Abstract: The invention provides a method for encouraging a user to perform an oral care routine using an oral care device for a predetermined period of time. The method includes recording a plurality of previous oral care sessions, the previous oral care sessions including at least one oral care session ending before the predetermined period of time has elapsed after the user has begun the oral care session. An oral care time characteristic is calculated based on the plurality of previous oral care sessions and, for a subsequent oral care session, a point in time after the user has begun performing an oral care routine is determined for providing the user with feedback based on the oral care time characteristic. The user is then provided with feedback at the determined point in time during the subsequent oral care session.

Abstract: An oral irrigator having an irrigator tip, the tip including a handle portion, a tip portion, a channel in fluid communication with the tether and arranged within the handle portion and the tip portion, and an actuator located on or within the handle portion, the actuator arranged to at least partially altar a flow of a fluid through the channel. The oral irrigator further includes a housing, the housing having a reservoir in fluid communication with a pump sub-assembly, a sensor arranged to measure a first pressure or first electrical load within the pump sub-assembly, and a control unit arranged to control an operational current provided to the pump sub-assembly where operation of the actuator produces a second pressure or electrical load measured by the sensor and the control unit is arranged to alter the operational current of the motor in response to the change.

Abstract: A safety needle system operable with a medical device includes: a housing with a needle mount having a needle; and a sheath telescopically engaged with the housing and surrounding the needle such that the sheath operates in a retracted position, in which the sheath exposes the needle, and an extended position, in which the sheath surrounds the needle. The sheath is coupleable to the medical device such that removal of the needle from the medical device draws the sheath over the needle, transitioning the sheath from the retracted position to the extended position. The system can include a slider engaged with the sheath and/or housing and including a restraint that engages and disengages the sheath to respectively reinforce and weaken the coupling of the sheath and medical device. The sheath can include a longitudinal track that slidingly engages a setting of the housing between sheath positions.

Abstract: A light guide member (100, 200, 300, 400) for a power device (10) includes a ring-shaped body (34) adapted to be disposed within a housing (22) of the power device (10). The ring-shaped body (34) has an outer surface (63) that is contoured to complement an inner surface (50) of the housing (22), and includes a light receiving surface (44, 46) and a light emitting surface (48). The ring-shaped body (34) further includes a light coupling portion (42) adapted to accommodate a light source (30, 32) and configured to direct light emitted by the light source (30, 32) to the light receiving surface (44, 46). Light received by the light receiving surface (44, 46) propagates through the ring-shaped body (34) via internal reflection to the light emitting surface (48) where the light is directed out of the light guide member and uniformly illuminates a portion (53) of an outer surface (52) of the housing (22) of the power device (10).

Abstract: According to an aspect there is provided a motor (1) for a personal care device (10). The motor (1) comprises: a stator (2) comprising a stator surface; a rotor (3) comprising a rotor surface disposed opposite the stator surface; and a spacer (4) projecting between the stator surface and the rotor surface so as to define a minimum airgap between the stator (2) and the rotor (3). The spacer (4) is disposed on or at one of the rotor surface and the stator surface, and has a contact surface configured to engage with the other one of the rotor surface and the stator surface.

Abstract: An integrated vascular delivery system and method of use, the system including: a frame having a catheter hub that provides a first anchoring point on the patient and receives a catheter insertable in the patient to transfer fluid at an insertion site, a stabilization hub that provides a second anchoring point on the patient, at least one lateral member extending between the catheter and stabilization hubs, and a fluidic channel. The frame operates in a folded configuration in which the hubs are coupleable and an unfolded configuration in which the anchoring points are distributed around the insertion site to anchor the frame to the patient, thereby stabilizing the catheter. In some embodiments, the system further includes a septum that helps prevent fluid leakage from the catheter hub, or a needle shield that covers the distal end of a needle used during catheter insertion.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for providing a user with feedback on their technique when using an oral care device. The method includes recording one or more previous oral care sessions and identifying one or more oral care habits based on the recorded one or more previous oral care sessions. Feedback is generated for encouraging the user to adjust an oral care habit of the one or more oral care habits and the user is provided with the feedback during a subsequent oral care session.

Abstract: A power device having a tubular housing (112) and a wired communication assembly for coupling a user interface assembly (118) and an internal assembly (114). The wired communication assembly includes a flexible ribbon cable (116) having a first end portion (138) configured to be coupled to the user interface assembly (118), a second end portion (142) configured to be coupled to the internal assembly (114), and a flexible middle portion (140). During insertion of the internal assembly (114) into the housing (112), the flexible ribbon cable (116) folds into a curved shape such that the flexible ribbon cable (116) nests inside the tubular housing (112) after the internal assembly (114) is completely inserted and the flexible ribbon cable (116) does not interfere with operation of the internal assembly (114).

Abstract: According to an aspect there is provided a motor (1) for a personal care device (10). The motor (1) comprises: a stator (2) comprising a stator surface; a rotor (3) comprising a rotor surface disposed opposite the stator surface; and a spacer (4) projecting between the stator surface and the rotor surface so as to define a minimum airgap between the stator (2) and the rotor (3). The spacer (4) is disposed on or at one of the rotor surface and the stator surface, and has a contact surface configured to engage with the other one of the rotor surface and the stator surface.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for controlling an operation of an electrical toothbrush with an interchangeable brush head. The method includes obtaining an existing operation mode of the electrical toothbrush and identifying a new interchangeable brush head when the new interchangeable brush head is provided to the electrical toothbrush. A new operation mode associated with the new interchangeable brush head is identified, the new operation mode being different from the existing operation mode. An input is requested from a user to confirm that the operation of the electrical toothbrush should change to the new operation mode. The operation mode of the electrical toothbrush is then changed to the new operation mode or maintained in the existing operation mode based on the user input.

Abstract: A method (200) for manufacturing a brush head (10) includes: (i) positioning (210) a first end (23) of each of a plurality of bristle tufts (21) into a tuft plate (110) comprising a plurality of cavities (120) each configured to receive at least one of the plurality of bristle tufts; (ii) applying (220) a force, via a profile plate (300), to a second end (25) of the plurality of bristle tufts, wherein the profile plate comprises a predetermined shape complementary to a desired profile configuration of the bristle tufts; and (iii) applying (230) heat to each of the first ends of the plurality of bristle tufts, via a die plate (400) comprising at least one cavity (410) configured to receive at least one of the plurality of the first ends, at a temperature sufficient to at least partially melt each of the first ends into the cavity.

Abstract: A personal care device (10) configured to generate a feedback signal in response to excessive pressure applied by a user includes: a body portion (12) comprising a first interacting portion (40); a shaft (24) comprising a second interacting portion (42), wherein the shaft and the second interacting portion are moveable, in response to a force applied by the user, from a first position in which the first interacting portion does not physically interact with the second interacting portion, to a second position in which the first interacting portion physically interacts with the second interacting portion; and a sensor (70) configured to detect the physical interaction between the first interacting portion and the second interacting portion, and further configured to activate a feedback signal, in response to the detection of the physical interaction, to the user that excessive pressure is being applied.

Abstract: An integrated vascular delivery system and method of use, the system including: a frame having a catheter hub that provides a first anchoring point on the patient and receives a catheter insertable in the patient to transfer fluid at an insertion site, a stabilization hub that provides a second anchoring point on the patient, at least one lateral member extending between the catheter and stabilization hubs, and a fluidic channel. The frame operates in a folded configuration in which the hubs are coupleable and an unfolded configuration in which the anchoring points are distributed around the insertion site to anchor the frame to the patient, thereby stabilizing the catheter. In some embodiments, the system further includes a septum that helps prevent fluid leakage from the catheter hub, or a needle shield that covers the distal end of a needle used during catheter insertion.

Abstract: A user device may receive video associated with a patient, wherein the video depicts physiological activity involving the patient. The user device may receive profile information associated with the patient. The user device may obtain, from the video, image data using an image processing model. The user device may analyze the image data to generate a patient signature associated with the image data, wherein the patient signature is representative of the physiological activity. The user device may access a reference data structure that includes a plurality of reference signatures. The user device may identify that the patient signature is associated with a reference signature of the plurality of reference signatures, wherein the reference signature is associated with a health condition. The user device may perform an action associated with the health condition and the patient.

Abstract: A personal care appliance having a brush head assembly, the brush head assembly including a neck having a first end and a second end, a brush head arranged proximate the first end of the neck. The brush head including a first face fixedly secured to a plurality of bristles, the plurality of bristles arranged to extend from the first face in a first direction, and a second face arranged to create a first frictional force between the second face and an oral environment in a second direction, and create a second frictional force between the second face and the oral environment in a third direction.

Abstract: An oral irrigator having an irrigator tip, the tip including a handle portion, a tip portion, a channel in fluid communication with the tether and arranged within the handle portion and the tip portion, and an actuator located on or within the handle portion, the actuator arranged to at least partially altar a flow of a fluid through the channel. The oral irrigator further includes a housing, the housing having a reservoir in fluid communication with a pump sub-assembly, a sensor arranged to measure a first pressure or first electrical load within the pump sub-assembly, and a control unit arranged to control an operational current provided to the pump sub-assembly where operation of the actuator produces a second pressure or electrical load measured by the sensor and the control unit is arranged to alter the operational current of the motor in response to the change.

Abstract: An oral care appliance having a housing, the housing including a tip and a body. The body is pivotably, rotationally, or translationally secured to the tip and further includes a sensor. The body also includes a control unit arranged to receive at least one input signal from the sensor and switch the oral care appliance from a first mode to a second mode in response to the at least one input signal from the sensor. The at least one input signal corresponding the tip being pivoted, rotated, or translated from a first position to a second position.

Abstract: A safety needle system operable with a medical device includes: a housing with a needle mount having a needle; and a sheath telescopically engaged with the housing and surrounding the needle such that the sheath operates in a retracted position, in which the sheath exposes the needle, and an extended position, in which the sheath surrounds the needle. The sheath is coupleable to the medical device such that removal of the needle from the medical device draws the sheath over the needle, transitioning the sheath from the retracted position to the extended position. In one embodiment, the system includes a slider engaged with the sheath and/or housing and including a restraint that engages and disengages the sheath to respectively reinforce and weaken the coupling of the sheath and medical device. In another embodiment, the sheath includes a longitudinal track that slidingly engages a setting of the housing between sheath positions.

Abstract: According to an aspect there is provided a motor (1) for a personal care device (10). The motor (1) comprises: a stator (2) comprising a stator surface; a rotor (3) comprising a rotor surface disposed opposite the stator surface; and a spacer (4) projecting between the stator surface and the rotor surface so as to define a minimum airgap between the stator (2) and the rotor (3). The spacer (4) is disposed on or at one of the rotor surface and the stator surface, and has a contact surface configured to engage with the other one of the rotor surface and the stator surface.

Abstract: A method and system for identifying an attachment of a personal care device (10). The method includes attaching an attachment (14) containing a memory (16) to a body portion (12) of a personal care device. The personal care device is powered up. Data is retrieved from the memory of the attachment. Information about the attachment attached to the personal care device is extracted from the retrieved data, the information including at least an association of the attachment to a specific user. An output characteristic of a status indicator (30) of the personal care device is associated with the ID (22) of the attachment. The status indicator is operated in accordance with the output characteristic when the attachment is coupled to the body portion of the personal device.