Patents Assigned to Ultreo, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20110159461
    Abstract: A power toothbrush (10) is disclosed having a handle (15), battery (12), ultrasonic drive circuit (14), motor (16), control unit (18), and toothbrush head (20). The toothbrush head includes bristles (26) and a waveguide (24) that is operatively connected to an ultrasonic transducer (22). The waveguide facilitates the transmission of acoustic energy into the dental fluid to achieve improved cleaning and stain removal and improved cleaning in interproximal and subgingival regions. In one embodiment an ultrasound transducer module (30) includes a plurality of piezoelectric elements (32, 34) that may be mechanically connected in series, and electrically connected in parallel. One or more contacts (36) connect the elements, and a waveguide structure (50). An impedance matching layer (38) may be provided between the waveguide and the ultrasonic transducer module. The waveguide may be formed from a relatively soft material, for example, a polymer having a hardness between 10 and 65 Shore A.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2011
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Applicants: WASHINGTON, UNIVERSITY OF, ULTREO, INC.
    Inventors: Pierre D. Mourad, James Christopher McInnes, George A. Barrett, David A. Ballard, Gerald K. Brewer, Frederick Jay Bennett
  • Publication number: 20100237720
    Abstract: An oscillatory device incorporating a limited angle torque motor capable of oscillating one or more end effector(s) is provided. The device may additionally incorporate an ultrasound transducer and/or a waveguide structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Applicant: ULTREO, INC.
    Inventor: Richard K. Taylor
  • Patent number: 7732952
    Abstract: An oscillatory device incorporating a limited angle torque motor capable of oscillating one or more end effector(s) is provided. The device may additionally incorporate an ultrasound transducer and/or a waveguide structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Ultreo, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard Taylor
  • Patent number: 7448109
    Abstract: An oral hygiene device having an ultrasound transducer 22 and an acoustic waveguide 24 facilitating the transmission of ultrasonic acoustic energy to fluids in the oral cavity is disclosed. Preferred ultrasound operating parameters for operation in aqueous environments and in dental slurries are disclosed. Devices may incorporate a drive motor 16 for oscillating a device head 23, acoustic waveguide 24 and one or more bristle tuft(s) 26 at sonic frequencies, and preferred sonic operating parameters are also provided. Multi-element piezoelectric transducer assemblies 30, 40, and various control and communications features are disclosed. Oral hygiene devices disclosed herein achieve improved plaque and stain removal from the teeth as well as interproximal and subgingival regions, while enhancing the user experience, massaging the gums, stimulating dental tissue, and disrupting biofilm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: Ultreo, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerald K. Brewer, James Christopher McInnes, Daniel Bayeh, Frederick Jay Bennett, Richard K. Taylor, David A. Ballard, George A. Barrett
  • Publication number: 20080209650
    Abstract: Oral hygiene devices employing an ultrasound transducer are disclosed. The device is user-activatable to commence an operating cycle, and has a controller that may provide a timing function and may provide a variable level of ultrasound transducer output during an operating cycle. The controller may provide a monitoring function that is capable of detecting an ultrasound transducer fault condition and alert a user, through a user interface, when an ultrasound transducer fault condition is detected. The controller may be programmed to count the number of device operating cycles or accumulate the total device operating time and activate a transducer replacement signal following a predetermined number of uses or a predetermined accumulated operating time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2008
    Publication date: September 4, 2008
    Applicant: ULTREO, INC.
    Inventors: Gerald K. Brewer, James Christopher McInnes, Daniel Bayeh, Frederick Jay Bennett, Richard K. Taylor, David A. Ballard, George A. Barrett, Marc W. Bommarito
  • Patent number: 7269873
    Abstract: An oral hygiene device having an ultrasound transducer 22 and an acoustic waveguide 24 facilitating the transmission of ultrasonic acoustic energy to fluids in the oral cavity is disclosed. Preferred ultrasound operating parameters for operation in aqueous environments and in dental slurries are disclosed. Devices may incorporate a drive motor 16 for oscillating a device head 23, acoustic waveguide 24 and one or more bristle tuft(s) 26 at sonic frequencies, and preferred sonic operating parameters are also provided. Multi-element piezoelectric transducer assemblies 30, 40, and various control and communications features are disclosed. Oral hygiene devices disclosed herein achieve improved plaque and stain removal from the teeth as well as interproximal and subgingival regions, while enhancing the user experience, massaging the gums, stimulating dental tissue, and disrupting biofilm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: Ultreo, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerald K. Brewer, James Christopher McInnes, Daniel Bayeh, Frederick Jay Bennett, Richard K. Taylor, David A. Ballard, George A. Barrett
  • Publication number: 20070157404
    Abstract: An oral hygiene device having an ultrasound transducer 22 and an acoustic waveguide 24 facilitating the transmission of ultrasonic acoustic energy to fluids in the oral cavity is disclosed. Preferred ultrasound operating parameters for operation in aqueous environments and in dental slurries are disclosed. Devices may incorporate a drive motor 16 for oscillating a device head 23, acoustic waveguide 24 and one or more bristle tuft(s) 26 at sonic frequencies, and preferred sonic operating parameters are also provided. Multi-element piezoelectric transducer assemblies 30, 40, and various control and communications features are disclosed. Oral hygiene devices disclosed herein achieve improved plaque and stain removal from the teeth as well as interproximal and subgingival regions, while enhancing the user experience, massaging the gums, stimulating dental tissue, and disrupting biofilm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2007
    Publication date: July 12, 2007
    Applicant: ULTREO, INC.
    Inventors: Gerald BREWER, James McINNES, Daniel BAYEH, Frederick BENNETT, Richard TAYLOR, David BALLARD, George BARRETT
  • Publication number: 20070079455
    Abstract: An oral hygiene device having an ultrasound transducer 22 and an acoustic waveguide 24 facilitating the transmission of ultrasonic acoustic energy to fluids in the oral cavity is disclosed. Preferred ultrasound operating parameters for operation in aqueous environments and in dental slurries are disclosed. Devices may incorporate a drive motor 16 for oscillating a device head 23, acoustic waveguide 24 and one or more bristle tuft(s) 26 at sonic frequencies, and preferred sonic operating parameters are also provided. Multi-element piezoelectric transducer assemblies 30, 40, and various control and communications features are disclosed. Oral hygiene devices disclosed herein achieve improved plaque and stain removal from the teeth as well as interproximal and subgingival regions, while enhancing the user experience, massaging the gums, stimulating dental tissue, and disrupting biofilm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Publication date: April 12, 2007
    Applicant: ULTREO, INC.
    Inventors: Gerald Brewer, James McInnes, Daniel Bayeh, Frederick Bennett, Richard Taylor, David Ballard, George Barrett
  • Patent number: D589255
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Ultreo, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Taylor, Jeffrey William Ladwig, Joshua Mikhael Kornfeld
  • Patent number: D589256
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Ultreo, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Taylor, Jeffrey William Ladwig, Joshua Mikhael Kornfeld