Toothbrush with removable smart device
AssigneeColgate-Palmolive Company
InventorsWen Jin Xi, Guang Sheng Guo
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In some embodiments, an oral care system includes a toothbrush and a smart device removably retained in the toothbrush and having a plurality of sensors for sensing conditions of the oral cavity. The sensors may include sensors that obtain information while the smart device is retained in the toothbrush and sensors that obtain information while the smart device is separated from the toothbrush.
Claims20
An oral care system comprising:
- a handle extending from a proximal end to a distal end, the handle comprising a sidewall defining a receptacle in the handle and an opening to the receptacle at the proximal end of the handle;
- a head disposed proximate the distal end of the handle and comprising a tooth cleaning element;
- and
- a smart device selectively receivable in the receptacle of the handle and comprising a first sensor for acquiring first oral health data with the smart device in a retained position in the receptacle in the handle and a second sensor for acquiring second oral health data with the smart device in a removed position, separate from the handle.
A method of measuring an oral health condition using a toothbrush, the toothbrush comprising a handle having a sidewall defining a receptacle, a head disposed proximate a distal end of the handle and including a tooth cleaning element, and a smart device removably disposed in the receptacle in the handle, the smart device including a first sensor for sensing a position or a movement of the toothbrush and a second sensor for sensing a parameter associated with the oral health condition, the method comprising:
- sensing at least one of a position or a movement of the toothbrush, by the first sensor of the smart device, with the smart device retained in the receptacle in the handle;
- sensing the parameter associated with the oral health condition, by the second sensor of the smart device, with the smart device removed from the receptacle in the handle and placed in a sensing position proximate an oral cavity;
- and
- transmitting the position or the movement of the toothbrush or the parameter associated with the oral health condition.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.