# US 9,517,015 B2 · Dental apparatus and method of utilizing the same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,517,015 B2 - Document ID: US9517015B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/649,575 - Filed: 2013-11-14 - Published: 2015-10-22 - Granted: 2016-12-13 - Earliest claimed: 2012-12-21 - Assignees: Koninklijke Philips N.V. - Applicants: Koninklijke Philips N.V. - Inventors: Steven Charles Deane; Olaf Thomas Johan Antonie Vermeulen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9517015B2 ## CPC - A61B 5/0088: {for oral or dental tissue} - A46B 15/0036: {with a lighting means, e.g. laser, bulb (A46B15/0034 takes precedence)} - A61B 5/0071: {by measuring fluorescence emission} - A61B 5/7246: {using correlation, e.g. template matching or determination of similarity} - A61B 5/7282: {Event detection, e.g. detecting unique waveforms indicative of a medical condition (cough events A61B5/0823; seizures A61B5/4094; sleep apnoea A61B5/4818)} - A61C 1/0015: {Electrical systems} - A61B 2560/0223: of calibration, e.g. protocols for calibrating sensors - A61B 2560/0238: Means for recording calibration data - A61B 2576/02: specially adapted for a particular organ or body part - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - 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) ## Abstract A dental apparatus (4) is provided. The dental apparatus includes a handle (6). A controller (20) operably couples to the housing and includes a calibration module (44) configured to calibrate the dental apparatus. The dental apparatus emits a modulated excitation signal and the calibration module compares a detected modulated fluorescence signal with first and second reference values such that if a difference between the detected modulated fluorescence signal and the second reference signal is greater than a difference between the first reference value and the second reference value then the first reference value is updated. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A dental apparatus, comprising: a handle; including a shaft extending distally therefrom and a battery and motor housed therein; a toothbrush assembly configured to removably couple to the shaft; a controller operably coupled to the housing that includes a calibration module configured to calibrate the dental apparatus, wherein the dental apparatus emits a modulated excitation signal and the calibration module compares a detected modulated fluorescence signal with first and second reference values such that if a difference between the detected modulated fluorescence signal and the second reference signal is greater than a difference between the first reference value and the second reference value then the first reference value is updated; and a subsystem that is in operable communication with the controller and configured to detect the presence of dental plaque. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The dental apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a motion sensor is operably coupled to the dental apparatus and configured to detect a position of the dental apparatus in a mouth of a patient. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The dental apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the calibration module is configured to shift the first and second reference values per use of the dental apparatus to compensate for changes in one of tooth and dental plaque properties. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The dental apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the calibration module is configured to store information pertaining to at least one property associated with teeth of a user. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The dental apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controller includes memory for storing a plurality of calibration values at least one of which corresponding to a clean tooth value for setting the first reference value and at least one of which corresponding to a tooth covered with dental plaque for setting the second reference value. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The dental apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the subsystem is configured to generate an excitation signal causing an emitted fluorescence light to be reflected back to the subsystem and to the controller for analyzing at least one property of the emitted fluorescence light, the at least one property corresponding to a decay time of the emitted fluorescence light and utilized to detect the presence of dental plaque. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The dental apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the subsystem is configured to detect emitted fluorescence light in a frequency that ranges from about 10 Hz to about 10 GHz. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The dental apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a window is positioned on the toothbrush assembly adjacent a plurality of bristles provided thereon and aligns with the subsystem disposed on the shaft such that the excitation signal and the emitted fluorescence light are passable through the window. ### Claim 9 A method for detecting dental plaque at a site on a tooth, comprising: emitting a first modulated excitation calibration signal from a dental apparatus configured to detect the presence of dental plaque; comparing a difference between a detected modulated excitation calibration signal fluorescence and a second reference value with a difference between the second reference signal and a first reference signal such that if the difference between the detected modulated fluorescence signal and the second reference signal is greater than the difference between the first reference value and the second reference value then the first reference value is updated; emitting a second modulated excitation signal inside a mouth of a patient; detecting an emitted fluorescence light of the second modulated excitation signal; and analyzing at least one property of the emitted fluorescence light of the second excitation signal to detect the presence of dental plaque. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method according to claim 9, including storing information pertaining to at least one property associated with teeth of a user in a calibration module of the dental apparatus. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The method according to claim 9, including storing into memory a plurality of calibration values at least one of which corresponding to a clean tooth value for setting the first reference value and at least one of which corresponding to a tooth covered with dental plaque for setting the second reference value. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The method according to claim 9 including one of frequency modulating and time modulating the first and second excitation signals on one of a single frequency and multiple frequencies. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method according to claim 12 wherein analyzing includes analyzing one of a phase shift and amplitude of the emitted fluorescence light. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method according to claim 13, including utilizing at least one of time domain and frequency domain analysis methods to analyze the phase shift and amplitude of the emitted fluorescence light. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The method according to claim 9, including detecting the emitted fluorescence light of the second excitation signal in a frequency that ranges from about 10 Hz to about 10 GHz.