Power toothbrush using acoustic wave action for cleansing of teeth

Abstract

The toothbrush includes a handle portion and a brushhead assembly which comprises a head portion and a stem portion. The head portion includes a bellows-like acoustic action member for creating acoustic wave action as it moves in and out in response to an acoustic driving force. A drive system is located in the handle and includes an audio speaker-type assembly to create acoustic waves which are transmitted through a transmission line to the acoustic action member. The acoustic action member is driven toward and away from the teeth when the toothbrush is operatively positioned within the mouth. The action of the acoustic member is directly or indirectly coupled to the fluid in the mouth, producing a foam which couples shear forces between the acoustic action member and the teeth/gums to produce a desired cleaning/therapeutic effect.

1 . A power toothbrush, comprising: 
 a handle portion,    a head portion, the head portion containing a member for creating acoustic action outwardly from the head portion, acting on fluid in a user's mouth; and    a drive system for moving the acoustic member relative to the teeth, such that when the head portion is operatively positioned in the mouth of a user, the acoustic member moves toward and away from the teeth of the user, wherein movement of the acoustic member causes an acoustic wave action in fluid contacting the teeth, producing a cleansing effect on the teeth.    
   
   
       2 . The toothbrush of  claim 1 , wherein the acoustic member is a bellows made from flexible material.  
   
   
       3 . The toothbrush of  claim 1 , wherein the drive system is positioned within the head portion of the toothbrush.  
   
   
       4 . The toothbrush of  claim 1 , wherein the drive system is located in the handle portion of the toothbrush, and wherein the toothbrush includes an acoustic transmission line which connects the drive system with the acoustic member.  
   
   
       5 . The toothbrush of  claim 1 , wherein the drive system is located in the handle of the toothbrush, and wherein the toothbrush includes a mechanical member coupling the drive system to the acoustic member.  
   
   
       6 . The toothbrush of  claim 4 ,, wherein the drive system comprises an audio speaker assembly to produce acoustic drive energy which is transmitted by the transmission line to the acoustic member.  
   
   
       7 . The toothbrush of  claim 1  wherein the acoustic drive has a frequency range of 30-700 Hz.  
   
   
       8 . The toothbrush of  claim 7 , including a programmable control system for operating the drive system at a selected frequency within the frequency range.  
   
   
       9 . The toothbrush of  claim 7 , wherein the programmable control system includes means for operating the drive system at a selected combination of frequencies, to produce different cleansing actions.  
   
   
       10 . The toothbrush of  claim 1 , including a line of bristles which at least partially surround the acoustic member.  
   
   
       11 . The toothbrush of  claim 10 , wherein the line of bristles is configured and arranged to substantially contain the fluid to a selected volume relative to the teeth.  
   
   
       12 . The toothbrush of  claim 1 , including means on the head portion providing a standoff between the teeth and the acoustic member.  
   
   
       13 . The toothbrush of  claim 12 , wherein said providing means is adapted and arranged to assist in focusing fluid flow to the teeth.  
   
   
       14 . The toothbrush of  claim 10 , wherein the line of bristles is arranged relative to the acoustic member such that movement of the acoustic member results in movement of the bristles, furthering the cleansing effect.  
   
   
       15 . The toothbrush of  claim 1 , wherein the acoustic member includes a selected surface arrangement.  
   
   
       16 . The toothbrush of  claim 15 , wherein the surface arrangement is a plurality of bristles which extend from a facing surface of the acoustic member.  
   
   
       17 . The toothbrush of  claim 15 , wherein the surface arrangement is a plurality of flexible fingers which extend from a facing surface of the acoustic member and are otherwise arranged to contact the teeth in operation of the toothbrush.  
   
   
       18 . The toothbrush of  claim 1 , wherein a front surface of the acoustic member moves within a range of 0.5-5 mm.  
   
   
       19 . A power toothbrush, comprising: 
 a handle portion;    a brushhead portion, the brushhead portion including a flexible acoustic member for creating an acoustic wave effect on fluid in a user's mouth and a set of bristles which at least partially surround the periphery of the acoustic member, wherein the acoustic member is in the shape of an “M” having two opposing inner walls and two opposing outer walls; and    a drive system for moving the acoustic member, such that the inner walls of the acoustic member move inwardly toward each other and then back to a rest position, wherein such movement of the inner walls produces fluid movement to the teeth, producing a cleansing effect on the teeth.    
   
   
       20 . The power toothbrush of  claim 19 , wherein the brushhead portion includes a base member into which the acoustic member is mounted, the base member including an upstanding central rib to which lower ends of the inner walls of the acoustic member are secured.  
   
   
       21 . The power toothbrush of  claim 19 , wherein movement of the acoustic member results in back and forth movement of the bristles for cleaning of the surfaces of the teeth.  
   
   
       22 . The power toothbrush of  claim 19 , including outwardly directed projections on the outer walls of the acoustic member, such that movement of the acoustic member results in the projections moving the bristles.  
   
   
       23 . The power toothbrush of  claim 1 , including a sponge member mounted on the acoustic member, the sponge member having a porosity of 50%-80% open volume and having an openness greater than 50%, wherein in operation, the sponge member is brought into contact with the teeth for cleaning.  
   
   
       24 . The power toothbrush of  claim 1 , wherein the acoustic member includes a central portion which moves toward and away from the teeth and a pair of opposing upstanding rib portions on either side of the central portion which contact the teeth, providing a sealing effect for the fluid.  
   
   
       25 . The power toothbrush of  claim 24 , including two additional upstanding rib portions outboard of the pair of rib portions, and two additional central portions between each additional rib portion and the pair of rib portions, wherein the additional rib portions move in a direction opposing the movement of the central portion.  
   
   
       26 . A power toothbrush, comprising: 
 a handle portion,    a head portion, the head portion containing a member for creating acoustic action away from the head portion, acting on fluid in the user's mouth; and    a drive system for moving the acoustic member relative to the teeth with a drive signal having a frequency in the range of 30-to 700 Hz, the movement of the acoustic member having an amplitude in the range of 0.5-5 millimeters from a rest position, wherein movement of the acoustic member produces a fluid dynamic action with the fluid in the mouth to produce a value of shear stress which is greater than the threshold to remove biofilm from the teeth, including interproximal areas of the teeth.    
   
   
       27 . The toothbrush of  claim 26 , wherein the acoustic member is a flexible membrane.  
   
   
       28 . The toothbrush of  claim 27 , including a boundary wall element substantially surrounding the acoustic member, wherein the top of the boundary wall is approximately at least 2 millimeters above the top of the acoustic member.  
   
   
       29 . The toothbrush of  claim 27 , including more than one acoustic member.  
   
   
       30 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the acoustic member is driven by a waveform of selected configuration.  
   
   
       31 . The toothbrush of  claim 29 , wherein the selected waveform configuration is sinusoidal.  
   
   
       32 . The toothbrush of  claim 30 , wherein the selected waveform configuration is a sawtooth.  
   
   
       33 . The toothbrush of  claim 28 , wherein the drive waveform includes at least one harmonic frequency.  
   
   
       34 . The toothbrush of  claim 26 , including a programmable control system for operating the drive system with different waveforms, so that selected waveforms can be used on selected areas of the mouth.