Abstract: An oral care device (10) assesses a health parameter of gingival tissue of a user by means of a force-generating module (52) to apply a momentary force to the gingival tissue by applying a burst of compressed air or a burst of liquid to the gingival tissue, a sensor (28) to obtain a plurality of optical signals from the gingival tissue over time after the momentary force has been applied, a controller (30) to quantify, based at least in part on an analysis of the plurality of optical signals, the health parameter (e.g. inflammation of the gingival tissue), wherein the health parameter is based at least in part on an amount of time the gingival tissue takes to recover to the application of force; and a feedback module (46) to provide information to the user regarding the quantified health parameter.

Abstract: A method for localizing gingival inflammation using an oral care device, comprising: emitting (520) light by one or more light emitters (42) of the oral care device; obtaining (530), at a first rate by one or more light detectors (40), reflectance measurements for a plurality of locations to generate first reflectance data; determining (540), by a controller (30) of the oral care device using the first reflectance data, whether the location comprises gingiva; obtaining (550), at a second rate by the one or more light detectors, reflectance measurements for each location determined to comprise gingiva to generate gingiva reflectance data, wherein the second rate is faster than the first rate; and determining (560), by the controller using the gingiva reflectance data, whether gingiva at that location is inflamed.

Abstract: A method (500) for localizing gingival inflammation using an oral care device (10), the method comprising: (i) emitting (520) light at a first intensity by a light emitter (42); (ii) obtaining (530) first reflectance measurements reflectance data; (iii) determining (540), by a controller (30) from the first reflectance data, whether the location comprises gingiva; (iv) automatically adjusting (550), based at least in part on the first reflectance data, the intensity of a light emitter to a second intensity different from the first intensity, and/or automatically adjusting (550) a gain of a light detector; (v) obtaining (560) a second plurality of reflectance measurements by the light detector of the oral care device for at least some of the locations; and (vi) determining (570), using the second plurality of reflectance measurements, whether gingiva at the location is inflamed.

Abstract: A method for localizing gingival inflammation using an oral care device, comprising: (i) simultaneously emitting (520) light by a plurality of light sources (48) of the oral care device, wherein at least some of the plurality of light sources emit light of different wavelengths to result in a plurality of emitted light wavelengths, wherein each of the different wavelengths is modulated with a distinct code; (ii) obtaining (530), by a light detector (40) of the oral care device, reflectance measurements from a location within the user's mouth to generate reflectance data for the location; (iii) demodulating (540), by a controller (30) of the oral care device, the obtained reflectance data; and (iv) determining (560), by the controller using the demodulated reflectance data, whether gingiva at the location is inflamed.

Abstract: The invention discloses a measurement element (100, 500, 600, 700) for an oral care device. The measurement element comprises at least one elongate ridge element (102) for engaging an interproximal region or adjacent teeth within an oral cavity, and at least a first sensing region (104) for acquiring data from gingival tissue within the oral cavity. The invention also discloses an oral care device (10), an attachment (1000) for an oral care device.

Abstract: A system (10) and method for selecting a mouthpiece (25) for a user. The method includes receiving a signal with a personal care system (10) to initiate oral arch measurements using a personal care device (12). Data is collected from a position sensor (16) related to a location of a probe (14) of the personal care device as the probe is moved about an oral arch of the user. A controller (18) of the personal care system determines a dimension of the oral arch from the data. The controller selects a mouthpiece for the user based on the dimension of the oral arch. Information identifying the mouthpiece is transmitted to the user or other intended recipient.

Abstract: A method (200) for determining a position and an orientation of a portion of a handheld personal care device relative to a user's body (50), comprising: providing (210) a handheld personal care device comprising at least one energy source (20) and at least one detector (22), both the at least one energy source and the at least one detector located within the handheld personal care device, the at least one energy source arranged at a first position and having a first orientation within the handheld personal care device; emitting (220) energy in a three dimensional space surrounding the handheld personal care device; detecting (230) a portion of the energy emitted; generating (240) sensor data; extracting (250) one or more features from the generated sensor data; and estimating (260) a position and an orientation of a portion of the handheld personal care device relative to the user's body based on the extracted one or more features.

Abstract: A method (400) for modifying a user's oral care program. The method includes the steps of: (i) providing (410) a network (200) comprising a first personal care device (10a) in communication with a second personal care device (10b); (ii) cleaning (420) at least a portion of the oral cavity using the first personal care device; (iii) obtaining (440), while cleaning with the first personal care device, sensor data for the at least a portion of the oral cavity; (iv) communicating (450) the obtained sensor data to the second personal care device; and (v) modifying (460), based on the communicated sensor data, a function of the second personal care device.

Abstract: A brush head assembly comprising: a hard platen; a plurality of bristle tufts, each of which comprises a plurality of bristle strands, each bristle tuft having a proximal end and a free end; and a flexible matrix at least partially comprised of a shear-thickening material for coupling the plurality of bristle tufts to the hard platen, wherein the flexible matrix is arranged such that there is shear-thickening material between the proximal ends of the plurality of bristle tufts and the hard platen. A method of manufacturing the brush head assembly for use with a personal care appliance.

Abstract: For localizing gingival inflammation within a user's mouth the following steps are carried out using an oral care device (10): (i) sequentially emitting (520) light by a plurality of light sources (48) in a first sequential pattern, wherein at least some of the plurality of light sources are configured to emit light of different wavelengths; (ii) sequentially emitting (530) light in a second sequential pattern which is the reverse of the first sequential pattern; (iii) obtaining (540), by a light detector (40), reflectance measurements to generate first reflectance data from light emitted in the first sequential pattern, and to generate second reflectance data from light emitted in the second sequential pattern; (iv) averaging (550), by a controller (30), first reflectance data and second reflectance data for each wavelength to generate averaged reflectance data; and (v) determining (570), using the averaged reflectance data, whether gingiva at the location is inflamed.

Abstract: The invention discloses an oral care device (100) comprising a head portion (102) having a protuberance (104) for engaging an interproximal region within an oral cavity. The oral care device (100) also comprises at least one sensor (108) for acquiring motion data for the oral care device, and a processor (110). The processor is configured to determine when the protuberance of the head portion engages an interproximal region in the oral cavity; and determine, based on motion data acquired by the at least one sensor as the protuberance moves between interproximal regions, a position of the head portion of the oral care device in the oral cavity. An oral care system and a method of determining a position of an oral care device in an oral cavity are also disclosed.

Abstract: A system and method of determining and notifying a user when to replace a worn dental cleaning head (104), comprises receiving, from a sensor (106), at least one measured value; calculating, using the measured value, a burn metric of the dental cleaning head; modeling, using the burn metric, an estimated lifetime of the dental cleaning head; determining, from the lifetime model, whether the dental cleaning head is in need of replacement; and notifying the user upon determining that the dental cleaning head is in need of replacement.

Abstract: A method (800) for adjusting a user's oral care routine by an oral care device (10) based on interproximal spacing, the method including the steps of: (i) obtaining (820), using the oral care device, information about an interproximal space (66) in the user's mouth; and (ii) automatically adjusting (850), based on the obtained information, a parameter of the oral care device, wherein the dynamic adjustment is configured to improve oral care of the interproximal space.

Abstract: A plaque detection system is presented including a dental implement and a multi-mode optical waveguide for receiving fluorescence light from a plurality of angles, the fluorescence light traveling along a core of the multimode optical waveguide at different path lengths resulting in modal dispersion. The plaque detection system also includes a detector configured to receive the fluorescence light for detecting plaque, calculus, and/or caries, and communicating plaque identification information of teeth based on frequency domain lifetime measurements. The modal dispersion is used to detect at least one plaque, calculus, and or caries fluorescence area on the teeth. The plaque fluorescence area detected with modal dispersion includes different levels of plaque with respect to a center point of the plaque fluorescence area. Thus, a plaque detection signal depends on a radial distance from the center point of the plaque fluorescence area.

Abstract: A method (300) for detecting one or more caries using an imaging device (10), the method including the steps of: (i) directing (320) light from a first light source (12) toward a tooth (40); (ii) measuring (340), with an optical sensor (16), transmission of light from the first light source through the tooth; (iii) directing (330) light from a second light source (14) toward the tooth, wherein the second light source directs light at the tooth at a different angle relative to the first light source; (iv) measuring (350), with the optical sensor, reflectance from the tooth of light from the second light source; (v) comparing (360) the measured transmission to the measured reflectance; and (vi) determining (370), based at least in part on said comparison, whether a caries is present in the tooth.

Abstract: A method (500) for characterizing a personal care device (10). The method includes the steps of: (i) providing (510) a personal care device comprising a plurality of tufts (18), where a first one (18a) of the plurality of tufts includes a first tactile sensor (38a) and comprises a first angle relative to a device head, and further where a second one (18b) of the plurality of tufts includes a second tactile sensor (38b) and comprises a second angle relative to the device head; (ii) generating (520), in response to interaction of the plurality of tufts with a use surface (40), first sensor data by the first tactile sensor and second sensor data by the second tactile sensor; and (iii) characterizing (530), by the controller using the first sensor data and the second sensor data, a position of the personal care device within the use area.

Abstract: Attachment assemblies for oral hygiene devices and, in particular, attachment assemblies having improved designs to more effectively clean an individual's tongue or other inter-oral surface are described herein. These improved attachment assembly correspond, amongst other aspects, to improved fluid chamber configurations, improved fluid channel configurations, improved fluid exit hole configurations, improved air inlet hole configuration, and air channel features. Furthermore, these improvements to attachment assemblies are capable of being implemented separately from, or in combination with, one another.

Abstract: A method (700) for localizing inflammation within a user's mouth using an oral care device (10), comprising the steps of: (i) emitting (720) light by one or more light emitters (42) of the oral care device; (ii) detecting (730), by a light detector (40) of the oral care device, reflectance from a surface at each of a plurality of locations within the user's mouth to generate reflectance data for each of the plurality of locations; (iii) determining (750), by the controller, for the plurality of locations, whether gingiva at that location is inflamed; and (iv) providing (760), via a user interface (46) of the oral care device, information to the user regarding the inflamed location or locations.

Abstract: An oral care device (10) assesses a health parameter of gingival tissue of a user by means of a force-generating module (52) to apply a momentary force to the gingival tissue by applying a burst of compressed air or a burst of liquid to the gingival tissue, a sensor (28) to obtain a plurality of optical signals from the gingival tissue over time after the momentary force has been applied, a controller (30) to quantify, based at least in part on an analysis of the plurality of optical signals, the health parameter (e.g. inflammation of the gingival tissue), wherein the health parameter is based at least in part on an amount of time the gingival tissue takes to recover to the application of force; and a feedback module (46) to provide information to the user regarding the quantified health parameter.

Abstract: A powered oral care apparatus (2) has a pump-free fluid delivery system for delivering one or more fluids to the oral cavity of a user. The oral care apparatus may employ an oral care assembly (30) that has a capsule member (38) for delivering fluid through a number of openings (31, 46) in response to movement of a head (4) of the oral care apparatus. The oral care apparatus may also employ an oral care assembly (62) having a diaphragm member (84) and a mass member (88) coupled thereto wherein, in response to motion being imparted to the brushhead, the mass member and diaphragm member generate a pumping force to cause fluid to be delivered out of the oral care assembly.