The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 06, 2017
Filed:
Dec. 20, 2013
Koninklijke Philips N.v., Eindhoven, NL;
Johannes Hendrikus Maria Spruit, Waalre, NL;
Okke Ouweltjes, Veldhoven, NL;
Mark Thomas Johnson, Arendonk, BE;
Menno Willem Jose Prins, Rosmalen, NL;
Edgar Martinus Van Gool, Veghel, NL;
KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V., Eindhoven, NL;
Abstract
An apparatus (') is configured such that passage of a fluid () through an open port () of a distal probe tip (′) enables detection of a substance () that may be present on a surface (), e.g., a surface of a tooth, based on measurement of a signal correlating to a substance at least partially obstructing the passage of fluid () through the open port (). The apparatus (′) includes a proximal pump portion () and at least one distal probe portion () configured to be immersed in another fluid (), e.g., water in toothpaste foam. A corresponding system () includes one or two such apparatuses (). A method of detecting the presence of a substance on a surface includes probing an interaction zone () for at least partial obstruction of flow of the fluid () through the distal probe tip (′). The distal probe tip (′) may have a structural configuration for preventing blocking of the open port (). The distal probe tip (′) may also have a non-uniform wear profile. The at least one distal probe portion () may include two or multiple components to improve performance and reliability.