Adaptive system for modifying user brushing system

摘要

The adaptive system includes a power toothbrush (10) which determines bristle force or pressure applied by the user against the teeth. The toothbrush includes a processing system (28) for comparing the determined force with a threshold value of excessive force and a threshold adaptive value which is below the excessive force threshold but serves as a warning for the user. The system is capable of raising the initial adaptive value threshold (64) following the user exceeding the adaptive value for a selected number of brushing events and then further for decreasing the adaptive value (66) back toward the initial adaptive value when the increased adaptive value is not exceeded for a selected number of brushing events, thus providing the ability to encourage/coach the user toward a brushing force which is below the threshold adaptive level and into a safe region of operation.

主权项

1. An adaptive system for modifying user brushing action, comprising:
a power toothbrush which includes a system for determining a bristle force applied against a user's teeth; a processing system for comparing the determined bristle force against (i) a threshold value of excessive force and (ii) a threshold adaptive value of force which is below the threshold value of excessive force, wherein, the processing system is configured for raising the threshold adaptive value from an initial threshold adaptive value in response to a determined bristle force applied against the user's teeth exceeding the threshold adaptive value for a selected number of brushing events and then for decreasing the threshold adaptive value back toward the initial threshold adaptive value in response to a determined bristle force applied against the user's teeth not exceeding the threshold adaptive value for a further selected number of brushing events; and an indication system for communicating information that includes different indications to a user in response to the bristle force applied (i) being at a safe level of force corresponding to an amount of 50 grams or more, as long as the level of force does not arm a user's gums or other tissue, (ii) being at an excessive force corresponding to an amount of 300 grams or more, and (iii) reaching the threshold adaptive value of force.