Abstract: A single breast pump device (1) is adapted to enable realization of at least two batches (A, B) of breast milk as a direct result of a single pumping session to be performed on at least one user's breast, which batches (A, B) are different as far as the value of at least one quality parameter of the breast milk is concerned. The single breast pump device (1) comprises a detection unit (50) for performing real-time detection of the at least one quality parameter in a flow of breast milk and outputting a detection signal representing an actual value of the at least one quality parameter, and further comprises a controller (70) for receiving the detection signal from the detection unit (50) and using the signal in a process of determining an appropriate setting of the single breast pump device (1) as far as the choice of a destination position of the milk is concerned. A double breast pump device (2) is also disclosed.

Abstract: A breast pump device (1) is adapted to enable realization of at least two batches (A, B) of breast milk as a direct result of a single pumping session to be performed on at least one user's breast, which batches (A, B) are different as far as the value of at least one quality parameter of the breast milk is concerned. The device (1) comprises a detection unit (50) for performing real-time detection of the at least one quality parameter in a flow of breast milk and outputting a detection signal representing an actual value of the at least one quality parameter, and further comprises a controller (70) for receiving the detection signal from the detection unit (50) and using the signal in a process of determining an appropriate setting of the device (1) as far as the choice of a destination position of the milk is concerned.

Abstract: A device for food and/or beverage temperature regulation includes a cooler for providing a cooling mode in which the food and/or beverage is cooled, a heater for providing a heating mode in which the food and/or beverage is heated, and a pre-heating mode in which the food and/or beverage is pre-heated. A controller is configured to control the cooler and heater. The controller is further configured to activate the cooling or heating mode in response to signals indicative of a change in the behavior of a recipient of the food and/or beverage, and to activate the pre-heating mode in response to predicted behavior. The signals may represent sound and/or movement and may originate from sensors, such as microphones and/or radar sensors.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a haircut recording method, a haircut recording system, and a haircut recording device, the system comprising a computing device (40) comprising a feedback unit (42), a hand-held device (20) comprising a hair property measurement unit (22), the measurement unit (22) being arranged for detecting a hair property value of interest, particularly a hair length representing value, when the measurement unit (22) is arranged adjacent to a haired portion (16), a position detection unit (30) arranged for detecting an actual position of the measurement unit (22), a record control unit (70) arranged to operate the position detection unit (30) for tracking the actual position of the measurement unit (22), operate the measurement unit (22) for assigning detected hair property values to position values, deduce a condition parameter, particularly a quality parameter, and provide user feedback based on the deduced condition parameter.

Abstract: A breast pump device (1) is adapted to enable realization of at least two batches (A, B) of breast milk as a direct result of a single pumping session to be performed on at least one user's breast, which batches (A, B) are different as far as the value of at least one quality parameter of the breast milk is concerned. The device (1) comprises a detection unit (50) for performing real-time detection of the at least one quality parameter in a flow of breast milk and outputting a detection signal representing an actual value of the at least one quality parameter, and further comprises a controller (70) for receiving the detection signal from the detection unit (50) and using the signal in a process of determining an appropriate setting of the device (1) as far as the choice of a destination position of the milk is concerned.

Abstract: The system includes a reservoir for fluid; a droplet generator for creating a stream of fluid droplets from the fluid wherein the velocity of the stream of droplets is within a range of 20 meters per second to 200 meters per second and the size of the droplets is within a range of 5 microns to 200 microns. A nozzle or nozzles direct the stream of droplets to safely clean a selected tooth or teeth surface area. The specific momentum of effective fluid droplets within the stream of fluid droplets is important in safe and effective cleaning.

Abstract: A device (10) for food and/or beverage temperature regulation, comprising a cooling unit (11A) for providing a cooling mode in which the food and/or beverage is cooled, a heating unit (11B) for providing a heating mode in which the food and/or beverage is heated and a pre-heating mode in which the food and/or beverage is pre-heated, and a control unit (12) for controlling the cooling unit and the heating unit. The control unit (12) is arranged for activating the cooling mode or the heating mode in response to signals indicative of a change in the behavior of the recipient (30) of the food and/or beverage, and for activating the pre-heating mode in response to predicted behavior. The signals may represent sound and/or movement and may originate from sensor units (18), such as microphone units and/or radar units.

Abstract: The method for cleaning dental plaque biofilm from the teeth includes the steps of applying a liquid gellable composition to the teeth, the composition including a positively charged polymer such as chitosan, the liquid composition having a viscosity which results in coverage of substantially all of the exposed areas of the teeth. The liquid composition is then gelled by the addition of a second composition, such as a negatively charged compound. The resulting gelled composition has an adherence to the plaque biofilm which is greater than the adherence between the biofilm and the teeth. The gel layer with the biofilm is peeled off of the teeth, removing the dental plaque.

Abstract: The spray assembly for a droplet spray teeth cleaning system includes a guidance member at the end thereof. The spray assembly includes a nozzle through which a spray of liquid is directed to the teeth for cleaning. The guidance member is configured and mounted relative to the nozzle to provide a selected standoff distance between the nozzle and the teeth and includes a portion which is configured to fit in the interproximal space between adjacent teeth and gums, or against the frontal portions of the teeth, so that the user knows the location of the spray relative to the teeth.

Abstract: The invention provides a skin treatment device comprising a laser source (40) and focusing optics (50), such that a focal spot (18) is positioned in a dermis layer (24) of the skin to be treated. The laser beam (42) is powered and focused (16) such that a LIOB (laser induced optical breakdown) phenomenon is obtained, which affects the skin in order to stimulate re-growth of tissue. This in turn reduces wrinkles (30). The device may comprise wrinkle-determining means (52, 54, 56, 58). The focusing optics (50) may have a numerical aperture of at least 0.4. The invention also provides a corresponding method to treat skin, in particular to reduce wrinkles (30), by providing a focused laser beam (16) that causes LIOB in the dermis layer (24) of the skin. The advantage is that damage to overlaying epidermis layers may be avoided by the use of the very local LIOB phenomenon.

Abstract: The self-contained intraoral appliance includes first and second substantially rigid bands (12, 14) configured to fit along the outer and the inner surfaces of a row of teeth in the mouth. A motor (20) driven by a battery is connected to the bands through a connecting assembly (2, 24, 28, 34, 40 and 44) in such a manner as to provide substantially complete coverage of top surfaces of molar teeth. Brush elements (16, 18) are mounted on the surfaces of the bands to provide cleansing of the teeth.

Abstract: A multi-switch (24) for an oral care appliance includes a switch housing (28) having a hollow chamber (30) therein, a button actuator (32) with at least two O-rings (42) around the periphery thereof, and inlet and outlet channels (50, 52) connecting a source of compressed gas (18) with the housing chamber and the housing chamber with a mixing chamber (26), respectively. A pump (60) moves fluid from a reservoir (20) to the mixing chamber. The O-rings are positioned so that as the button actuator is actuated and then released, the outlet is closed and the inlet is opened, allowing gas to move into the housing chamber. The pump is actuated, and then the inlet is closed and the outlet opens, allowing gas in the chamber to move to the mixing chamber to produce a stream of fluid droplets, which are directed out through a nozzle portion (16) of the appliance.

Abstract: An appliance and corresponding method for delivering antimicrobial agents to the vicinity of dental biofilm and for killing bacteria therein includes a system (18, 20, 24) for delivering polymeric capsules containing gas bubbles and an antimicrobial agent. A source of ultrasonic energy (18) is provided for moving the capsules toward the biofilm, the ultrasonic energy having sufficient intensity for thereafter bursting the capsules, in the vicinity of the biofilm, releasing the gas bubbles and the agent. The gas bubbles vibrate within the ultrasound field, disrupting the biofilm, so that the released agent can act effectively against the bacteria in the disrupted biofilm.

Abstract: An insert for a breast-receiving funnel of a breast pump includes an elongate inflatable bladder which defines a pressure chamber. The elongate inflatable bladder is configured to fit in a teat receiving space of the breast receiving funnel so that the bladder extends from an inner end of the funnel towards an outer end of the funnel. The bladder lies between a user's teat and the funnel when a breast is inserted in the funnel, such that the elongate inflatable bladder is configured to deform towards a user's teat located in the teat receiving space in a predetermined manner when a pressure difference is applied between the teat receiving space and the pressure chamber such that a peristaltic action is applied to the user's teat, to aid the expression of milk therefrom.

Abstract: The interproximal cleaning appliance includes a housing (12) and a spray applicator (16) extending therefrom for directing a spray of fluid droplets to the interproximal area. Within the housing is a spray-generating assembly (14) which includes a chamber, a movable piston (26) mounted therein, one-way inlets (42, 40) for gas and fluid and an outlet (44). A system (54) for moving the piston, such as a motor, operatively compresses a spring (32) which creates a partial vacuum in the chamber, allowing gas to flow into the chamber through the gas inlet. Release of the spring produces a stream of fluid droplets which flows out of the chamber through the applicator to the interproximal area.

Abstract: The interdental cleaner includes a source of liquid (22) and a control system (42) including a manual pump (26), for moving a selected amount of liquid, suitable for a single use, into a liquid pathway and there to a mixing chamber (53). A source of pressurized gas (30), such as a CO2 cartridge, is used to preload a selected amount of gas into a gas chamber (52). The control system includes a spring-loaded button (18), which upon operation results in the manual pump (26) being operated, forcing the selected amount of liquid into the mixing chamber, and then upon release, permits the pressurized gas in the gas chamber to enter the mixing chamber, breaking up the liquid therein into droplets and a liquid stream, and propelling the resulting liquid out of a nozzle portion (14) of the cleaner into the interproximal area of the teeth.

Abstract: The self-contained intraoral appliance includes first and second substantially rigid bands (12, 14) configured to fit along the outer and the inner surfaces of a row of teeth in the mouth. A motor (20) driven by a battery is connected to the bands through a connecting assembly (2, 24, 28, 34, 40 and 44) in such a manner that one end of the first band moves through a displacement to brush the teeth while the other end remains substantially stationary, and such that an opposing end of the second band moves through a displacement while the other end remains substantially stationary. Brush elements (16, 18) are mounted on the surfaces of the bands to provide cleansing of the teeth.

Abstract: The cleaning apparatus includes a source of gas under pressure (12) and a source of fluid (14), along with associated gas (26) and fluid (34) chambers, adapted for successive single uses. A user-operated metered valve (22) connects the gas reservoir to the gas chamber, while a liquid pump (30) and a one-way valve (32) connects the liquid reservoir to the liquid chamber. When gas is released from the gas reservoir, it expands rapidly from the valve into the gas chamber, resulting in pressure therein sufficient to open a one-way valve (38) connecting the gas chamber to the liquid chamber. The gas in the liquid chamber forces liquid therein through a liquid line (15) to a connecting point with a gas stream line (13) from the gas chamber. The interaction of the fluid with the gas stream results in a spray of liquid droplets (17) which are directed out of the gas stream line exit orifice (16) to the teeth for cleaning.

Abstract: The interproximal cleaning apparatus includes a gas reservoir (12) containing a compressed gas, such as CO2, in both liquid and gaseous states. A siphon tube (20) extends down into the liquid region of the gas reservoir when the apparatus is in an upright position. The siphon tube connects the reservoir to a metering valve (18) which has a metered volume to accommodate an amount of liquid compressed gas which is sufficient for good liquid droplet cleaning when it decompresses and forms a gaseous stream, without damage to the dental regions of the user. If the apparatus is severely tilted or turned upside down, gaseous CO2 or a combination of gaseous and liquid CO2 will enter the siphon tube and then the metering valve. The size of the metering valve will limit the volume of the gaseous CO2 to a safe amount, both when liquid CO2 or gaseous CO2 are applied to the metering valve.

Abstract: The spray assembly for a droplet spray teeth cleaning system includes a guidance member (40, 56, 80, 86) at the end thereof. The spray assembly includes a nozzle (24) through which a spray of liquid is directed to the teeth for cleaning. The guidance member is configured and mounted relative to the nozzle to provide a selected standoff distance between the nozzle and the teeth and includes a portion which is configured to fit in the interproximal space between adjacent teeth and gums, or against the frontal portions of the teeth, so that the user knows the location of the spray relative to the teeth.