Abstract: A pneumatic collet assembly has a housing, a piston, a collet, and ball bearings. The piston is disposed within the housing. A bore within the piston receives the collet. The collet has a base and fingers. The fingers of the collet define a center channel or bore configured to receive a torsion bar. The central channel extends along a longitudinal axis. The ball bearings are disposed between the piston and the fingers of the collet. The piston is configured to move between a first position along the longitudinal axis and a second position along the longitudinal axis in response to pressure changes within the housing. The piston increases force against the ball bearings to urge the fingers of the collet against the torsion bar to clamp the torsion bar.

Abstract: An orthodontic force mechanism according to the invention includes an elongated jack screw having at a pair of end portions, at least one of which is threaded, and a central spindle section between the end portions, which spindle section has at least two intersecting radial through-holes therein. A pair of nut housings are mounted on the end portions of the jack screw, at least one of which is threadedly coupled to a threaded end portion of the jack screw. A lock mechanism is mounted on the central spindle section, which lock mechanism includes a spring-loaded detent configured to engage an end opening of each of the through holes in the spindle section when such through hole is in alignment with the detent, such that the spindle cannot rotate relative to the lock mechanism when the detent is inserted into a through-hole, and is free to rotate relative to the lock mechanism when the detent is clear of a through hole.

Abstract: An orthodontic appliance and kit adapted to provide Herbst therapy as well as arch development. The appliance includes mandibular and maxillary components to be attached to the teeth, each component having a threaded bore. For Herbst therapy, telescoping links are connected between the components with screws threadably received by the threaded bores and coupled to the links by a ball and socket joint. For arch development, expansion mechanisms are provided on the components.

Abstract: An orthodontic appliance and kit adapted to provide Herbst therapy as well as arch development. The appliance includes mandibular and maxillary components to be attached to the teeth, each component having a threaded bore. For Herbst therapy, telescoping links are connected between the components with screw hubs threadably received by the threaded bores. For arch development, expansion mechanisms are provided on the components.