Separable Securing Means Patents (Class 433/13)
  • Patent number: 11540905
    Abstract: A self-ligating orthodontic bracket. The self-ligating orthodontic bracket comprises a bracket body and a movable closure member, and the bracket body includes a first body portion, a second body portion and an archwire slot therebetween, running through the bracket body. The movable closure member is engaged with the second body portion and movable relative thereto between an opened position and a closed position; the first body portion and/or the movable closure member include, at the inward end thereof, a tool receptacle having a receptacle top and a receptacle bottom, and the tool receptacle is adjacent to the archwire slot, the archwire slot and the first body portion co-form a first side surface, while the archwire slot and the second body portion co-form a second side surface, the tool receptacle includes a smooth surface that slopes downwardly to the first side surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: GUANGZHOU OO MEDICAL SCIENTIFIC LIMITED
    Inventor: Li Ji
  • Patent number: 11324573
    Abstract: An orthodontic device can include a bracket configured to support an orthodontic wire. The orthodontic device can include a locking assembly coupled to the bracket and switchable between a plurality of operational modes. The plurality of operational modes can comprise a first sliding mode in which the orthodontic wire is slidable relative to the bracket and a second locked mode in which the orthodontic wire is slidably locked relative to the bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: AADvance Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kami Hoss, Steven Howard, Jacob Moebius
  • Patent number: 11259899
    Abstract: An orthodontic device can include a bracket configured to support an orthodontic wire. The orthodontic device can include a locking assembly coupled to the bracket and switchable between a plurality of operational modes. The plurality of operational modes can comprise a first sliding mode in which the orthodontic wire is slidable relative to the bracket and a second locked mode in which the orthodontic wire is slidably locked relative to the bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: AADvance Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kami Hoss, Steven Howard, Jacob Moebius
  • Patent number: 11246683
    Abstract: An orthodontic band attachment device used for an orthodontic procedure is described. The device includes a base having a tooth interfacing surface and an outer base surface. The device further includes a button support column attached to the outer base surface, and a button structure attached to the button support column such that an inner button surface is separated from the outer base surface by a button support column height. The device further includes a hook arm attachment member attached to the base at a substantially peripheral location and a hook arm comprising one or more band attachment structures arranged along a hook arm length. The hook arm attachment member is oriented such that a hook arm outer surface is substantially coplanar with an outer button surface and an orthodontic band is able to pass between the hook arm attachment member and the button structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: King Abdulaziz University
    Inventor: Hamad Alqahtani
  • Patent number: 11116607
    Abstract: An archwire for use with a passive self-ligation orthodontic bracket is described and which includes a resilient main body which is received in the archwire slot, and which further has a predetermined width dimension, and a variable thickness dimension, and wherein the variable thickness dimension of the archwire can be varied so as to facilitate an adjustable application of a force to the passive self-ligation orthodontic bracket so as to achieve a clinician selectable and controllable second and third order movement of a patient's tooth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Premier Orthodontic Designs LLLP
    Inventors: Paul L. Damon, Dwight H. Damon
  • Patent number: 10631957
    Abstract: A self-ligating orthodontic bracket has a sliding archwire cover that has a top surface congruent with the top surface of an upper body portion having an archwire slot. The cover has a resilient locking tab that slides across the slot, bending upward as it encounters a ridge on the other side of the slot, and latching to the ridge to secure the cover in a closed position. The cover has a modified dovetail shape with flared bottom portions that slideably engage guides for reciprocal opening and closing sliding motion. A groove in the slide support track engages the locking tab in the open position preventing it from disengaging from the upper body portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: WORLD CLASS TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Rolf Hagelganz, Juergen Bathen
  • Patent number: 10588718
    Abstract: Disclosed is an orthodontic bracket. An orthodontic bracket according to an aspect of the present invention comprises a body attached to teeth, a cover linear-movably and rotatably coupled to the body, and an elastic member which applies pressure to the cover so as to keep the cover locked, wherein the cover is locked to the body while pressing a wire such that the wire is seated in the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: BIOCETEC CO., LTD
    Inventors: Hong Sik Koo, Sung Hee Yoon
  • Patent number: 10226312
    Abstract: An orthodontic appliance may include an archwire and multiple orthodontic brackets. The archwire may fit within a human mouth and contain multiple male connectors. Each orthodontic bracket may have a configuration that facilitates attaching the orthodontic bracket to a single tooth. Each orthodontic bracket may allow one of the male connectors to be locked into the orthodontic bracket with a snapping action. The male connector may be unable to slide with respect to the orthodontic bracket after being locked in the orthodontic bracket. A manual unlocking action may allow the male connector to disengage from the orthodontic bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: University of Southern California
    Inventors: Behrokh Khoshnevis, Hongsheng Tong, Yong Chen, Philong John Pham, Robert Lee
  • Patent number: 10201403
    Abstract: A bracket including a main body part and a covering part. The main body part includes a first surface portion and a first bottom face portion. The first surface portion is provided with a first groove, which divides the first surface portion into first and second ends. The first end has a surface with a first protruding portion having a smooth curved surface. The covering part includes a second surface portion and a second bottom face portion, the second bottom face portion matches with the surface of the second end, and the second surface portion has a smooth curved surface matching the surface of the first protruding portion. The covering part and the main body part are adapted to match and be engaged with each other to form the bracket having a smooth curved shape in a gingival direction, an occlusal direction, a mesial direction and a distal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Inventor: Li Ji
  • Patent number: 10159544
    Abstract: An orthodontic bracket is described and which includes a base member defining an archwire slot having an opening, and at least one projection extending outwardly from the base member; a ligating slide moveable between a first position which is clear of the archwire slot, and second position where the ligating slide projects over the opening of the archwire slot; and a biasing member borne by the ligating slide, and resiliently cooperating with the projection, and wherein the biasing member has a first portion which receives the projection when the ligating slide is in the first position, and a second portion which receives the projection when the ligating slide is in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Ormco Corporation
    Inventor: Dwight H. Damon
  • Patent number: 10080628
    Abstract: A self-ligating bracket includes a bracket body and a spring clip. The bracket body includes a mesial channel, a distal channel, a center channel, and an arch wire slot. The spring clip includes a distal arm, mesial arm, and a center arm which are moveably within the mesial channel, distal channel, and center channel between an open position and a closed position to occlude the arch wire slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: American Orthodontics Corporation
    Inventors: Jay S. Sommer, Eric W. Nimmer, Andrew R. Pietzner
  • Patent number: 9895206
    Abstract: An adjustable orthodontic bracket includes a metal base adapted to be rigidly secured directly to a tooth by a relatively thin layer of an orthodontic adhesive. This relatively thin layer of heat softening material fastens an orthodontic bracket directly to a tooth and subsequently heats the orthodontic material with a digital laser that allows the polymer material to reproduce a liquidous surface for adjusting the position of the bracket so that the bracket can be adjusted in all directions around the base member without overlapping the periphery of the base member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Inventor: Mohammad Izadi
  • Patent number: 9867680
    Abstract: An orthodontic bracket is described and which includes a base member defining an archwire slot having an opening, and at least one projection extending outwardly from the base member; a ligating slide moveable between a first position which is clear of the archwire slot, and second position where the ligating slide projects over the opening of the archwire slot; and a biasing member borne by the ligating slide, and resiliently cooperating with the projection, and wherein the biasing member has a first portion which receives the projection when the ligating slide is in the first position, and a second portion which receives the projection when the ligating slide is in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: Ormco Corporation
    Inventor: Dwight H. Damon
  • Patent number: 9827073
    Abstract: A self-ligating orthodontic bracket for captivating an archwire with a tooth. The bracket includes a bracket body mountable to a tooth and a self-ligating mechanism having an archwire slot and a ligating slide. The ligating slide is movable between an open position in which an archwire is insertable into the archwire slot and a closed position in which the archwire is retained in the archwire slot. The bracket body may be formed from a non-metallic material, such as a polymer, a filled polymer composite, or a ceramic, and the self-ligating mechanism may be formed from a metal. The bracket may include a resilient engagement member with a detent positioned to engage an aperture or throughhole extending through the ligating slide when the ligating slide is in the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Ormco Corporation
    Inventors: Farrokh Farzin-Nia, Albert Ruiz-Vela
  • Patent number: 9198739
    Abstract: Method for producing a patient-specific bracket body (7) for a modular bracket (1) having a pad (3) and a bracket body (7), which comprises the following steps: a) providing a raw bracket body (9) having a spacer section (9d), b) establishing a first parameter for cutting through the spacer section (9d), a distance of a resulting cut surface of the spacer section (9d) from the slot (11), in order to establish a suitable height of the bracket body (7), c) establishing a second parameter for cutting through the spacer section (9d), a cutting angle to a mesio-distal axis, in order to establish a suitable torque value of the bracket body (7), d) establishing a third parameter for cutting through the spacer section (9d), a cutting angle to an occlusal-gingival axis, in order to establish a suitable rotation value of the bracket body (7), e) cutting through the spacer section (9d) according to the three established parameters, whereby a bracket body (7) is produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: DW Lingual Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Hoang Viet-Ha Julius Vu, Dirk Wiechmann
  • Publication number: 20150086936
    Abstract: A bracket system for orthodontic appliances including a bracket combinatorial library having a plurality of brackets each interchangeably fixedly mountable to each of a plurality of teeth within a dentition group in a dental arch, whereby the plurality of brackets can be configured to provide incremental variation in tipping force moments, in-out force moments, and torqueing force moments over the entire useful range of orthodontic mechanics, allowing an orthodontic practitioner to prescribe a combination of tipping force moments, in-out force moments, and torqueing force moments unique for each tooth in relation to the plurality of teeth of a patient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2014
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Inventor: Brandon Owen
  • Publication number: 20150050612
    Abstract: An orthodontic bracket is described, and which includes a bracket base, which is releasably affixed to a patient's tooth; a bracket body borne on the bracket base, and which defines an arch wire slot, and wherein the arch wire slot has a selectively adjustable cross-sectional dimension; and an arch wire received within the arch wire slot and wherein the bracket body acting in combination with the arch wire is adjustable so as to provide a multiplicity of selective torque expressions, which act upon a patient's tooth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2013
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Applicant: PREMIER ORTHODONTIC DESIGNS, LLLP
    Inventors: Paul L. Damon, Dwight H. Damon
  • Publication number: 20140370455
    Abstract: The invention provides a bracket having horizontally extending tabs that allow the arch wire to be ligated in either an active or passive manner using a ligation device such as an elastomeric band, metal ligature tie or the like. For an active ligation the ligation device is wrapped behind the tabs to press the arch wire into the bracket groove, and for a passive ligation the ligation device is wrapped in front of the behind two tabs that are diagonally oriented across the bracket groove, without pressing the arch wire into the bracket groove, or pressing the arch wire into the groove with a reduced force compared to the active ligation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventor: Timothy J. Allesee
  • Patent number: 8801430
    Abstract: A bracket is used in orthodontic treatment with a base fixed to the tooth with a constructive arrangement able to receive locks capable of providing infinite mechanical needs of orthodontic treatment, providing the efficient positioning of the traction wires in order to increase the versatility of the apparatus itself, resulting in an optimized and less painful treatment than the conventional brackets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Inventor: Carlos Edwardo Miqui
  • Publication number: 20140205962
    Abstract: An orthodontic bracket is described and which includes a bracket base which is releasably affixed to a patient's tooth; a bracket body borne on the bracket base and which defines a transversely disposed arch wire slot; and an arch wire received within the arch wire slot, and wherein the orthodontic bracket, acting in combination with the arch wire, is adjustable while affixed to the patient's tooth, to provide a multiplicity of selective torque and/or rotation expressions which individually, forcibly act upon the patient's tooth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2013
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Inventors: Paul L. Damon, Dwight H. Damon
  • Publication number: 20140134563
    Abstract: A plurality of self-ligating orthodontic brackets for use in orthodontic treatment comprising at least one first bracket, at least one second bracket, and at least one third bracket. Each of the first, second and third brackets include a first, second and third locking shutter, respectively, for applying a force onto an archwire to effect orthodontic treatment. The first locking shutter applies a first force, the second second locking shutter applies a second force and the third locking shutter applies a third force such that the first, second and third forces differ from each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2014
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: ORTHOARM, INC.
    Inventor: John VOUDOURIS
  • Publication number: 20140038120
    Abstract: The appliances and methods provide a tab on a “U”-shaped clip having a labial (i.e. toward the patient's lips or cheek) section and a lingual (i.e. toward the patient's tongue) section. The tab is located in a position that facilitates access by a practitioner and also reduces the moment applied to the clip when the clips is opened and closed. Advantageously, the tab can be positioned to account for the varying degree of resistance encountered by different sections of the clip and minimize the likelihood of either distorting the clip or torquing the appliance. The tab can be positioned coplanar with the sliding mechanism. Advantageously, these appliances can provide improved ease of use, reduced clip distortion over time, and greater patient comfort.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Frank C. Lin, Oliver L. Puttler, Ming-Lai Lai, Evangelos G. Georgakis
  • Patent number: 8636507
    Abstract: A self-ligating orthodontic bracket comprising a body and a locking shutter. A mesio-gingival reference plane is defined tangent to a lingual-most point of the archwire slot. The body further includes an occlusal-gingival opening that intersects the reference plane. The locking shutter includes a lingual end located in the opening at a closed lingual location when the locking shutter is in a closed position, and at an open lingual location when the locking shutter is in an open position. The locking shutter further includes a labial end located at a closed labial location when the locking shutter is in the closed position and at an open labial location when the locking shutter is in the open position. A first occlusal-gingival distance from the closed lingual location to the open lingual location is at least about 70% of a second occlusal-gingival distance from the closed labial location to the side surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Inventor: John C. Voudouris
  • Patent number: 8585398
    Abstract: An orthodontic bracket for coupling an archwire with a tooth includes a bracket body that has an archwire slot adapted to receive the archwire. A movable member is engaged with the bracket body and is movable between an opened position and a closed position. The bracket body and movable member are made from a transparent or translucent ceramic for improved aesthetics. The bracket body may include one or more stop surfaces that limit movement of the moveable member in the gingival direction. The bracket body may include a support surface that is positioned lingually of a labial edge of the archwire slot. The moveable member may include a bracket-engaging portion having a first surface confronting the bracket body and a slot-covering portion having a second surface confronting the archwire slot, the first and second surfaces being offset from one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Ormco Corporation
    Inventors: Jonathan Yeh, Rodolfo Rodriguez, Farrokh Farzin-Nia
  • Publication number: 20130189639
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed, at least in part, to a self ligating orthodontic bracket having a rotatable member for securing an archwire within a slot of the bracket. Embodiments of the orthodontic bracket disclosed herein include a bracket body containing the archwire slot as well as tie wings for attaching various orthodontic devices (e.g., elastomeric bands) to the bracket. The rotatable member is rotatable in a first direction (e.g., counter clockwise) relative to a body of the bracket for securing or locking the archwire within the slot, and for rotating in an opposite direction (e.g., a clockwise direction) relative to the bracket body for unsecuring or unlocking the archwire so that it is substantially unrestrained from exiting the slot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2013
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Applicant: RMO, Inc.
    Inventor: RMO, Inc.
  • Patent number: 8414292
    Abstract: A self ligating orthodontic bracket system includes a bracket, a slidable ligating member and at least one wedge locking ramp. The bracket includes an archwire slot defined therein, which is configured to receive an archwire therein. The ligating member slides along a slide path defined on the bracket and which extends transverse relative to the archwire slot. The wedge locking ramp is disposed on the slide path, wherein the wedge locking ramp is configured to deflect the ligating member vertically upward and away from an upper surface of the slide path, and over the wedge locking ramp when the ligating member travels along the slide path from an unlocked position to a locked position. The archwire is securely retained in the archwire slot when the ligating member is in the locked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Inventor: Alexandre Gallo Lopes
  • Patent number: 8297970
    Abstract: The orthodontic bracket according to the present invention is provided with ligating means having a simple configuration, has additional functions for improving therapeutic effect and improving aesthetic appearance and enables maintenance to be carried out easily. A movable slider portion 2 for pinching an upper portion and a lower portion of an archwire to hold the archwire is provided in order to hold the archwire with respect to a bracket body 1 that has a slot 5 for holding the archwire. This slider portion 2 is inserted into the bracket body 1 to thereby hold the archwire 6. An orthodontic bracket composed of the bracket body 1 and the slider portion 2 has aesthetic properties by having a rounded shape with few surface irregularities. The slider portion 2 can be readily moved with an operating tool 14 and can be easily attached and detached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Dentsply-Sankin K. K.
    Inventors: Ryuzo Kanomi, Toshimitsu Ohki
  • Patent number: 8246349
    Abstract: An orthodontic bracket including a body (1) having a mesiodistal slot (10), a base (11), and a plurality of tie wings (12, 120) mainly developed along an occlusal-gingival direction. The tie wings are provided two-by-two on opposite sides in relation to the slot (10) and partially emerging over a labial side (L) of the body (1). The slot (10) is apt to receive an archwire (2). The tie wings (12, 120) protrude externally from the body (1) and towards the base (11), feature a curved surface (121) whose concavity is turned towards the same base (1) and constitute a support for an element (3) apt to prevent the archwire (2) from coming out of the slot (10). The element (3) features a planar portion intended to slide above, and parallel to, the labial side (L) of the body (1) and a flexible and elastic arm (33) having a portion (34) which is securable to the surface (121) of two tie wings (12) resulting on the same side in relation to the slot (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Leone S.p.A.
    Inventors: Gabriele Scommegna, Maurizio Dolfi
  • Patent number: 8235714
    Abstract: An orthodontic bracket having a base attachable to a tooth surface, with the base extending outward away from the tooth surface and forming an archwire slot sized to receive an archwire therewithin, and a removable archwire slot cover coined onto the base so as to cover the archwire slot and enable the bracket to function as a buccal tube when the cover is attached. The cover may be removed from the bracket base without removal of the bracket from the tooth surface so as to provide an open archwire slot for continued orthodontic treatment subsequent to removal of the removable archwire slot cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: World Class Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Rolf Hagelganz, Juergen Bathen, Klaus Hagelganz
  • Publication number: 20120135366
    Abstract: An orthodontic slider apparatus is disclosed. The orthodontic slider is used to apply intra or inter maxillary forces to distalize or mesialize teeth. The orthodontic slider of the current invention can easily be applied to the archwire of the fixed brackets of an orthodontic appliance without having to remove the archwire from the brackets. The slider utilizes self locking arms that allow it to easily attach to or detach from the archwire.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2011
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Inventor: Enis Yasar Guray
  • Publication number: 20120058443
    Abstract: In an orthodontic device 10 according to the invention, an orthodontic attachment 11 includes an engaging portion 17 formed in a side portion of an archwire slot 16, and an orthodontic cap 13 is mounted on the orthodontic attachment 11 while covering the whole of the archwire slot 16 and includes an engaging portion receiving portion 22 extending in a direction perpendicular to a mesiodistal direction of the archwire 12 and engageable with the engaging portion 17. In this orthodontic device, when retaining the archwire in the archwire slot of the orthodontic attachment, the archwire is retained by the orthodontic cap through the orthodontic attachment, thereby being able to reduce frictional resistance between the archwire and archwire slot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2009
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Inventors: Hajime Tamura, Kiyoshi Shiga
  • Publication number: 20110183280
    Abstract: Orthodontic appliance systems including self-ligating orthodontic brackets and/or orthodontic brackets that include a prescription-altering insert that is configured to be removably coupled to the bracket. The prescriptive insert may be optional in some embodiments. In some embodiments, the prescriptive insert may define and/or alter the prescription of the bracket, such as a prescription defined by the bracket when the insert is not utilized. A plurality of prescriptive inserts may be provided, with each insert defining a unique orthodontic prescription when coupled to the bracket. In some embodiments, the bracket is a self-ligating bracket that includes a base and a repositionable closure for selectively obstructing an opening in an archwire passage of the bracket. In some embodiments, the closure defines more than one side, or wall, of the archwire passage and/or is pivotally coupled to the base by a floating hinge or other displaceable positioning mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2011
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Inventors: Christopher C. Cosse, Christopher W. Laborde
  • Publication number: 20110136071
    Abstract: Vibrating dental devices and accessories are provided, including a unique snap fit dental plate and vibrator connection; risers for adjusting the thickness of a dental plate; a pointer or wand that can be clamped onto a dental plate to reach even severely misaligned teeth; a cushioned dental plate having a non-Newtonian fluid therein that allows conformation of the cushion to the dentition, but hardens on use to allow the transmission of vibration to the teeth. Accessories such as carrying cases and docking stations are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2010
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Applicant: ORTHOACCEL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Lawrence J. LEVENS
  • Patent number: 7909603
    Abstract: An orthodontic bracket having a bracket body configured to be mounted to a tooth includes an archwire slot having a base surface defining a base plane and a slide engagement track defining a translation plane. The translation plane is angled with respect to the base plane. A ligating slide is engaged with the slide engagement track of the bracket body and movable along the slide engagement track and parallel to the translation plae between an opened position, in which an archwire is insertable into the archwire slot, and a closed position, in which the archwire is retained within the archwire slot. The translation plane is angled with respect to the base plane so as to prevent the ligating slide from contacting the gingiva surrounding the tooth when the ligating slide is moved to the opened position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Ormco Corporation
    Inventor: Todd I. Oda
  • Patent number: 7775793
    Abstract: An orthodontic bracket is provided. The bracket includes a rear wall coming to rest on a buccal or lingual tooth surface; and two guide surfaces running at right angles to one another, for guiding an archwire with a rectangular cross section, wherein the two guide surfaces are arranged distanced to the rear wall. A first gingival web runs below the first guide surface and at least one second occlusal web runs above the first guide surface, with a second passage being left free between the first web and the rear wall, and a first passage being left free between the second web and the rear wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Inventor: Christoph Von Mandach
  • Publication number: 20090325120
    Abstract: Self-ligating orthodontic brackets include a bracket base, at least one arch wire slot formed in the bracket base adapted to receive an arch wire therein, and a ligation cover which is selectively slidable relative to the bracket base between an open non-ligating position relative to the slot and a closed, ligating position relative to the slot. The exterior labial surface of both the base and ligation cover comprise a compound two axis curvature so that substantially all of the exterior labial surface of both the bracket base and the ligation cover present a smooth, continuous exterior surface that is substantially free of sharp discontinuities and crevices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2008
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Applicant: ULTRADENT PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventors: Paul Lewis, Eldon Montgomery
  • Patent number: 7442039
    Abstract: An orthodontic bracket has a clip which is curved substantially in U-shape as covering at least one part of an opposite side to a base in an arch wire slot. Catching end portions which are provided at an upper end part of the clip may be caught to enable to creep under a cover portion supported by the bracket main body. The clip is formed at the upper end part thereof with a concave portion as a recess portion which enables to catch a clip release tool for releasing the clip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: Tomy Incorporated
    Inventors: Perry Opin, Shingo Katayose, Kousei Endo, Masaaki Orikasa
  • Patent number: 7419375
    Abstract: A self-ligating orthodontic bracket for captivating an archwire with a tooth. The bracket includes a bracket body mountable to a tooth and a self-ligating mechanism having an archwire slot and a ligating slide. The ligating slide is movable between an open position in which an archwire is insertable into the archwire slot and a closed position in which the archwire is retained in the archwire slot. The bracket body may be formed from a non-metallic material, such as a polymer, a filled polymer composite, or a ceramic, and the self-ligating mechanism may be formed from a metal. The bracket may include a resilient engagement member with a detent positioned to engage an aperture extending through the ligating slide when the ligating slide is in the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Ormco Corporation
    Inventors: Farrokh Farzin-Nia, Albert Ruiz-Vela
  • Patent number: 7416408
    Abstract: A self-ligating orthodontic bracket for captivating an archwire with a tooth. The bracket includes a bracket body mountable to a tooth and a self-ligating mechanism having an archwire slot and a ligating slide. The ligating slide is movable between an open position in which an archwire is insertable into the archwire slot and a closed position in which the archwire is retained in the archwire slot. The bracket body may be formed from a non-metallic material, such as a polymer, a filled polymer composite, or a ceramic, and the self-ligating mechanism may be formed from a metal. The bracket may include a resilient engagement member with a detent positioned to engage an aperture or throughhole extending through the ligating slide when the ligating slide is in the closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Assignee: Ormco Corporation
    Inventors: Farrokh Farzin-Nia, Albert Ruiz-Vela
  • Patent number: 7033171
    Abstract: A molar tube having a first face portion that is adapted to be adhered to a molar tooth, a second face portion, and a mesial-distal length dimension. There is a body portion disposed on the second face portion of the base portion, and the body portion comprises an upper portion and a lower portion. The body portion further comprises a lumen that is adapted to receive an archwire, wherein the lumen has an axis which substantially coincides with the mesial-distal length dimension of the base portion. The body portion further comprises a boss comprising a threaded bore that is adapted to receive a setscrew, wherein the threaded bore has an axis. The axis of the threaded bore intersects with the mesial-distal length dimension to form an angle of any degree between 15 degrees and 55 degrees, including every degree therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Inventor: Michael K. Wilkerson
  • Patent number: 6843651
    Abstract: An orthodontic bracket enabling to securely maintain positive pressure of an archwire effecting to the bottom of an archwire slot even if doing the rotational control more than a determined amount. The orthodontic bracket has a base, a main body furnished on the base, an archwire slot formed in the main body, a guiding part crossing with the slot, and a band-like clip guided in the guiding part. A clip is curved in U-shape as covering at least one part of a reverse base side in the archwire slot, and a locking portion furnished at one end side in the length direction of the clip creeps under a cover portion supported by the main body. The locking claw formed in the locking portion and a covering claw formed in the cover portion get over and engage each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2005
    Assignee: Tomy Incorporated
    Inventor: Masaaki Orikasa
  • Patent number: 6799966
    Abstract: Disclosed is an orthodontic article that includes a fluoropolymer and that exhibits at least 0.001% transmittance at 546 nm when measured according to the Transmittance Test Procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2004
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Jerold S. Horn, James D. Hansen
  • Patent number: 6776613
    Abstract: An orthodontic bracket has a front side part, a bump portion, an inner side part which are formed on a ceiling face of a guide portion in such a manner that the front side part, the bump portion, the inner side part are formed in order in a guiding direction to which a clip is guided by the guide portion. The orthodontic bracket further has a sliding-rotation supporter provided at the lower end of the clip. When the sliding-rotation supporter slides on the ceiling face and gets over the bump portion from the front side part to reach the inner side part of the ceiling face, the clip can press the archwire down toward the bottom of the archwire slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: Tomy Incorporated
    Inventor: Masaaki Orikasa
  • Patent number: 6733287
    Abstract: A molar tube having a first face portion that is adapted to be adhered to a molar tooth, a second face portion, and a mesial-distal length dimension. There is a body portion disposed on the second face portion of the base portion, and the body portion comprises an upper portion and a lower portion. The body portion further comprises a lumen that is adapted to receive an archwire, wherein the lumen has an axis which substantially coincides with the mesial-distal length dimension of the base portion. The body portion further comprises a boss comprising a threaded bore that is adapted to receive a setscrew, wherein the threaded bore has an axis. The axis of the threaded bore intersects with the mesial-distal length dimension to form an angle of any degree between 15 degrees and 175 degrees, including every degree therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Inventor: Michael K. Wilkerson
  • Publication number: 20040013995
    Abstract: A self-ligating module for removable attachment to a conventional orthodontic bracket includes a stem removably securable in the vertical slot in the bracket and a clip pivotably secured to the head of the stem. The clip can pivot between an open position in which the archwire slot of the bracket is open to receive an archwire, and a closed position in which the archwire is secured in the archwire slot by the clip. The module allows conventional orthodontic brackets to be selectively modified so as to become self-ligating brackets. The module can be readily removed when the self-ligating feature is not needed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2002
    Publication date: January 22, 2004
    Inventor: William A. Spencer
  • Publication number: 20030039938
    Abstract: An orthodontic bracket has a front side part, a bump portion, an inner side part which are formed on a ceiling face of a guide portion in such a manner that the front side part, the bump portion, the inner side part are formed in order in a guiding direction to which a clip is guided by the guide portion. The orthodontic bracket further has a sliding-rotation supporter provided at the lower end of the clip. When the sliding-rotation supporter slides on the ceiling face and gets over the bump portion from the front side part to reach the inner side part of the ceiling face, the clip can press the archwire down toward the bottom of the archwire slot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2002
    Publication date: February 27, 2003
    Applicant: TOMY INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Masaaki Orikasa
  • Patent number: 6478579
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an orthodontic twin bracket, and in particular an orthodontic twin bracket which includes protrusions on the floor and side walls of the archwire slot in order to reduce friction. In a preferred embodiment, a bracket design is provided which incorporates one or more of the features of reduced friction, improved alignment accuracy and, ease of identification, multiple ligation options, small size and structural integrity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignee: RMO, Inc.
    Inventor: Martin Brusse
  • Publication number: 20020119414
    Abstract: An orthodontic bracket enabling to securely maintain positive pressure of an archwire effecting to the bottom of an archwire slot even if doing the rotational control more than a determined amount. The orthodontic bracket has a base, a main body furnished on the base, an archwire slot formed in the main body, a guiding part crossing with the slot, and a band-like clip guided in the guiding part. A clip is curved in U-shape as covering at least one part of a reverse base side in the archwire slot, and a locking portion furnished at one end side in the length direction of the clip creeps under a cover portion supported by the main body. The locking claw formed in the locking portion and a covering claw formed in the cover portion get over and engage each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2002
    Publication date: August 29, 2002
    Applicant: TOMY INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Masaaki Orikasa
  • Publication number: 20020098460
    Abstract: A self-ligating orthodontic bracket comprised of a ligating member containing a coil spring segment for extending the ligating member over an archwire or retainer wire and over one or more tie wings to secure the archwire or retainer wire in the bottom of a slot in the bracket. The ligating member containing the coil spring may have ends that are engaged in opposing mesially-distally extending bores in one side of the bracket body, with the ligating member being engaged with one or more tie wings on an opposite side of the bracket body. Alternatively, the ligating member may form a closed loop with the ligating member engaged under both occlusally-projecting and gingivally-projecting tie wings or engaged under one or more tie wings on one side of the bracket body and passing through a mesially-distally extending bore on the opposite side of the bracket body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2002
    Publication date: July 25, 2002
    Applicant: Ormco Corporation
    Inventors: Farrokh Farzin-Nia, Rohit C. L. Sachdeva, Thomas V. Selkee
  • Patent number: 6394798
    Abstract: The present invention accordingly provides for an orthodontic bracket having a plurality of tiewings and a plurality of posts extending in the mesial/distal direction. The plurality of tiewings may be located on the occlusal side of the orthodontic bracket, and may include a center post between the tiewings, for placement reference and ligation of the orthodontic bracket. A hook may be provided on the gingival side of the orthodontic bracket for anchorage and ligating of the orthodontic bracket, and the tiewings may be provided on the occlusal and gingival side of the orthodontic bracket. The posts may be provided on the gingival side, or on the occlusal and gingival sides of the orthodontic bracket, to assist in bracket placement and to direct a ligature over or under an archwire occupying the archwire slot during treatment, as desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: Ortho Organizers
    Inventors: Stephen M. Huff, Lindsay W. Brehm