US20050019718A1 - Orthodontic devices for use with arch wires - Google Patents
Orthodontic devices for use with arch wires Download PDFInfo
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- US20050019718A1 US20050019718A1 US10/623,528 US62352803A US2005019718A1 US 20050019718 A1 US20050019718 A1 US 20050019718A1 US 62352803 A US62352803 A US 62352803A US 2005019718 A1 US2005019718 A1 US 2005019718A1
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- slot
- pivot
- arch wire
- device body
- shutter member
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61C—DENTISTRY; APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR ORAL OR DENTAL HYGIENE
- A61C7/00—Orthodontics, i.e. obtaining or maintaining the desired position of teeth, e.g. by straightening, evening, regulating, separating, or by correcting malocclusions
- A61C7/12—Brackets; Arch wires; Combinations thereof; Accessories therefor
- A61C7/28—Securing arch wire to bracket
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61C—DENTISTRY; APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR ORAL OR DENTAL HYGIENE
- A61C7/00—Orthodontics, i.e. obtaining or maintaining the desired position of teeth, e.g. by straightening, evening, regulating, separating, or by correcting malocclusions
- A61C7/12—Brackets; Arch wires; Combinations thereof; Accessories therefor
- A61C7/28—Securing arch wire to bracket
- A61C7/285—Locking by rotation
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61C—DENTISTRY; APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR ORAL OR DENTAL HYGIENE
- A61C7/00—Orthodontics, i.e. obtaining or maintaining the desired position of teeth, e.g. by straightening, evening, regulating, separating, or by correcting malocclusions
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61C—DENTISTRY; APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR ORAL OR DENTAL HYGIENE
- A61C7/00—Orthodontics, i.e. obtaining or maintaining the desired position of teeth, e.g. by straightening, evening, regulating, separating, or by correcting malocclusions
- A61C7/12—Brackets; Arch wires; Combinations thereof; Accessories therefor
- A61C7/14—Brackets; Fixing brackets to teeth
- A61C7/145—Lingual brackets
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61C—DENTISTRY; APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR ORAL OR DENTAL HYGIENE
- A61C7/00—Orthodontics, i.e. obtaining or maintaining the desired position of teeth, e.g. by straightening, evening, regulating, separating, or by correcting malocclusions
- A61C7/12—Brackets; Arch wires; Combinations thereof; Accessories therefor
- A61C7/28—Securing arch wire to bracket
- A61C7/30—Securing arch wire to bracket by resilient means; Dispensers therefor
Abstract
An orthodontic bracket or convertible buccal tube for use with arch wires has the usual mesial distal extending slot having one side open to receive the wire. The open side is closed by a shutter pivoting on a pivot pin, or coaxial pins, about a mesial distal axis, the shutter being latched in slot closed position to retain the arch wire by a latch having one latch member on the pivot pin/s and a cooperating member on an annular part of the shutter surrounding the pin/s. Preferably the latch members are a mesial distal extending cam shaped recess in the pivot pin/s and a projection protruding from the annular shutter part, or vice versa. The part of the annular shutter part carrying the latch member is made flexible by a mesial distal extending through slot dividing it to form a movable segment of about 200° to 270° of the total circumference; a tool can be inserted into the slot to assist in disengaging the latch. The shutter member can have parts thereof that with the shutter in slot closed position are an interference fit against the device body providing an additional retaining force against opening movement. Preferably the device includes an attitude controlling spring member consisting of a thin sheet metal spring within the body having a free end extending into the arch wire slot to engage an arch wire therein, or alternatively consisting of a flexible extension of the part of the shutter member that closes the slot.
Description
- This invention is concerned with improvements in or relating to orthodontic devices consisting of orthodontic brackets and tubes of convertible type that are used in orthodontic procedures in cooperation with arch wires, and particularly such devices which have arch wire attitude controlling spring means as a permanent part thereof.
- Orthodontic procedures almost always employ a plurality of orthodontic brackets that are attached to respective teeth, usually by cementing them thereto, although in some circumstances the bracket may still be attached to a metal band which embraces the tooth. Each bracket has a mesial distal extending slot therein, usually of rectangular cross section in a gingival occlusal plane, and the brackets are connected together using an arch wire, so called because it is preformed to an optimum arch shape corresponding to the desired conformation of the teeth at the conclusion of the procedure. In the so-called labial procedures which are most commonly employed, the brackets are attached to the labial surfaces of the teeth and the slots open toward the labial for insertion and removal of the wire, which is retained in the slots by ligating means of some kind. In “lingual” procedures, which have the advantage that the brackets and the wire are usually concealed from frontal view, the brackets are attached to the lingual teeth surfaces and the slots open toward the lingual or occlusal. Arch wires of progressively increasing stiffness and, depending on the type of tooth movement to be achieved, also of different cross sections, are used one at a time. Historically, when first employed the brackets were “passive”, in that ligation of the wire to the bracket to obtain the necessary action between them was external to the bracket, at first consisting of a soft metal wire twisted around the bracket body, while increasingly an elastomeric hoop or loop is used in place of the wire.
- The ends of the arch wire may be engaged in terminal tubes, usually attached to the molars so as to anchor the arch wire firmly in place. Tubes may also be employed on intermediate teeth in place of brackets whenever this is appropriate. In its simplest form a terminal or intermediate tube is passive and consists of a short piece of tube attached to a base by which it is mounted on the tooth surface, the tube bore opening at least mesially so that the arch wire end must be inserted therein. This is not always convenient, and may not be possible when the tube is on an intermediate tooth, and the solution is then to use a tube of the so-called convertible type, with which one side of the tube bore can be opened when required for insertion of the wire therein, or its removal. It is also possible to incorporate in such a tube an arch wire engaging attitude controlling spring member that will urge the wire into contact with two of the slot walls, whereupon the tube is active as well as convertible. It will be apparent from the foregoing brief description that there can be considerable overlap between the function and appearance of brackets and tubes, with the result that it may be possible for a particular orthodontic device to be considered by some orthodontists as a bracket, while others will think of it as a tube. In general, a device in which its body is noticeably bigger in gingival-occlusal dimension than mesially-distally will usually be regarded by most practitioners as a bracket, while one in which the opposite is the case will be regarded as a tube.
- The term “orthodontic devices” as used herein, in both the specific description and in the claims, is intended therefore to include both brackets and convertible tubes within its scope. The adjective “buccal” commonly is used to indicate that a device is on teeth that are facing the cheeks, while “palatal” or “lingual” are used to indicate to indicate that a device is facing the palate and the tongue. More specifically palatal is used in referring to the “inward” facing surfaces of the upper bicuspids and molars, but increasingly lingual is used for all teeth, while labial is used to refer to the upper and lower canines and incisors, and buccal is used to refer to the upper and lower bicuspids and molars.
- Brackets as used in the Hanson SPEED System (Trade Mark) are “active”, sometimes referred to as “self-ligating”, in that each comprises a permanent ligating spring member which embraces the bracket body and is moved thereon between slot open and slot closed positions, the spring member performing the dual functions of retaining the arch wire in the slot, and also urging it to an optimum position within the slot. Specific examples of such active brackets are disclosed and claimed in my U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,248,588 and 4,492,573 the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by this reference.
- In another line of development the device is provided with a shutter which is movable between slot open and closed positions, and in slot closed position retains the arch wire in the slot. The shutter also functions, at least initially, by its engagement with the wire, to urge the device and the arch wire to their optimum or neutral position relative to one another at which the constraint between them is minimized. Since in at least the initial stages of the procedure the arch wire will be of cross section smaller than the slot, such a device preferably is provided with an internal attitude controlling spring that protrudes into the slot to engage the wire and provide a desired controlling force. Such a shutter can be of thicker material than an embracing spring and less flexible, so that it can more easily be made much less sensitive to overstressing beyond the elastic limit of the material, while still being sufficiently flexible for it to be held securely in slot closed position by its jamming engagement with the device body while under the onerous conditions encountered in typical orthodontic procedure. Examples of devices consisting of brackets and convertible tubes are described and claimed in my U.S. Pat. No. 6,506,049, issued 14 Jan. 2003, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by this reference.
- There is a constant endeavor to provide devices that are as small and as smooth exteriorly as possible, for cosmetic reasons to please the patient, in order to reduce as much as possible any rough contact between the tongue, the devices and the adjacent mouth tissue with its consequent discomfort, and for hygienic reasons to reduce the number of areas in which food and dental plaque can accumulate. It is of interest to both orthodontists and patients to provide devices that interfere as little as possible with speech. The orthodontist is interested in addition to use devices that while low in cost provide fast, precise and effective movement and attitude control of the teeth.
- There is increasing interest in the lingual technique, even though such procedures are more difficult to implement. A compromise especially applicable to young patients is to use the lingual technique only for the upper arch, where the brackets and arch wire would otherwise be most visible, and the labial technique for the lower arch, where the brackets and arch wire are mostly hidden by the lower lip. The compromise is not so suitable for older patients who tend to show their lower teeth more, and in some cases primarily display their lower anterior teeth. Lingual and mixed lingual/labial procedures are of special interest to adult patients who are more concerned than children with appearance during the two to three year period required for a typical procedure. Small smooth devices are needed particularly for the lingual location because of ready access by the tongue, and the natural tendency for the tongue to explore any foreign object in the mouth. Attempts simply to reduce the size of existing devices are not generally successful, at least partly because changes in scale affects size parameters in different ratios, e.g. areas decrease in square ratio while volumes decrease in cube ratio, with the result that it becomes increasingly difficult, especially with the tiny spring members required, to find materials of the necessary properties. Examples of such small, smooth exterior brackets suitable for lingual procedures are those described and claimed in my U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,698,017 and 5,685,711, issued respectively 06 Oct. 1987 and 11 Nov. 1997, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by this reference
- The manufacture of orthodontic devices and equipment is now a mature industry, and there is an ongoing requirement to provide devices that are efficient, economical and easy to use. Increasingly there is the added requirement for them to be as inexpensive as possible, especially if orthodontists are to be persuaded to make the changes in the procedures in which they were trained, and with which they are very familiar, and that the adoption of any new device usually entails.
- It is a principal object of the invention therefore to provide new orthodontic devices, and particularly those which are of the type comprising a permanent attitude controlling metal spring that can engage an arch wire in the arch wire receiving slot.
- It is another principal object to provide new devices of small size and of an exterior shape that makes them specially suitable for use in lingual techniques, particularly in association with incisor or canine teeth.
- In accordance with the invention there is provided an orthodontic device for use with orthodontic arch wires comprising:
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- a device body having labial, lingual, gingival, occlusal, mesial and distal surface portions, the body having therein a mesial-distal extending arch wire receiving slot having one side open to a device body surface portion to permit insertion of an arch wire into the slot and its removal therefrom;
- a pivot member mounted by the device body and establishing a corresponding mesial-distal extending pivot axis; and
- a shutter member mounted by the pivot member for pivoting movement about the pivot axis between a slot open position in which the open slot side is open, and a slot closed position in which the shutter member closes the open slot side to retain an orthodontic arch wire in the slot;
- wherein the shutter member comprises:
- a pivot portion mounted by the pivot member for the pivoting movement of the shutter member;
- a slot closure portion movable with the pivot portion, extending mesially distally with respect to the device body, and in the slot closure position closing the slot open side; and
- latch means having latch members cooperating with one another and operative between the pivot member and the pivot portion when the shutter member is in slot closed position to retain the shutter member in that position.
- The cooperating latch means members may comprise a recess in one of the pivot member and the pivot portion, and a projection from the other of the pivot member and the pivot portion, wherein with the shutter member in the slot closed position the recess and projection are cooperatively engaged with one another to retain the shutter member in that position. Preferably the recess is provided in the pivot member and the projection is provided on the pivot portion.
- The shutter member pivot portion may comprise a part thereof embracing the pivot member, the pivot portion part having a mesial distal extending bore therein through which the pivot member extends so that the part has a wall of at least approximately annular transverse cross section surrounding the pivot member;
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- the wall having therein a mesial distal extending radial slot from its interior to its exterior so that the wall is discontinuous around the pivot member and has a movable segment thereof able to move radially toward and away from the pivot member by flexing thereof; and
- wherein one of the latch means members is carried by the movable segment and moves into and out of engagement with the other of the latch means members by the flexing of the movable segment.
- The movable segment may constitute from about 200° to 270° of the total circumference of the pivot portion part wall with the respective latch means member disposed immediately adjacent to the radial slot. The movable segment may have a part thereof adjacent to the location of the respective latch means member extending radially outward and engageable with a surface of the device body to limit the movement of the shutter member beyond a desired slot open position.
- The radial slot in the pivot portion wall may have a tool receiving aperture therein through which a tool is inserted by an operator for flexing of the movable segment to disengage the latch means for movement of the shutter member out of the slot closed position.
- The pivot member may comprise a single pivot pin and the tool receiving aperture is continued into the pin to permit adequate insertion of the tool into the aperture, or instead the pivot member may comprise two separate coaxial pins having their facing ends spaced apart to permit insertion of the tool between them.
- In the slot closed position of the shutter member the mesial and distal ends of the slot closure portion may engage with immediately adjacent surface portions of the device body with an interference fit engagement between them providing a retaining force in addition to that provided by the latch means so that the shutter member is also constrained thereby in the slot closed position against movement out of that position, and movement of the shutter member into the slot closed position requires flexing of the slot closure portion in a direction away from the device body against the resilience of the material of the slot closure portion.
- There may be provided in a recess within the device body an attitude controlling spring member having a fixed end portion fixed against movement relative to the device body and a free end portion extending into the arch wire receiving slot for engagement in a mesially-distally extending plane with an arch wire in the slot. The attitude controlling spring member may be of thin metal sheet with transversely extending side arms, and is retained within the device body by having the side arms sandwiched between a part of the device body containing the arch wire slot and a base member fastened to the device body.
- Alternatively an attitude controlling spring member may be constituted by a flexible extension of the shutter member that with the shutter member in slot closed position has a free end portion extending into the arch wire receiving slot for engagement in a mesial-distal extending plane with an arch wire in the slot, such engagement urging the arch wire into engagement with the respective slot walls. Preferably, in the slot closed position the flexible portion of the shutter member is positively engaged with a surface of the device body so as preload the flexible portion and urge the free end portion toward engagement with an arch wire in the arch wire slot.
- With a device particularly intended for application to the lingual surface of an incisor or canine tooth, which teeth are characterized in that their labial-lingual dimension decreases progressively from the gingival to the occlusal; and
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- wherein in the slot closed position the occlusal surface portion of the shutter member is flush with the occlusal surface portion of the device body to thereby provide a combined occlusal surface which is unobstructed;
- the gingival-occlusal dimension of the device body may decrease progressively from the lingual to the labial, the decrease corresponding to the average increase from the occlusal to the gingival of an incisor or canine tooth, so that when the bracket is attached to the lingual surface of an incisor or canine tooth the unobstructed combined occlusal surface provides a labial-lingual extending bite plane surface which a tooth edge of an opposed incisor or canine tooth can engage during biting action to oppose overbite.
- Also in accordance with the invention there is provided an orthodontic device for use with orthodontic arch wires comprising:
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- a device body having labial, lingual, gingival, occlusal, mesial and distal surface portions, the body having therein a mesial-distal extending arch wire receiving slot having one side open to a device body surface portion to permit insertion of an arch wire into the slot and its removal therefrom;
- a pivot member mounted by the device body and establishing a corresponding mesial-distal extending pivot axis; and
- a shutter member mounted by the pivot member for pivoting movement about the pivot axis between a slot open position in which the open slot side is open, and a slot closed position in which the shutter member closes the open slot side to retain an orthodontic arch wire in the slot;
- wherein the shutter member comprises:
- a pivot portion mounted by the pivot member for the pivoting movement of the shutter member;
- a slot closure portion movable with the pivot portion, extending mesially distally with respect to the device body, and in the slot closure position closing the slot open side; and
- an attitude controlling spring member constituted by a flexible portion of the slot closure portion that with the shutter member in slot closed position has a free end portion extending into the arch wire receiving slot for engagement in a mesial-distal extending plane with an arch wire in the slot, such engagement urging the arch wire into engagement with the respective slot walls.
- Orthodontic devices that are particular preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings wherein:
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FIG. 1 is a perspective view from the mesial-occlusal of a first embodiment with its pivoting shutter member in slot closed position; -
FIG. 2 is an exploded view from the same perspective asFIG. 1 of the first embodiment; -
FIG. 3 is a longitudinal cross section in a central labial-lingual plane through a second embodiment with its shutter member in slot closed position; -
FIG. 4 is the same cross section asFIG. 3 with the shutter member in slot open position; -
FIG. 5 is a perspective view similar toFIG. 1 of a further embodiment; -
FIG. 6 is a partial exploded view from the same perspective asFIG. 2 , but showing only the shutter member of the embodiment ofFIG. 5 ; -
FIG. 7 is a side elevation from the mesial of a further embodiment that employs a shutter member of the same configuration as that inFIG. 6 , and showing the start of jamming cooperation between the shutter member and the bracket body during movement to slot closed position to assist in retaining the shutter member in that position; -
FIG. 8 (Sheet 1) is a perspective view showing brackets as inFIG. 5 attached to the lingual surfaces of incisor teeth, and showing also the employment of a tool for moving the shutter member to slot open position; -
FIG. 9 is a side elevation from the mesial showing a bracket of the invention in solid lines, and a prior art bracket in broken lines, the outlines of the brackets being superimposed upon one another so as to provide a comparison as to their relative sizes; -
FIGS. 10 and 11 are central longitudinal cross sections similar toFIGS. 3 and 4 of a further embodiment, in which the shutter member is positioned toward the lingual end of the bracket body, instead of toward the labial end; -
FIG. 12 (Sheet 5) is a central longitudinal cross section similar toFIGS. 10 and 11 of a further embodiment in which the placement of cooperating latch means members is reversed as compared with the other embodiments shown and described herein; -
FIG. 13 (Sheet 5) is a central longitudinal cross section of a further embodiment, taken on the line 13-13 inFIG. 12 , and showing one way in which the bracket can be provided with hooks for engagement with supplementary orthodontic devices; -
FIG. 14 is a view toward the labial of the embodiment ofFIG. 13 ; -
FIG. 15 is a view in side elevation from the mesial of a further embodiment provided with means by which elastomeric threads can readily be employed; and -
FIGS. 16 and 17 are central longitudinal cross sections of respective further embodiments in which an arch wire attitude controlling spring member to render the bracket active is provided by an extension of the shutter member. - Similar parts are given the same reference number in all the Figures of the drawings wherever this is appropriate. It may be noted that the devices shown in
FIGS. 1 through 11 are intended to be used attached to the lingual surfaces of incisor or canine teeth, while those shown inFIGS. 12-14 are intended to be used attached to the lingual surfaces of bicuspid or molar teeth. - In this specification and the appended claims, for convenience in language the devices and parts thereof are referred to, unless otherwise specified, as they would be used mounted in the upper arch region of a patient's mouth, especially since the brackets described are intended primarily for use in lingual procedures. However, all of the brackets of the invention may be used for either labial or lingual procedures. The labial and lingual direction designations are reversed between the two procedures, e.g. the bracket surface referred to as the labial surface in the labial procedure becomes the lingual surface in the lingual procedure, and vice versa, and the arch wire slot usually opens to the lingual and not the labial, although as described above it may instead open to the occlusal. Again for convenience in description the devices are described as having specific named surfaces but, as will be apparent, smooth exterior contours can only be achieved by avoiding sharp edges and sharp edged junctions wherever possible, and the various surfaces therefore usually merge smoothly with one another without a definite junction between them being apparent.
- The devices described and shown herein are all intended for use in the so-called straight wire technique with which each bracket is attached to its respective tooth in an attitude such that, as the arch wire attempts to return to its preformed arch shape and to be straight as seen in a mesial-distal, labial-lingual plane, the tooth is moved toward its desired optimized position and attitude. In order for the arch wire to be straight at the conclusion of the procedure the brackets for different teeth must accommodate the very different inclinations of the tooth surfaces to which they are attached. There are two main methods by which this is done, either by suitable shaping of the bracket bases and of their base surfaces that contact the teeth surfaces, or by changing the inclination of the arch wire slots. In the brackets shown herein all of the torque requirements (rotation about a mesial distal axis), angulation requirements (rotation about a labial lingual axis), and first order pre-adjustments, are obtained by suitable shaping of the bracket bases, particularly of the surface that engages the tooth surface, and by variation of the base thickness, so that when the teeth are in their optimum attitude and rotational position all of the slot surfaces engaged by the arch wire are aligned. The other method of slot inclination can also be used in the brackets of the invention, either alone or in combination with the first-described method. However, when the other method is used, with some brackets the inclination of the slot may be so extreme that, for example, in a bracket fixed to the lingual surface of a central incisor no attempt is made to have the slot remain parallel with the labial lingual axis and instead, as mentioned above, it opens to the occlusal parallel to the gingival occlusal axis (as viewed from the mesial or distal). Such a configuration allows easier insertion of the arch wire into the lingually mounted brackets. Nevertheless such devices are within the scope of the language of the appended claims.
- Referring now to
FIGS. 1 and 2 , the bracket device shown therein consists of a bracket body comprising a bracket body member having labial, lingual, gingival, occlusal, mesial anddistal surface portions FIG. 1 by corresponding arrows. The bracket body member has attached to its gingival surface, as for example by laser welding along its edges, abracket base 22 consisting of a thin metal foil, and having alayer 24 of metal wire mesh attached to its gingival surface, the open pores of the mesh facilitating the attachment of the bracket to a tooth by cement. All of the brackets shown and described herein are mounted on the respective tooth by cementing, as increasingly is preferred, although they could also be mounted by the older method of attaching them to respective tooth-embracing bands, which method is not illustrated but is well known to those skilled in the art. The body member is provided with a mesial-distal extending archwire receiving slot 26 having its lingual side open, the slot in this embodiment being of rectangular transverse cross section in a gingival-occlusal, labial-lingual plane and having labial, gingival andocclusal surfaces FIGS. 10, 11 , 16 and 17), which usually in the early stages of a procedure is of circular cross section and of small enough diameter for the bracket to slide freely along it once the arch wire is fully within the slot and fully aligned therein. Subsequently the arch wire usually is replaced by one of larger diameter, and thereafter with wires which also may instead be of D-shape or rectangular cross section. - Means for retaining the arch wire in the slot, and releasing it when required, consist of a shutter member, indicated generally by
arrow 36, that is mounted by a pivot member in a centrally disposedrecess 38 opening to the labial andocclusal surface portions common pivot axis 42 of the pins between a slot closed position, as shown inFIGS. 1 and 3 , in which the shutter closes the open lingual slot side, and a slot open position, as shown inFIG. 4 , in which the open lingual slot side is unobstructed. The facing ends of the pins are spaced from one another to provide a space between them whose function will be explained below. In this embodiment the pivot member is disposed in the body closer to the labial end than to the lingual end. The provision of therecess 38 in the bracket body member results in twoparallel wing members 44 with parallel facing mesial and distal walls, the mesial-distal dimension between the two walls being such that theshutter member 36 has just enough clearance, but without any appreciable play, to move freely therein in its movement between slot open and closed positions. The pivot pins are of circular cross section and are engaged tightly in corresponding circular cross section bores 46 in the wing members; once engaged in these bores they are held rigidly against rotation, for example by laser spot welding their ends to the bracket body byspot welds 48, as shown inFIGS. 1, 5 and 7. The shutter member consists of apivot portion 50 that is always within therecess 38, and through which the pivot pins 38 extend, and aslot closure portion 52, the lafter being in this embodiment integral with the pivot portion, the shutter member having been machined from a single block of metal. In this embodiment the mesial-distal dimension of the slot closure portion is the same as that of the pivot portion. In the slot closed position of theshutter member surface 54 of the slot closure portion buts againstarchwire slot surface 30 to establish the fully closed position, whilesurface 56 closes the open lingual side of the arch wire slot, andsurface 58 registers and aligns withslot surface 32 to form a continuation of that surface. - The shutter member is retained securely in the slot closed position by the interaction of latch means comprising cooperating latch members respectively with the
pivot portion 50 and the pivot pins 40. Thepivot portion 50 has the form of a hollow cylindrical tube of at least approximately annular cross section in a gingival-occlusal plane that embraces the pivot pins 40, the tube being provided with a mesial-distal extendingcentral bore 60 of diameter such that it is a close fit around the pins, while permitting the required pivoting rotation of the shutter member thereon. A theoretical circular segment junction between the pivot and closure portions, extending from its gingival side to its occlusal side, is indicated inFIG. 2 by abroken line 61. The pivot portion is provided close to this junction, and adjacent to its intersection with the occlusal side of the closure portion, with a mesial-distal extendingslot 62 that extends completely through its wall, so that the segment of the cylindrical tube wall that extends from theslot 62 to the intersection of thejunction 61 with the gingival side of the closure portion is able to move by flexing radially outward away from the pivot pins, such flexing being accompanied by a circumferential movement apart of the opposed facing walls of the slot. This movable segment of the pivot portion is made as long as possible to provide the maximum amount of flexing, and corresponding maximum amount of radially inward and outward movement of the free end of the segment. In practice the movable segment can constitute from about 200° to 270° of the total circumference of the pivot portion part wall. - The latch members provided by the latch means in this embodiment consist of mesial distal extending V or U transverse cross section latch grooves or recesses 64 in the surfaces of the pivot pins 40 and a mesial distal extending
latch projection 66 of complementary profile immediately adjacent to theslot 62 and protruding radially inward from the inner wall of thebore 60. The relative positions of these latch members is such that in the slot closed position of the shutter member the projection is engaged snugly and securely in the grooves and positively retains the shutter member in that position. Movement of the shutter member out of that position requires that the movable segment be flexed radially outward against the resilience of the material of the member, and remain thus flexed while the shutter member is in any other position. The V or U cross sections of the recesses and projection provide a cam action in their engagement and disengagement. Such action is particularly advantageous during engagement in that as soon as the projection engages the downward inclined face of the recess the resilience of the movable segment positively moves the projection into full engagement in the recess with corresponding positive movement of the shutter member.Part 68 of the movable segment immediately adjacent to theprojection 66 bulges radially outward, agroove 70 being provided in the inner wall of the pivot portion to maintain uniform wall thickness and to allow a cross section for the projection that ensures more secure engagement. The groove also ensures that there is no abrupt junction of the projection with the remainder of the moveable segment. As the shutter member rotates to move the slot closure portion away from the slot closed position the bulging part engages the adjacent wall of thebase member 22 thereby acting as a stop member preventing further rotation, so that the shutter member is held in a preferred slot open position, as shown inFIG. 4 , in which the opposedclosure member surface 52 andslot surface 30 provide an inwardly tapered opening that will facilitate capture of an arch wire and guide it into theslot 26. - The slot closure member is relatively easily moved from the slot open to slot closed position by finger pressure and/or by the pressure applied by a suitable dental tool. Opening is more difficult because of the smooth, flush outer surfaces and the
projection 66 must be sprung from thegrooves 64; the required opening movement is facilitated by the provision of aradially extending hole 72 in the centre of theslot 62. A dental tool 73 (seeFIG. 8 ) such as a probe can be inserted into the hole and used as a lever to rotate the shutter member, while at the same time assisting in the flexing of the movable segment by spreading the walls of the slot apart. As was described above two separate pivot pins 40 are used with their inner facing ends spaced apart, the resultant space enabling the tool to be inserted sufficiently deeply for adequate torque to be applied. The use of two separate pins does require accurate alignment of the twogrooves 64 before thespot welds 46 are applied, and another method is to use a single grooved pivot pin and to drill thehole 72 after the pin is in welded in place, the hole then passing through the wall of the pivot portion and a sufficient depth into the pin (seeFIG. 16 ). It will be noted that in slot closed position the occlusal surface of theslot closure portion 52 is flush with the correspondingocclusal surface 16 of the bracket body, and similarly the lingual surfaces of the slot closure portion is flush with the correspondinglingual surface 12 of the bracket body, so that in such position the bracket presents smooth, solid exterior surfaces that minimize the likelihood of rough contact between the brackets and the tongue and adjacent tissue of the mouth. - The bracket as so far described is “passive”, in that the only control of tooth movement that can be provided is by the interaction produced by contact between the arch wire and the walls of the
arch wire slot 26. It is preferred in most procedures that the brackets be “active”, i.e. that they include some inherent means for controlling the attitude of the bracket relative to the arch wire, and to that end each is provided within therecess 38 with a thin sheet metal flat attitude controlling spring member. The spring member has a fixedend portion 74 that is held rigidly in the bracket body, and afree end portion 76 extending into the arch wire receiving slot for engagement in a mesial-distal, labial-lingual plane with an arch wire in the slot, such engagement urging the arch wire toward the cooperating surfaces of the arch wire slot and the slot closure portion. The spring is of vertical cross shape in plan (St. George orientation) with transversely extendingside arms 78, and may be inserted in the bracket as it is assembled with the side arms sandwiched between the bracket body member and thebase member 22, recesses 80 being provided in the body member to receive the side arms. Other methods of attachment can be employed such as laser welding or riveting. - The force with which the spring engages an arch wire is dependent primarily on the dimensions of the spring, particularly its width and thickness, and also upon the cross section dimension of the arch wire. The force can also be adjusted by forming the spring with different amounts of preloading before the bracket is assembled, for example by adjustment of its profile. A preferred material for the springs and shutter members used in the orthodontic devices of the invention is the family of nickel-titanium alloys, commonly referred to as superelastic shape recovery metal alloys, in that they can withstand without damage strains of as high as about 6-8%, as compared to the usual maximum of about 0.5% for stainless steels, the materials most commonly previously used. There is now adequate literature available as to the performance and fabrication of springs using these materials and further explanation is not required herein. Stainless steels of the required qualities will usually continue to be the material of choice for the device body and the pivot pins.
- Referring now to
FIGS. 3 and 4 , in this embodiment the function and operation of theshutter member 36 and its latch means, and of the attitude controlling spring 74-78, are identical to the same elements in the embodiment ofFIGS. 1 and 2 . The principal difference is that the shuttermember receiving recess 38 now opens primarily to the body occlusal surface, instead of to the labial surface, and the body extends much further toward the labial beyond the pivot pins (or pivot pin if a single pin is used) to provide a solid wedge shapedbody portion 81 that reduces (tapers) in gingival occlusal dimension toward the labial, thelabial surface 10 being almost non-existent. The occlusal surface of thisbody portion 81 is a smooth extension of theocclusal surface 16 of the remainder of the body. Thearch wire slot 26 still opens to the lingual surface. Canine and incisor teeth are characterized in that their labial-lingual dimension decreases progressively from the gingival to the occlusal, as contrasted with bicuspids and molars which are more nearly uniform in dimensions in this direction. A common problem encountered in orthodontic treatment is that the patient has a deep-bite malocclusion in which the lower incisors are set too far lingually from the upper incisors for the teeth to meet properly when the jaw is closed, so that the bite is deeper than it should be. The brackets of the invention are particularly suited for use when treating such a problem in that the gingival-occlusal dimension of the bracket body can readily be made to decrease progressively from the lingual to the labial, and this decrease can be made to correspond approximately to the average increase in dimension of a canine or incisor tooth. With such a bracket attached to such a lingual surface the labial-lingual dimension of the bracket-tooth combination is at least approximately uniform from the occlusal to the gingival, so that the bracket occlusal surface lies in a mesial-distal, labial-lingual extending plane. This, together with the fact that in the slot closed position the occlusal surface portion of theshutter member 36 is flush with theocclusal surface portion 16 of the bracket body, means that the bracket is thereby able to provide a combined occlusal surface which is unobstructed and can constitute a bite plane against which the cutting edge of the respective opposed lower tooth can engage during biting action. Once the malocclusion has been corrected the lower incisor no longer engages the opposed lingual mounted bracket. This structure therefore has a number of practical advantages. The added labial extension adds structural strength and can therefore with advantage be made somewhat longer than is shown. The lingual brackets now also function as bite planes to prevent the lower incisors from reaching their usual deep-bite malocclusion over-closure, and can therefore replace the acrylic bite plates that are placed in the mouth to correct this. They also operate similarly to prevent any interference with the brackets on the lower teeth while the malocclusion is present, so that they can be bonded to the teeth without fear that they will be detached as a result of over-biting. It also permits the posterior teeth to be erupted during the procedure to further reduce the overbite. Such brackets are described and claimed in my U.S. patent Ser. No. 6,506,049, issued 14 Jan. 2003, referred to above. - A bracket as illustrated by
FIGS. 5 through 8 differs from those ofFIGS. 1 through 4 in that the part of theslot closure portion 52 providing theslot closure surface 56 is wider in the mesial-distal direction than thepivot portion 50, and preferably its width is that of the body member, so that its end surfaces 82 are flush with the mesial anddistal surfaces surfaces 84 that are extensions of thesurfaces 56, and that are able to cooperate withsurfaces 86 on thebracket body wings 44 in providing an additional restraining force that assists the latch means in retaining the shutter member in the slot closed position. Thus, the dimensions of the bracket body and of the shutter member are such that, as the shutter member moves about thepivot axis 42 toward the slot closed position, thesurfaces 84 at first engage and then rub tightly against the correspondingsurfaces 86 with an interference fit. Owing to their very small dimensions there may be a very small amount of flexing of theparts 82 toward the lingual against the elasticity of the material. Once in the slot closed position the moving interference fit engagement between the surfaces becomes a stationary butting interference fit engagement, with the butting sections of the shutter member permanently very slightly flexed lingually outward from the bracket body to provide a correspondingly directed retaining force. Owing to this tight rubbing engagement an increased, but entirely acceptable, amount of force is required to move the shutter member into the slot closed position until the latch means engage, and similarly an increased amount of force is required to disengage the latch means and move the shutter member toward the slot open position. The extended slot closure surfaces also are operative to provide the bracket with increased rotational control during the orthodontic procedure because of the increased length of mesial distal engagement with the arch wire. - Such a method of adding to the retention the slot closure member in slot closed position is completely feasible with a product such as an orthodontic bracket in that the number of openings and closings it is likely to experience during its working life is limited, so that the possibility of wear of the rubbing engaging surfaces is minimal. Orthodontic brackets are already of necessity manufactured to very close tolerances (e.g. 0.00025 mm or 0.0001 in) so that the required jamming interference fit can easily be achieved. The tiny amount of any deflection produced in the
end portions 82 is highly unlikely to even approach the yield point of the material, so that permanent deflection is correspondingly highly unlikely. In the event that in some brackets of a batch the amount of this retaining force is considered to be insufficient this can be corrected by the application of a very thin (e.g. 0.0025 mm or 0.001 in) hard adherent coating to one or both of the engaging jamming surfaces 84 and 86. -
FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing brackets of the invention, of the kind illustrated byFIGS. 5 and 6 , cemented to the lingual surfaces of adult upper incisors in order to show the extremely small size that is possible. For example only, brackets of the invention can readily be produced having a mesial distal dimension (not including the base 22 or mesh 24) of 1.96 mm (0.077 in) to 2.5 mm(0.098 in), a labial lingual dimension of 1.2 mm (0.048 in), and a gingival occlusal dimension of 1.8 mm(0.070 in) to 3.05 mm (0.112 in). Again for example only, in brackets of such dimensions the pivot pin/s 40 typically will be of diameter in the range 0.4 mm (0.016 in) to 0.5 mm (0.020 in), preferably 0.45 mm (0.018 in), while thelatch groove 64 and thelatch projection 66 will be of radial dimension in the range 0.05 mm (0.002 in) to 0.10 mm (0.004 in), preferably 0.062 mm (0.0025 in). The figure also shows a typicaldental tool 73 that can be used in moving the shutter member from closed to open position by inserting it into thehole 72 and rotating it in the direction ofarrow 88.FIG. 9 shows a bracket of the invention attached to abase 22, and to the same scale a prior art Hanson SPEED system (Trademark) bracket as disclosed for example in my prior U.S. Pat. No. 4,492,573, referred to above, the outlines of the two brackets being superimposed in order to demonstrate clearly the difference in their sizes and the small dimensions to which it is possible to make the new brackets. -
FIGS. 10 and 11 are central longitudinal cross sections through a further embodiment in which theshutter member 36 is disposed more closely adjacent to the lingual end than to the labial end of the bracket body, such a bracket being appropriate for use on the lingual surfaces of upper incisors and canines.FIG. 10 shows the shutter member in the slot closed position and with a round crosssection arch wire 34 in theslot 26. In this embodiment the attitude controlling spring 74-78 is sandwiched between thebase member 22 and themovable pivot portion 50 of the shutter member, the part thereof which buts against the spring being of uniform radius about theaxis 42 until thebulge 70 engages the spring to act as a stop member for the shutter member in slot open position. This configuration enables the bracket body to be provided toward its labial end with a mesial distal extending bore 90 that can receive a supplementary wires, or be used as an anchor point for various other supplementary orthodontic devices. - The bracket of
FIG. 12 is intended for application to canine and incisor teeth, but the variation in structure which this illustrates is equally applicable to those intended for application to molar or bicuspid teeth. The function and operation of theshutter member 36, its latch means, and the attitude controlling spring 74-78, are the same. The structural difference is that the disposition of the latch means members, namely the latch grooves or recesses 64 and thelatch projection 66, is reversed. A mesial distal extendingrecess 64 is provided in the wall ofpivot portion 50, while a cooperating radial outward extendingprojection 66 is provided on the pivot pin or pins 40. The movable segment of the wall carries therecess 64 as close as possible to its free end to provide the maximum length of wall that is flexed radially outward, again usually by use of atool 73, in order to disengage the latch means. - Referring now to
FIGS. 13 and 14 , the brackets illustrated therein can be attached to the teeth lingual surfaces and can also be attached to the labial surfaces of all teeth if given the appropriate “built in torque” and provided with base members 22 (“stand offs”) of appropriate shape and dimensions. Brackets frequently are provided with quite large external hooks and mushroom headed receptors for anchors and tension devices and, particularly with devices intended for lingual procedures, these are likely to cause problems owing to their engagement with the adjacent mouth surfaces and the tongue. Owing to the extremely small size of the brackets of the invention it becomes more difficult to provide such external hooks, etc. in a single machining process, and this may be done in two stages by providing a shallow mesial distal extendingslot 92 at the junction of the lingual and gingival surface portions, and then soldering or brazing into the slot ashort piece 94 of arch wire of appropriate cross section of mesial distal length such that its ends protrude beyond the mesial and distal surfaces of the bracket body. -
FIG. 15 shows a further embodiment in which a bracket is provided with means that permit ready attachment thereto of elastomeric elements, such as an elastomeric thread. The bracket body is provided approximately at the junction of the lingual and gingival surfaces with a mesial distal extending slot 96 having a narrow mesial distal extending mouth 98 through which anelastomeric thread 100 can be squeezed. This is done by stretching the thread longitudinally until its cross section has been reduced from its normal relaxed or somewhat tensed outline, as shown at the upper left of the Figure, to a much reduced highly stretched outline, as shown in the middle of the Figure. Once inside the slot and allowed to return to its normal outline, as shown in the right hand part of the Figure, and as permitted by the cross section shape of the slot, it will frictionally oppose movement of the ribbon through the slot, or can be knotted or otherwise provided with anenlarged stop member 102 to prevent mesial or distal movement through the slot or escape therefrom in those directions. For example, mesial or distal directed tension can be applied to the bracket by use of a thread provided at regular intervals along its length with stop knots orbeads 102 of a size that cannot pass through the slot. The tension can be adjusted by cutting an appropriate length of the thread and engaging it in the slot with the endmost knot or bead butting against the appropriate mesial or distal surface. - The bracket of
FIG. 16 is intended for use on lower central incisors in labial procedures, itsarch wire slot 26 opening to the labial, while theshutter member 36 is pivotally mounted about apivot axis 42 closer to the gingival end. The device is operative as with the devices described above. However, in this embodiment an integral attitude controlling spring member is constituted by aflexible portion slot closure portion 52 and is of recurved cross section in an occlusal, gingival, labial, lingual plane consisting of two somewhat approximatelyparallel arms arm 104 is an integral extension of the slot closure portion, while thearm 106 constitutes a spring member free end portion that in slot closed position extends into the slot for engagement in a mesial-distal extending plane with anarch wire 34 in the slot, such engagement urging the arch wire into engagement with lingual and gingival slot surfaces 29 and 30 respectively. In the slot closed position the flexible portion of the shutter member, and in this embodiment more specifically the occlusal facing surface of thearm 104, which is relatively straight, is positively engaged along most of its length with an inclinedgingivally facing surface 108 of the device body so as preload the flexible portion and urge the free end portion toward engagement with the arch wire. This inclined surface and preload also facilitate the retention of the shutter member in slot closed position, since the spring member must be flexed toward the gingival in order to move from that position. The flexible portion is of mesial distal dimension to be a close fit within thedevice body recess 38, so that in slot closed position it is engaged by the mesial and distal facing lateral wall surfaces 110 of the device body, parallel to the occlusal-gingival-labial-lingual plane, to protect it against displacement under mesial or distal directed stresses applied thereto. In this embodiment the cement-receivinglayer 24 of metal wire mesh is replaced with a thin layer of sintered metal powder. Such a structure makes full use of the much higher strain-tolerant characteristics of the nickel-titanium alloys referred to above, and these are the preferred materials for the manufacture of the combined shutter member and attitude controlling spring. - The device of
FIG. 17 is for use on upper bicuspids and has its arch wire slot opening to the occlusal; otherwise the device functions in the same manner as that of the device ofFIG. 16 . Thesurface 108 which is engaged to provide preload for the spring member is of much shorter length and engages thearm 106 very close to its junction with thearm 106, the surface being curved to be of complementary shape. The supportingsurfaces 110 are of much shorter labial-lingual length, but are adequate to protect the spring member against mesial-distal directed forces, even though they engage only the curved junction between the two arms. In both of the two last described embodiments the latch means constituted by thelatch groove 64 and cooperatinglatch projection 66 can be replaced by an equivalent latch means, for example as shown in my prior U.S. Pat. No. 5,224,858, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by this reference. - 10 Bracket body labial surface portion
- 12 Bracket body lingual surface portion
- 14 Bracket body gingival surface portion
- 16 Bracket body occlusal surface portion
- 18 Bracket body mesial surface portion
- 20 Bracket body distal surface portion
- 22 Bracket body base foil
- 24 Metal wire mesh
- 26 Arch wire receiving slot
- 28 Slot labial surface
- 29 Slot lingual surface (when slot opens to the occlusal)
- 30 Slot gingival surface
- 32 Slot occlusal surface
- 34 Arch wire
- 36 Shutter member
- 38 Bracket body recess
- 40 Pivot member (pins) for shutter member
- 42 Pivot pin pivot axis
- 44 Bracket body wing members
- 46 Pivot pin receiving bores in
wing members 44 - 48 Spot welds holding pivot member stationary
- 50 Shutter member (36) pivot portion
- 52 Shutter member (36) slot closure portion
- 54 Slot closure portion surface butting arch
wire slot surface 30 - 56 Slot closure portion surface closing labial or occlusal side of arch wire slot
- 58 Slot closure portion surface aligning with arch
wire slot surface 32 - 60 Bore in pivot portion receiving pivot member
- 61 Junction between pivot and slot closure portions of
shutter member 36 - 62 Through slot in wall of
pivot portion 50 - 64 Latch grooves in pivot pins 40 or in
pivot portion 50 - 66 Latch projection on
pivot portion 50 or onpivot member 40 - 68 Bulged part of movable segment constituting stop member
- 70 Groove on opposite wall of bulged part
- 72 Radially extending tool receiving hole
- 73 Tool for moving shutter member from slot closed position
- 74 Fixed end portion of attitude controlling spring
- 76 Free end portion of attitude controlling spring
- 78 Attitude controlling spring side arms
- 80 Recesses in bracket body receiving
spring side arms 78 - 81 Wedge shaped body part providing extended bite plane
- 82 End surfaces of mesial-distal extending slot closure portion
- 84 Extended slot closure surfaces of slot closure portion
- 86 Surfaces on
bracket body wings 44 cooperating withsurfaces 84 - 88 Arrow showing operative direction of rotation of tool 71
- 90 Supplementary mesial distal extending bore in bracket body
- 92 Mesial distal extending slot receiving
hook forming wire 94 - 94 Wire in
slot 92 forming external hooks - 96 Mesial distal slot receiving elastomeric ribbons
- 98 Narrow mouth of slot 96
- 100 Elastomeric thread
- 102 Stop bead or knot on elastomeric thread
- 104 Arm of recurved spring extension attached to shutter member
- 106 Arm of recurved spring extension providing free end
- 108 Surface of device body engaged by
arm 106 to provide preload - 110 Mesial distal device body surfaces supporting
spring extension 104/106
Claims (27)
1. An orthodontic device for use with orthodontic arch wires comprising:
a device body having labial, lingual, gingival, occlusal, mesial and distal surface portions, the body having therein a mesial-distal extending arch wire receiving slot having one side open to a device body surface portion to permit insertion of an arch wire into the slot and its removal therefrom;
a pivot member mounted by the device body and establishing a corresponding mesial-distal extending pivot axis; and
a shutter member mounted by the pivot member for pivoting movement about the pivot axis between a slot open position in which the open slot side is open, and a slot closed position in which the shutter member closes the open slot side to retain an orthodontic arch wire in the slot;
wherein the shutter member comprises:
a pivot portion mounted by the pivot member for the pivoting movement of the shutter member;
a slot closure portion movable with the pivot portion, extending mesially distally with respect to the device body, and in the slot closure position closing the slot open side; and
latch means having latch members cooperating with one another and operative between the pivot member and the pivot portion when the shutter member is in slot closed position to retain the shutter member in that position.
2. An orthodontic device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the cooperating latch means members comprise a recess in one of the pivot member and the pivot portion, and a projection from the other of the pivot member and the pivot portion, and wherein with the shutter member in the slot closed position the recess and the projection are cooperatively engaged with one another to retain the shutter member in that position.
3. An orthodontic device as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the recess is provided in the pivot member and the projection is provided on the pivot portion.
4. An orthodontic device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the shutter member pivot portion comprises a part thereof embracing the pivot member, the pivot portion part having a mesial distal extending bore therein through which the pivot member extends whereby the part has a wall of at least approximately annular transverse cross section surrounding the pivot member;
the wall having therein a mesial distal extending radial slot from its interior to its exterior so that the wall is discontinuous around the pivot member and has a movable segment thereof able to move radially toward and away from the pivot member by flexing thereof; and
wherein one of the latch means members is carried by the movable segment and moves into and out of engagement with the other of the latch means members by the flexing of the movable segment.
5. An orthodontic device as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the movable segment constitutes from about 200° to 270° of the total circumference of the pivot portion part wall with the respective latch means member disposed immediately adjacent to the radial slot.
6. An orthodontic device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the shutter member pivot portion comprises a part thereof embracing the pivot member, the pivot portion part having a mesial distal extending bore therein through which the pivot member extends whereby the part has a wall of at least approximately annular transverse cross section surrounding the pivot member;
the wall having therein a mesial distal extending radial slot from its interior to its exterior so that the wall is discontinuous around the pivot member and has a movable segment thereof able to move radially toward and away from the pivot member by flexing thereof; and
wherein one of the projection and the recess of the latch means members is carried by the movable segment and moves into and out of engagement with the other of the recess and the projection by the flexing of the movable segment.
7. An orthodontic device as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the radial slot in the pivot portion part has a tool receiving aperture therein through which a tool may be inserted by an operator for flexing of the movable segment to disengage the projection and recess for movement of the shutter member out of the slot closed position.
8. An orthodontic device as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the pivot member comprises a single pivot pin and the tool receiving aperture is continued into the pin to permit adequate insertion of the tool into the aperture.
9. An orthodontic device as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the pivot member comprises two separate coaxial pins having their facing ends spaced apart to permit insertion of the tool between them.
10. An orthodontic device as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the movable segment has a part thereof adjacent to the location of the respective latch means member extending radially outward and engageable with a surface of the device body to limit the movement of the shutter member beyond a desired slot open position.
11. An orthodontic device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein In the slot closed position of the shutter member the mesial and distal ends of the slot closure portion engage with immediately adjacent surface portions of the device body with an interference fit engagement between them providing a retaining force such that in addition to the latch means the shutter member is also constrained thereby in the slot closed position against movement out of that position, and movement of the shutter member into the slot closed position requires flexing of the slot closure portion in a direction away from the device body against the resilience of the material of the slot closure portion.
12. An orthodontic device as claimed in claim 1 , and comprising an attitude controlling spring member within the device body having a fixed end portion fixed against movement relative to the device body and a free end portion extending into the arch wire receiving slot for engagement in a mesial-distal extending plane with an arch wire in the slot, such engagement urging the arch wire toward the slot closure part.
13. An orthodontic device as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the attitude controlling spring member is of thin metal sheet with at least one transversely extending side arm, and is retained within the device body by having one or both of the side arms sandwiched between a part of the device body containing the arch wire slot and a base member fastened to the device body.
14. An orthodontic device as claimed in claim 1 , and comprising an attitude controlling spring member constituted by a flexible portion of the shutter member that with the shutter member in slot closed position has a free end portion extending into the arch wire receiving slot for engagement in a mesial-distal extending plane with an arch wire in the slot, such engagement urging the arch wire into engagement with the respective slot walls
15. An orthodontic device as claimed in claim 14 , wherein in the slot closed position the flexible portion of the shutter member is positively engaged with a surface of the device body so as preload the flexible portion and urge the free end portion toward engagement with an arch wire in the arch wire slot.
16. An orthodontic device as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the flexible portion of the shutter member is of recurved cross section in an occlusal, gingival, labial, lingual plane, and in slot closed position is engaged by lateral walls of the device body parallel to the last-mentioned plane to protect it against mesial or distal directed stresses applied thereto.
17. An orthodontic device as claimed in claim 2 , wherein In the slot closed position of the shutter member the mesial and distal ends of the slot closure portion engage with immediately adjacent surface portions of the device body with an interference fit engagement between them providing a retaining force in addition to the latch means such that the shutter member is also constrained thereby in the slot closed position against movement out of that position, and movement of the shutter member into the slot closed position requires flexing of the slot closure portion in a direction away from the device body against the resilience of the material of the slot closure portion.
18. An orthodontic device as claimed in claim 2 , and comprising an attitude controlling spring member within the device body having a fixed end portion fixed against movement relative to the device body and a free end portion extending into the arch wire receiving slot for engagement in a mesial-distal extending plane with an arch wire in the slot, such engagement urging the arch wire toward the slot closure part.
19. An orthodontic device as claimed in claim 18 , wherein the attitude controlling spring member is of thin metal sheet with at least one transversely extending side arm, and is retained within the device body by having one or both of the side arms sandwiched between a part of the device body containing the arch wire slot and a base member fastened to the device body.
20. An orthodontic device as claimed in claim 4 , wherein in the slot closed position of the shutter member the mesial and distal ends of the slot closure portion engage with immediately adjacent surface portions of the device body with an interference fit engagement between them providing a retaining force in addition to the latch means such that the shutter member is also constrained thereby in the slot closed position against movement out of that position, and movement of the shutter member into the slot closed position requires flexing of the slot closure portion in a direction away from the device body against the resilience of the material of the slot closure portion.
21. An orthodontic device as claimed in claim 4 , and comprising an attitude controlling spring member within the device body having a fixed end portion fixed against movement relative to the device body and a free end portion extending into the arch wire receiving slot for engagement in a mesial-distal extending plane with an arch wire in the slot, such engagement urging the arch wire toward the slot closure part.
22. An orthodontic device as claimed in claim 21 , wherein the attitude controlling spring member is of thin metal sheet with at least one transversely extending side arm, and is retained within the device body by having one or both of the side arms sandwiched between a part of the device body containing the arch wire slot and a base member fastened to the device body.
23. An orthodontic device as claimed in claim 1 , and for application to the lingual surface of an incisor or canine tooth, which teeth are characterized in that their labial-lingual dimension decreases progressively from the gingival to the occlusal;
wherein in the slot closed position the occlusal surface portion of the shutter member is flush with the occlusal surface portion of the device body to thereby provide a combined occlusal surface which is unobstructed; and
wherein the gingival-occlusal dimension of the device body decreases progressively from the labial to the lingual, the decrease corresponding to the average increase from the occlusal to the gingival of an incisor or canine tooth, so that when the bracket is attached to the lingual surface of an incisor or canine tooth the unobstructed combined occlusal surface provides a labial-lingual extending bite plane surface which a tooth edge of an opposed incisor or canine tooth can engage during biting action to oppose overbite.
24. An orthodontic device for use with orthodontic arch wires comprising:
a device body having labial, lingual, gingival, occlusal, mesial and distal surface portions, the body having therein a mesial-distal extending arch wire receiving slot having one side open to a device body surface portion to permit insertion of an arch wire into the slot and its removal therefrom;
a pivot member mounted by the device body and establishing a corresponding mesial-distal extending pivot axis; and
a shutter member mounted by the pivot member for pivoting movement about the pivot axis between a slot open position in which the open slot side is open, and a slot closed position in which the shutter member closes the open slot side to retain an orthodontic arch wire in the slot;
wherein the shutter member comprises:
a pivot portion mounted by the pivot member for the pivoting movement of the shutter member;
a slot closure portion movable with the pivot portion, extending mesially distally with respect to the device body, and in the slot closure position closing the slot open side; and
an attitude controlling spring member constituted by a flexible portion of the slot closure portion that with the shutter member in slot closed position has a free end portion extending into the arch wire receiving slot for engagement in a mesial-distal extending plane with an arch wire in the slot, such engagement urging the arch wire into engagement with the respective slot walls.
25. An orthodontic device as claimed in claim 24 , wherein in the slot closed position the flexible portion of the slot closure portion is positively engaged with a surface of the device body so as preload the flexible portion and urge the free end portion toward engagement with an arch wire in the arch wire slot.
26. An orthodontic device as claimed in claim 24 , wherein the flexible portion of the slot closure portion is of recurved cross section in an occlusal, gingival, labial, lingual plane, and in slot closed position is engaged by lateral walls of the device body parallel to the last-mentioned plane to protect it against mesial or distal directed stresses applied thereto.
27. An orthodontic device as claimed in claim 24 , and including latch means having latch members cooperating with one another and operative between the pivot member and the pivot portion when the shutter member is in slot closed position to retain the shutter member in that position.
Priority Applications (10)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US10/623,528 US20050019718A1 (en) | 2003-07-22 | 2003-07-22 | Orthodontic devices for use with arch wires |
CA2473269A CA2473269C (en) | 2003-07-22 | 2004-07-07 | Orthodontic devices for use with arch wires |
US10/885,690 US7104791B2 (en) | 2003-07-22 | 2004-07-08 | Orthodontic devices for use with arch wires |
KR1020067001468A KR101008742B1 (en) | 2003-07-22 | 2004-07-16 | Orthodontic devices for use with arch wires |
JP2006520638A JP4534232B2 (en) | 2003-07-22 | 2004-07-16 | Orthodontic devices for use with archwires |
PCT/CA2004/001052 WO2005007011A2 (en) | 2003-07-22 | 2004-07-16 | Orthodontic devices for use with arch wires |
EP08017258.8A EP2002798B1 (en) | 2003-07-22 | 2004-07-16 | Orthodontic devices for use with arch wires |
EP04737981A EP1646330B1 (en) | 2003-07-22 | 2004-07-16 | Orthodontic devices for use with arch wires |
CNB2004800210748A CN100566675C (en) | 2003-07-22 | 2004-07-16 | The orthodontic appliance that uses with arch wire |
US11/484,578 US7204690B2 (en) | 2003-07-22 | 2006-07-12 | Orthodontic devices for use with arch wires |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US10/623,528 US20050019718A1 (en) | 2003-07-22 | 2003-07-22 | Orthodontic devices for use with arch wires |
Related Child Applications (2)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US10/885,690 Continuation-In-Part US7104791B2 (en) | 2003-07-22 | 2004-07-08 | Orthodontic devices for use with arch wires |
US11/484,578 Continuation US7204690B2 (en) | 2003-07-22 | 2006-07-12 | Orthodontic devices for use with arch wires |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20050019718A1 true US20050019718A1 (en) | 2005-01-27 |
Family
ID=34079812
Family Applications (3)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US10/623,528 Abandoned US20050019718A1 (en) | 2003-07-22 | 2003-07-22 | Orthodontic devices for use with arch wires |
US10/885,690 Expired - Lifetime US7104791B2 (en) | 2003-07-22 | 2004-07-08 | Orthodontic devices for use with arch wires |
US11/484,578 Expired - Lifetime US7204690B2 (en) | 2003-07-22 | 2006-07-12 | Orthodontic devices for use with arch wires |
Family Applications After (2)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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US10/885,690 Expired - Lifetime US7104791B2 (en) | 2003-07-22 | 2004-07-08 | Orthodontic devices for use with arch wires |
US11/484,578 Expired - Lifetime US7204690B2 (en) | 2003-07-22 | 2006-07-12 | Orthodontic devices for use with arch wires |
Country Status (7)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (3) | US20050019718A1 (en) |
EP (2) | EP2002798B1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP4534232B2 (en) |
KR (1) | KR101008742B1 (en) |
CN (1) | CN100566675C (en) |
CA (1) | CA2473269C (en) |
WO (1) | WO2005007011A2 (en) |
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- 2003-07-22 US US10/623,528 patent/US20050019718A1/en not_active Abandoned
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- 2004-07-07 CA CA2473269A patent/CA2473269C/en active Active
- 2004-07-08 US US10/885,690 patent/US7104791B2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 2004-07-16 CN CNB2004800210748A patent/CN100566675C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 2004-07-16 EP EP08017258.8A patent/EP2002798B1/en active Active
- 2004-07-16 WO PCT/CA2004/001052 patent/WO2005007011A2/en active Application Filing
- 2004-07-16 EP EP04737981A patent/EP1646330B1/en active Active
- 2004-07-16 JP JP2006520638A patent/JP4534232B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 2004-07-16 KR KR1020067001468A patent/KR101008742B1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
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Cited By (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20090281521A1 (en) * | 2003-06-04 | 2009-11-12 | Williams Michael S | Method and apparatus for retaining medical implants within body vessels |
US20100129764A1 (en) * | 2007-04-30 | 2010-05-27 | Pospisil Jirina V | Ceramic orthodontic bracket with improved debonding characteristics |
US20090081603A1 (en) * | 2007-09-21 | 2009-03-26 | Rolf Forster | Orthodontic Bracket |
US20100203463A1 (en) * | 2009-02-06 | 2010-08-12 | Ortho Organizers, Inc. | Self-ligating orthodontic bracket |
USD747808S1 (en) * | 2014-06-20 | 2016-01-19 | Li Ji | Orthodontic bracket |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
WO2005007011B1 (en) | 2005-07-14 |
US20050019719A1 (en) | 2005-01-27 |
WO2005007011A3 (en) | 2005-05-26 |
EP2002798A1 (en) | 2008-12-17 |
US7104791B2 (en) | 2006-09-12 |
EP2002798B1 (en) | 2014-10-22 |
JP2006528007A (en) | 2006-12-14 |
US7204690B2 (en) | 2007-04-17 |
CA2473269A1 (en) | 2005-01-22 |
KR101008742B1 (en) | 2011-01-14 |
EP1646330B1 (en) | 2012-10-31 |
WO2005007011A2 (en) | 2005-01-27 |
US20060252002A1 (en) | 2006-11-09 |
CN100566675C (en) | 2009-12-09 |
EP1646330A2 (en) | 2006-04-19 |
JP4534232B2 (en) | 2010-09-01 |
CN1826087A (en) | 2006-08-30 |
KR20060056951A (en) | 2006-05-25 |
CA2473269C (en) | 2010-10-12 |
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AS | Assignment |
Owner name: AUGUSTA DEVELOPMENTS INC., CANADA Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:HANSON, G. HERBERT;REEL/FRAME:017372/0441 Effective date: 20040715 |
|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: EXPRESSLY ABANDONED -- DURING EXAMINATION |