Patent ID: 9566140
Date: 2017-02-14
CPC Classifications: A61C

Claim:
1. A tooth whitening device for whitening teeth using sonochemistry, comprising: a) a body, the body having a female receptacle; b) an ultrasonic transducer provided in the body, the ultrasonic transducer being configured for producing ultrasonic waves of a sufficient frequency to induce a sonochemical reaction in a liquid tooth whitening composition, the sufficient frequency being a frequency of 20-100 kHz; c) an ultrasonic horn provided on the body, the ultrasonic horn including a male insert configured for being received in the female receptacle and connecting the ultrasonic horn to the body, and the ultrasonic horn being operatively connected with the ultrasonic transducer for transmitting ultrasonic waves into a liquid tooth whitening composition, the ultrasonic horn including an arch-shaped surface on a free end of the ultrasonic horn, and the ultrasonic horn being configured for transmitting the ultrasonic energy along the whole of the arch-shaped surface, the arch-shaped surface being substantially curved and configured for following a contour of a user's outer front teeth, the arch-shaped surface configured to face the user's outer front teeth, and the arch-shaped surface having a first free end and a spaced apart second free end; d) the ultrasonic transducer extending away from the ultrasonic horn, the ultrasonic transducer being configured for directing ultrasonic energy from the ultrasonic transducer toward the user's outer front teeth; e) a detachable liquid retaining element provided on the arch-shaped surface, the detachable liquid retaining element including a first sleeve configured for receiving the first free end of the arch-shaped surface of the ultrasonic horn, the detachable liquid retaining element including a second sleeve configured for receiving the second free end of the arch-shaped surface of the ultrasonic horn, and the detachable liquid retaining element having an arch-shaped inner surface so as to conform to the user's teeth; and f) the detachable liquid retaining element including an absorbent material and being configured for retaining a liquid tooth whitening composition against a user's teeth during a sonochemical reaction induced by ultrasonic waves transmitted into a liquid tooth whitening composition by the ultrasonic transducer moving the ultrasonic horn at a frequency of 20-100 kHz.