• 专利附录
  • 专利说明
  • 权利要求
  • 类似技术
  • 同族专利
  • 引用文献
  • 法律状态
  • 优先权
    • 专利摘要:
    APPROPRIATE SYSTEM TO MONITOR THE USE OF A TOOTH BRUSH AND METHOD FOR MONITORING THE USE OF A TOOTH BRUSH. The invention provides an appropriate system for monitoring the use of a toothbrush, wherein the system comprises: (a) a toothbrush; b) a sound sensor that is located inside or on the toothbrush; (c) a programmable data logger that is located inside or on the toothbrush, in which the data logger incorporates a motion sensor and a data store for data logging; (d) switching means to trigger the operation of the sound sensor in response to initial toothbrush movement signals generated by the motion sensor; and (e) a data analysis device that is adapted to analyze the data transmitted or acquired from the system to provide information regarding tooth brushing behavior; wherein the duration of the data logging is controllable in response to the combined signals received from the sound sensor and the motion sensor, respectively.
    公开号:BR112013002894B1
    申请号:R112013002894-7
    申请日:2011-08-05
    公开日:2020-12-15
    发明作者:Susan Bates；Derek Guy Savill；Cosmin Lazar
    申请人:Unilever N.V.；
    IPC主号:
    专利说明:

    FIELD OF THE INVENTION
    [001] The present invention relates to monitoring the use of the toothbrush. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
    [002] There are some doubts as to how people can contribute to oral health and hygiene through their own procedure. Basically, this concerns brushing your teeth twice a day for at least two minutes with a fluoride-containing toothpaste. Still, this elementary procedure is not as widely and completely practiced as dentists and healthcare organizations would like it to be. Behavior change and interventions to encourage this change are essential elements for achieving this.
    [003] The ability to monitor the different aspects of tooth brushing behavior on the part of consumers is a major element for the development of effective intervention strategies and to stimulate behavior change.
    [004] Self-report and observation have been widely used in medical, psychological and market research to understand behavior. Both methods have disadvantages. For example, people are very often unable to report key aspects of their behavior, or they can be influenced by what they think their interviewers in a survey would like to hear. When a person is being watched, the presence of an observer is likely to affect the very behavior that that observer is there to observe.
    [005] To capture people's brushing behavior without having to resort to self-report or self-observation, a toothbrush has been developed with a compartment on the handle that contains a small programmable data recorder based on a 3-axis accelerometer, including memory and battery (International Dental Journal (2008); 58: 307-320). Due to the fact that this device is hidden inside the toothbrush, people quickly forget that it is there and, therefore, return to their natural behavior. While on the toothbrush, the recorder will check the acceleration on each of the three axes, x, y and z, and start recording when it detects acceleration above a preset limit. Then, it must record the acceleration data on the three axes at a pre-specified frequency creating a record of predetermined size. At the end of the registration the registrar will stop registering, unless it is still experiencing an acceleration above the threshold, in which case, it will create another register. For each record, the recording device will store the data so that they can be downloaded and analyzed later.
    [006] The analysis of the stored data is generally a complex procedure, because any movement with sufficient acceleration to cause the recorder to trigger will trigger the data capture. This movement may or may not be the movement of interest, and with each false occurrence captured, the device's power and memory capacity are reduced. Also, another data analysis step is required to filter out the desired occurrences and remove any false occurrences.
    [007] The inventors mentioned here have found that this problem can be solved using an audible sensor in combination with a motion sensor such as the accelerometer-based recording device described above. The combination of information from the audible sensor enables less false occurrences to be recorded, leading to lower energy consumption, less power and memory requirements, greater efficiency of the device and easier data analysis. This is especially advantageous in consumer behavior analysis scenarios, where data capture may be necessary for extended periods of time. Also, small low-power devices are less likely to interfere with normal consumer activities, so the data collected is more representative of actual behavior.
    [008] Patent application US2008 / 0102953 describes a toothbrush to encourage children to brush their teeth regularly, which may include a motion sensor and may also include an audio processor connected in communication to an input transducer. audio (such as a microphone). The sensor data is processed to generate game signals that are communicated to a game device as game inputs. There is no description of any functional change between the sound and the motion sensors on this device, nor any suggestion of a lower record of false occurrences or lower energy consumption. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
    [009] The invention also provides an appropriate system for monitoring the use of a toothbrush, wherein the system comprises: (a) a toothbrush; (b) a sound sensor that is located inside or on the toothbrush; (c) a programmable data recorder that is located inside or on the toothbrush, the data recorder incorporating a motion sensor and a data store for data recording; (d) switching means to trigger the operation of the sound sensor in response to initial toothbrush movement signals generated by the motion sensor, and (e) a data analysis device that is adapted to analyze transmitted or acquired data of the system to provide information regarding the operation behavior of the toothbrush, in which the duration of the data recording is controllable in response to the combined signals received from the sound sensor and the motion sensor, respectively.
    [010] The invention also provides a method for monitoring the use of a toothbrush, including the steps of: (f) acquiring data from a sound sensor that is located inside or on the toothbrush; (g) acquire data from a programmable data recorder that is located inside or on the toothbrush, the data recorder incorporating a motion sensor and a data store for data recording, (h) analyzing the data as well acquired to provide information regarding tooth brushing behavior; characterized by the fact that the operation of the sound sensor is triggered in response to initial toothbrush movement signals generated by the motion sensor, and by the fact that the duration of the data recording is controllable in response to the combined signals received from the sound and motion sensor, respectively. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
    [011] Typically the toothbrush will include a handle, a neck and a brush region extending from the neck, the brush region including brush elements such as bristles, which extend from a base.
    [012] A sound sensor is located on or over the toothbrush.
    [013] The sound sensor is adapted to detect sounds associated with the use of the toothbrush and to generate signals that correspond to the detected sounds. Typically, the sound sensor is an audio transducer, just like a microphone. Suitable microphones include contact microphones, which are otherwise known as pickup or piezo (piezo-electric) microphones, which are designed to transmit audio vibrations through solid objects.
    [014] The sound sensor can be located anywhere inside or on the toothbrush. In a preferred construction, the toothbrush is provided with a cavity, such as a hollow handle, to accommodate the sound sensor. The sound sensor could also be incorporated into the programmable data logger.
    [015] A programmable data logger is located inside or on the toothbrush. In a preferred construction, the toothbrush is provided with an external case, on which the programmable data logger can be securely connected.
    [016] The programmable data logger generally incorporates a power source, which is typically a DC power source such as a small battery (for example, 3 v). To extend battery life, a capacitor can be included. Alternatively, the programmable data logger can be at least partially powered by solar energy.
    [017] The motion sensor incorporated in the programmable data logger is adapted to detect the movement of the toothbrush and to generate signals corresponding to the detected movement. Typically, the motion sensor is an accelerometer capable of sensing accelerations along one or more axes. The accelerometer may be able to sense accelerations along three orthogonal axes. Any appropriate tri-axial accelerometer can be used or alternatively, two two-axis accelerometers mounted at right angles capable of perceiving three-dimensional acceleration data.
    [018] Alternatively, any other appropriate motion sensor can be used. The motion sensor can be analog or digital.
    [019] The data store incorporated in the programmable data register preferably incorporates erasable non-volatile memory. Erasable (non-volatile) memory allows reuse of the data logger. Non-erasable memory is preferable because it means that the memory will be protected in the event of a power failure (for example, in the case of devices powered by a battery / cell, when the battery / cell depletes its power).
    [020] The data logger is programmable, and typically contains a programmable computing device, such as a microprocessor (eg, a microcontroller) that is able to read and execute program instructions to control the various components within the system for monitoring the use of the toothbrush of the invention.
    [021] In a typical method of monitoring the use of a toothbrush using the system of the invention, the programmable data logger is first connected to a computer (typically a PC or similar). The schedule will provide key operating parameters such as activation and the duration of the data recording process.
    [022] The programmed data logger is then installed, either inside or outside the toothbrush. Preferably, it is firmly attached to an external toothbrush case.
    [023] When initial signals corresponding to toothbrush movement are detected, switching means trigger the operation of the sound sensor. A preferred switching medium is a rocker switch, since this device is small, has low power and can detect movement or orientation in a simple way.
    [024] The data logger checks the toothbrush for movement, indicated by signals generated by the motion sensor (which is typically an accelerometer or similar device). Data is also acquired from the sound sensor, activated by the initial detection of toothbrush movement as described above.
    [025] The duration of the recording is controllable in response to the combined signals received from the sound sensor and the motion sensor, respectively.
    [026] The inventors have found that the data acquired from the sound sensor provides a surprisingly reliable means of indicating whether effective tooth brushing is taking place, as opposed to simply shaking or moving the toothbrush without contact with the teeth (a false occurrence).
    [027] Consequently, in the system of the invention the data logger will typically be programmed so that data logging only occurs when the signals received from the sound sensor and the signals received from the motion sensor are each recorded above pre-thresholds. - defined for duration or intensity.
    [028] In this way, the system is capable of operating in an “active data capture” mode to capture the activity of interest, but it is also capable of reverting to a “low power mode” at other times. This makes it possible to record false occurrences less, leading to lower energy consumption, low power and memory requirements, greater device efficiency and greater ease of data analysis.
    [029] The data acquired by the system of the invention are analyzed by a data analysis device to provide information on tooth brushing behavior.
    [030] Typically, data acquired by the system of the invention is downloaded to a remote data analysis device such as a computing device (such as, for example, a PC). Alternatively the data can be transmitted to the data analysis device by cellular telephony or wireless LAN (Local Area Network) technology, preferably “Wi-Fi” (wireless fidelity), enabling communication easy and fast via the internet.
    [031] The analysis can provide information regarding various aspects of tooth brushing behavior, such as the force or pressure applied during the tooth brushing process, the speed of the brushing action, the directionality of the brushing action of teeth, the duration of individual tooth brushing events, the frequency of individual tooth brushing events per day, or a combination of any of the above mentioned events.
    [032] Advantageously, such data analysis can conveniently take place, for example, in a laboratory located many kilometers away with minimal interference in the lives of toothbrush users. EXAMPLE
    [033] The data was simultaneously recorded from an audio transducer device placed inside a toothbrush cavity, and a recording device based on a tri-axial accelerometer firmly attached to the external toothbrush case.
    [034] A brushing sequence was performed manually as shown in the table below:

    [035] The attached Figure 1 illustrates the tri-axial accelerometer data acquired from executing the above sequence.
    [036] The attached Figure 2 illustrates the corresponding audio transducer data acquired simultaneously from the execution of the above sequence.
    [037] The 10-second occurrences from “1” to “5” as described in the table are indicated on the horizontal axis of each graph.
    [038] The data clearly shows the audio transducer's ability to eliminate false occurrences. In the case of tri-axial accelerometer data, the false occurrence “2” has the same acceleration and frequency as the occurrence of interest “4”, as shown in Figure 1. However, the audio transducer can differentiate between “2” and “ 4 ”, as shown in Figure 2.
    权利要求:
    Claims (8)
    [0001]
    1. APPROPRIATE SYSTEM TO MONITOR THE USE OF A TOOTH BRUSH, characterized by the system comprising: (a) a toothbrush; (b) a sound sensor, which is located inside or on the toothbrush, which is configured to detect sounds associated with the use of the toothbrush and to generate signals corresponding to the detected sounds; (c) a programmable data recorder, which is located inside or on the toothbrush, the data recorder incorporating a motion sensor and a data store for data recording; (d) switching means configured to trigger the operation of the sound sensor to detect sounds in response to the initial toothbrush movement signals generated by the motion sensor, and (e) a data analysis device that is adapted to analyze data transmitted or acquired from the system in order to provide information regarding tooth brushing behavior, in which the duration of the data recording is configured to be controlled in response to the combined signals received from the sound sensor and the motion sensor , respectively.
    [0002]
    2. SYSTEM, according to claim 1, characterized in that the toothbrush includes a handle, a neck and a brushing region extending from the neck, the region of the brush including brushing elements such as bristles, which extend to from a base.
    [0003]
    SYSTEM According to any one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that the sound sensor is an audio transducer such as a microphone.
    [0004]
    4. SYSTEM, according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the motion sensor is an accelerometer capable of detecting accelerations along one or more axes.
    [0005]
    A system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the data store incorporates erasable non-volatile memory.
    [0006]
    6. SYSTEM according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the programmable data logger is programmed in such a way that the data logging only occurs when the signals received from the sound sensor and the signals received from the motion sensor are each one of them recorded above predefined duration or intensity thresholds.
    [0007]
    7. A system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the switching means is a tilting switch.
    [0008]
    8. SYSTEM, according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the sound sensor is incorporated into the programmable data logger.
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    同族专利:
    公开号 | 公开日
    EP2616002B1|2017-06-28|
    US20130166220A1|2013-06-27|
    EP2616002A1|2013-07-24|
    BR112013002894A2|2016-05-31|
    CN103096835B|2015-06-03|
    US9408681B2|2016-08-09|
    WO2012034786A1|2012-03-22|
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    法律状态:
    2018-12-26| B06F| Objections, documents and/or translations needed after an examination request according [chapter 6.6 patent gazette]|
    2019-08-20| B06U| Preliminary requirement: requests with searches performed by other patent offices: procedure suspended [chapter 6.21 patent gazette]|
    2020-11-03| B09A| Decision: intention to grant [chapter 9.1 patent gazette]|
    2020-12-15| B16A| Patent or certificate of addition of invention granted|Free format text: PRAZO DE VALIDADE: 20 (VINTE) ANOS CONTADOS A PARTIR DE 05/08/2011, OBSERVADAS AS CONDICOES LEGAIS. |
    2021-07-20| B25A| Requested transfer of rights approved|Owner name: UNILEVER IP HOLDINGS B.V. (NL) |
    优先权:
    申请号 | 申请日 | 专利标题
    EP10176763.0|2010-09-15|
    EP10176763|2010-09-15|
    PCT/EP2011/063514|WO2012034786A1|2010-09-15|2011-08-05|Toothbrush usage monitoring|
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