Abstract: A biased palatal bone expander attaches directly to the palatal bone in the roof of the mouth of a patient. The expander has dual, biased, mutually parallel rods. The rods extend from coaxial tubes and have coaxial springs. The expansion of the springs urges the rod outwardly from the center of the expander thus widening the maxillary arch incrementally without a connection upon the teeth. The tubes and rods each attach to two mutually parallel bars perpendicular to the rods. Each bar has two opposite ends with an eyelet upon each end. The eyelets receive screws for securing the expander to a patient. Additionally, the appliance may include a thermoformed shell that a surgeon or orthodontist uses to guide positioning the appliance for installation.

Abstract: A biased palatal bone expander attaches directly to the palatal bone in the roof of the mouth of a patient. The expander has dual, biased, mutually parallel rods. The rods extend from coaxial tubes and have coaxial springs. The expansion of the springs urges the rod outwardly from the center of the expander thus widening the maxillary arch incrementally without a connection upon the teeth. The tubes and rods each attach to two mutually parallel bars perpendicular to the rods. Each bar has two opposite ends with an eyelet upon each end. The eyelets receive screws for securing the expander to a patient. Additionally, the appliance may include a thermoformed shell that a surgeon or orthodontist uses to guide positioning the appliance for installation.

Abstract: A jaw advancer connects to the skull, maxilla, and the jawbone, mandible, without contacting the teeth of a patient. Each advancer, of a pair, has a hollow upper member with a head to admit a screw into the maxilla and an opposite threaded end, a socket having a threaded end that admits the upper member and an opposite smooth bore, and a lower member with a head to admit a screw into the mandible and an opposite smooth end that fits into the smooth bore. The lower member has a spring that provides an expansive force to the lower jaw. The lower member slides within the upper member. Alternatively, the lower member has a slight curve to separate it from the teeth.

Abstract: A slide on connector for positioning upon an arch wire between the teeth of an orthodontic patent is provided. This connector works in conjunction with maxillary and mandibular arch expanders and other orthodontic appliances. The connector includes a base casing with a body segment and a base segment where both include a threaded bore. A screw is then threadedly engaged through the body and into the base segment. The base segment has tubes attached thereto for the insertion of an arch wire and the screw turns upon the arch wire for securement. The tubes can be preangulated to assist in root angulation or other orthodontia when the arch wire is inserted.

Abstract: An orthodontic arch expander joins to a mouthpiece proximate to the rear of the mouthpiece. The transparent mouthpiece has a desired arc that fits over the teeth of the upper jaw. The mouthpiece has two wings that join near the incisors and then become parallel and spaced apart around the molars. Near the molars, an arch expander joins to the mouth piece. The arch expander has two telescoping shells with a threaded jack and cooperating springs. Each shell joins to a corresponding wing of the mouthpiece. Turning the jack lengthens a rod that pushes the shells outwards against the mouthpiece thus widening the maxillary arch without brackets or bands upon the teeth. An alternate embodiment has the arch expander attaching directly to the palatal bone through screws placed through a grommet at the end of each shell by an orthodontist or oral surgeon.

Abstract: A jaw advancer connects to the skull, maxilla jaw, and the jawbone, mandibular jaw, without contacting the teeth of a patient. Each advancer, of a pair, has a hollow upper member with a head to admit a screw into the maxilla and an opposite threaded end, a socket having a threaded end that admits the upper member and an opposite smooth bore, and a lower member with a head to admit a screw into the mandible and an opposite smooth end that fits into the smooth bore. The lower member has a coaxial spring that provides an expansive force to the lower jaw and that cushions the socket. The lower member slides within the hollow portion of the upper member when the patient moves the advancer. The head of the upper member attaches proximate the molars of the maxilla to advance the mandible and attaches proximate to the incisors of the maxilla to retract the mandible. Alternatively, the lower member has a slight curve to separate it from the teeth.

Abstract: An orthodontic arch expander joins to a mouthpiece proximate to the rear of the mouthpiece. The transparent mouthpiece has a desired arc that fits over the teeth of the upper jaw. The mouthpiece has two wings that join near the incisors and then become parallel and spaced apart around the molars. Near the molars, an arch expander joins to the mouth piece. The arch expander has two telescoping shells with a threaded jack and cooperating springs. Each shell joins to a corresponding wing of the mouthpiece. Turning the jack lengthens a rod that pushes the shells outwards against the mouthpiece thus widening the maxillary arch without brackets or bands upon the teeth. An alternate embodiment has the arch expander attaching directly to the palatal bone through screws placed through a grommet at the end of each shell by an orthodontist or oral surgeon.

Abstract: A mandibular and maxillary arch expansion apparatus having a first and second forward orthodontic bands and first and second rear orthodontic bands. The respective forward and rear orthodontic bands are interconnected by an expansion sheath element. The two forward bands are connected by a substantially straight, solid rod. The expansion sheaths exert lengthening forces while the solid rod resists lateral or widening forces. Also provided is a maxillary apparatus connected to a mandibular apparatus by a telescoping contraction connector. The device is positioned to exert adjustable contracting pressure for the correction of Class II malocclusions or overbite. Also provided is an arch expansion apparatus with a centrally disposed expansion element having two forward connector wires extending outwardly therefrom and two rearward connector wires extending outwardly. Each connector wire has an orthodontic band on the terminal end.

Abstract: An orthodontic appliance for expanding the mandibular or maxillary arch comprises a first forward orthodontic band; a second forward orthodontic band; a first spring-loaded rod and tube assembly between said first and second forward orthodontic bands; a first rear orthodontic band and a second rear orthodontic band; a second spring-loaded rod and tube assembly connecting said first forward and first rear orthodontic bands; and a third spring-loaded rod and tube assembly connecting said second forward and second rear orthodontic bands. Where both a maxillary and mandibular arch expander are used, they can be connected by a Herbst-type telescoping connector. The telescoping assembly has a first end connected to one of said forward and rear bands of said mandibular arch expander and a second end connected to the other of said forward and rear bands of said maxillary arch expander. The telescoping assembly includes a tube assembly and a rod slidably received in the tube assembly.

Abstract: A contracting connector between a maxillary apparatus and mandibular apparatus to treat an underbite. The connector has a telescoping outer sheath connected at its posterior end to the maxillary apparatus. A rod is slidingly engaged in the sheath. And connected at its anterior end to the mandibular apparatus. A spring connected between the rod and the posterior end of the sheath exerts adjustable contraction pressure on the rod and thus the mandible. In another embodiment, the rod has separate anterior and posterior segments The posterior segment of the rod is attached to the maxillary apparatus and the anterior segment is attached to the mandibular apparatus A spring connected between the anterior and posterior segments exerts adjustable contracting pressure on the two rod segments and thus on the maxilla and the mandible. In either embodiment the contracting pressure on the spring is adjusted by changing the length of the telescoping outer sheath. An improved channel lock for connectors also is disclosed.

Abstract: A mandibular and maxillary arch expansion apparatus having a first and second forward orthodontic bands and first and second rear orthodontic bands. The respective forward and rear orthodontic bands are interconnected by an expansion sheath element. The two forward bands are connected by a substantially straight, solid rod. The expansion sheaths exert lengthening forces while the solid rod resists lateral or widening forces. Also provided is a maxillary apparatus connected to a mandibular apparatus by a telescoping contraction connector. The device is positioned to exert adjustable contracting pressure for the correction of Class II malocclusions or overbite. Also provided is an arch expansion apparatus with a centrally disposed expansion element having two forward connector wires extending outwardly therefrom and two rearward connector wires extending outwardly. Each connector wire has an orthodontic band on the terminal end.

Abstract: A method for detecting an arrhythmia hidden by rapid pacing in a rate adaptive pacemaker/defibrillator. Unmasking a potential arrhythmia is accomplished by lengthening the pace cycle length by a small amount for a number of cycles followed by a shortening of the pace cycle length for the same number of cycles giving an average pacing rate equivalent to the desired rate. This can occur at all times or only when conditions make arrhythmia masking possible. Changing the pace cycle by a small amount over a number of cycles will move the arrhythmia and paced rhythm out of synchronization. Forcing the pacer to continue sensing the arrhythmia is accomplished by insuring that the pacer's sense refractory is less than one half of the pacing cycle length. This is done by constraining the programming of that value to one half the minimum pacing cycle length or using an adaptive sense refractory period.

Abstract: A new a telescoping assembly or advancing sheath and a expansion complex are provided for a maxillary or mandibular arch expander. The advancing sheath is provided with a spring which extends between a forward end of the anterior tube and a forward end of the posterior tube. The spring urges the anterior tube rearwardly relative to the posterior tube to compensate for jaw pressure and to help prevent the jaw pressure from threading the anterior tube rearwardly. The expansion complex includes an outer housing and an advancing member which is telescopically received in the outer housing. The two portions of the expansion complex are received in opposed halves of a plate which fits against the mandibular or maxillary arch. An threaded rod and a parallel post extend through the housing. An activation nut is received on the threaded rod, and an activation plate is journaled about both the rod and the post. The activation plate is moved by movement of the activation nut.

Abstract: An orthodontic appliance for expanding the mandibular or maxillary arch comprises a first forward orthodontic band; a second forward orthodontic band; a first spring-loaded rod and tube assembly between said first and second forward orthodontic bands; a first rear orthodontic band and a second rear orthodontic band; a second spring-loaded rod and tube assembly connecting said first forward and first rear orthodontic bands; and a third spring-loaded rod and tube assembly connecting said second forward and second rear orthodontic bands. Where both a maxillary and mandibular arch expander are used, they can be connected by a Herbst-type telescoping connector. The telescoping assembly has a first end connected to one of said forward and rear bands of said mandibular arch expander and a second end connected to the other of said forward and rear bands of said maxillary arch expander. The telescoping assembly includes a tube assembly and a rod slidably received in the tube assembly.

Abstract: A method for detecting an arrhythmia hidden by rapid pacing in a rate adaptive pacemaker/defibrillator. Unmasking a potential arrhythmia is accomplished by lengthening the pace cycle length by a small amount for a number of cycles followed by a shortening of the pace cycle length for the same number of cycles giving an average pacing rate equivalent to the desired rate. This can occur at all times or only when conditions make arrhythmia masking possible. Changing the pace cycle by a small amount over a number of cycles will move the arrhythmia and paced rhythm out of synchronization. Forcing the pacer to continue sensing the arrhythmia is accomplished by insuring that the pacer's sense refractory is less than one half of the pacing cycle length. This is done by constraining the programming of that value to one half the minimum pacing cycle length or using an adaptive sense refractory period.

Abstract: An orthodontic expansion complex for a mandibular and maxillary arch expansion that resists buccal tipping of molars. The expansion complex includes first and second forward orthodontic bands and a pair of rear orthodontic bands operatively connected to the forward orthodontic bands. The expansion complex includes an arm extending lingually from a lingual side of the first forward orthodontic band. An expander body is rotationally mounted on the arm to rotate about the arm. A passage extends through the body, and the arm extends into a rear end of the passage. The body passage is internally threaded near the front of the body. An expansion rod is mounted to a lingual side of the second forward orthodontic band. The expansion rod is externally threaded at a rear end thereof to be threadedly received in the threaded portion of the body passage. The expansion rod has a bore extending forwardly from the rear end of the rod which receives the arm.

Abstract: A new a telescoping assembly or advancing sheath and a expansion complex are provided for a maxillary or mandibular arch expander. The advancing sheath is provided with a spring which extends between a forward end of the anterior tube and a forward end of the posterior tube. The spring urges the anterior tube rearwardly relative to the posterior tube to compensate for jaw pressure and to help prevent the jaw pressure from threading the anterior tube rearwardly.

Abstract: A contracting connector between a maxillary apparatus and mandibular apparatus to treat an underbite. The connector has a telescoping outer sheath connected at its posterior end to the maxillary apparatus. A rod is slidingly engaged in the sheath. And connected at its anterior end to the mandibular apparatus. A spring connected between the rod and the posterior end of the sheath exerts adjustable contraction pressure on the rod and thus the mandible. In another embodiment, the rod has separate anterior and posterior segments The posterior segment of the rod is attached to the maxillary apparatus and the anterior segment is attached to the mandibular apparatus A spring connected between the anterior and posterior segments exerts adjustable contracting pressure on the two rod segments and thus on the maxilla and the mandible. In either embodiment the contracting pressure on the spring is adjusted by changing the length of the telescoping outer sheath. An improved channel lock for connectors also is disclosed.

Abstract: A method for detecting an arrhythmia hidden by rapid pacing in a rate adaptive pacemaker/defibrillator. Unmasking a potential arrhythmia is accomplished by lengthening the pace cycle length by a small amount for a number of cycles followed by a shortening of the pace cycle length for the same number of cycles giving an average pacing rate equivalent to the desired rate. This can occur at all times or only when conditions make arrhythmia masking possible. Changing the pace cycle by a small amount over a number of cycles will move the arrhythmia and paced rhythm out of synchronization. Forcing the pacer to continue sensing the arrhythmia is accomplished by insuring that the pacer's sense refractory is less than one half of the pacing cycle length. This is done by constraining the programming of that value to one half the minimum pacing cycle length or using an adaptive sense refractory period.

Abstract: A new expansion complex is provided for a mandibular and maxillary arch expander. The arch expander includes first and second forward orthodontic bands and a pair of rear orthodontic bands operatively connected to the forward orthodontic bands. The expansion complex includes an arm extending lingually from a lingual side of the first forward orthodontic band. An expander body is rotationally mounted on the arm to rotate about the arm. A passage extends through the body, and the arm extends into a rear end of the passage. The body passage is internally threaded near the front of the body. An expansion rod is mounted to a lingual side of the second forward orthodontic band. The expansion rod is externally threaded at a rear end thereof to be threadedly received in the threaded portion of the body passage. The expansion rod has a bore extending forwardly from the rear end of the rod which receives the arm.