Abstract: In general, the medical apparatus provides contamination-free dispensing of a desired supply of cut-separable, intraoral ligators from a chain of such ligators. Preferably, the apparatus also provides quick loading/unloading of bobbins holding coil-wound chains of such ligators. More preferably, the apparatus provides easy positioning of such chains into a ready-to-use position so that a user may dispense a supply of such chain. The medical apparatus includes a frame and a bobbin around which a chain is wound. The chain preferably is elongate, homogeneous, and unitary and more preferably is a molded chain of plural cut-separable intraoral ligators (i.e., O-ring ligators) for use during an orthodontic ligating procedure. A hub structure and an anvil are attached to the frame. The hub structure includes a hub for mounting the bobbin thereon so that the bobbin rotates about the hub as the chain pays out from the bobbin.

Abstract: An applicator tool for dispensing and clamping individual loops in an orthodontic loop chain which is composed of a series of elastomeric loops connected by breakaway isthmuses. The tool includes a pair of loop-gripping tips adapted for clamping an end loop in the chain in a manner permitting the clamped loop to be placed on an orthodontic tooth appliance, to secure an archwire thereto. A constriction zone formed in the tool, adjacent the loop-gripping tips, functions to restrain the chain at positions where successive end loops are placed for clamping between the tool tips. The chain is advanced in the tool, in a loop-by-loop manner, by exerting a force on the chain in a downstream direction, to pull a restrained chain loop through the constriction zone by reversible loop elongation. The force required to advance the chain by one loop is less than that required to break an isthmus in the chain.

Abstract: Elastomeric, orthodontic, tension-applying apparatus, and a method for molding the same to yield a device characterized by highly uniform eleasticity properties. In the final molded product, plural endless loops are interconnected, in a chain-like fashion, by integral tensioning structure, with each loop joined to the side of an elongated carrier prong through an individual isthmus. These isthmuses result, during the molding process, from individual flow-gating which is provided for each loop, and such gating is key to ultimate elasticity uniformity.

Abstract: An applicator tool for use in attaching elastomeric orthodontic loops to orthodontic tooth appliances. The tool includes a pair of pivotal clamping arms having a pair of loop-gripping tips for clamping a loop in a manner permitting attachment of the clamped loop to a tooth appliance. One of the arms has a tapered end portion for holding a stack of such loops for sliding of successive end loops in the stack in a downstream direction. A loop-feed claw mounted on the other arm is adapted first to climb over, and then to engage the upstream side of, an end loop in the loop stack, when the arms are opened, and to place the engaged loop in a position for operative clamping, when the arms are closed.

Abstract: A rigid grommet-like end-connector device for use with an end of one or more elastomeric, orthodontic, tension-applying chains of the kind having a string of plural, endless, stretchable loops. The device is primarily useful in intermaxillary-type orthodontic applications, where long-term uninterrupted usage is desired, and where it is important to provide a solid wear-resistant attaching structure for the ends of the force-applying elastomer unit. The proposed device significantly expands the utility of currently available orthodontic chains of the type generally mentioned, by permitting plural strands of these chains to be connected in parallel, so-to-speak, both to amplify force-transmission capabilities, and to enhance longevity of effective performance life.

Abstract: An orthodontic tooth-rotation-effecting wedge. The wedge is made of a mouth-fluid-resistant elastomeric material. It includes a relatively thin web having a pair of openings for releasably fitting over and encircling a pair of conventional bracket posts, and a bulge, or enlargement, joined to one side of the web. The bulge is for deflecting an arch wire from the path which, in the absence of installation of the wedge, it would normally tend to follow past a bracket. A pair of spaced mounds is formed on one side of the enlargement. These mounds are adapted to straddle an arch wire to prevent twisting of the wedge out of place.

Abstract: A patient-usable orthodontic device for carrying, dispensing and installing intraoral tension-applying devices of the type including a pair of spaced endless loops which are intended for catching onto spaced hooks secured to tooth bands or the like in a patient's mouth. The device includes a molded elastomer portion having a body, and a plurality of tension-applying devices severably joined to the body. Formed in the body is a projecting finger, the outer end of which carries a rigid catch designed to aid in the installation of a tension-applying device which has been severed from the body.

Abstract: A molded unitary elastomeric orthodontic product which takes the form of a digitally manipulatable dispensing tool, placeable adjacent and within a person's mouth, and joined integrally yet severably with this tool a plurality of dispensable orthodontic intraoral tension-applying devices.