[0001] Health care costs are increasing dramatically in the United States and other countries.
A significant component of these escalating costs is tooth and gum disease.
[0002] Advances in dentrifice compositions and modalities for treatment of peridontal disease
have greatly assisted in the prevention and treatment of these conditions.
[0003] However, the primary tool for every day cleaning of teeth remains the common toothbrush.
Since the toothbrush frequently comes into contact with the oral environment and may
be subsequently left in a non-sterile environment until subsequent use, the toothbrush
bristles can harbour bacteria and upon re-use of the toothbrush, the bristles can
become a source for introducing bacteria into the oral cavity.
[0004] Additionally, the toothbrush has not been used as a source of medication but, rather,
as an applicator for dentrifice. There would be merit in using the toothbrush as such
a medication source, preferably as a complement to the dentrifice if a viable and
practical low-cost means for doing so could be found.
[0005] Although the technical problem of designing a toothbrush capable of delivering dentrifice
and other agents has long been recognized, no satisfactory workable system has been
developed to meet this long-felt need.
[0006] The prior art illustrates that this is so. For example, U.S. Patent 914,501 is an
early approach wherein a reservoir is formed along the sides of the bristles to contain
liquid dentrifice. This disclosure fails to provide long-lasting means for release
of dentrifice or other agents since the liquid dentrifice would be washed from the
oral cavity with each use.
[0007] Another attempt to solve the problem is disclosed in U.S. Patent 1,238,883 wherein
the "bristles" of the brush are vulcanized rubber and incorporated polishing and cleaning
substances.
[0008] In U.S. Patent 1,214,556 a cotton insert containing dentifrice is placed in the brush.
This is believed to be impractical as it would require consumers to undertake the
cumbersome task of replacing inserts after every use. A similar insert device is described
in U.S. Patent 4,588,089 wherein an envelope containing toothpaste is inserted in
a toothbrush and released by a spike. This technique is also employed in U.S. Patent
3,316,580 which suggests the use of an envelope disposed between the bristles. Such
devices requiring inserts are complicated to use.
[0009] Similar reservations would apply to U.S. Patent 4,453,679 in which the handle of
the toothbrush has a separate attachment for releasing various agents. Indeed, the
handle-dispensing approach is the subject of a number of earlier efforts to solve
the problem such as U.S. Patents 1,896,982; 2,077,758 and 2,303,667, plus U.K. Patent
259,268.
[0010] Another approach believed to be unsuccessful is to coat or to spray the bristles
with various agents. Representatives of this group are U.S. Patents 1,982,660; 3,302,230;
3,691,585 and Canadian Patent 549,168.
[0011] It is evident from examination of the above patents that none of the devices solves
the twin problems of maintaining bristles of the toothbrush sterile in a practical
manner and providing a viable slow release mechanism for anti-bacterial agents or
other medications.
[0012] A different approach is shown in British Patent 259,268 wherein a disinfectant is
disposed to communicate with the tuft holes of the bristles. However, even in Figures
7-9 of the patent, the reservoir is not located within the tuft holes themselves,
nor is there any suggestion of the use of medications other than disinfectants. Importantly,
this patent fails to teach how the material to be transferred to the bristles is,
in fact, so communicated there to and absorbed by them. In view of the fact that virtually
all toothbrushes on the market today employ hydrophobic plastic bristles, it is not
understood how the device of this patent would operate to transfer disinfectant or
other medications up through the bristles of such modern toothbrushes.
[0013] In DE-C 451 728 the brushing head has tuft holes containing a disinfectant to be
released during brushing.
[0014] Figure 3 of U.K. Patent 1,026,738 discloses recesses 6 disposed annularly around
the upper interior perimeter of tuft holes 4 to provide a source of dentrifice when
the brush is immersed in water. This patent, again, fails to teach how a long-lasting
source of disinfectant and/or other medications can be maintained over extended periods
or be absorbed by the bristles over such long periods, i.e., over a period of extended
use, as opposed to prior art teachings which disclose systems which would be effective
for only a single use.
[0015] It is an object of this invention to provide a toothbrush so designed that it will
incorporate means for maintaining the brush sterile over long periods.
[0016] It is another object of this invention to provide a toothbrush which is capable over
long periods of time of releasing anti-bacterial agents and other medications.
[0017] It is yet another object of the invention to provide disinfectants and/or other materials
in slow-release form incorporated in the toothbrush structure so that the materials
are released through the bristles over extended time periods to keep the toothbrush
sterile and clean and, if medications are used, to assist in the application thereof
to the teeth during brushing.
[0018] These and further objects of the invention will be observed from the following detailed
description, the drawings and the claims.
THE DRAWING
[0019] The drawing illustrates, in schematic form, a cross-section of a portion of the head
of a toothbrush suitable for the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0020] As indicated, it is known that toothbrushes of conventional manufacture are not sterile
and, in fact, harbour bacteria which transfers into the oral cavity during repeated
brushings. Thus, the primary instrument for tooth cleaning itself can be source of
infection within the mouth.
[0021] It would be desirable, in addition to eliminating the foregoing infection problem,
to provide a toothbrush which is capable of releasing medication effective against
tooth and gum disease over extended periods of time, that is, during multiple uses
of the toothbrush.
[0022] Certain of the prior patents discussed above recognize the problem of toothbrush
sterility and the desirability of using the toothbrush to deliver medication.
[0023] The solution to these long-recognized needs is the device of the present invention
wherein disinfectant, medication or a mixture thereof is contained in a slow-release
material. Subsequently, during repeated brushings, the water and saliva present in
the oral cavity during brushing seeps into the tuft holes and causes the release of
measured amounts of the disinfectant and/or medication. These agents travel up the
tuft hole and out of it and into the oral cavity during brushing. Moreover, at the
end of brushing, there is sufficient disinfectant remaining on the bristles and toothbrush
head and adjacent portions of the handle to sterilize the same so that bacteria will
not build up on the brush and contaminate the mouth upon succeeding toothbrushings
over an extended period of time, say about 2 to 3 months.
[0024] To illustrate one embodiment of the invention, the drawing shows, in schematic form,
a cross-section of a portion of the head of a toothbrush suitable for the present
invention. Thus, the device is generally designated 10 and has a brush head 11. Two
tuft holes for the bristles, 15 and 16, are depicted in brush head 11.
[0025] As shown the bristles or filament 13 are inserted into the holes 15 and 16, most
commonly by an anchor 17, typically composed of aluminum or an alloy such as brass
or silver-nickel.
[0026] In operation, the toothbrush is employed in the usual fashion, i.e., dentifrice is
applied to the bristles and the brush is inserted into the oral cavity for brushing.
The water and saliva generated during this process causes measured amounts of disinfectant
and/or medication to pass from their capsule enclosures and up along the bristles
out of the tuft holes and into the mouth. At the end of brushing, sufficient disinfectant
remains on the bristles to render the same sterile, thereby preventing the formation
of bacterial colonies and fungal growth which, in the case of prior art toothbrushes,
infect the oral cavity when the toothbrush is next used.
[0027] The slow-release material may be of natural or synthetic polymers, e.g., gelatin,
polyvinylpyrrolidone and hydroxyethylmethacrylate.
[0028] As disinfectants to kill bacteria and fungal colonies on the bristles and brush,
antimicrobial agents such as chlorhexidine, Triclosan, or bromochlorophene may be
employed, as well as other known agents. A wide variety of medicaments effective to
destroy bacteria and fungus may be employed, both for the purpose of preventing bacterial/fungus
growth on the brush and to deliver such ingredients into the oral cavity.
[0029] As for disinfectants/antibacterials, others that could be included are:
Hexetidene
Phenols in general
Trichlorophenyl
Formaldehyde
Quaternary Ammonium compounds
(e.g. Benzalkonium Chloride)
Pyridine Derivatives
(e.g. Cetylpyridinium chloride)
Hexachlorophane
Indeed, although the toothbrush of the present invention is well-suited for conventional
brushing with a dentrifice, it may be used without the latter and thus be employed
as a means of delivering suitable medications into the oral cavity.
[0030] According to the invention the anchor 17 - which is usually metal such as nickel-silver,
brass, aluminum, etc.- is coated with the disinfectant and/or antibacterial/fungus
agents described above.
[0031] More particularly, a water-swellable coating, or a coating capable of releasing the
above agent(s) in concentrations sufficient to achieve the disinfecting and medicinal
purposes described when wet, is applied to the metal. For example, the metal anchors
are usually derived from a continuous spool of the metal(s) mentioned above and are
passed to the tufting machine and cut to size in situ. The coating material may be,
for example, a polyvinyl or similar polymer capable of forming a film, e.g., cast
from alcohol. The coating can be applied to the spool of metal at the source of manufacture
or just prior to the tufting process via a coating bath or spray. To retain sufficient
material, a groove may be formed on one or both sides of the metal anchor to hold
the coating material.
[0032] A variation of the above is to form the metal anchor in two or more strips (not shown)
and to apply the coating as a "sandwich" between two of the strips.
[0033] Further, the anchor can be made of high strength plastic which then can be coated
with the agent(s) described above.
1. Zahnbürste mit einem Bürstenkopf, der eine Vielzahl von Büschellöchern (15, 16) zum
Aufnehmen und Festhalten einer jeweiligen Multiplizität von Borsten (13) in den Büschellöchern
aufweist, wobei jede Borstenmultiplizität in einem entsprechenden Büschelloch durch
eine entsprechende Halterung (17) befestigt ist, und mindestens eines dieser Büschellöcher
darin ein agensfreisetzendes Material enthält, welches das Agens enthält und während
wiederholten Bürstens freisetzt, wobei das Freisetzen des Agens durch Kontakt des
agensfreisetzenden Materials mit Flüssigkeit während des Bürstens aktiviert wird,
wobei das Agens ausgewählt ist aus der Gruppe bestehend aus Desinfektionsmitteln und
Arzneistoffbeimischungen, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das agensfreisetzende Material als eine Beschichtung auf die Oberfläche der
Halterung in diesem mindestens einen Büschelloch vor Einsetzen der Halterung ins Innere
dieses mindestens einen Büschellochs aufgebracht wird.
2. Verfahren zum Herstellen einer Zahnbürste einschließlich der Stufe des Bildens eines
Bürstenkopfs mit einer Vielzahl von Büschellöchern (15, 16), gekennzeichnet durch die weiteren Stufen des Beschichtens der Oberfläche einer Halterung (17) mit
einem Agens ausgewählt aus der Gruppe bestehend aus Desinfektionsmitteln, Arzneimittelbeimischungen
und Mischungen derselben und Verankern einer Vielzahl von Büscheln (13) in einem dieser
Vielzahl von Büschellöchern, indem man die beschichtete Halterung darin einsetzt.