Abstract: Provided is a system (300) for determining a sweat rate per gland and measuring biomarker concentration. The system comprises an apparatus and a sensor (166). The apparatus receives sweat from the skin and transports the sweat as discrete sweat droplets to the sensor. The sensor senses each of the counted sweat droplets. The system further comprises a processor which counts the number of sensed sweat droplets during a time period. The processor also determines time intervals between consecutive sensed sweat droplets, and receives a measure of the volume of each of the counted sweat droplets. The time intervals and the measure of the volume are then used by the processor to identify sweat burst and rest periods of the sweat gland or glands producing the sweat. This identification process necessarily involves assigning the sweat burst and rest periods to the sweat gland or glands, such that the processor is permitted to determine the number of sweat glands involved in producing the sweat.

Abstract: Provided is an apparatus (100) for transporting sweat droplets (112) to a sensor. The apparatus comprises a chamber (102) for filling with sweat. The chamber has an inlet (104) lying adjacent the surface of the skin (106), which inlet permits sweat to enter and fill the chamber. The chamber has an outlet (114) from which a sweat droplet protrudes once the chamber has been filled. The apparatus further comprises a fluid transport assembly which is designed to enable the sweat droplet protruding from the outlet to become detached from the outlet of the chamber. The sweat droplet is subsequently transported by the fluid transport assembly to the sensor. Once the protruding droplet has been released from the outlet, the outlet is made available for a subsequent sweat droplet to protrude therefrom upon further filling of the chamber.

Abstract: According to an aspect, there is provided a method comprising: receiving (402), from a sensor, first data indicative of a concentration of a first substance in sweat secreted from sweat glands of a subject; determining (404) a relationship between (i) a time of occurrence of a characteristic event in relation to the concentration of the first substance in sweat and (ii) a time of occurrence of the characteristic event in relation to the concentration of the first substance in blood; and determining (406), based on the relationship and the received first data, a time window regarding the intake of a second substance by the subject. Another aspect provides an apparatus for carrying out this method.

Abstract: A device (1) for determining sweat parameters of a user is provided, which device comprises a microfluidic structure (10) having a collection chamber (16) configured to collect sweat from a first skin area (i), and a sensor (12) configured to determine a sweat parameter from sweat from the first skin area (i). The device also comprises an evaporation control chamber (14), which is connected to the microfluidic structure (10), configured to utilize fluid collected at a second area (ii) to moisten the microfluidic structure (10). The moistening of the microfluidic structure (10) aims to increase the available sweat for the sensor to determine a sweat parameter, by increasing the humidity inside the microfluidic structure (10) and thus, decreasing the evaporation of sweat. A method for determining sweat parameters of a user is also provided.

Abstract: According to an aspect, there is provided a system (10) comprising a sweat stimulation device (100) for stimulating sweat generation from sweat glands of a subject, the device comprising: a stimulation element (102) configured to provide modulated stimulation between two non-zero states to the sweat glands through the skin of the subject; and a sensor (104) for measuring data indicative of a characteristic of sweat generated by the sweat glands in response to the stimulation; and a processor (110) configured to receive the measured data from the sensor; compare the measured data with a threshold value; and responsive to determining that the measured data meets or exceeds the threshold value, generate an alert signal.

Abstract: A personal care device (12) comprising an RF signal generator (32) for generating RF-frequency electromagnetic emissions for a cleaning or treatment function. The RF emissions may be output from a set of two or more RF electrodes (22) (e.g. electrodes) upon stimulation with an RF drive signal in a frequency range from 3 kHz to 30 GHz from an RF signal generator. The device further includes a controller (34) for detect a degraded functional state of the RF electrodes (22) via monitoring changes or variations in one or more electrical characteristics of the RF signal generator (32), e.g. drift in one or more electrical characteristics from reference factory levels, or sudden changes in the characteristics, indicating a short-circuit.

Abstract: According to an aspect, there is provided switch circuitry (1) for controlling power supplied to a fluid monitoring unit (4). The switch circuitry (1) comprises: a sensor (2) configured to detect fluid derived from the skin of a user and to generate a detection signal in response to detection of fluid; and a controller (3) configured to receive the detection signal, to generate a wake-up signal in accordance with the detection signal, and to supply the wake-up signal to a switch (6) controlling the power supply to the fluid monitoring unit (4) so as to activate the switch (6) and wake the fluid monitoring unit (4), wherein, optionally, the fluid is sweat. According to another aspect, there is provided method of controlling power to a fluid monitoring unit.

Abstract: A patient monitoring method comprises receiving (103, 109) input data indicative of shivering episodes (52) and sweating episodes (54) of a patient; recording (105, 111) the respective points in time at which the shivering episodes and sweating episodes occur; and generating (115, 117) an output based on an alternating pattern of the shivering episodes and sweating episodes from the recorded respective points in time of the respective shivering and/or episodes. Also disclosed is a computer program product for implementing such a method and a monitoring system (10) arranged to implement such a method.

Abstract: A wear-out assessment for an oral care system (14) (e.g. an oral cleaning device) is disclosed. A sensor unit (16) of the oral care system is adapted to provide a sensor signal related to a cleaning efficacy of a cleaning function of the oral care system. The sensor unit (16) may be, or may be coupled to, a component which is used during execution of an oral care function of the device, for example a sensor for detecting cleaning progress in the mouth, or a component which drives a cleaning or treatment action in the mouth. The sensor signal (20) is used for performing a wear-out assessment via monitoring characteristics of a signal which is indicative of progress of the oral cleaning efficacy during an operation session (e.g. a clean level in the mouth) and monitoring a length of time that it takes for a certain threshold of efficacy to be reached in a session. If the length of time is over a certain threshold, this can be an indication that the relevant components of the oral care system are wearing out.

Abstract: An oral care system (10) comprises an oral care device (12). The oral care device is designed to either comprise or attach to a cleaning or treatment portion (14), e.g. a brush head or mouthpiece. The oral care device thus has a cleaning or treatment function. The oral care device is further provided with an electromagnetic (EM) field or radiation generator (22) adapted to generate and emit radio or microwave frequency electromagnetic energy in a space around an emitter arrangement (24) (sanitization area) used to emit the radiation or field. The EM emissions are configured to have electromagnetic properties suitable for heating water or water-containing fluid located within the sanitization area (34). This allows for a sanitization or disinfection function in a dedicated mode, wherein the EM emissions of the EM generator causes heating to a temperature of at least 50° C., preferably at least 70° C.

Abstract: A system is provided. The system comprises an image projection device (6) configured to project display information; a wearable or hand-held device (100) which when worn is subjected to spatial movement; and a compensation element (7) configured to adjust the image projection device (6) based on the spatial movement such that the movement of the wearable or hand-held device (100) is compensated for during projection of the display information by the image projection device (6). Further, a method of spatially stabilizing display information projected by an image projection device (6) upon operation of a wearable or hand-held device is provided.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a personal care system (100) configured to allow an addition of a sensor functionality to the system (100). The system (100) comprises a data reader (102) for receiving a code (200), and a programmable controller (104). The system (100) is configured for triggering a software reconfiguration of a software associated with at least one hardware component (106) of the system (100) based on the code (200) received by the data reader (102). The programmable controller (104) is configured for changing a control of the hardware component (106) of the system (100) based on the triggered software reconfiguration. The change of the control of the hardware component (106) of the system (100) causes an addition of a sensor functionality to the hardware component (106) of the system (100).

Abstract: An oral care system for sensing blood in an oral cavity and in gum tissue. The sensing is performed magnetically using a magnetic field source (16) and magnetic sensing arrangement (18) incorporated into a cleaning or treatment portion of an oral care device (e.g. a brush head of a toothbrush or mouthpiece part of a brushing mouthpiece device). The field source generates (16) a reference field and the sensing arrangement (18) is arranged to sense the field strength of the reference field at one or more spatial points. Since blood is magnetic, when brought into the reference field, it magnetically interacts with the field, which may alter field strength, field shape, or flux distribution. This enables presence of blood to be detected. It also allows for detecting specific oral features or disease states associated with presence of blood or abnormal amounts or concentrations of blood. For example, this can be based on application of detection criteria which relate to one or more properties of the sensed field.

Abstract: A system for oral irrigation comprises a fluid delivery tube (102) with a proximal end and a distal end. The proximal end is for receiving oral irrigation fluids. A nozzle (104) is placed at the distal end of the fluid delivery tube. The system further comprises an interdental sensor (2002) for detecting whether the nozzle is in an interdental space, and a motion sensor (2004) for measuring the displacement of the nozzle. A processor is configured to determine whether the nozzle (104) is moving along the occlusal surface of a tooth based on the displacement of the nozzle being larger than a critical distance, wherein the critical distance is indicative of the length of a tooth, and the interdental sensor (2002) not detecting an interdental space during the displacement of the nozzle.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a controller (100) for generating a control signal for an oral care system (200), wherein the controller (100) is configured for receiving orientation data generated by the oral care system (200), wherein the orientation data describes at least one angle (102) between the oral care system (200) and a target tissue surface (300) in an oral cavity (400) or the angle relative to a reference vector, for instance the gravity vector, wherein the controller (100) is configured for comparing the received orientation data with at least one pre-defined orientation condition, and wherein the controller (100) is configured for generating a first control signal to trigger or adapt an oral care procedure performed by the oral care system (200) if the received orientation data fulfills the pre-defined orientation condition.

Abstract: A computer-implemented recommendation system is for recommending a type of oral care accessory to be used with an oral care device. The recommendation takes account of oral geometry information in respect of a user and preferably also user behavioral information in respect of the manner in which the particular user conducts their oral care using the oral care device. The recommendation is based on the modelling of mechanical interactions between one or more oral care accessories of a set of oral care accessories and the oral geometry of the user when the user performs an oral care routine. From said modelling a cleaning metric is determined that represents the effectiveness of the oral care routine when using said one or more oral care accessories.

Abstract: The present invention relates to oral care. In order to improve the effectiveness of a flossing device, an interdental space detection component is proposed for detecting an interdental space. The interdental space detection component may be integrated in a brush head with integrated flossing function. The fluidic flossing function may selectively be switched on at the interdental space, thereby saving flossing fluid and preventing ineffective flossing outside the interdental space.

Abstract: An oral care device (8) adapted to generate an RF field for performing an oral cleaning function. The device includes a cleaning unit (10) for receipt in the mouth which includes a conductor arrangement (18, 19) which is driven with a drive signal to generate an RF field which cleans surfaces in the mouth. Means is further provided for sensing an electrical or electromagnetic signal arising from interaction of the RF energy with bodies in the mouth, for performing a sensing function with the same RF system components used for generating the RF field for cleaning or treatment.

Abstract: The invention provides for an oral treatment unit, or an assembly of a plurality of oral treatment units, for confining an electromagnetic field having a frequency in the range of 100 kHz to 300 MHz and adapted to be inserted into an oral cavity, which may form part of an oral cleaning device in combination with a base unit, including a first cleaning element coupled to the oral treatment unit. The oral treatment unit further includes a material structure coupled to the oral treatment unit adapted to receive an initial electromagnetic field and output a focused electromagnetic field, wherein the material structure has a passive electromagnetic field focusing function, which focuses the received initial electromagnetic field in the near-field region of the material structure.

Abstract: An oral cleaning unit, e.g. a head for an oral cleaning and/or treatment device, includes electrodes for generating an RF field for providing an oral cleaning and/or treatment function. The unit includes at least a first and second protruding structure, which protrude in a same general direction away from a base or support structure. Each comprises one or more electrodes. The protruding structures are arranged facing one another and separated by a space or gap which is configured so as to be able to receive a tooth pushed or inserted therein between the first and second protruding structures, and with the protruding structures extending on either side of the tooth, i.e. straddling the tooth.