# US 12,213,853 B2 · Tooth whitening system

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- Number: US 12,213,853 B2
- Document ID: US12213853B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/771,239
- Filed: 2020-10-20
- Published: 2023-01-05
- Granted: 2025-02-04
- Earliest claimed: 2019-10-22
- Assignees: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
- Applicants: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
- Inventors: Tianyi Wang
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12213853B2

## CPC

- A61C 1/0015: {Electrical systems}
- A61C 19/066: {Bleaching devices; Whitening agent applicators for teeth, e.g. trays or strips}
- H05B 45/22: using optical feedback
- H05B 47/105: in response to determined parameters
- A61C 19/003: {Apparatus for curing resins by radiation}
- A61C 19/004: {Hand-held apparatus, e.g. guns}
- A61C: DENTISTRY; APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR ORAL OR DENTAL HYGIENE (non-driven toothbrushes A46B; {tongue scrapers A61B17/24;} preparations for dentistry A61K6/00; preparations for cleaning the teeth or mouth A61K8/00, A61Q11/00)
- H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL

## Abstract

The present invention relates to a tooth whitening system (10), comprising a light source (30), a light detector (40), and a processing unit (50). The light source is configured such that a wavelength of the light emitted is adjustable over a wavelength range of operation. The detector is configured to detect light emitted from the light source. The processing unit is configured to control the light source to adjust the wavelength of the light emitted by the light source and determine a measure of absorption light detected that was emitted from the light source as the wavelength is adjusted. The processing unit is configured to utilize the determined measure of absorption to operate the light source at a wavelength at a peak in absorption.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A tooth whitening system, comprising:
a light source;
a light detector; and
a processing unit;
wherein the light source and detector are housed in a body, and the body is configured to be placed adjacent to at least one of a user's teeth;
wherein, the light source is configured such that a wavelength of the light emitted is adjustable over a wavelength range of operation;
wherein, the detector is configured to detect light emitted from the light source that is transmitted and/or reflected and/or scattered from the at least one of the user's teeth;
wherein, the processing unit is configured to:
control the light source to adjust the wavelength of the light emitted by the light source, and
determine a measure of absorption for different wavelengths on the basis of the detected light for the different wavelengths; and
wherein, the processing unit is configured to utilize the determined measure of absorption to operate the light source at a wavelength at a peak in absorption.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

Tooth whitening system according to claim 1, wherein the processing unit is configured to control the light source to adjust the wavelength of the light emitted by the light source over the wavelength range of operation of at least 400-495 nm.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

Tooth whitening system according to claim 1, wherein the system comprises further at least one light source, and wherein the processing unit is configured to operate the further at least one light source at the wavelength at the peak in absorption on the basis of the measures of absorption.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

Tooth whitening system according to claim 3, wherein the processing unit is configured to operate at a wavelength scan position associated with a maximum in determined measure of absorption.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

Tooth whitening system according to claim 1, wherein the processing unit is configured to operate at the wavelength at the peak in absorption comprising a comparison of the measures of absorption for the different wavelengths of the light emitted by the light source with one or more known absorption profiles of stain molecules.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

Tooth whitening system according to claim 1, wherein the light source is configured to operate over a range of light emission power, and wherein the processing unit is configured to control the light source to operate at an operational light power on the basis of the determined measure of absorption.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

Tooth whitening system according to claim 6, wherein the processing unit is configured to control the light source to operate at the operational light power such that an intensity of light absorbed equals a required absorption intensity.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

Tooth whitening system according to claim 1, wherein the light source and detector are housed in the body such that when the body is placed adjacent to at least one of the user's teeth the source and detector are on opposites sides of the at least one of the users' teeth.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

Tooth whitening system according to claim 1, wherein the light source and detector are housed in the body such that when the body is placed adjacent to at least one of the user's teeth the source and detector are on the same side of the at least one of the users' teeth.

### Claim 10

A tooth whitening system, comprising:
a plurality of light sources;
a plurality of light detectors; and
a processing unit;
wherein each light source is paired with a detector;
wherein the plurality of light sources and the plurality of detectors are housed in a body that is configured to be placed adjacent to a plurality of the user's teeh;
wherein, each light source is configured such that a wavelength of the light emitted is adjustable over a wavelength range of operation;
wherein, each detector is configured to detect light emitted from the paired light source that is transmitted and/or reflected and/or scattered from the at least one of the user's teeth;
wherein, for each light source and detector pair the processing unit is configured to control each light source to adjust the wavelength of the light emitted by the light source and is configured to determine a measure of absorption for different wavelengths on the basis of the detected light for the different wavelengths; and
wherein, for each light source and detector pair the processing unit is configured to utilize the determined measure of absorption to operate the light source of each light source and detector pair at a wavelength at a peak in absorption.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

Tooth whitening system according to claim 10, wherein the processing unit is configured to control each light source to operate at a wavelength independent of the operational wavelength of any of the other light sources.

### Claim 12

A method of controlling a tooth whitening device, the tooth whitening system comprising a light source, a light detector, and a processing unit, wherein the light source and detector are housed in a body and the body is configured to be placed adjacent to at least one of a user's teeth, wherein the light source is configured such that a ad to a wavelength of the light emitted is adjustable over a wavelength range of operation, wherein the detector is configured to detect light emitted from the light source that is transmitted and/or reflected and/or scattered from the at least one of the user's teeth, and wherein the method comprises:
a) controlling by the processing unit the light source to adjust the wavelength of the light emitted by the light source;
b) determining by the processing unit a measure of absorption for different wavelengths on the basis of the detected light for the different wavelengths; and
c) utilizing by the processing unit the determined measure of absorption to operate the light source at a peak in absorption.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

Method according to claim 12, wherein the system comprises further at least one light source, and the method comprises controlling by the processing unit the further at least one light source to operate at the wavelength at the peak in absorption on the basis of the measures of absorption.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

Method according to claim 13, comprising operating by the processing unit at a wavelength scan position associated with a maximum in determined measure of absorption.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

A computer program element for controlling a system according to claim 1, which when executed by the processing unit is configured to:
a) control the light source to adjust the wavelength of the light emitted by the light source;
b) determine a measure of absorption for different wavelengths on the basis of the detected light for the different wavelengths; and
c) operate the light source at a peak in absorption.

### Claim 16 (depends on 10)

A computer program element for controlling a system according to claim 10 which when executed by the processing unit is configured to:
a) control the light source to adjust the wavelength of the light emitted by the light source;
b) determine a measure of absorption for different wavelengths on the basis of the detected light for the different wavelengths; and
c) operate the light source at a peak in absorption.