Oral health care implement and system with proximity sensor

摘要

An oral health care implement and system are provided for use during oral health care activities. The oral health care implement has a proximity sensor, most often in the embodiment of a capacitive sensor. The proximity sensor provides usage time and instance measurements in a plurality of proposed formats. The oral health care system has an oral health care implement, a first data transfer medium, and any combination of: a second data transfer medium, a network storage device, and a third data transfer medium. The system provides means for collecting usage measurements and transmitting data into a readable, usable form for the user via an oral health care implement.

主权项

1. An oral health care implement, comprising:
a handle having a distal end, a middle portion, and a proximal end; a capacitive sensor that is configured to detect if the oral health care implement is in proximity to an oral cavity, the capacitive sensor having a sensor surface that is located on a top side of the distal end and covered by an insulator material; a data processing unit having a collector, a storage medium, and a processor; a power source; and a data extractor; wherein the capacitive sensor is configured to transmit at least one signal indicative of proximity to the data processing unit.