Abstract: The present invention provides a wet suction attachment with which a dry-type vacuum cleaner can be easily modified so as to function as a wet-type vacuum cleaner.

Abstract: A dust collector having a hose clamp, comprising a dust collection power head, a dust bucket and a hose; wherein the dust collection power head is arranged on the dust bucket, one end of the hose is in communication with the dust bucket; and the dust collector further comprises a hose clamp which is comprised of a first baffle, a second baffle and an elastic resetting member; at least one of the first baffle and the second baffle is a rotatable baffle, and a resetting force generated by the elastic resetting member acts on the rotatable baffle. Due to action of a torsional spring, the first and second baffles can always clamp the hose tightly while accommodating the hose. When the operator takes the hose down, the second baffle can be opened automatically to a certain angle along with the operator's action, so the hose can be taken out.

Abstract: A vacuum cleaner nozzle with a roller attachment including a vacuum cleaner nozzle having a base, a circular outlet opening, and a substantially rectangular inlet opening. A right side support of a pair of side supports is attached to an interior surface of a right side of the base within the inlet opening, and a left side support of the pair of side supports is attached to an interior surface of a left side of the base within the inlet opening. An axle is continuously disposed between the right side support and the left side support. A roller is continuously disposed around the axle. The right collar of a pair of collars is attached to a right surface of the roller, and a left collar of the pair of collars is attached to a left surface of the roller.

Abstract: A cleaning system. The system has a floor cleaning device, disposable floor sheet removably attachable to the device pad, and a rotatable beater bar. The device has a single wheel, and moves on the target surface by rolling action of the wheel and gliding of the floor sheet. This arrangement, not having multiple wheels, provides enhanced maneuverability, and improves cleaning performance. The cleaning system may be used to clean hard surfaces, such as a floor.

Abstract: A cyclone separation device includes a cyclone chamber and an airflow guiding member. The cyclone chamber includes an air inlet, an annular sidewall forming an air receiving region therein communicating with the air inlet and guiding an airflow to flow spirally in the air receiving region, and a dust collecting region and an air outlet disposed at two ends of the cyclone chamber along an axis of the cyclone chamber. The dust collecting region communicates with the air receiving region. The airflow guiding member is disposed at the dust collecting region, and includes an airflow guiding chamber, at least one airflow entry opening communicating with the dust collecting region and airflow guiding chamber, and an airflow discharge opening communicating with the airflow guiding chamber and disposed on the axis of the cyclone chamber to face the air outlet and output the airflow to form an air discharging region.

Abstract: A mobile robot system is provided that includes a docking station having at least two pose-defining fiducial markers. The pose-defining fiducial markers have a predetermined spatial relationship with respect to one another and/or to a reference point on the docking station such that a docking path to the base station can be determined from one or more observations of the at least two pose-defining fiducial markers. A mobile robot in the system includes a pose sensor assembly. A controller is located on the chassis and is configured to analyze an output signal from the pose sensor assembly. The controller is configured to determine a docking station pose, to locate the docking station pose on a map of a surface traversed by the mobile robot and to path plan a docking trajectory.

Abstract: A cleaning tool 10 having at least one side opening 41 and a cleaning roll 50 at a cleaning head 30, wherein a dust guide surface 42 for leading dust from a surface to be cleaned to the side opening 41 is provided along a lower end of the side opening 41; the cleaning roll 50 is formed of an elastic roll having a surface covered with a thin film 53, and is rotatably arranged in a position to close the side opening 41 and to be in contact with the surface to be cleaned; and the cleaning roll 50 rotating according to movement of the cleaning head 30 takes the dust through the dust guide surface 42 into the side opening 41 while pushing the dust against the surface to be cleaned.

Abstract: A carpet cleaning system having a single, hand-held wand and mounted on it, a pre-spray canister, a venturi tee fluidly connected thereto, and valves for directing pressurized hot water into first and/or second flow streams. Downstream of a flow-splitting tee, a single valve regulates the first flow stream; and a pair of valves, sandwiching the venturi tee, regulate the second flow stream. This pair also controls cleaning solution discharging from the pre-spray canister via the venturi tee. Positioned at the operator's fingertips are the single valve's handle and a bar for moving the paired valves' handles simultaneously, thus allowing one to momentarily turn on or off either flow stream or adjust a mix thereof. Importantly, without interrupting any steam cleaning then in progress, one can immediately reapply the cleaning solution to a stain and, as a consequence, substantially upgrade the quality of the finished carpet cleaning job.

Abstract: A floor-cleaning robot having a chassis for moving the floor-cleaning robot in a direction of travel over a surface to be cleaned, a cleaning implement, a control unit and first and second measuring devices for three-dimensional distance measurement. Each of the first and second measuring devices is configured to sense distance between the measuring device and a plurality of surface elements within a respective solid angle that is spanned from the measuring device. The first and second measuring devices are aligned in such a manner that the direction of travel runs through the first solid angle. The second solid angle is offset in relation to the first solid angle. The control unit is designed to generate and/or update a representation of the surface to be cleaned, on the basis of the distances from surface elements sensed by first and second measuring devices.

Abstract: A mopping system incorporating a multi-use absorptive storage reservoir of fluid retaining material for retention and pressure-induced expulsion of treatment solution to a surface being treated in combination with an independently removable cleaning pad of fibrous construction. The storage reservoir and cleaning pad are adapted to releaseably engage one another in juxtaposed relation such that the cleaning pad may be readily replaced during a treatment operation.

Abstract: Disclosed is a holder for holding cleaning tool heads, particularly mop heads, including a central section, two latchable folding wings, which are pivotably mounted on the central section, a latching device to latch the two folding wings in a pivoted position in relation to the central section, and a device for releasing the latching of the latched folding wings in relation to the central section, such that said folding wings can be pivoted. The latching device is preloaded to the state in which the two folding wings are latched in such a manner that, when the latching is released, the holder automatically latches the folding wings by means of the latching device when the two folding wings are moved to a state in which the lower surfaces of the two folding wings are substantially in one plane.

Abstract: An automatic dishwasher includes a wash tub, a condensation dryer, and a heat pump device. The wash tub includes a washing compartment, the condensation dryer is adapted to supply outside air to a washtub wall, and the heat pump device is adapted to heat washing liquid. The heat pump device and the condensation dryer have a common fan.

Abstract: A lesion evaluation information generator including a processor configured to, when executing processor-executable instructions stored in a memory, determine a hue value and a saturation value of each of pixels of an endoscopic image based on an acquired endoscopic color image data, determine, for at least a part of the pixels of the endoscopic image, a correlation value between color information of each individual pixel and reference color data, based on a hue correlation value between the hue value of each individual pixel and a reference hue value of the reference color data, and a saturation correlation value between the saturation value of each individual pixel and a reference saturation value of the reference color data, and generate an evaluation value for evaluating a severity of a lesion in the endoscopic image, by integrating the correlation value of each individual pixel.

Abstract: In an image processing apparatus, a storage circuit stores a parameter of a display processing characteristic in each display device and a parameter of a target value of image quality. The parameter of a target value of image quality includes a parameter of image processing of an image processing circuit to display a predetermined image quality and a parameter of display processing of the display device. An adjustment of image quality in the image processing apparatus is performed by adjusting a processing parameter when performing image processing on the image data that is output to the display device based on the parameter of the display processing characteristic corresponding to the display device that is a destination and on the parameter of the target value of image quality.

Abstract: The objective lens for an endoscope substantially consists of a first lens group having a negative refractive power, a stop, and a second lens group having a positive refractive power in this order from the object side. The first lens group consists of a single negative lens. The second lens group consists of two or fewer lenses. When the focal length of the first lens group is f1 and the focal length of the entire system is f, conditional expression (1): ?0.9<f1/f<0 is satisfied.

Abstract: A control apparatus for use in endoscopes or the like is provided which allows a user to work without fatigue. The control apparatus includes a proximal and distal end sections, each of which has an articulation zone, and a central section arranged therebetween, an outer hollow-cylindrical shaft, an inner cylindrical shaft, and a control element arranged between the shafts and having two or more force-transmitting longitudinal elements extending substantially from the proximal to the distal end section for coupling movement of the distal end section with movement of the proximal articulation section. The longitudinal elements are arranged in spaced-apart relation to one another at substantially regular angular distances which, as measured in a circumferential direction, are selected such that the longitudinal elements are guided without contact in a circumferential direction and optionally guided in contact with the outer and/or the inner shaft in a radial direction.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a video system for viewing an object on a body, including an endoscopic lens for capturing an image, an endoscopic camera head attached to the endoscopic lens for transmitting the image, and a camera control unit attached to the endoscopic camera head for receiving the transmitted image. The endoscopic lens has a field of view, where the object is within the field of view. The endoscopic camera lens has a depth of field between approximately 10 mm and approximately 15 mm. The system also has an arm attached to the endoscopic lens for holding the endoscopic lens between approximately 180 mm and approximately 220 mm away from the surgical field. The magnified image is conveniently seen on large high definition screen.

Abstract: An endoscope includes a flexible tube and a connection mouth ring. The flexible tube includes a helical tube, a braid tube disposed outside the helical tube, and an outer tube disposed outside the braid tube. The endoscope further includes a caulking member which caulks the end of the braid tube from the outside of the connection mouth ring in a state held therebetween. The end of the helical tube is connected by thermal action to the connection mouth ring, and a part where the end of the helical tube is connected to the connection mouth ring is positioned differently along the axis of the connection mouth ring from a part where the end of the braid tube is caulked against the connection mouth ring.

Abstract: Medical devices, systems and methods that are useable to facilitate transnasal insertion and positioning of guidewires and various other devices and instruments at desired locations within the ear, nose, throat, paranasal sinuses or cranium. Direct viewing of such placements via an endoscope.

Abstract: At least two distinct electrical members each having electrical elements are provided. The electrical members are moveable with respect to each other and one or more sensors determine the relative position of the electrical members. The electrical members may be used in a medical device such as an endoscopic system.

Abstract: Image processing systems are described which utilize various methods and processing algorithms for enhancing or facilitating visual detection and/or sensing modalities for images captured in vivo by an intravascular visualization and treatment catheter. Such assemblies are configured to deliver energy, such as RF ablation, to an underlying target tissue for treatment in a controlled manner while directly visualizing the tissue during the ablation process.

Abstract: A compact light source includes an LED for supplying light and an optical element that receives and transmits the light. The LED is disposed in an insulation housing to insulate the LED, which has a surface that conducts the heat it generates. A heat sink is coupled to the LED adjacent the conductive surface, and a thermal compound is sandwiched in between the heat sink and conductive surface in order to channel and dissipate the heat generated by the LED without heating up any surrounding structures. In some embodiments, the optical element is part of a collimator coupled to the insulation housing and is a doublet or plano convex lens.

Abstract: An air gap retractor illumination system includes any suitable retractor such as a McCulloch with a channel in the blade to accommodate an air gap illuminator. The illuminator is preferably made from a suitable light conducting plastic material such as acrylic or polycarbonate or silicone. The illuminator has active portions in which light passes and inactive or dead zones in which light does not pass as a result of the configuration and orientation of the input, output and surfaces of the illuminator. The illuminator is formed to have an air gap surrounding any active portion of the illuminator extending from the light input to the light output portion. The dead zones may include elements to allow the illuminator to securely engage the retractor.

Abstract: Instruments and methods are described for performing hysteroscopy and/or combined hysteroscopy and endometrial biopsy. According to some embodiments, the handle, electronics and integrated display screen form a re-usable portion of the instrument while the fluid hub and cannula which includes a CMOS imaging module and LED lighting, form a single use portion of the instrument. The cannula is semi-flexible such that the operator can easily grasp the cannula at some intermediate point along the shaft (e.g. 5 inches from the distal tip) to bend and/or steer the cannula during use. According to some embodiments, the distal tip has a larger diameter than the shaft which has been found to improve fluid management during use in some applications.

Abstract: An ophthalmic endo-illumination system includes a light source that produces a light beam, a fiber port that receives an optical fiber, a condenser that couples at least a portion of the light beam into the optical fiber received at the fiber port, and a beam splitter disposed between the fiber port and the condenser. The beam splitter is configured to receive the light beam from the condenser and split the light beam into a first beam which is coupled to the optical fiber and a second beam which is coupled to a monitoring fiber. An optical sensor is provided to detect an amount of the second beam output from the monitoring fiber. The coupling efficiency of the first beam coupled into the optical fiber may be determined based on the amount of the second beam output from the monitoring fiber.

Abstract: A system includes a model eye and an optical measurement instrument, which includes: a corneal topography subsystem; a wavefront sensor subsystem; and an eye structure imaging subsystem. The subsystems may have a common fixation axis, and be operatively coupled to each other via a controller. The optical measurement instrument may perform measurements of the model eye to verify correct operation of the optical measurement instrument for measuring one or more characteristics of a subject's eye. The model eye may include an optically transmissive structure having a front curved surface and an opposite rear planar surface, and a material structure provided at the rear planar surface of the optically transmissive structure and having a characteristic to cause a speckle pattern of a portion of a coherent light beam that is directed back out the front curved surface of the optically transmissive structure to have a bright-to-dark ratio of less than 2:1.

Abstract: An instrument for measuring near point of convergence (NPC) and/or near point of accommodation (NPA) is disclosed herein. The instrument includes at least one visual target disposed on or in the instrument, the at least one visual target viewable by a subject that is facing the instrument; a distance measuring device configured to emit one or more output signals that are representative of a distance between a surface of the instrument and a body surface of the subject spaced apart from the surface of the instrument; and a processing device operatively coupled to the distance measuring device, the processing device configured to receive the one or more output signals that are output by the distance measuring device and to calculate the distance between the surface of the instrument and the body surface of the subject spaced apart from the surface of the instrument using the one or more output signals.

Abstract: Methods for determining a prescription (Rx) for a person include providing aberrometric data characterizing wavefront errors of the person's eye, the aberrometric data being obtained using an wavefront sensor and comprising one or more coefficients characterizing the wavefront errors; determining a starting Rx for the person's eye based on the one or more coefficients and on predetermined information relating aberrometric data and subjective refraction data for a plurality of people's eyes; and reporting the starting Rx to an eye care professional.

Abstract: A rear-facing pupil diameter sensing system for an ophthalmic lens comprising an electronic system is described herein. The rear-facing pupil diameter sensing system is part of an electronic system incorporated into the ophthalmic lens. The electronic system includes one or more batteries or other power sources, power management circuitry, one or more sensors, clock generation circuitry, control algorithms and circuitry, and lens driver circuitry. The rear-facing pupil diameter sensing system is utilized to determine pupil position and use this information to control various aspects of the ophthalmic lens.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate to eye tracking systems and methods which track eyes by illuminating the eyes using a light source and detecting the eye illuminations using a sensor. Implementations of the present disclosure may utilize a light source with a dynamic lighting position to account for changes in lighting conditions during the tracking which interfere with detection of the eye illuminations, such as reflections in glasses which may obscure a user's eyes.

Abstract: A fundus imaging apparatus for acquiring a fundus image; and a measurement unit that extracts a characteristic image of a fundus image from a first fundus image captured by the fundus imaging apparatus, detects the characteristic image from a second fundus image that is different from the fundus image, and measures a position change in the fundus images from coordinates of the extracted characteristic image and the detected characteristic image in the respective fundus images, wherein a region in which the characteristic image is detected from the second fundus image is determined so that a region searched for the characteristic image from the first image includes the extracted characteristic image and is broader than a range of movement of the characteristic image resulting from movements of the eye ball within measurement time.

Abstract: To promptly take a high quality image of an object to be inspected, provided is an imaging method for taking an image of the object to be inspected by irradiating the object to be inspected with measuring light, in which an aberration generated in the object to be inspected is corrected by an aberration correction unit. The method includes the repeatedly performed steps of measuring the aberration generated in the object to be inspected, correcting the aberration by controlling the aberration correction unit in accordance with the measured aberration, and storing, in a storage unit, a control state of the aberration correction unit in association with the measured aberration. The aberration correction unit is controlled in a predetermined control state stored in the storage unit.

Abstract: An ophthalmologic apparatus includes an aberration measuring unit configured to measure wavefront aberration of returning light, and a reflective optical modulation device configured to modulate the returning light. A control unit controls the reflective optical modulation device to correct the wavefront aberration of the returning light based on a measurement result of the aberration measuring unit. The reflective optical modulation device includes a reflection mirror of which the diameter of an effective region (effective diameter) that reflects the measurement light or the returning beam is 7.5 mm or less, and 61 or more actuators that act on the reflection mirror within the effective diameter. Each of the actuators includes an interdigital electrode having a maximum displacement of 7.5 ?m or more.

Abstract: The present invention essentially consists of an integrated system that allows acquisition and quantitative analysis of high-resolution images of the retina. The integrated system includes an optical device and a software app. The optical device is a smartphone-adapted lens for acquisition of high-resolution images of the retina. The software app is a smartphone app for quantitative analysis of the retinal images acquired through the hardware component of the device. The computation is carried out by means of cloud-based technologies. Quantitative indices of retinal damage are obtained. These indices are proven for being relevant for both clinical and research purposes.

Abstract: A system and method for data processing is disclosed. One example of a processor-based method comprises accessing data representative of a time series of at least one component of a timed waveform corresponding to a pulse, and searching the data for an occurrence of a cluster of variations induced by at least one of an apnea cluster and a hypopnea cluster. An exemplary system comprises a memory device adapted to access data representative of a time series of at least one component of a timed waveform corresponding to a pulse, and a processor adapted to search the data for an occurrence of a cluster of variations induced by at least one of an apnea cluster and a hypopnea cluster.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus, a method and a computer program for determining a lipid-water ratio and a scattering parameter of a sample. In particular, the invention relates to an apparatus comprising a light source and a detector arranged to measure an optical parameter at various wavelengths, where the wavelengths are selected so that at two of the wavelengths the absorption coefficients for both water and lipids are substantially identical. This enables determination of a scattering parameter. A further measurement at a third wavelength enables determination of a water-lipid ratio. According to a specific embodiment, the light source and the detector are arranged in relation to an interventional device, so as to be able to examine a tissue in terms of lipid-water ratio and scattering during an intervention.

Abstract: A system and method for identifying metabolic activity within the heart muscle (myocardium). Metabolic activity is determined through spectrographic analysis of the myocardium. More particularly, oxygen saturation of the myocardium is measured through the spectrographic analysis, and metabolic activity is measured by a decrease in oxygen saturation of the myocardium over time.

Abstract: A diagnostic system comprises a spectral image shooting means that shoots a spectral image within a predetermined wavelength range in a body cavity and obtains spectral image data, an image processing means that obtains the spectral image data and calculates an indicator indicating an area having a high possibility of a diseased portion from the spectral image data, and a monitor on which the indicator is displayed, and wherein the image processing means calculates, as the indicator, a ratio between an accumulated value of intensity values of all spectral images in the predetermined wavelength range and an intensity value of spectral images in a particular wavelength band, for each coordinate in the spectral image.

Abstract: A user's information uploaded onto a computer. Target data are selected and are downloaded to a wearable monitoring unit (WMU). The WMU includes a heart rate monitor, a unit accelerometer, a GPS, one or more force-micro-sensors, and an audio and/or video output. The audio/video output may provide information to the user. A display provides a continuously updated visual indication of whether the use has achieved the preselected optimum expenditures for a time segment. The WMU has an internal calendar/clock, a processor and/or memory. The processor compares measured heart rate and energy expenditure for multiple time segments against target levels stored as the user-specific wellness or rehabilitative physiotherapy program. The comparison is used to generate compliance output data.

Abstract: A system for detecting acute ischemia includes at least two sensors configured for obtaining electrical signals from a patient's heart, analog-to-digital converter circuitry for digitizing the signal to produce data segments, and a processor configured to analyze data segments to determine if they represent an abnormal heart rhythm. Certain types of abnormal rhythm segments are also checked for acute ischemia. If enough of the abnormal heart rhythm segments manifest acute ischemia, a first type of alarm event is generated. If persistent abnormal heart rhythm segments do not manifest acute ischemia, a second type of alarm event is generated.

Abstract: An implantable electrode lead for transmitting electrical impulses to excitable bodily tissue and/or for transmitting electrical signals tapped at bodily tissue to a detection unit. The electrode lead including a distal electrode, a proximal electrode connector, and an electrode supply lead which connects the electrode, or each electrode, to the electrode connector, or each electrode connector, and extends in a lead body, wherein the lead body includes a hinged alignment of hard elements.

Abstract: A medical device system for monitoring a patient's heart includes an implantable medical device (IMD) configured to determine sensing vector data for multiple sensing vectors selected from electrodes coupled to the IMD. The system further includes an external device configured to receive the sensing vector data and provide at least a portion of the sensing vector data to a user display configured to display sensing vector criteria and the sensing vector data as part of a graphical user interface for programming a sensing vector used by the implantable medical device for monitoring a patient's heart rhythm.

Abstract: A method for classification of ECG beats into normal and different categories of abnormal beats. The method comprises the following steps, performed on a computing platform: a. performing a training phase comprising taking as an input one or more ECG beats that are pre-classified into the different categories, with each ECG beat decomposed into multiple features and defining membership functions for each beat category for each feature; b.

Abstract: An example system and method of reconstructing cardiac activation information are disclosed. In accordance therewith, there are accessed pairs of cardiac signals out of a plurality of cardiac signals obtained from a patient. The pairs have a first cardiac signal that is common among the pairs and second cardiac signals that are different among the pairs. The first cardiac signal and the second cardiac signals of the pairs are processed to identify points of change in the first cardiac signal at which a derivative of the first cardiac signal diverges with respect to derivatives of the second cardiac signals. An activation onset time is assigned at a point in the first cardiac signal based on correspondence of the points of change to define a cardiac activation indicating a beat.

Abstract: An electrocardiographic waveform measuring apparatus mounted in a seat with a seat skin element includes: a sensor electrode at a seat interior side of the seat to be covered with the seat skin element; an insulating elastic element at the seat interior side of the sensor electrode in the seat opposite to the seat skin element to face the sensor electrode; a guard electrode at the seat interior side of the insulating elastic element in the seat opposite to the sensor electrode to be opposed to the sensor electrode through the insulating elastic element; and a housing case at the seat interior side of the insulating elastic element in the seat opposite to the sensor electrode to be opposite to the insulating elastic element. The housing case accommodates a sensor circuit with an amplifier circuit, to which a potential signal of the sensor electrode is initially input.

Abstract: A connection facility for connecting an electrocardiogram electrode to a data acquisition and/or transfer facility includes a signal line and a connecting element for connecting the signal line to the electrocardiogram electrode. The connecting element has a clamping body with two clamping jaws connected by an elastic reset element between a front and a rear end of the clamping body, and a contact element for making contact with the electrocardiogram electrode arranged at the front end of the clamping body and connected in an electrically conducting manner to the signal line. The connecting element has a grip region, in which the jaw width is wider than the jaw width at the front end. The contact element is arranged centrally in the jaw width of the clamping jaws and has an extension in the direction of the jaw width, which is smaller than the jaw width at the front end.

Abstract: A sensor for contactless electrocardiographic measurement of a person has at least one electrically conductive, planar electrode having a measurement surface facing the person and a connection surface facing away from the person. An electrical terminal for connection with a measurement apparatus is spaced from the connection surface such that the connection surface is only placed in electrical connection with the terminal when pressure of a required magnitude is applied to the measurement. The electrical connection may be achieved by a switching contact disposed between the electrode and the terminal which is brought into contact with both the electrode and the terminal when the electrode is deflected toward the terminal by the pressure. A compressible material is disposed between the electrode and the terminal to allow tuning of the pressure required to achieve electrical contact.

Abstract: A method for graphical representation of a train of ECG complexes having an R wave and a T-P interval and having variable isoelectric baselines. The method involves aligning the complexes in terms of signal amplitude by obtaining a baseline, thereby to provide a graphical representation of said train of ECG complexes; and aligning said complexes temporally using corresponding predetermined points.

Abstract: Techniques for determining paced cardiac depolarization waveform morphological templates are described. For example, an implantable medical device (IMD) may sense a cardiac electrogram of a heart, identify cardiac depolarizations within the cardiac electrogram, and determine that the cardiac depolarizations are paced cardiac depolarizations resulting from delivery of a pacing pulse to the heart by another IMD without detecting the pacing pulse and without communicating with the other IMD. The IMD may identify paced cardiac depolarization waveforms of the paced cardiac depolarizations, determine a paced cardiac depolarization waveform morphological template based on the identified paced cardiac depolarization waveforms, determine a normal cardiac depolarization waveform morphological template based on the paced cardiac depolarization waveform morphological template, and compare the normal cardiac depolarization waveform morphological template to subsequent cardiac depolarization waveforms.

Abstract: The appliance includes a brushhead having conductive fiber bristles by which a potential is applied to electrochemically activate a teeth whitening substance, such as peroxide, in the vicinity of the teeth. An impedance appliance system (62) or an optical appliance system (27) provides information concerning whether the conductive fiber bristles are adjacent a tooth surface or gum region. The impedance system uses an electrical signal through the fiber to determine the impedance of a circuit which includes the tooth or gum surface, the impedance being different, depending on whether a tooth or gum surface is in the circuit. The optical system generates a light beam which is directed to the mouth surface through a conductive fiber, the color of the returning light indicating whether the surface is a tooth or gum region. If a tooth is determined, the teeth whitening substance is activated at that bristle, while if gum tissue is determined, the teeth whitening substance is not activated at that bristle.