Electromagnetic radiation emitting toothbrush and dentifrice system

Abstract

A device includes a handle coupled with an activated textured surface that can be implemented using a repetitive movement mechanism and a treatment energy source, such as an electromagnetic radiation source. The handle may be used to provide detection, treatment and/or management of sundry conditions including, for example, tooth discoloration, tissue damage, periodontal disease, tumors, pain, halitosis, and bronchitis. The activated textured surface may include a surface topography including corrugations, bristles, protuberances, or pits, or other surfaces for facilitating agitation, cleaning or other surface treatments.

1 . A tissue treatment device, comprising:
 a handle suitable to be gripped by a hand of a user, the handle having a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween;   a repetitive movement mechanism;   a head disposed at the distal end and comprising a plurality of activated textured surfaces, which are configured to be activated by the repetitive movement mechanism to repetitively move in first directions transverse to the longitudinal axis and second directions transverse to the longitudinal axis to apply one or more of agitation and cleaning forces onto a tissue site; and   at least one electromagnetic energy output disposed in a vicinity of, and configured to be activated to direct light into, each of the plurality of activated textured surfaces.   
     
     
         2 . The tissue treatment device as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the activated textured surfaces are configured to move repetitively inwardly toward the longitudinal axis and outwardly away from the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         3 . The tissue treatment device as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein:
 the plurality of activated textured surfaces terminate at and are attached to a cartridge surface constructed to be readily, removably and interchangeably coupled to a complimentary surface of the tissue treatment device and to a complimentary area of a storage cartridge holder, the storage cartridge holder being constructed to removably hold a plurality of cartridge surfaces in orientations that are substantially identical to one another; and   the cartridge surfaces are planar surfaces, and wherein the storage cartridge holder holds the cartridge surfaces so that all of the planar surfaces are parallel to one another.   
     
     
         4 . The tissue treatment device as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein the cartridge surfaces have rectangular perimeters and the storage cartridge holder has a rectangular perimeter. 
     
     
         5 . The tissue treatment device as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein the activated textured surfaces comprise toothbrush bristles and a dentifrice. 
     
     
         6 . The tissue treatment device as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein the dentifrice comprises a first layer having a first agent that is more sensitive to first wavelengths and a second layer having a second agent that is more sensitive to second wavelengths that are different from the first wavelengths. 
     
     
         7 . The tissue treatment device as set forth in  claim 6 , wherein;
 the tissue treatment device is a toothbrush; and   the activated textured surfaces are toothbrush bristles.   
     
     
         8 . The tissue treatment device as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the activated textured surfaces comprise textured surfaces that are configured to be activated to automatically provide one or more of mechanical agitation and mechanical cleaning forces onto a tissue site. 
     
     
         9 . The tissue treatment device as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein the tissue treatment device is a toothbrush. 
     
     
         10 . The tissue treatment device as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein at least one activated textured surface of a row can be activated to oscillate only in a direction substantially perpendicular to the row in which it is disposed. 
     
     
         11 . The tissue treatment device as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein at least one activated textured surface of a row can be activated to rotate. 
     
     
         12 . The tissue treatment device as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein at least one activated textured surface of a row can be activated to oscillate in a direction substantially parallel to a row in which it is disposed. 
     
     
         13 . The tissue treatment device as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein at least one electromagnetic energy output is positioned in each of a plurality of rows to provide constant irradiation of at least a portion of that row as different parts of the at least one activated textured surface in that row move over the electromagnetic energy output. 
     
     
         14 . The tissue treatment device as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein at least one electromagnetic energy output is positioned in each of a plurality of rows to constantly irradiate a corresponding part of that row so that electromagnetic energy from the electromagnetic energy output is directed into the part even as the different portions of the at least one activated textured surface are irradiated by the electromagnetic energy output during each cycle of oscillation of the at least one activated textured surface in that row. 
     
     
         15 . The tissue treatment device as set forth in  claim 14 , wherein the at least one electromagnetic energy output in each row comprises a plurality of electromagnetic energy outputs. 
     
     
         16 . The tissue treatment device as set forth in  claim 15 , wherein the at least one activated textured surface in each row comprises a plurality of activated textured surfaces. 
     
     
         17 . The tissue treatment device as set forth in  claim 16 , wherein each electromagnetic energy output is disposed under a corresponding row. 
     
     
         18 . The tissue treatment device as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein the activated textured surfaces and the electromagnetic energy outputs are configured to be activated simultaneously. 
     
     
         19 . The tissue treatment device as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein the electromagnetic energy outputs comprise LEDs. 
     
     
         20 . The tissue treatment device as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein:
 the at least one activated textured surface in each of a plurality of rows comprises a plurality of activated textured surfaces;   each electromagnetic energy output is disposed under a corresponding row;   the activated textured surfaces and the electromagnetic energy outputs are configured to be activated simultaneously; and   the electromagnetic energy outputs comprise LEDs.