Smart Toothbrush Tracking via Extracted Magnetic Field
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current toothbrush tracking systems are not user-friendly for assessing toothbrushing technique at home, lacking accuracy and failing to provide comprehensive feedback on the efficiency of brushing paths and time spent on different mouth regions, leading to potential neglect of certain areas.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a coaching phase to create a user-specific statistical model using a smart toothbrush with sensors, allowing for accurate monitoring of toothbrush movement and position, and a monitoring phase to provide personalized feedback on brushing technique, including a magnetic field generator and sensor system for precise tracking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If complex magnetic fields and extensive hardware are used for high resolution brush tracking in dental surgeries, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases and ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the magnetic field generation function from the toothbrush and places it in a separate wearable device (glasses or headband). This separation allows the toothbrush to use a simple magnetic sensor while the complex magnetic field generation is handled by an external device, resolving the contradiction between tracking accuracy and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a magnetic field as an intermediary between the toothbrush and the tracking system. By using a magnetic field generated by a wearable device to mark the toothbrush position, the system achieves high-resolution tracking without requiring complex hardware in the toothbrush itself.
2Measurement precision
If complex magnetic fields and extensive hardware are used for high resolution brush tracking, then measurement precision is improved, but ease of operation worsens due to requirement of dental surgery visit
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables users to perform self-assessment of their brushing technique at home using a wearable magnetic field generator and a smart toothbrush with magnetic sensor. This eliminates the need for visits to dental surgeries with specialized equipment, allowing users to independently monitor and improve their brushing habits.
3Device complexity
If existing toothbrush monitoring devices treat regions of the mouth in isolation, then device complexity is reduced, but loss of information increases regarding brushing efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adds the temporal dimension to mouth region tracking by recording not only which regions are brushed but also the sequence and timing of brushing actions. This transforms isolated regional data into comprehensive journey information, enabling assessment of brushing efficiency without significantly increasing device complexity.
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
Enables accurate and user-friendly monitoring of toothbrushing technique at home, improving oral hygiene by providing detailed feedback on brushing efficiency and path optimization, reducing the risk of neglecting specific mouth areas.
Implementation Method 1
a magnetic sensor; and a magnetic field generator; wherein: the magnetic sensor detects the absolute position of the toothbrush within the field created by the magnetic field generator
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3a
Figure 3b~3c
AI summary
A tracking system for recording the position of a toothbrush during toothbrushing, the system comprising: a toothbrush, the toothbrush comprising: a head portion; a handle portion; an orientation sensor; a sensor for detecting contact between the toothbrush and the jaw of a user; and a magnetic sensor; and a magnetic field generator; wherein: the magnetic sensor detects the absolute position of the toothbrush within the field created by the magnetic field generator.