Toothbrush Liquid Collection With Wear Indicator for Oral Fluid Sampling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Many individuals, especially young children, do not regularly brush their teeth for the recommended minimum interval due to a lack of engagement with the mundane task, leading to potential dental issues such as gingivitis and periodontal disease, which are not promptly addressed until dental checkups.
Innovation Solution
An oral care implement with a liquid collection system, including a reservoir and capillary channel for collecting oral fluids, which can be analyzed for health indicators, and a multilayer collection member that wears away to expose an indicium layer signaling when the fluid is sufficient for analysis, integrated into a toothbrush design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If tooth brushing is performed regularly for recommended intervals, then oral health is improved, but user engagement and motivation are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism by collecting oral fluid samples during brushing and providing visual indicators (color changes, windows displaying messages) that show users their brushing effectiveness and oral health status in real-time, transforming a mundane task into an engaging activity with immediate feedback
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses color-changing indicators that respond to oral fluid collection and chemical composition changes to provide visual feedback to users about their brushing progress and oral health status, making the brushing experience more engaging and informative
2Measurement precision
If oral fluid collection system is added to toothbrush, then oral health monitoring is enabled, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs porous materials in the brush head structure that naturally absorb and collect oral fluids during brushing through capillary action, eliminating the need for complex active pumping or collection mechanisms while still achieving effective fluid gathering for analysis
Solution Approach 2:
The oral fluid collection system operates passively during normal brushing activity, utilizing the brushing motion and oral fluid flow to fill collection reservoirs without requiring additional power sources, controls, or user intervention beyond normal brushing
3Loss of information
If multilayer collection member with wear-away layer is used, then brushing progress indication is provided, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates pre-manufactured multilayer structures with indicia that are designed to wear away or change during brushing, providing brushing progress tracking and oral health information without requiring complex real-time sensing or electronic components during use
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
Encourages regular brushing habits by providing feedback on oral health through fluid analysis, potentially preventing dental problems by informing users when to test the collected fluids, thereby promoting better oral hygiene.
Implementation Method 1
A capillary channel constructed from a fibrous material, ceramic, porous plastic, or combination thereof extends through at least a portion of the implement to receive the oral fluid from one or more inlets
Implementation Method 2
the oral member may be made of a conventional hydrogel material that may swell during use
Data Source
AI summary
An oral care implement includes a collection system for oral fluids. Some embodiments of the implement may include an oral care region having a wearable oral member having a thickness that is reduced during use, a reservoir for retaining an oral fluid, a receiver coupled to the oral member for receiving an oral fluid, and a fluid pathway in communication with the receiver to provide the oral fluid to the reservoir.