JP2006061486A - Electric toothbrush - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electric toothbrush effective for the treatment or prevention of periodontal diseases, such as inflammation of the gum, alveolar abscess or the like. <P>SOLUTION: The electric toothbrush 1 comprises a brush body 44 with hollow bristles 43 and a pump 14 for feeding a medicine solution from a medicine solution tank 13 to the hollow bristles 43 of the brush body 44 and for discharging the medicine solution from the tips of the hollow bristles 43. By using the electric toothbrush, the medicine solution is discharged from the tips of the hollow bristles 43 during brushing. With such a configuration, the medicine solution can be supplied to the periodontal pockets directly and treatment or prevention of periodontal diseases, such as inflammation of the gum, alveolar abscess, can be achieved effectively. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an electric toothbrush effective for the prevention and treatment of periodontal disease.

  The electric toothbrush includes a gripping portion having a motor and a driving mechanism, and a brush body that is connected to the driving mechanism of the gripping portion to reciprocate or rotate. In recent years, electric toothbrushes have been used as an aid to brushing for dental caries prevention and plaque removal, and for the treatment and prevention of periodontal diseases such as gingivitis and alveolar pyorrhea.

For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-235234 describes an electric toothbrush in which a brush body provided in a brush body rotates, and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-303524 discloses vibration movement around a long axis and vertical movement. It describes what moves back and forth in the axial direction. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-322823 discloses a structure in which bristles implanted in a brush body enter and exit in the longitudinal direction, and a structure including a nozzle from which a chemical solution is extracted by a pump.
JP-A-11-235234 JP-A-7-303524 JP-A-9-322823

  In periodontal diseases such as gingivitis and alveolar pyorrhea, inflamed areas occur in the gingival crevice between the teeth and gums and in the periodontal pockets formed in deeper positions. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-322823 discloses a combination of a nozzle for extracting a chemical solution at the base end of a brush body, but the periodontal pocket between teeth and gums has a narrow entrance, so that the vicinity of the brush Even if the chemical solution could be supplied to the tooth, the chemical solution could not be sufficiently supplied to the inside of the periodontal pocket between the tooth and the gum.

  The electric toothbrush according to the present invention is an electric toothbrush comprising an electric drive mechanism, a brush body driven by the electric drive mechanism, and a storage part storing a chemical solution, and hollow hairs implanted in the brush body, And a chemical solution supply unit that supplies the chemical solution from the reservoir through the hollow bristles of the brush body. Moreover, you may comprise a brush body so that it may reciprocate to the longitudinal direction of the hollow hair planted.

  According to this electric toothbrush, since the hollow bristle planted in the brush body and the chemical liquid supply unit that supplies the chemical liquid from the storage part through the hollow bristles of the brush body are included, the chemical liquid supply unit is brushing. The medicine can be discharged from the tip of the hollow hair, and the medicine can be directly supplied to the inflamed part such as the periodontal pocket. Thereby, an effect is acquired by treatment and prevention of periodontal diseases, such as gingivitis and alveolar pyorrhea. In addition, by configuring the brush body so as to reciprocate in the longitudinal direction of the hollow hair that has been implanted, a deep portion between the tooth and gum, such as a periodontal pocket, at the tip of the hollow hair during brushing In this case, it is possible to pierce the inflamed part, and to directly discharge the drug solution to the inflamed part, which is more effective for the treatment of periodontal diseases such as gingivitis and alveolar pus leakage.

  Hereinafter, an electric toothbrush according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  The electric toothbrush 1 which concerns on 1st Embodiment is comprised by the holding part 2 and the brush main body 3, as shown in FIG.

  The grip portion 2 includes a motor 11 and a drive mechanism 12 as electric drive mechanisms, a tank 13 as a storage portion for storing a chemical solution, a pump 14 as a chemical solution supply unit, and a battery chamber 15.

  In this embodiment, the drive mechanism 12 includes a crank 22 that meshes with a pinion 21 attached to the motor 11 and a drive shaft 23. The crank 22 is constituted by a gear rotatably supported on the base material 2a of the grip portion 2, and is a member that meshes with the pinion 21 and rotates, and includes a pin 24 at an eccentric position. As shown in FIG. 1A, the drive shaft 23 is provided with a lateral guide 25 that engages with a pin 24 at the base end, and the crank 22 is rotated by a slider mechanism in which the guide 25 and the pin 24 are engaged. Along with this, it is designed to move back and forth.

  The drive shaft 23 includes a connecting portion 26 that connects the brush body 3 to the tip, and includes a feed blade 27 built in the pump 14 at an intermediate portion.

  The pump 14 has a container structure in which the feed blade 27 of the drive shaft 23 is accommodated, and a check valve 28 is attached to the feed blade 27 although illustration is omitted. A chemical liquid suction space 32 connected to the chemical liquid supply pipe 31 of the chemical liquid tank 13 is provided on one side with the feed blade 27 interposed therebetween, and a chemical liquid discharge space 34 connected to the chemical liquid supply pipe 45 on the brush body 3 side is provided on the other side. I have. In the pump 14, when the drive shaft 23 moves back and forth, the feed blade 27 moves back and forth in the pump 14, and sucks the chemical solution from the chemical solution tank 13 into the chemical solution suction space 32. The chemical liquid sucked into the chemical liquid suction space 32 is sent to the chemical liquid discharge space 34 via the check valve 28 attached to the feed blade 27 and is discharged from the chemical liquid discharge space 34 to the chemical liquid supply pipe 45 on the brush body 3 side. It has become so.

  The brush body 3 is a member that is replaceably attached to the tip of the grip portion 2, and a driven shaft 41, a crank 42, and a brush 43 that are disposed in a hollow base material 3 a so as to move back and forth are implanted. A provided brush body 44 and a chemical solution supply pipe 45 are incorporated. The base 3a of the brush body 3 is formed with an opening 46 at which the brush 43 protrudes and advances and retreats.

  The driven shaft 41 and the chemical liquid supply pipe 45 have connection portions 51 and 52 on the proximal end side of the brush body 3, respectively, and when the brush body 3 is attached to the grip portion 2, the drive shaft 23 of the grip portion 2 and the pump 14.

  The driven shaft 41 moves back and forth in the axial direction within the brush body 3 in accordance with the movement of the drive shaft 23. One end 56 of the crank 42 is connected to the tip of the driven shaft 41 by pin engagement. The crank 42 is an L-shaped member, and is pivotally attached to the base material 3a of the brush body 3 with an L-shaped corner 57 serving as a fulcrum. 58 is made to advance and retreat. A brush body 44 is connected to the other end 58 of the crank 42.

  As shown in an enlarged view in FIG. 1B, the brush body 44 is composed of a base 61 and an implanted brush 43. Although not shown, the brush body 44 is located near the opening 46 of the base 3a. The brush 43 is attached via the provided guide mechanism and is arranged so that the brush 43 protruding from the opening 46 moves forward and backward in accordance with the movement of the driven shaft 41 and the crank 42.

  The base 61 is a hollow member, and stores the chemical solution supplied from the chemical solution supply pipe 45. In this embodiment, the brush 43 is constituted by a tube-like hollow hair, and its base end communicates with the base portion 61. The hollow base 61 has a function as a manifold, and the chemical solution supplied to the base 61 is circulated through each hollow hair 43 of the brush body 44 and discharged from the tip of each hollow hair 43. .

  The hollow bristles 43 have the required rigidity and thinness so that the tip can enter the periodontal pocket, and have an inner diameter that allows a smooth flow of the drug solution. In this embodiment, the outer diameter of the tip is made as thin as about 0.2 mm to 0.6 mm.

  The brush implanted in the brush body 44 may have all the hairs as hollow hairs as shown in the illustrated example, but may be a mixture of non-hollow hairs and hollow hairs. In addition, the hollow bristles 43 are provided with core materials 71a and 71b, for example, as shown in FIGS. 2 (a) and 2 (b) in order to ensure the rigidity as a brush or adjust the rigidity. May be. At this time, the core material is a hollow core material 71a (see FIG. 2 (a)) so as not to hinder the flow of the chemical solution, or a solid core material 71b (see FIG. 2 (b)) that is unevenly distributed inside. In the illustrated example, the core material 71b is preferably provided with a groove 71b1 in the axial direction so that the chemical liquid flows smoothly. The core material may be made of plastic or metal having rigidity. Further, instead of attaching the core material, the hollow bristles may ensure rigidity by increasing the outer diameter of the base end portion of the brush. Further, the brush 43 may adjust the rigidity by mixing hollow hairs and non-hollow hairs or using the hollow hairs as a hair bundle.

  In the electric toothbrush 1, the drive shaft 23 is driven by the drive of the motor 11, and the driven shaft 41, the crank 22 and the brush body 44 move in response to the drive shaft 23. The brush body 44 reciprocates in the longitudinal direction of the hollow bristle implanted along with the movement of the crank 22, and the brush 43 protruding from the opening 46 of the brush body 3 advances and retreats. . At the same time, the pump 14 is actuated by the movement of the drive shaft 23 so that the chemical liquid is discharged from the bristles of the brush 43.

  Thereby, if this electric toothbrush 1 is used, by configuring the brush body 3 to reciprocate in the longitudinal direction of the hollow bristle planted, the user can make a hollow during brushing during brushing. The tip of the hair can poke an inflamed part deep in the space between the tooth and the gum, such as a periodontal pocket, and the tip of the brush 43 enters the inflamed part such as the periodontal pocket. The chemical liquid can be discharged directly. As a result, the inflamed part such as the periodontal pocket can be cleaned and the inflammation can be more effectively treated, so that periodontal diseases such as gingivitis and alveolar pyorrhea can be more effectively treated.

  As mentioned above, although the electric toothbrush which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention was demonstrated based on drawing, the electric toothbrush which concerns on this invention is not limited to embodiment mentioned above.

  For example, the electric toothbrush 1 has a built-in pump 14 and automatically supplies a chemical solution from a chemical solution tank 13. However, when the user desires to provide a switch for operating the pump 14. You may make it discharge a chemical | medical solution. Further, the structure of the pump is not limited to the above-described form.

  Further, instead of the above-described electric pump as the chemical solution supply unit, for example, as shown in FIG. 3, the chemical solution tank 13 is made of a flexible plastic or rubber material, and the chemical solution is supplied by pressing the chemical solution tank 13 with a finger. In other words, the chemical solution may be manually ejected at a timing desired by the user. Thereby, the burden on the battery can be reduced, long-time use is possible, and portability can be improved. Moreover, as a structure which supplies a chemical | medical solution manually from a tank to a chemical | medical solution supply part, you may make it the structure which sends air into a tank and raises the air pressure in a tank and pushes out a chemical | medical solution from a tank.

  Moreover, as shown in FIG. 4, the hollow hair 81 may divide the front end 81a into a plurality of pieces. In the illustrated example, the tip 81a of the hollow hair 81 is divided into a plurality of pieces in a state where it is rolled up. In this case, since the tip 81a of the hollow tube-like hair 81 can be made thinner, the tip 81a can easily enter the gingival sulcus and further into the periodontal pocket. According to such a hollow tube-like hair 81, a treatment such as a case where the inflamed part is small in an earlier stage of periodontal disease or the like can be performed more effectively.

  Further, the brush body drive mechanism is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and a brush body rotating or vibrating body may be employed. In addition, in embodiment mentioned above, it is a structure which a brush body advances / retreats, and is suitable for the periodontal disease treatment which presses and stimulates a gum. Similarly, assuming that the brush body has a structure in which the brush body advances and retreats, the brush body 3 is configured such that the brush body 44 is directly attached to the drive shaft 23 of the grip portion 2 as shown in FIG. It is good also as what protruded from the opening through the hollow part of the brush main body 3 with the brush 82 which has. The brush body 3 is configured so that the brush 82 protruding from the opening 46 of the brush body 3 moves back and forth in the protruding direction in accordance with the back and forth movement of the drive shaft 23. As in the case shown in FIG. 1, an inflamed part that occurs deep in the space between the tooth and the gum, such as a periodontal pocket, can be pierced with a bristles of hollow hair during brushing, and the inflamed part directly Therefore, it is effective for the treatment of periodontal diseases such as gingivitis and alveolar pyorrhea.

  Further, the hair bundle to be implanted in the brush body 44 may be imparted with two kinds of rigidity, thereby improving the penetration of the hair tip into a narrow gingival sulcus or a periodontal pocket at the back thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a longitudinal side view showing an electric toothbrush according to an embodiment of the present invention, (a) is a diagram showing the structure of a drive mechanism, and (b) is a diagram showing the structure of a brush body. (A) (b) is sectional drawing which shows the core material of the hollow hair which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention, respectively. The longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the electric toothbrush which concerns on other embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows other embodiment of a hollow hair. The longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the electric toothbrush which concerns on other embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Electric toothbrush 2 Gripping part 3 Brush main body 11 Motor 12 Drive mechanism 13 Chemical liquid tank 14 Pump 15 Battery chamber 21 Pinion 22 Crank 23 Drive shaft 24 Pin 25 Guide 26 Connecting part 27 Feeding blade 28 Check valve 31 Chemical liquid supply piping 32 Chemical liquid absorption Upper space 34 Chemical solution discharge space 41 Drive shaft 42 Crank 43 Brush (hollow hair)
44 Brush body 45 Chemical solution supply pipe 46 Opening

Claims (6)

In an electric toothbrush comprising an electric drive mechanism, a brush body driven by the electric drive mechanism, and a storage part storing a chemical solution,
An electric toothbrush comprising: a hollow bristle implanted in the brush body; and a chemical solution supply unit that supplies a chemical solution from the reservoir through the hollow bristles of the brush body.   The electric toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein the brush body is configured to reciprocate in the longitudinal direction of the implanted hollow hair.   The electric toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein the hollow bristles have a plurality of bristles.   2. The electric toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein rigidity of the hollow bristles is adjusted by a hollow core member attached inside or a solid core member attached unevenly inside. 3.   2. The electric toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein the chemical liquid supply unit supplies the chemical liquid by obtaining power from the electric drive mechanism.   The electric toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein the chemical solution supply unit manually supplies a chemical solution from a storage unit.

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