Photocatalyst toothbrush using advanced oxidation process

Abstract

The present invention relates to a photocatalyst toothbrush using an AOP (advanced oxidation process) which is configured such that a light source unit 113 such as UV lamps is attached to a photocatalyst reaction unit 114 coated with a photocatalyst such as TiO 2 , superoxide anion and OH radical are generated by a photocatalyst action, and the generated superoxide anion and OH radical are collected and are transferred together with external air to an oral cavity by using an air pump 115 . In this way, organic substances, such as food, viruses, bacteria, plaque, tartar, etc., existing in the oral cavity are decomposed and removed so as to provide a clean oral-cavity state. Since the exemplary embodiment of the present invention is innovative in the generation and transfer configuration of anion and OH radical and has a simple configuration, the manufacturing is easy.

1 . A photocatalyst toothbrush using an AOP (advanced oxidation process) including:
 a head part having a brush used to brush a tooth, said head part including an air transfer unit for discharging airflow received by the head part to the outside of the toothbrush; and   a toothbrush body connected to said head part and capable of providing said airflow to said head part, said toothbrush body having an internal cavity and an external structure which a user can hold for brushing a tooth, said toothbrush body including:
 an air inflow opening formed on one side of the toothbrush body to be connected to the internal cavity, 
 a battery provided in the internal cavity for supplying power, 
 a light source unit for receiving power from the battery, and for generating a first light ray having a first wavelength within a sterilization wavelength range and a second light ray of a second wavelength within an ozone generating wavelength range, 
 a photocatalyst reaction unit at least partially surrounding the light source unit and having a surface coated with a photocatalyst, said photocatalyst reaction unit generating superoxide anion and OH radicals when said first and second light rays contact said photocatalyst, and 
 an air transfer member for transferring to the head part of the toothbrush the superoxide anion and OH radicals generated in the photocatalyst reaction unit together with external airflow from the external inflow air opening. 
   
     
     
         2 . The photocatalyst toothbrush using an AOP (advanced oxidation process) according to  claim 1 , wherein the air transfer member is an air pump. 
     
     
         3 . The photocatalyst toothbrush using an AOP (advanced oxidation process) according to  claim 1 , wherein the air transfer member includes a motor and an impeller. 
     
     
         4 . The photocatalyst toothbrush using an AOP (advanced oxidation process) according to  claim 1 , wherein the head part is attachable to and detachable from the upper end part of the toothbrush body. 
     
     
         5 . The photocatalyst toothbrush using an AOP (advanced oxidation process) according to  claim 4 , wherein the air transfer unit includes an airflow path formed along the inside of the air transfer unit, and a plurality of air discharge openings connected to the outside at an end of the air flow path. 
     
     
         6 . The photocatalyst toothbrush using an AOP (advanced oxidation process) according to  claim 5 , wherein the air inflow opening is formed in a lower end part of the toothbrush body. 
     
     
         7 . The photocatalyst toothbrush using an AOP (advanced oxidation process) according to  claim 6 , wherein an air flow line through which air flows from a lower end part to an upper end part of the toothbrush body is formed inside the toothbrush body, and the air flow line is connected to the air flow path. 
     
     
         8 . The photocatalyst toothbrush using an AOP (advanced oxidation process) according to  claim 1 , wherein the photocatalyst coated on the photocatalyst reaction unit is any one of ZnO, CdS, WO 3 , SnO 3 , ZrO 2 , Cu 2 O, CdSe, or TiO 2 . 
     
     
         9 . The photocatalyst toothbrush using an AOP (advanced oxidation process) according to  claim 1 , wherein the light source unit is any one of the sun's light, black light, a fluorescent lamp, an LED lamp, or a UV lamp. 
     
     
         10 . The photocatalyst toothbrush using an AOP (advanced oxidation process) according to  claim 1 , wherein the sterilization wavelength range is an ultraviolet wavelength range. 
     
     
         11 . The photocatalyst toothbrush using an AOP (advanced oxidation process) according to  claim 10 , wherein the ultraviolet wavelength range is 254 nm. 
     
     
         12 . The photocatalyst toothbrush using an AOP (advanced oxidation process) according to  claim 11 , wherein the ozone generation wavelength range is 184 nm.