Plaque detecting device and toothbrush incorporating same

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United States of America Patent

PATENT NO 11903481
SERIAL NO

17577112

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ATTORNEY / AGENT: (SPONSORED)

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Abstract

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The plaque detecting device of the present invention comprises a light emitting unit (450) which irradiates ultraviolet or blue excitation light (L) toward the tooth surface (99a), and a first and second light receiving units (402) which receive radiated light (L′) from the tooth surface (99a). The first light receiving unit extracts the spectral component of a first wavelength region including the wavelength range of fluorescent light specific to plaque from the radiated light (L′), and obtains a first output value corresponding to the intensity of that spectral component. The second light receiving unit extracts, from the radiated light (L′), the spectral component of a second wavelength region containing the wavelength range of the fluorescent light specific to enamel and having a predetermined lower limit wavelength below the lower limit wavelength of the first wavelength region, and obtains a second output value corresponding to the intensity of this spectral component. Determination of the relative magnitude of the ratio between the first output value and the second output value as compared to a first threshold value is performed. Determination of the relative magnitude of the difference between the first output value and the second output value as compared to a second threshold value is performed.

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Patent Owner(s)

Patent OwnerAddress
COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANYNEW YORK NY

International Classification(s)

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Inventor(s)

Inventor Name Address # of filed Patents Total Citations
Abe, Kosuke Kyoto, JP 31 115
Kawabata, Yasuhiro Kyoto, JP 93 467
Kitamura, Masashi Kyoto, JP 88 1063
Yamashita, Hideyuki Kyoto, JP 28 169
Yoshida, Hideaki Kyoto, JP 172 2297

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