US 12,109,084 B2
Irrigator fluidic communication
Jeffrey Groves, Seattle, WA (US); Aaldert Geert Zijlstra, Zuidlaren (NL); Nathan Farrell, Kirkland, WA (US); Klass Kooijker, Drachten (NL); Joldert Maria Boersma, Zuidhorn (NL); Desalegn Gebresilassie, Drachten (NL); and Egbert Van De Veen, Usselmuiden (NL)
Assigned to KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V., Eindhoven (NL)
Appl. No. 17/422,412
Filed by KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V., Eindhoven (NL)
PCT Filed Jan. 14, 2020, PCT No. PCT/EP2020/050735
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jul. 12, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/148241, PCT Pub. Date Jul. 23, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/791,965, filed on Jan. 14, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0117710 A1, Apr. 21, 2022
Int. Cl. A61C 17/028 (2006.01); A61C 15/00 (2006.01); A61C 17/02 (2006.01)
CPC A61C 17/028 (2013.01) [A61C 15/00 (2013.01); A61C 17/0202 (2013.01); A61C 17/0217 (2013.01)] 9 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An oral irrigator comprising:
an irrigator tip, the irrigator tip comprising:
a handle portion;
a tip portion;
a channel in fluid communication with the handle portion and the tip portion; and,
an actuator, the actuator located on or within the handle portion, the actuator arranged to at least partially alter a flow of a fluid through the channel;
a housing, the housing having a reservoir containing the fluid, the reservoir in fluid communication with a pump sub-assembly;
a pressure sensor arranged to measure a first pressure; and,
a control unit arranged to control an operational current provided to the pump sub-assembly or arranged to control a control valve of the pump-sub assembly; and,
a tether having a first end and a second end, the first end of the tether in fluid communication with the irrigator tip and the second end of the tether in fluid communication with the pump sub-assembly;
wherein, operation of the actuator produces a second pressure measured by the sensor, and the control unit is arranged to alter the operational current or at least partially alter the flow via the control valve in response to a change from the first pressure to the second pressure,
wherein the actuator comprises a mechanical valve assembly comprising:
a depressible piston valve, the piston valve having a first flow path and a second flow path therethrough, the first flow path and the second flow path substantially parallel to the channel; and,
a biasing element arranged to exert a first force on the piston valve in a first direction;
 wherein the first flow path has a first diameter and the second flow path has a second diameter, the first diameter being smaller than the second diameter; and in a first state, the first force on the piston valve creates fluid communication through the first flow path.