# US 2019/0167399 A1 · Toothbrush and system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0167399 A1 - Document ID: US20190167399A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/261,973 - Filed: 2019-01-30 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Earliest claimed: 2016-08-30 - Assignees: Omron Healthcare Co., Ltd. - Applicants: OMRON HEALTHCARE Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Yasuhiro KAWABATA; Hideyuki YAMASHITA; Toshihiko OGURA; Hideaki YOSHIDA - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190167399A1 ## CPC - A46B 15/0002: {Arrangements for enhancing monitoring or controlling the brushing process} - A61C 17/221: {Control arrangements therefor} - A46B 9/04: {Arranged like in or} for toothbrushes - A46B 15/00: Other brushes; Brushes with additional arrangements - A46B 15/0012: {with a pressure controlling device} - A46B 15/0036: {with a lighting means, e.g. laser, bulb (A46B15/0034 takes precedence)} - A46B 15/0038: {with signalling means} - A61B 5/0088: {for oral or dental tissue} - A61C 17/22: with brushes, cushions, cups, or the like (brush bodies, e.g. arrangements of the bristles A46B) - A61C 17/222: {Brush body details, e.g. the shape thereof or connection to handle} - A61C 17/34: driven by electric motor - A61C 17/3481: {Vibrating brush body, e.g. by using eccentric weights} - A61C 19/04: Measuring instruments specially adapted for dentistry ({A61C5/44 takes precedence; testing vitality of teeth A61B5/0534;} radiation diagnosis specially adapted for dentistry A61B6/51) - A46B 2200/1066: Toothbrush for cleaning the teeth or dentures (A61C17/16 takes precedence; bristles arrangements for toothbrushes A46B9/04) - A61C 17/225: {Handles or details thereof} - A46B: BRUSHES (handles not integral with brushware B25G) - 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) - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract A toothbrush of the present invention includes: a main body including a head portion having a bristle raising surface on which bristles are provided in a standing manner; a light emission unit configured to emit light through a specific region of the bristle raising surface to a tooth surface; and a light reception unit configured to receive radiated light from the tooth surface resulting from the light through the specific region, the light emission unit and the light reception unit being provided in the main body. The toothbrush also includes a detection unit configured to collectively detect whether or not dental plaque or dental calculus is present on the tooth surface based on an output from the light reception unit. The toothbrush further includes a determination unit configured to determine that dental calculus is present on the tooth surface. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A toothbrush comprising: a main body including a head portion having a bristle raising surface on which bristles are provided in a standing manner; a light emitting diode that emits light through a specific region of the bristle raising surface to a tooth surface, and an optical filter member that receives radiated light from the tooth surface resulting from the light through the specific region, the light emitting diode and the optical filter member being provided in the main body; and a processor that collectively detects whether or not dental plaque or dental calculus is present on the tooth surface based on an output from the optical filter member, wherein the processor determines that dental calculus is present on the tooth surface when a state in which the processor detects the presence of dental plaque or dental calculus continues for a predetermined period from a start of brushing of the tooth surface. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein the processor is provided in the main body. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The toothbrush according to claim 1, further comprising: a motor that vibrates the head portion together with the bristles and is provided inside of the main body, wherein the processor performs control for reducing an intensity of vibration performed by the motor when the processor determines that dental calculus is present on the tooth surface. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The toothbrush according to claim 1, further comprising: a notification unit that performs notification of a state detected by the processor or a result of determination by the processor. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The toothbrush according to claim 4, wherein when the processor determines that dental calculus is present on the tooth surface, or when the state detected by the processor shifts from a state in which dental plaque or dental calculus is present to a state in which neither dental plaque nor dental calculus is present, the notification unit performs notification for prompting a change of a brushing region brushed with the bristles in tooth rows. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The toothbrush according to claim 1: wherein the processor detects a brushing region brushed with the bristles in tooth rows; and a memory in which data for each brushing region indicating whether or not the processor has determined that dental calculus is present on the tooth surface is stored. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The toothbrush according to claim 6, further comprising: a communication network that transmits the data stored in the memory to an external device from the main body. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) A system comprising the toothbrush according to claim 7 and a computer apparatus provided outside of a main body of the toothbrush, wherein the computer apparatus includes: a computer communication network that receives data from the memory of the toothbrush; a computer processor that processes the data from the memory and produce an image showing a region of the tooth rows in which dental calculus is present; and a display which the image produced by the computer processor is displayed.