U.S. patent application number 10/944740 was filed with the patent office on 2005-12-01 for mouthpiece.
Invention is credited to Suzuki, Shuhei.
Application Number | 20050266370 10/944740 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35425745 |
Filed Date | 2005-12-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050266370 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Suzuki, Shuhei |
December 1, 2005 |
Mouthpiece
Abstract
A mouthpiece of the present invention includes a light
irradiation section that irradiates the front surfaces of teeth
with light having a predetermined wavelength, and the light
irradiation section has a blue light emitting diode or ultraviolet
light emitting diode. The mouthpiece is attached to the teeth and
the front teeth are irradiated with a blue light or ultraviolet
light emitted by the light emitting diode, thereby performing teeth
whitening processing.
Inventors: |
Suzuki, Shuhei; (Tokyo,
JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WENDEROTH, LIND & PONACK, L.L.P.
2033 K STREET N. W.
SUITE 800
WASHINGTON
DC
20006-1021
US
|
Family ID: |
35425745 |
Appl. No.: |
10/944740 |
Filed: |
September 21, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
433/29 ;
433/215 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61C 19/063 20130101;
A61N 2005/0606 20130101; A61N 2005/0651 20130101; A61C 19/066
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
433/029 ;
433/215 |
International
Class: |
A61C 003/00; A61C
005/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 1, 2004 |
JP |
2004-162835 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A mouthpiece comprising: a light irradiation section that
irradiates the front surfaces of teeth with light having a
predetermined wavelength, wherein the light irradiation section has
a blue light emitting diode or ultraviolet light emitting diode,
and the teeth is irradiated with a blue light or ultraviolet light
emitted by the light emitting diode.
2. The mouthpiece according to claim 1 further comprising: a
horseshoe main body attached to an oral cavity; and a belt-like
flexible substrate embedded along the horseshoe shape of the main
body, wherein the light irradiation section is attached to the
flexible substrate.
3. The mouthpiece according to claim 2, wherein the flexible
substrate faces the front teeth when being attached to the oral
cavity, and multiple light emitting diodes are provided in a
longitudinal direction of the flexible substrate, and at least the
entirety of the front teeth is irradiated with the blue light or
ultraviolet light.
4. The mouthpiece according to claim 2, wherein the light
irradiation section sets multiple irradiation time to be selectable
by a switch.
5. The mouthpiece according to claim 4, wherein the light
irradiation section emits the blue light or ultraviolet light with
a frequency of 1 to 20 kHz.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a mouthpiece, and
particularly relates to a mouthpiece that is suitable for
performing so-called whitening processing for whitening teeth.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] In general, as an apparatus that performs teeth whitening
processing, one that is disclosed in Unexamined Japanese Patent
Publication No. 2003-242806 is known. The conventional whitening
processor irradiates teeth with ultraviolet rays using a halogen
lamp to perform teeth whitening processing.
[0005] However, in the method in which the teeth are irradiated
with ultraviolet rays using the halogen lamp to perform teeth
whitening processing, since the ultraviolet rays emitted by the
halogen lamp had high light intensity, there was difficulty in
handling the ultraviolet rays. For example, when irradiation was
continued for a long time, there was a possibility that the
surfaces of the teeth and gums around the teeth would be damaged,
and a fixed skill was required for the ultraviolet irradiation and
the help of a specialist such as a dentist was needed. Accordingly,
it has been demanded that whitening can be easily performed at
home.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide a
mouthpiece that can easily and safely perform teeth whitening
processing at home.
[0007] The present invention is a mouthpiece including a light
irradiation section that irradiates the front surfaces of teeth
with light having a predetermined wavelength. The light irradiation
section has a blue light emitting diode or ultraviolet light
emitting diode, and a blue light or ultraviolet light is emitted by
the light emitting diode.
[0008] According to the present invention, in the case where teeth
whitening processing is performed, the mouthpiece is put in the
mouth to irradiate the teeth with the blue light or ultraviolet
light from the light emitting diode of the light irradiation
section. In this way, since the teeth is irradiated with the blue
light or ultraviolet light from the light emitting diode, light
intensity is small as compared with irradiation of the ultraviolet
rays from the halogen lamp, and this brings about safety without
the possibility that the surfaces of teeth and the gums around the
teeth will be damaged. Further, since the handling is easy, teeth
whitening processing can be easily performed at home. Moreover,
since the blue light emitting diode or ultraviolet light emitting
diode is attached to the mouthpiece, the mouthpiece is only put in
the mouth to make it possible to easily perform whitening
processing.
[0009] Furthermore, according to the present invention, the
mouthpiece claim 1 further includes a horseshoe main body attached
to an oral cavity, and a belt-like flexible substrate embedded
along the horseshoe shape of the main body. The light irradiation
section is desirably attached to the flexible substrate. In this
way, since the flexible substrate is embedded in the main body of
the mouthpiece, the mouthpiece has high water resistance to the
light emitting diode and can be washed with water.
[0010] Furthermore, according to the present invention, the
flexible substrate desirably faces the front teeth when being
attached to the oral cavity and multiple light emitting diodes are
desirably provided in a longitudinal direction of the flexible
substrate, and at least the entirety of the front teeth is
desirably irradiated with the blue light or ultraviolet light. In
this way, since the multiple light emitting diodes are provided in
the longitudinal direction of the flexible substrate, the entirety
of the front teeth can be irradiated with the blue light or
ultraviolet light to eliminate the need for performing light
irradiation for each tooth to make it possible to perform whitening
processing effectively.
[0011] Still furthermore, according to the present invention, the
light irradiation section desirably sets multiple irradiation time
to be selectable by a switch. In this way, the user can select the
preset irradiation time to make it possible to adjust irradiation
time according to the individual's teeth state.
[0012] Also, the light irradiation section desirably emits the blue
light or ultraviolet light with a frequency of 1 to 20 kHz. The
reason why the frequency ranges 1 to 20 kHz in this way is as
follows. Namely, when the frequency is below 1 kHz, it is difficult
to obtain a sufficient processing effect of whitening. While, when
the frequency exceeds 20 kHz, it is difficult to obtain an effect
proportional to the high frequency, resulting in wasting power
consumption.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] These objects and other objects and advantages of the
present invention will become more apparent upon reading of the
following detailed description and the accompanying drawings in
which:
[0014] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a mouthpiece
according to a first embodiment of the present invention;
[0015] FIG. 2 is a plane view illustrating a mouthpiece shown in
FIG. 1;
[0016] FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating an extracted
flexible substrate shown in FIG. 1;
[0017] FIG. 4 is a schematic view illustrating a state that a
mouthpiece of FIG. 1 is used; and
[0018] FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a mouthpiece
according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0019] Embodiments of the present invention will be specifically
explained with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIGS. 1 to 3
illustrate a first embodiment of the present invention.
[0020] A mouthpiece 1 according to a first embodiment includes a
horseshoe main body 3 made of silicone resin attached to an oral
cavity, a belt-like flexible substrate 5 embedded in the main body
3, an electronic cable 13 connected to the flexible substrate 5,
and a controller 17 connected to an end portion of the electronic
cable 13. The flexible substrate 5 has a light irradiation section
7 that irradiates the front surfaces of teeth with light having a
predetermined wavelength.
[0021] The light irradiation section 7 includes a blue light
emitting diode 9 with a wavelength of about 450 nm. Two light
irradiation sections 7 are provided to each of a substantially
central portion and both ends in a longitudinal direction of the
flexible substrate 5 (six in all). Front teeth placed at an upper
side are irradiated with the light emitting diodes 9 attached to
the upper side of the flexible substrate 5 and front teeth place at
a lower side are irradiated with the light emitting diodes 9
attached to the lower side of the flexible substrate 5.
[0022] Moreover, a transparent plate 6 is attached to the light
irradiation section 7 to be detachable, so that blue light from the
light emitting diode 9 transmits therethrough to an external
section. Furthermore, fine concave and convex portions are formed
on a surface of the transparent plate 6 to scatter the blue light
passing through the transparent plate 6.
[0023] Moreover, the light emitting diode 9 is controlled to
provide irradiation with a frequency of 1 to 20 kHz. The reason why
the frequency ranges 1 to 20 kHz in this way is as follows. Namely,
when the frequency is below 1 kHz, it is difficult to obtain a
sufficient processing effect of whitening. While, when the
frequency exceeds 20 kHz, it is difficult to obtain an effect
proportional to the high frequency, resulting in wasting power
consumption.
[0024] The flexible substrate 5 is made of polyimide and placed at
the position facing at least the front teeth. The flexible
substrate 5 is made of polyimide in this way to reduce an influence
of heat at the time of embedding the flexible substrate 5 in the
main body 5 of the mouthpiece 1 at a manufacturing time, making it
possible to prevent the flexible substrate 5 from being deformed
and damaged. In addition, the flexible substrate 5 has a length
(FIG. 3 (A)) of 20 mm in a longitudinal direction and a length
(FIG. 3 (B)) of 5 mm in a transverse direction.
[0025] A plug 15 is attached to an end portion of the electronic
cable 13. The plug 15 is inserted into a jack 16 of the controller
17, so that the controller 17 and the flexible substrate 5 are
electrically connected to each other. The electronic cable 13 has
two cores and a length of about 1 m, and its surface is covered
with a white silicone resin.
[0026] The controller 17 is cylindrically shaped with an elliptical
section and is small enough to be held in one hand. A case 19 of
the controller 17 is made of ABS (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene
resin). Furthermore, the controller 17 includes a control substrate
21 that controls irradiation of the light emitting diode 1, a
battery box 23 that contains batteries, a slide switch 25 that
turns ON and OFF and sets irradiation time, and a start button 27
that starts light irradiation. In addition, two batteries 29 of
1.5V are contained in the battery box 23 and can be replaced with
new ones when they are used up.
[0027] According to this embodiment, irradiation time can be
selected from three levels by the slide switch 25, and any one of
irradiation time, 10 minutes, 20 minutes, and 30 minutes can be
selected.
[0028] An explanation will be next given of the function according
to this embodiment. In the case where a user performs teeth
whitening processing, user puts the mouthpiece 1 in user's mouth so
that a groove 4 of the main body 3 is attached to the teeth. Then,
the plug 15 of the electrical cable 13 is connected to the jack 16
of the controller 17. After that, the slide operation of the slide
switch 25 is performed to turn on power and select any one of
irradiation time, 1 minutes, 20 minutes, and 30 minutes. After
that, when the start button 27 is pressed, light irradiation from
the light irradiation section 7 is started, the front teeth are
irradiated with blue light for set irradiation time. In this way,
the front surfaces of the front teeth are irradiated with blue
light, making it possible to execute irradiation with a wavelength
close to a wavelength region of light used for whitening
processing.
[0029] Accordingly, since the teeth are irradiated with blue light
emitted from the light emitting diode 9, light intensity is small
as compared with irradiation of ultraviolet rays from the halogen
lamp, and this brings about safety without the possibility that the
surfaces of teeth and the gums around the teeth will be damaged.
Further, since the handling is easy, teeth whitening processing can
be easily performed at home.
[0030] Since the blue light emitting diode 9 is attached to the
mouthpiece 9, the mouthpiece 1 is only put in the mouth to make it
possible to easily perform whitening processing.
[0031] Since the flexible substrate 5 is embedded in the main body
3 of the mouthpiece 1, the mouthpiece 1 has high water resistance
to the light emitting diode 9 and can be washed with water after
using the mouthpiece 1.
[0032] Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be
explained with reference to FIG. 5. In the explanation given below,
the same reference numerals as those of the first embodiment are
added to the portions where the same function and effect are
exerted as those of the first embodiment, and the explanation is
omitted. The following mainly explains the points different from
the first embodiment.
[0033] The mouthpiece 1 of the second embodiment is different from
the first embodiment in the point that the main body 3 is formed
like a belt instead of the horseshoe. In this case, as illustrated
in FIG. 5, the flexible substrate 5 is embedded in the belt-like
main body 3. In the case of performing the teeth whitening
processing, a back surface portion 31 of the main body 3 is put
onto the front surfaces of the front teeth. Then, the start button
27 of the controller 17 is pressed under this state to irradiate
the front teeth with the blue light.
[0034] In this way, the main body 3 is band-shaped to make it
possible to easily put the surfaces of the front teeth in the mouth
and make the entirety of the apparatus compact.
[0035] The present invention is not limited to the above described
embodiments, and various modifications may be possible without
departing from the scope of the present invention.
[0036] The light emitting diodes are not limited to the blue light
emitting diodes, and an ultraviolet light emitting diode with a
wavelength of about 400 nm may be possible.
[0037] The number of light emitting diodes 9 is not limited to six,
and any number may be possible.
[0038] In the aforementioned embodiments, thought the irradiation
time of light emitting diodes can be selected from three levels of
10 minutes, 20 minutes, and 30 minutes, the present invention is
not limited to this, and, for example, two levels may be possible
and four or more levels may be also possible. Moreover, the maximum
irradiation time may be more than 30 minutes.
[0039] In the aforementioned embodiments, though both the flexible
substrate 5 and the controller 17 are connected to each other by
the electrical cable 13 to control light irradiation from the light
emitting diodes 9, the present invention is not limited to this,
and no electrical cable 13 may be provided. In this case, a control
substrate, small-size batteries, and s start button are attached to
the main body 3 of the mouthpiece 1, so that light irradiation from
the light emitting diodes 9 may be controlled on the main body
3.
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