Abstract: An automated process and a system for ordering and manufacturing personalized products over the Internet are provided. This process may apply to a limitless variety of products which are desirable to personalize. A robotic manufacturing machine offers options on multiples physical features of a product. These options are presented to consumers via the Internet. A consumer selects the options using a computer. The selected options are received by a web server and converted to machine instructions. The machine instructions are transmitted to the robotic machine which produces a product according to the instructions received. The end result is a personalized product manufactured specifically to the consumer's selections as a result of a completely automated process.

Abstract: A system for reducing stress comprises a computer which operates a software program. The program may be run locally or from a remote server via the world wide web. A user inputs information into the computer relating to his or her body, lifestyle, work schedule. A sensor may be attached to the user and coupled to the computer to receive autonomic signals from the user. The computer executes a series of stress reducing exercises which the user is directed to perform. The system monitors and records the user's compliance, or lack thereof. The system then adjusts the stress reducing exercises based the user's performance.

Abstract: A conventional digital panoramic radiographic unit includes sonic or optical three dimensional scanning detector and a color video detector so that when the panoramic x-ray data is obtained, three dimensional contour of the surface of the patient's skin and the outward visual appearance of the patient's skin are also obtained as correlated data sets. The correlated data sets are then stored within a computer system as three sets of simultaneously or near simultaneously taken correlated data. The correlated data is then deconvolved to form a two-dimensional image of the tooth and jaw structure of patient as correlated to the patient's jaw and lip contours and visual appearance from a selected viewpoint.

Abstract: Orthodontic appliance is made from mesoporous metals are substantially transparent or at least translucent so that they present a cosmetic appearance having a color the same as or similar to the natural dental services to which the appliance is applied. The archwires and brackets of the orthodontic appliance are fabricated from mesoporous metal and metal alloys, which have defined therein pores the diameter less than the shortest wavelength of visible light incident on the appliance and with a density of pores such that the average index of a fraction of the mesoporous metal is closer to that of air than to the solid metal from which the dental appliance is fabricated. The small size of the pores means that the dental appliance is a poor scatterer of light while the high density of pores means that the optical properties of the mesoporous metal on the average tend to match those of air as opposed to the solid metal, thus making the mesoporous metal transparent or at the very least translucent.

Abstract: A dental bracket having a non-adhering, moldable base, wherein the moldable base is conformed to the surface of the tooth to which it is to be adhered. A very thin layer of dental adhesive interposed between the moldable base and the tooth (by coating of any or both of the tooth and moldable base--preferably the tooth) effects full adherence of the bracket to the tooth. The base material is fully cured by normal curing methods such as by UV or other wavelength light activation. Use of a non-tacky, bondable plastic membrane (or coating or use of a thin inert interposition material which is non-tacky and bondable) bonded to the base material (and which is conformed with the molding of the base material), facilitates application of a bracket with an applicator. A bracket applicator and package suitable for use with the dental bracket of the present invention is also described.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating a cephalometric tracing directly from a patient by directly generating digitized two- or three-dimensional data from the patient's head to define locations of preselected landmarks thereon from which diagnostic data points required for the cephalometric tracing are computer generated and connected so as to produce a cephalometric tracing. A video recording of the patient's head corresponding to the spatial orientation of the cephalometric tracing at the time of the generation of the data is made, reproduced in visible form to the same scale as the cephalometric tracing and superimposed on the tracing on a video monitor.

Abstract: A method for determining orthodontic bracket placement on a malocclused tooth to correct the malocclusion includes the steps of generating digital information which defines the shape and location of the malocclused tooth in the patient's jaw, from which digital information a mathematical model of the tooth and jaw is generated. The correct placement position of a bracket is then calculated from the digitized information. A standard bracket is thereafter modified, if desired, individually for the patient, in view of the patient's physical deviations from the statistical averages. The shape of a bracket positioning jig is calculated and formed. Another step is forming an archwire for the brackets. The method may be used on one or more teeth in the same dental arch, as well as for both dental arches with respect to malocclusion therebetween.

Abstract: An orthodontic device comprises means defining a passage for an arch wire and means defining a tension spring for bearing against the arch wire. The tension spring has a free end portion for bearing against the arch wire and is fixed at its other end relative to the rest of the device. The tension spring locks against the arch wire to prevent relative movement of the arch wire to the device toward the other end of the spring and yields to the arch wire to permit relative movement of the arch wire to the device toward the free end of the spring. The device may be used in combination with a conventional buccal tube or orthodontic bracket, being located mesially or distally thereof or integrated with the buccal tube or orthodontic bracket. The device may further comprise a member having a channel defined through it. The channel is of larger cross section than the cross section of the arch wire to permit free movement of the arch wire in the channel.

Abstract: A cold sterilizer comprises a tray for containing a sterilant and instruments to be sterilized, a lid fitting over the tray, a timer for measuring the period for which the instruments are to be contained in the sterilant to effect sterilization and means for resetting the timer to its original setting for a sterilization upon lifting the lid from the tray during the sterilization. The sterilizer may further comprise means for locking the lid onto the tray and means operatively connecting the timer to the locking means so that the locking means is locked while the timer is timing a sterilization and the locking means unlocks when the period for which the timer is set has expired. There may also be provided means for manually overriding the timer and unlocking the locking means during a sterilization and for thereupon resetting the timer to its original setting for the sterilization.

Abstract: A method for determining orthodontic bracket placement on a malocclused tooth to correct the malocclusion includes the steps of generating digital information which defines the shape and location of the malocclused tooth in the patient's jaw, from which digital information a mathematical model of the tooth and jaw is generated. The correct placement position of a bracket is then calculated from the digitized information. A standard bracket is thereafter modified, if desired, individually for the patient, in view of the patient's physical deviations from the statistical averages. The shape of a bracket positioning jig is calculated and formed. Another step is forming an archwire for the brackets. The method may be used on one or more teeth in the same dental arch, as well as for both dental arches with respect to malocclusion therebetween.