GB2471281A

GB2471281A - Whitening toothbrush with laser

Info

Publication number: GB2471281A
Application number: GB0910764A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Andrew Paul Farley
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-06-23
Filing date: 2009-06-23
Publication date: 2010-12-29
Anticipated expiration: 2029-06-23
Also published as: GB0910764D0; GB2471281B

Abstract

A toothbrush 10 comprises a handle (16, figure 1), a head 22, bristles 26 and a cold laser device 46 for emitting cold laser or blue light through or adjacent to the bristles. The bristles may be arranged in a number of distinct groups 28 and may comprise optical fibers 32. The head may be replaceable and the cold laser device may include a laser diode emitter 66. A charging base may be provided (82, figure 1). A toothbrush in combination with whitening dentifrice or toothpaste (78, figure 1) and a method of whitening teeth using such a toothbrush are also disclosed.

Description

Whitening Toothbrush The present invention relates to a toothbrush having a cold laser device, the toothbrush in combination with a whitening dentifrice, and to a method of whitening teeth using the said combination.

It is desirable and fashionable to have white teeth. Not only is this appealing to others, but it improves a person's self-esteem. Professional teeth whitening clinics are now wide spread, but are expensive. Consequently, toothpaste manufacturers have developed whitening dentifrice, such as gels and pastes for use instead of traditional toothpastes in an effort to improve a user's teeth colour at a lower cost. However, these pastes and gels alone do not work particularly well.

The present invention seeks to provide a solution to this problem.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a toothbrush comprising a handle, a head, bristles on the head, and a cold laser device for emitting cold laser light through or adjacent to the bristles.

Preferable and/or optional features of the first aspect of the invention are set forth in claims 2 to 15, inclusive.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a toothbrush in accordance with the first aspect of the invention, in combination with a whitening dentifrice.

According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of whitening teeth using a toothbrush in accordance with the first aspect of the invention, the method comprising the step of brushing teeth using a toothbrush which emits cold laser light through or adjacent to its bristles together with a whitening dentifrice.

Preferably, in the second and third aspects, the dentifrice includes hydrogen peroxide.

The invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 shows one embodiment of a toothbrush, charging base and container with whitening dentifrice therein; Figure 2 shows an exploded view of the toothbrush; and Figure 3 shows a diagrammatic longitudinal cross-sectional view of a neck, head and bristles of the toothbrush.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown one embodiment of a toothbrush 10 which comprises a head element 12 and a body 14 which provides a grip or handle 16. The head element 12 is detachably mountable to a tapering end 18 of the body 14 and includes a preferably rigid neck 20, a head 22 integrally formed at a distal end 24 of the neck 20, and a plurality of flexible bristles 26 which extend together substantially unidirectionally from a surface of the head 22.

In this embodiment, the bristles 26 are arranged in three distinct groups 28 and each group 28 defines a differently contoured or profiled upper surface 30, thereby making it easier to reach different areas of the teeth. The bristles 26 of each group 28 are all formed from one or more optical strands 32 thereby forming a light guide element 34.

Conveniently, fibre optic strands can be utilised.

Each light guide element 34 extends into the head 22 to meet the other light guide elements 34 of all the other bristles 26. The light guide elements 34 are drawn together to form a multi-strand optical cable 36 which extends along the neck 20 and away from thehead22.

Although, in this embodiment, all the bristles 26 comprise optical strands 32, it is entirely feasible that each group may include non-optical strands, for example, being nylon such as in a normal or standard toothbrush. Alternatively, one or more of the groups may be comprised entirely of the optical bristles, whereas one or more of the groups may be comprised of normal or standard non-optical bristles.

Additionally, the bristles need not necessarily be divided into distinct groups. In this case, all the bristles may be optical, or some may be non-optical.

The body 14 provides a substantially hollow housing 38 in which is provided a battery compartment 40, a controller 42, a vibrator 44, and a cold laser device 46. A removable cap 48 closes the battery compartment 40 at an end 50 opposite the head element 12, and the battery compartment 40 is dimensioned to receive one or more, preferably rechargeable, batteries 52.

In this embodiment, the controller 42 comprises two PCBs 54, 56, positioned above and below each other within the cavity of the body 14. The upper PCB 54 includes first control circuitry 58 for controlling the onloff function and vibrator 44, the lower PCB 56 includes second control circuitry 60 for controlling the cold laser device 46. The first and second control circuitries 58, 60 are in electronic communication with each other.

An onloff power button 62 is provided in one surface of the body 14 for separately controlling the vibrator 44 and the cold laser device 46.

An electromagnet 64 is utilised as part of the vibrator 44 to cause sonic oscillation.

Additionally or alternatively, a miniature or micro PMDC motor can be included.

The cold laser device 46 includes a laser diode emitter 66 for emitting low-level laser light typically in the range of 480 nm to 520 nm. The laser diode emitter 66 is placed internally partway and in this case substantially midway along the neck 20 of the head element 12. The cold laser device 46 further comprises a first elongate rigid conductive element 68, typically being a plate or pin, which extends to one side of the vibration mechanism of the vibrator 44 and also within the neck 20 to a coupling 70 of the neck with the body 14. A second elongate rigid conductive element 72, again typically being a plate or pin, extends from the coupling 70 to the lower PCB 60 and the associated second control circuitry 60. In this way, the first and second conductive rigid elongate elements 68, 72 form a releasable connection thereby allowing the head element 12 to be removed and replaced.

An output 74 of the laser diode emitter 66 is positioned at or adjacent to an end of the optical cable 36 of the bristles 26 so that a cold laser beam outputted by the emitter 66 is channelled into and along the optical cable 36.

The controller 42 also preferably includes a timer 76 which is activated with the power button 62. Typically, the timer 76 is set for two minutes, but this may be selectable by a user.

The toothbrush 10 is used in combination with teeth whitening dentifrice 78, such as a toothpaste or tooth gel. Conveniently, the toothbrush 10 of the invention can be utilised with any teeth whitening dentifrice. The activate ingredient in the whitening dentifrice 78, in this case, is hydrogen peroxide. However, other compounds can be considered, such as carbamide peroxide.

With the whitening dentifrice 78 applied to the projecting free ends 80 of the optical bristles 26 and the cold laser device 46 activated, the low-level or low-power cold' laser light emitted by the optical bristles 26 accelerates the breakdown of the activate ingredient, such as hydrogen peroxide, forming oxygen which then cleans through the dentine tubes in the enamel of the teeth. This releases and breaks down the molecules forming stains, thus whitening the teeth.

Following use, a charging base 82 which is preferably mains powered can be utilised for holding, storing and charging the toothbrush 10.

Advantageously, during use a user will be simultaneously cleaning their teeth and may be encouraged to do so more often in the knowledge that active whitening is taking place.

The timer 76 prevents or limits the chance of excessive usage which may be detrimental.

The cold laser applied to a user's mouth, teeth and gums may also have health benefits, since it is considered that cold laser therapy is beneficial in promoting healing.

Although the laser diode emitter is provided within the neck of the head element, it may be provided within the body, for example, at or adjacent to the coupling. In this case, the optical cable of the bristles would preferably extend to meet the emitter.

Although the head element is preferably removal for cleaning, disposal and/or replacement, it may be integrally formed as one-piece with the body.

The bristles preferably emit the cold laser light. However, it is envisaged that the laser light could be emitted from the head at a position adjacent or next to the bristles, instead of through them.

Any suitable whitening dentifrice can be utilised. Although hydrogen peroxide is a preferred active ingredient, other substances or compounds which whiten can be considered.

Although the term cold laser' is utilised, this is intended to cover any low level blue light suitable for accelerating the effective break down of the whitening gel or paste. It is intended to cover any device utilising plasma light, blue light, laser light, blue-cyan super luminous diodes, and cold laser light.

Although it is mentioned above that the wavelength is preferably 480 nm to 520 nm, the wavelength is selected to be an optimum for effectively breaking down the whitening dentifrice, and as such may fall outside this wavelength range.

It is thus possible to provide a toothbrush with a cold laser device for emitting a cold laser light which enables teeth whitening simultaneously with cleaning ones teeth when using whitening dentifrice. The toothbrush can be sold together with the whitening dentifrice, or separately. If a removable head element is provided, then replacement head elements which may include the laser diode emitter and optical bristles can also be purchased as necessity dictates. By emitting the cold laser light from ends of the bristles, the cold laser light energy directly impinges on the surface of the teeth. This enables a lower power cold laser to be utilised, enabling the use of battery energisation but not necessarily excluding mains power operation.

The embodiments described above are provided by way of examples only, and various other modifications will be apparent to persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

Claims 1. A toothbrush comprising a handle, a head, bristles on the head, and a cold laser device for emitting cold laser light through or adjacent to the bristles.
2. A toothbrush as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a guide within the head for directing laser light from the cold laser device to the bristles.
3. A toothbrush as clamed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the bristles comprise at least one optical strand which extends into the head to or adjacent to an outlet of the cold laser device.
4. A toothbrush as claimed in claim 3, wherein the bristles are in at least two distinct groups, each group having at least one said optical strand.
5. A toothbrush as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the bristles are in at least two distinct groups, at least one of the groups comprising a plurality of said optical strands.
6. A toothbrush as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the optical strand is a fibre optic strand.
7. A toothbrush as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein an emitter of the cold laser device is provided in or adjacent to the head.
8. A toothbrush as claimed in claim 7, wherein the head is integrally provided at one end of a neck which is detachably connectable to the handle to enable removal of the emitter.
9. A toothbrush as claimed in claim 8, wherein the head and neck are replaceable.
10. A toothbrush as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein cold laser device includes a laser diode.
11. A toothbrush as claimed in claim 10, wherein the laser diode is a low level laser for emitting coherent and polarised light.
12. A toothbrush as claimed in claim 10 or claim 11, wherein the laser diode is a low level laser for emitting light in the range of 480 nm to 520 nm.
13. A toothbrush as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a vibrator for vibrating the bristles.
14. A toothbrush as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a timer for timing a brushing period.
15. A toothbrush as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, ifirther comprising a charging base for simultaneously supporting and charging a battery of the toothbrush.
16. A toothbrush substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
17. A toothbrush as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in combination with a whitening dentifrice.
18. A combination as claimed in claim 17, wherein the dentifrice includes hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide.
19. A method of whitening teeth using a toothbrush as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 16, the method comprising the step of brushing teeth using a toothbrush which emits cold laser light through or adjacent to its bristles together with a whitening dentifrice.
20. A method as claimed in claim 19, wherein the whitening dentifrice includes hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide.