning, charging, or replacement while maintaining a reliable electrical and data connection when attached. The connection mechanism incorporates contacts and alignment features that ensure consistent performance during use while facilitating easy separation when required.
Data Source
AI summary
An oral care system includes an oral care implement and a smart device removably retained in a cavity of the oral care implement. The smart device may have a plurality of sensors for sensing conditions of the oral cavity and/or for sensing various parameters associated with the movement of the oral care implement within the oral cavity during use. The smart device may also include a transmitter for transmitting data/information obtained by the sensors to an electronic device, such as a smart phone.