Variable Fluid Flow Oral Care Appliance with Gas Injection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tooth cleaning systems that combine bursts of gas and fluid face challenges in coordinating the timing and mixing of these components efficiently, while also being compact and simple in structure, often requiring dual power sources and separate delivery systems.
Innovation Solution
An oral care appliance that integrates a fluid pump, gas source, and control assembly to produce coordinated gas-injected fluid pulses or jet flows, with specific timing and sequence settings, using a nozzle assembly to direct the mixture for effective teeth cleaning, featuring a motor-driven gear system and peristaltic pump for precise control of gas and liquid bursts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If separate liquid and gas delivery systems are used, then the cleaning function is provided, but the device complexity increases and timing coordination becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines separate liquid and gas delivery systems into a single integrated assembly where a pump delivers both liquid and gas bursts through a common pathway to a mixing chamber. This merging eliminates the need for dual separate delivery systems, simplifies the device structure, and enables precise timing coordination between liquid and gas bursts through unified control of the pump mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The pump assembly serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as both a liquid pump and a gas delivery mechanism, functions as a timing coordinator, and provides the driving force for both fluid and gas bursts. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed and simplifies the overall device architecture while maintaining effective cleaning performance.
2Ease of operation
If separate liquid and gas delivery systems are used, then the cleaning function is provided, but the device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the liquid and gas delivery pathways into a single integrated system with a common pump and mixed delivery channel, the patent significantly reduces the overall device volume. The combined structure eliminates redundant components and space required for separate delivery systems, enabling the device to fit within a compact footprint while maintaining full cleaning functionality.
3Reliability
If dual power sources are used, then the gas and liquid bursts are delivered, but the device complexity and size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The pump assembly is designed to serve as a universal power source that delivers both liquid and gas bursts through its pumping action. This single multi-functional power source replaces the need for dual separate power sources, reducing device complexity while maintaining reliable delivery of both fluid and gas bursts through the integrated delivery system.
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 appliance achieves effective cleaning of interproximal areas with efficient use of resources, providing a comfortable and effective cleaning experience by optimizing the timing and mixture of gas and fluid bursts, reducing the need for dual power sources and enhancing reach beyond traditional toothbrush capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
a peristaltic pump for producing the liquid bursts
Implementation Method 2
a nozzle assembly to direct the mixture
Data Source
AI summary
The oral care appliance comprises: a fluid pump (46); a source of liquid (50); and a source of gas (12); wherein the pump is in operative communication with the sources of liquid and gas to produce a series of gas-injected fluid pulses and/or a jet fluid flow using liquid slugs in a selected sequence directed to a nozzle and from there to the teeth, and a control assembly for selecting pulse flow or slug flow with specific set times and sequence directed to a nozzle assembly (80) and from there to the teeth; wherein the pulses have a pulse width within the range of 0.001-0.5 seconds, a pulse height from 0.1-10 Newtons, a rise/fall time range of 0.5-250 ms, a repetition rate in the range of 2 Hz to 20 Hz, and wherein the gas/liquid mixture range from 40-95% volume to volume gas to liquid, or wherein the fluid slugs in the jet flow have a volume in the range of 0.05-0.5 ml per orifice, a diameter in the range of 0.1-2 mm and a repetition rate within the range of 2 Hz to 20 Hz.