# US 10,441,175 B2 · Toothbrush with removable smart device

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- Number: US 10,441,175 B2
- Document ID: US10441175B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/391,372
- Filed: 2016-12-27
- Published: 2017-07-06
- Granted: 2019-10-15
- Earliest claimed: 2015-12-31
- Assignees: Colgate-Palmolive Company
- Applicants: Colgate-Palmolive Company
- Inventors: Wen Jin Xi; Guang Sheng Guo
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10441175B2

## CPC

- A61B 5/0088: {for oral or dental tissue}
- A46B 5/02: specially shaped for holding by the hand
- A46B 9/04: {Arranged like in or} for toothbrushes
- A46B 15/0004: {with a controlling means}
- A46B 15/0034: {with a source of radiation, e.g. UV, IR, LASER, X-ray for irradiating the teeth and associated surfaces}
- A46B 15/0036: {with a lighting means, e.g. laser, bulb (A46B15/0034 takes precedence)}
- A61B 1/24: for the mouth, i.e. stomatoscopes, e.g. with tongue depressors; Instruments for opening or keeping open the mouth
- A61B 5/0022: {Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet}
- A61B 5/082: {Evaluation by breath analysis, e.g. determination of the chemical composition of exhaled breath (A61B5/083, A61B5/091 take precedence)}
- A61B 5/1032: {Determining colour of tissue for diagnostic purposes}
- A61B 5/742: {using visual displays (displays for heart-related electrical signals, e.g. ECG, A61B5/339)}
- A46B 15/0008: {with means for controlling duration, e.g. time of brushing}
- A46B 2200/1066: Toothbrush for cleaning the teeth or dentures (A61C17/16 takes precedence; bristles arrangements for toothbrushes A46B9/04)
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- A46B: BRUSHES (handles not integral with brushware B25G)

## 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.

## Claims

### Claim 1

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.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The oral care system of claim 1, wherein the first sensor comprises a sensor for determining a position or orientation of the handle or the head with the smart device in the retained position.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The oral care system of claim 2, wherein the smart device further comprises a transmitter for transmitting information relating to the position or orientation to a receiver separate from a toothbrush comprising the handle and the head.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The oral care system of claim 3, wherein the receiver separate from the toothbrush is associated with an electronic device.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The oral care system of claim 4, wherein the electronic device is configured to run an oral health application that displays to a user information about the user's oral health.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The oral care system of claim 1, wherein the second sensor comprises an imaging sensor.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The oral care system of claim 6, wherein the imaging sensor captures an image of at least a portion of an oral cavity.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The oral care system of claim 6, wherein the imaging sensor captures a color image of at least a portion of an oral cavity.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The oral care system of claim 1, wherein the smart device further comprises a light emitter for illuminating a portion of an oral cavity.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The oral care system of claim 1, wherein the second sensor monitors breath freshness.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The oral care system of claim 10, wherein the second sensor measures a sulfur level in the breath to determine breath freshness.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The oral care system of claim 1, wherein the smart device comprises at least one of a digital gyroscope, a digital accelerometer, and a digital comparator.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The oral care system of claim 1, wherein the smart device comprises a transmitter and a power source.

### Claim 14

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.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein the parameter associated with the oral health condition is displayed on an electronic device.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, wherein a visual representation containing information relative to the parameter associated with the oral health condition is displayed with the parameter associated with the oral health condition on the electronic device.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, wherein the electronic device is a personal electronic device associated with the user.

### Claim 18 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein the transmitting the parameter associated with the oral health condition comprises transmitting the parameter to an oral health care provider.

### Claim 19 (depends on 14)

The method of claims 14, wherein the parameter associated with the oral health condition is tooth color and further comprising displaying a color image captured by the smart device to the user together with a reference image.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The method of claim 19, wherein the reference image comprises at least one of an historical image of the user's teeth, or a color scale.