Abstract:
An ultrasonic dental cleaning device for ultrasonically removing deposits from the surface of teeth using a low voltage design. The device having a handle with an ultrasonic driving system for transmitting ultrasonic energy containing a mixed iron oxide rod, a coil around the mixed iron oxide rod, a processor connected to the coil configured and adapted to output ultrasonic electrical energy, and at least two leads connected to a magnet on either end of the rod and coil. A cleaning tip is operably coupled to the handle and configured to be driven to oscillate by the ultrasonic driving system. A power supply configured and adapted to provide electric power to the ultrasonic driving system with a cord.

Description:
PRIORITY 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/928,599 filed May 10, 2007. 
     
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates generally to a device for maintaining dental hygiene. More specifically, this invention relates to a device for ultrasonically removing deposits from the surface of teeth. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Traditional ultrasonic systems comprise a transducer, generator, horn, etc. A typical transducer configuration consists of a piezo-ceramic material that physically changes dimension along the longitudinal axis when excited by an electrical pulse. The speed of sound, mass, and dimension along the longitudinal axis of the transducer determines its resonant length, which determines the overall optimal operating frequency of the tool. The ultrasonic generator transforms the electrical power from a power source into a high frequency signal which energizes the transducer. When the transducer is excited ultrasonic vibration waves are transmitted to the tool, which can perform various types of work. 
         [0004]    Typical tool systems use electrostrictive (crystal) transducers that are pulsed by an alternating electrical current. The transducer can be made from a crystal bonded or compressed by bolts to the bottom of a horn. Improvements to crystal transducers include assembling the transducer into a series of stacks. In an electrostrictive transducer, the alternating electrical field causes the transducer to expand and contract. 
         [0005]    Alternatively, magnetostrictive transducers, which are pulsed by an alternating magnetic field, can be used. In a magnetostrictive transducer, a stack of thin shim stock, usually made from nickel, is brazed together and surrounded by a magnetic coil. By alternating the polarity of the current passing through the coil, the polarity of the magnetic field is alternated, which causes the shim stock to expand and contract. Magnetostrictive transducers have a greater temperature-resistance than electrostrictive transducers. However, eddy currents cause heating, therefore these transducers generally require air or liquid cooling in order to function at high power. 
         [0006]    The use of ultrasonic dental cleaners to remove deposits from the surface of a person&#39;s tooth has increased over the years. Traditionally, it was only dentists or specially trained operators who were able to use a device which used ultrasonic energy to drive a metal scaling device in order to scrape away any deposits such as stains, tartar, and plaque. However, the metal tip used on conventional devices readily becomes hot, particularly in contact with the teeth and gums, and requires substantial temperature control in the form of water cooling. In addition, if the device is mishandled, the metal tip can easily damage a tooth&#39;s surface or the gums of the patient. In order for more than one person to use the cleaning equipment, proper sterilization or multiple tips must be employed, which can be expensive. 
         [0007]    More recently, devices which are more suitable for home or personal use have been developed which allow a user to maintain a daily regimen of removing dental plaque to maintain dental hygiene. Previous dental cleaners which were suitable for home or personal use were based on a magnetostrictive stack system or a high-voltage crystal resonator, as discussed above. Other ultrasonic tooth cleaners utilize an ultrasonic driver such as a magnetic coil system, a fluid pressure, or an air/piston system to drive the cleaning device. 
         [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 3,547,110 to Balamuth discloses using an ultrasonically vibrated nozzle having a continuous or pulsed stream of liquid passing though to clean a user&#39;s teeth. The ultrasonic vibrations of the water provide a sufficient micro-fatiguing action to remove the weakly-bonded deposits via the liquid stream. The velocity of the liquid jet stream is controlled by a pump which supplies the liquid from a reservoir, creating a low frequency energy pulse. The low frequency energy pulse drives the liquid jet stream. A generator converts the current from the power supply to an ultrasonic frequency in the range of 16,000 to 40,000 Hertz (Hz) and energizes an ultrasonic motor which is housed inside the cleaning device. The ultrasonic energy is then transmitted to the liquid stream to create a micro-pulsating cleaning action. 
         [0009]    In Balamuth, the cleaning device is positioned within the user&#39;s mouth and the liquid jet stream is directed at the user&#39;s teeth. The liquid jet stream can be combined with a grit, such as toothpaste, for improved removal of tartar and other hard deposits via a brush. The brush includes a magnetostrictive stack, which is driven by a magnetic field, to achieve a mechanical vibration. 
         [0010]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,176,454 to Hatter et al. (“Hatter”) discloses a plaque removing device that uses an ultrasonic probe having a plastic head instead of a metal scraper to remove plaque from the tooth&#39;s surface. A liquid couplant solution is used as an energy carrier with the ultrasonic probe to transmit sonic energy from the probe to the teeth without requiring any mechanical contact between the probe and the teeth. 
         [0011]    In Hatter, the probe is attached to an ultrasonic energy generator located within the handle. A power supply, made from a power oscillator connected to an AC power source, is housed within the handle. The ultrasonic energy generator is made from a resonant ultrasonic transducer which is a single stack formed from a pair of piezoelectric driver discs and a metal shim conductor that is positioned between the driver discs. The generator is attached to the power supply via a pair of leads. A crystal sensor feedback pick-up provides a signal feedback which is transmitted to the power oscillator to control the output frequency of the generator. 
         [0012]    In Hatter, an ultrasonic coupling rod is placed within the ultrasonic probe and is attached to the ultrasonic energy generator. When the probe is inserted into the mouth, the head of the probe, which contains an acoustical reflector, redirects the sonic energy from the rod outwardly towards the inner surface of the teeth and diverts it away from the throat. In addition, the probe is equipped with additional foam insulation, which prevents the sonic energy from being deflected or reflected upwardly towards the roof of the mouth or downwardly towards the tongue and throat. 
         [0013]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,772,434 to Winston discloses an ultrasonic tooth cleaner having a piezoelectric ultrasonic driver located in the handle portion. A removable cleaning tip, made from a polymer or filled composite plastic which is resonant at the working frequency, is attached to the handle portion of the cleaning device. The tip also includes a bore through which the cleaning fluid flows. The fluid cools the tip and the contact point with the tooth, and also allows for the cavitation effect, as described above, to clean the tooth&#39;s surface. 
         [0014]    These traditional devices require substantial power at voltages in the range of 400-500 volts in order to provide the ultrasonic driver with enough power to use the device. These devices were expensive to manufacture and required a great deal of power. 
         [0015]    Moreover, there are other examples of known ultrasonic dental tools that are suitable for use by a professional in a dental office, such as the ultrasonic hand-held cleaning device in U.S. Pat. No. 3,956,826 (RE30,536) to Perdreaux and the ultrasonic endodontic dental apparatus of U.S. Pat. No. 4,492,574 to Warrin et al. However, these devices are not well suited for home use. 
         [0016]    Therefore, it is desirable to develop an ultrasonic cleaning device which is cheaper to manufacture and requires substantially less power to operate, and is safe even for home use. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0017]    The present invention relates to an ultrasonic dental cleaning device that utilizes an improved ultrasonic driver made from a ferrite rod excitation system. 
         [0018]    In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the ultrasonic dental cleaning device can be crafted using commercially available ferrite rods, thus significantly reducing the manufacturing cost of the device. 
         [0019]    In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the ultrasonic dental cleaning device requires an average of 6-12 volts and a maximum of around 50 volts peak voltage to power the device. As a result, this provides an extra safety measure to the user due to its low-voltage design. 
         [0020]    Additionally, in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an improved cleaning tip of the ultrasonic dental cleaning device is made from a soft polymer or plastic and can be interchangeable. This allows for a variety of tip sizes and shapes to be used with a single cleaning device. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0021]    Exemplary embodiments of the present inventions are explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0022]      FIG. 1  is an exploded side view of an ultrasonic dental cleaner according to a first embodiment in accordance with the invention; 
           [0023]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the handle of the ultrasonic dental cleaner of  FIG. 1 , showing the features of the end caps; 
           [0024]      FIG. 3  is a side view of the cleaning tip and tip mount of the ultrasonic dental cleaner of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 4  is an exploded side view of the ultrasonic driving system of the ultrasonic dental cleaner of  FIG. 1 , showing the components in detail; 
           [0026]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an ultrasonic dental cleaner according to a second embodiment in accordance with the invention; 
           [0027]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the ultrasonic dental cleaner of  FIG. 5 , showing the handle and end caps removed from the driving system and cleaning tip; 
           [0028]      FIG. 7  is a side view of the first end cap of the ultrasonic dental cleaner of  FIG. 5 , showing where the male threads are located, as well as the internal geometry; 
           [0029]      FIG. 8  is a side view of the second end cap of the ultrasonic dental cleaner of  FIG. 5 , showing where the male threads are located, as well as the internal geometry; 
           [0030]      FIG. 9  is a side view of the handle of the ultrasonic dental cleaner of  FIG. 5 , showing where the female threads are located, as well as the internal geometry; 
           [0031]      FIG. 10  is a side view of the cleaning tip of the ultrasonic dental cleaner of  FIG. 5 , showing the shape of the bends in the tip, as well as the female threads; 
           [0032]      FIG. 11  is a side view of the tip mount of the ultrasonic dental cleaner of  FIG. 5 , showing the pin hole, location of the male threads, and the internal geometry; 
           [0033]      FIG. 12  is a side view of the sleeve of the ultrasonic dental cleaner of  FIG. 5 , showing the large and small ends, as well as the internal geometry; 
           [0034]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view of the sleeve of the ultrasonic dental cleaner of  FIG. 5 , showing the sleeve wrapped in wire coils, which are coupled to the electrical cord; 
           [0035]      FIG. 14  is a front, side, and top view of the base unit of the ultrasonic cleaner of  FIG. 5 , showing how the plug housing and switch housing fit together; 
           [0036]      FIG. 15  is a front, side, and top view of the switch housing of the ultrasonic cleaner of  FIG. 5 , showing the internal geometry; 
           [0037]      FIG. 16  is a front, side, and top view of the plug housing of the ultrasonic cleaner of  FIG. 5 , showing the internal geometry; 
           [0038]      FIG. 17  is a perspective view of the base unit of the ultrasonic dental cleaner of  FIG. 5 , showing the circuit with transformer in the open housings of the base unit; and 
           [0039]      FIG. 18  is a perspective view of the base unit of the ultrasonic dental cleaner of  FIG. 5 , showing the side of the circuit opposite the transformer. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0040]    Referring now to the drawings,  FIG. 1  illustrates an exploded view of a cleaning system  100  of the present invention. The system  100  comprises a base unit  10 , a handle  20 , and a cleaning tip  30 . The base unit  10  includes a power supply  5  with a standard plug for a wall outlet, which preferably delivers a 6V direct current (DC) from the power supply. However, one of ordinary skill in the art will easily recognize that the power supply  5  can be substituted with a power supply of various voltages. In addition, the power supply can also be delivered as an alternating current (AC) type, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Moreover, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate how to practice the invention with a battery power source and/or an low-voltage AC wall-powered outlet power source. In accordance with the invention, the device can be used with gel peroxides, including foaming frices described below, to aid in foaming, cleansing, cleaning, cooling, bactericidal, and disclosing functions. The gel peroxides can include regular or urea peroxides. 
         [0041]    The general structure of the handle  20  will now be described. The handle  20  is attached to the base unit  10  via a cord  21 . As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the handle  20  is equipped with two caps  23 ,  24 , which are placed on opposing ends of the handle  20 . The caps  23 ,  24  are preferably tapered, but can be flat, circular, or a variety of other shapes as well. 
         [0042]    The cap  23 , located on the front of the handle  20 , includes a pin  22 , which is used to secure the tip  30  to the handle  20 . The cap  23  is preferably cemented to the handle  20  such that it will not loosen or detach from the handle  20  during operation of the device. The cap  24 , located on the back of the handle  20 , is affixed to the back of the handle  20  using an epoxy fill or other suitable material. The cap  24  also contains hole  24   a  that allows for the cord  21  to pass through, as suggested in  FIG. 1 . It is to be understood that the terms ‘front’ and ‘back’ are merely used as descriptive indicators of relative directions and are in no way limiting to the structure or appearance of the present invention. 
         [0043]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a cleaning tip  30  is affixed within cap  23 , which is affixed to the handle  20  as described above. The tip  30  is preferably a removable tip, which can be screwed or mounted into the tip mount  25 . Tip mount  25  is attached to rod  50  and or sleeve  52 , as will be described below. A pin  22  in tip mount  25  is used in conjunction with cap  23  to secure and release tip  30  from tip mount  25 . Pin  22  can be spring loaded or broached threaded or any of a number of quick-disconnect configurations as are known in the art. Pin  22  also extends through a hole in cap  23  when system  100  is assembled, as shown in  FIG. 2 . One end  31  of tip  30  connects with the tip mount  25  to secure the tip  30 . End  31  is preferably flush with tip mount  25  and can contain a female threading so as to allow a male thread end protruding from tip mount  25  to be secured. Alternatively, end  31  can be secured to tip mount  25  via other securement means, such as a pin and lock mechanism. 
         [0044]    In addition, the tip  30  is preferably made from a relatively hard plastic, flexible polymer composite, such as a graphite filled polymer, or reinforced carbon. The material from which the tip  30  is made from must be able to withstand the high stress and energy produced with constant ultrasonic vibration without overheating. In addition, the material should preferably have a hardness that is much less than that of tooth enamel so as to not damage the tooth when the tip  30  comes into contact with it. A softer tip according to the invention is also preferable in that it can operate with less need for cooling compared to the metal tips in the art. In addition, the material must be capable of transmitting ultrasonic energy in the desired frequency and amplitude ranges. 
         [0045]    The tip  30  is also preferably constructed such that it can be mass-produced, thereby reducing the overall cost of the device. In addition, since the tip  30  is detachable from the cap  23 , this allows multiple users to utilize a single cleaning system  100 , making the device more cost-effective. The tip  30  can take on a variety of shapes and sizes. Ideally, the tip has multiple bends or a curved shape to allow the device operator to reach any surface within the oral cavity. For example, the tip  30  can have an elongated curved shape, as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0046]    On the other end of the tip  30  it is possible to have an opening connected to a fluid reservoir as is known in the art for delivering a fluid to the tip. However, it is also possible with the invention to eliminate the need for a fluid reservoir altogether. If the system  100  does not comprise a fluid chamber and an internal fluid system, then the tip  30  is to be placed within the user&#39;s mouth along with an external fluid such as water or one of a number of bacteriostatic, bactericidal, anti-metabolic, or cell lysis compounds. (See, for example, the compositions disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,306,370 to Jensen, et al., as well as U.S. Pat. No. 3,657,413 to Rosenthal). Use of foamed cleaning adjuncts, or foam frices, can assist in bacteria killing, provide cooling, and eliminate the need for water irrigation. Some frices known in the art can be applied to dental surfaces, whereupon the frices foam where they come into contact with dental plaque. Thus the frices serve to identify or disclose where the tip of a plaque remover needs to be applied. At the same time, the frices can serve as a lubricant and coolant for the tip as it works along the dental surface, eliminating the need for fluids delivered through the tool. Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that if such frices are used, opening  32  can be eliminated. When the system  100  is activated, the ultrasonic waves generated by the system  100  (described below) will be transmitted from the tip  30  into the external fluid located within the user&#39;s mouth. The cavitation effect is then induced into the external fluid to clean the user&#39;s teeth. 
         [0047]    With reference now to  FIG. 4 , the ultrasonic driving system  54  of the cleaning device  100  will now be described.  FIG. 4  illustrates a rod  50  according to one embodiment of the present invention. The rod  50  is normally housed within sleeve  26 , which is in turn positioned within the handle  20 , as indicated in the exploded view of  FIGS. 1 and 4 . The rod  50  is preferably a mixed iron oxide rod, such as a ferrite rod that is commercially available, either in bulk units or for single sale. The rod can also be made from a pressed or sintered oxide. As an example, several vendors such as DigiKey or Surplus Sales of Nebraska sell a variety of ferrite rods ranging from 2 inches in length to 8 inches in length. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that rod  50  can be made from any material that exhibits magnetostrictive properties, such as nickel can be made in a variety of shapes such as a tube. 
         [0048]    The exact length of the rod  50  will be dependent based on the resonant frequency desired. Ideally, the operating range of vibrating frequencies for the cleaning system  100  is between 20,000 Hz and 50,000 Hz. It is also possible to practice the invention in the range of 20,000-40,000 Hz. 
         [0049]    A processor  56 , powered by power supply  5  via cord  21 , delivers an ultrasonic electrical signal to leads  21   a  and  21   b , which in turn connect to magnet  51  and/or coil  55  to induce oscillations in the magnetic field. Such processors typically include an oscillator and a push-pull amplifying circuit and are commercially available, such as the Battery Operated 25 kHz Ultrasonic Processor Model 4180, manufactured by Sonaer Ultrasonics, at 145 Rome Street, Farmingdale, N.Y. 11735. The oscillations in the magnetic field surrounding rod  50  cause rod  50  to vibrate at the ultrasonic frequency. 
         [0050]    The rod  50  is placed within the handle  20  and is equipped with a magnet  51  on one end of the rod  50 . O-rings or Teflon tape  59  around rod  50  assure that rod  50  connects at its nodal points to sleeve  26  to reduce damping and facilitate the proper motion when system  100  is in operation. O-rings  59  also provide for an air gap between rod  50  and sleeve  26 . The magnet  51  is affixed securely to the rod  50  by means of an epoxy  52 , or another similarly suitable adhesive. A Mylar disk  58  is included, as depicted in  FIG. 1 , to facilitate good fit and operation. Leads  21   a ,  21   b  extend from the cord  21  and attach to the magnet  51  in order to drive the magnet  51 /coil  55 . When power from the power supply  5  is supplied to the magnet  51 /coil  55  through processor  56 , the magnet  51 /coil  55  induces a magnetic field that oscillates at an ultrasonic frequency and thus causes the rod  50  to exhibit its magnetostrictive properties predominantly in the longitudinal direction. The rod  50  will change dimension along the longitudinal axis by expanding and contracting at ultrasonic frequencies when subjected to the magnetic field. When the rod  50  is excited by the magnetic field, there is a longitudinal translation of approximately 20-75 microns in length. By converting the magnetic energy to mechanical energy in this manner, ultrasonic waves can be transferred to the tip  30 , through tip mount  25  attached to rod  50  and/or sleeve  26 . 
         [0051]      FIG. 4  shows a wire  55  wrapped around the sleeve  26 . Thus when rod  50  is housed in sleeve  26 , the coils of wire  55  surround rod  50 . In this particular embodiment, the power supply  5  is an AC power supply. Lead  21   a  is connected to one end of the wire  55 , while lead  21   b  is connected to the other end of the wire  55 . Electrical power in the form of an ultrasonic signal from processor  56  is converted into an alternating magnetic field through the use of the coil of wire  55 . The alternating magnetic field is then used to induce mechanical vibrations at the ultrasonic frequency in the rod  50 . The frequency of the AC electrical energy applied to the transducer is the same as that of the mechanical vibration frequency. Therefore, by inducing a magnetic field via the wire  55 , the rod  50  will exhibit its magnetostrictive properties and expand and contract accordingly. 
         [0052]    While the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-4  is shown incorporating both magnet  51  and wire coils  55  to induce ultrasonic vibrations in rod  50 , those skilled in the art will readily appreciate how to practice the invention with only one of the magnets  51  and coils  55  without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 
         [0053]    The overall power consumption of the cleaning device  100  is substantially lower than that of the traditional models. For example, the present invention is capable of utilizing only 1 to 2 watts of input power in the form of electrical energy, with an output power of approximately 0.1 watts in the form of mechanical energy. This overall lower power requirement is due particularly to the lower requirements for exciting of ferrite compared to piezo-electric ceramics as in the art. 
         [0054]    Those skilled in the art will appreciate how to modify the cleaning device  100  of the present invention to include a fluid chamber, for example in a base unit. The fluid chamber can be filled with a fluid such as water or one of a number of bacteriostatic, bactericidal, anti-metabolic, or cell lysis compounds suitable for use with dental cleaning. The fluid can flow from the chamber through a passageway, which is provided as a separate tubing within the cord to an opening in the tip, as is known in the art. Within the handle, the fluid can surround the rod such that when the rod is subjected to the magnetic fields, ultrasonic waves are induced in the fluid, which are then outputted via the opening in the tip. When using the cleaning device which has an internal fluid chamber, there is no need for the user to also provide an external fluid substance. When the fluid is induced with the ultrasonic waves, the same cavitation effect as described in the previous embodiment will occur, thus cleaning the user&#39;s teeth. 
         [0055]      FIGS. 5-18  show an alternative embodiment of the invention.  FIG. 5  shows system  200  with power base unit  210 . Cord  221  electrically connects base unit  210  to handle  220 . Tip  230  extends from the opposite end of handle  220  from cord  221 .  FIG. 6  shows handle  220  removed from sleeve  226  to reveal wire coils  255  and tip mount  225  attached to sleeve  226 . Cap  224  is detached from handle  220 , however cord  221  is shown passing through cap  224 . Cap  223  is also shown removed from handle  220 . Caps  224  and  223  have male threads ( 224   a  and  223   a , respectively) that engage with female threads in handle  220  ( 224   b  and  223   b , respectively) when assembled, as indicated in  FIGS. 7-9 . 
         [0056]      FIG. 10  shows tip  230  with female threads  230   b  that engage male threads  230   a  of tip mount  225 , as shown in  FIG. 11 . Tip  230  is bent into a shape which allows tip  230  to reach most dental surfaces within an oral cavity, as is known in the art. Tip  230  is made of a graphite filled polymer material, however those skilled in the art will readily recognize other suitable materials within the scope of the invention, as described above. Tip mount  225  includes a hole  225   a  suitable for housing a pin (not shown) for securing and releasing tip  230 , as described above with respect to tip  30 . 
         [0057]      FIG. 12  shows sleeve  226  having a large end  226   a  and a small end  226   b . Large end  226   a  has an interior for accommodating a magnet (not shown, but see e.g. magnet  51  above) and an exterior for engaging handle  220 . Small end  226   b  engages tip mount  225  end to end, and engages handle  220  when assembled. A ferrite rod (not shown, but see e.g. rod  50  above) fits within the interior passage of sleeve  226 , and into the wide opening in the end of tip mount  225 .  FIG. 13  shows wire coils  255  which are powered with electrical signals at ultrasonic frequencies to induce vibrations in the ferrite rod, as described above with respect to system  100 . Also shown in  FIG. 13  is epoxy  252  holding components in large end  226   a .  FIGS. 7-12  show internal features of the respective parts in hidden lines. 
         [0058]      FIG. 14  shows base unit  210  in front, side, and top views. Base unit  210  is made of two halves, the first is switch housing  210   a  and the second is plug housing  210   b , which has a standard three-prong plug for connection with a standard wall outlet.  FIG. 15  shows switch housing  210   a  in three views, and  FIG. 16  shows plug housing  210   b  in three views. Base unit  210  is essentially a shell that houses a circuit  256 , which is shown in  FIGS. 17 and 18 . Circuit  256  includes a transformer  256   a , an ultrasonic transducer, and means for converting AC to DC power, as are well known in the art. There is also pictured a switch (connected to yellow wires in switch housing  210   a ) which allows a user to activate and deactivate system  200  when it is plugged in to a standard wall outlet. Cord  221  connects directly to circuit  256 , which connects directly to the switch and the plug. 
         [0059]    One benefit of the present invention is that the present invention requires a peak voltage of approximately 50 volts. Previously, traditional cleaning systems which utilized crystal resonators required between 400-500 volts of power for operation. As a result, the cleaning device  100  of the present invention provides an extra safety measure to its users. This extra safety measure makes cleaning devices  100 / 200  suitable for home use. In addition, because the cleaning device of the present invention is low-powered, it is easier to obtain the necessary approvals from various industry-regulating boards. Moreover, while the invention has been described above having an AC power source with a cord and plug, with such low power requirements, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate how to practice the invention using a battery power source to make a cordless embodiment. 
         [0060]    Another benefit of the present invention is that the disposable tips  30  aide in preventing cross-contamination between multiple users of the cleaning device. This allows the device to be utilized by multiple users at a more cost-effective price. The soft material of tips  30  make them safe and suitable for home use. 
         [0061]    Furthermore, by using a commercially-available rod  50  and disposable tips  30 , the cost of the cleaning device can be substantially reduced. This allows the device to be provided to a consumer for less than the previous technology, further making the system suitable for home use. 
         [0062]    While the systems of the present invention, as described above and shown in the drawings, provide for an ultrasonic dental plaque remover with superior properties including operating at low voltages. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the device of the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention include modifications and variations that are within the scope of the above-described embodiments and their equivalents.