ALEXANDRIA, Va., Oct. 28 -- United States Patent no. 12,446,996, issued on Oct. 21.

"Interproximal pick device for a sonic vibration generating handle" was invented by Linda Lorraine Hodge (Westminster, Calif.).

According to the abstract* released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "An interproximal pick device has an elongate resilient pick that extends from a rigid tubular housing. A proximal end of the elongate resilient pick is fixedly secured within an inner conduit adjacent a top end of the rigid tubular housing. A resilient tube is positioned within the inner conduit adjacent a bottom end of the rigid tubular housing. The resilient tube is sized and shaped to receive the mounting post of a sonic vibration generating handle, suc...