47 results about "Plaque removal" patented technology

Embolic protection and plaque removal apparatus and methods are provided wherein an aspiration device aspirates, filters and reperfuses blood using a closed fluid circuit having a bi-directional working lumen. The plaque removal device includes a plurality of self-expanding cutting elements that form a cage that self-centers within the blood vessel to reduce the risk of trauma to the vessel lining.

A computer-implemented system and method of intra-oral analysis for measuring plaque removal is disclosed. The system includes hardware for real-time image acquisition and software to store the acquired images on a patient-by-patient basis. The system implements algorithms to segment teeth of interest from surrounding gum, and uses a real-time image-based morphing procedure to automatically overlay a grid onto each segmented tooth. Pattern recognition methods are used to classify plaque from surrounding gum and enamel, while ignoring glare effects due to the reflection of camera light and ambient light from enamel regions. The system integrates these components into a single software suite with an easy-to-use graphical user interface (GUI) that allows users to do an end-to-end run of a patient record, including tooth segmentation of all teeth, grid morphing of each segmented tooth, and plaque classification of each tooth image.

Toothpaste and other dentifrices formulated to include substantially spherical cleaning particles for enhanced plaque-removal capability. The cleaning particles are relatively large, having a diameter in a range from about 10 microns to about 200 microns, and are substantially round-edge and nonjagged so as to be far less abrasive compared to conventional abrasive particles, which tend to have a more jagged profile. Preferred cleaning particles include hollow glass spheres, which not only provide enhanced plaque-removal properties but which yield dental compositions having greatly reduced density. Air and other gases may optionally be entrained into the inventive dental compositions, either during manufacture or upon dispensing the dental compositions onto a toothbrush.

A method of tooth treatment includes sensing a surface condition of tooth or gum and controlling ejection of a fluid jet against the tooth based on the sensed condition. The fluid may be a liquid and may be carried in a self-contained reservoir in a handle of a fluid ejection device. The liquid can be a cleansing solution and may contain cleaning particles. The ejection can be controlled to clean teeth at high pressure and to reduce pressure applied to gum, for example, to clean plaque. In some embodiments, the method may be used to remove soft tooth. The method may further include automatically scanning the fluid jet relative to a handle of an injection device. In an embodiment, the fluid is ejected by means of a fluid ejector comprising a stationary magnet assembly providing a magnetic field and a coil assembly, slidably disposed with respect to the magnet assembly, the coil assembly driving ejection of the fluid jet. Sensing the surface condition can include measuring a response of tissue to a mechanical perturbation and may include sensing an acoustic signal reflected from tissue. The mechanical perturbation can include applied force and the measured response can include deformation of the tissue. The method may further include mechanically disturbing the tissue with the fluid jet. A tooth treatment device includes a fluid ejector that ejects fluid against teeth and a servo controller controlling pressure of ejected fluid in response to a sensed surface condition. The fluid jet can have a diameter of less than 500 microns, a peak relative pressure of at least 1 kilopascal and velocity of at least 1 meter per second.

An object is to provide an electric toothbrush superior in plaque removal, producible at low costs, and utilized without damaging gum even by a patient with gingivitis. In the electric toothbrush (10) making brushing possible by linearly moving a tufted portion (31), the product of the distance (mm) of movement of the tufted portion (31) and the frequency (times) of back-and-forth motion per minute is set in the range of 3000-9000. Further, the distance ((x) mm) of movement of the tufted portion (32) and the frequency ((y) times) of back-and-forth motion per minute are set in a range which satisfies the following formula: y = ax + b, where a = - 3000, 10000 | b | 12500, x > 0.

An interdental brush has a handle with a helix style shape, as well as sections of long and short bristles to maximize plaque removal. The handle has a first end, a second end and a length between the first and second ends. The handle defines a longitudinal axis extending through the handle along the length. A brush extends from the handle and includes a stem projecting along the longitudinal axis and a set of bristles extending laterally outwardly from the stem. Each of the bristles has a bristle length from the stem to a bristle tip, the bristle tips collectively defining a bristle profile. In one embodiment, the bristle profile alternates along the stem between valley sections of short bristle length and mountain sections of long bristle length. The handle includes a grip portion along the length, and the grip portion is shaped such that it is twisted about the longitudinal axis in the manner of a helix.

A process for treating a surface (2) to clean or otherwise treat the surface (2) comprises a step of contacting the surface (2) with a particulate treating agent such that at least some of the particles (1) roll along at least a portion of the surface (2), wherein an angle of incidence of the particles (1) and the surface is between 0° and 60°. The particles (1) are dimensioned to effect a rolling movement along the surface (2). The treating agent is substantially non-aqueous. The particles (1) comprise a precipitate or agglomerate of an insoluble alkali metal carbonate. The process comprises a blasting operation or a manual application. The use of the process of the invention in dental applications such as teeth whitening and plaque removal, treating bone, and skin exfoliation, is also disclosed. Also disclosed is a treating agent which comprises a plurality of particles (1), the particles (1) being dimensioned to effect a rolling movement along a surface (2), wherein the treating agent is substantially non-aqueous.

An oral care composition is provided wherein the composition comprises an ionic liquid, wherein the ionic liquid comprises: a) a quaternary ammonium cation of the formula wherein R1, R2, R3 and R4 are each an organic moiety and may be the same or different, and at least one of R1, R2, R3 and R4 includes a hydroxyl; and b) an anion selected from the group consisting of salicylate, alkylsulfate, sulfate, acetate, halide, phosphate, alkyl phosphate and tosylate; wherein the oral care composition is a mouth rinse, toothpaste, toothpowder, oral bead or strip, fluid-encased dental strip, irrigation fluid, plaque removal liquid, dental floss, hard candy, soft candy, lozenge, chewing gum, or lollipop.