Twist-lock orthodontic post
AssigneeOrtho Solutions, LC
InventorsDarren Buddemeyer, Matthew Malabey
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An orthodontic post and pin system for secure attachment of a dental appliance to an alignment wire, which also facilitates quick and easy removal and replacement. The system described herein uses a “twist-lock” dental post that is rotated onto, and counter-rotated off of, an alignment wire. The dental post includes structural elements to facilitate the twist-lock functionality, as well as structures for accepting a fastener to secure the alignment wire in place and inhibit unintentional or undesired dislodging.
Claims36
An orthodontic post comprising:
- a generally cylindrical body;
- a bore axially disposed through said body;
- a pair of arms extending from opposing sides of an end of said body, said arms having a generally arcuate exterior surface;
- and
- a flange extending from each of said two arms, each of said flanges having an arcuate exterior surface having opposing ends connected by a chord surface;
- wherein each of said flanges comprises a detent.
A method of interfacing an orthodontic post and an alignment wire comprising:
- providing an alignment wire;
- providing an orthodontic post comprising:
- a generally cylindrical body;
- a bore axially disposed through said body;
- a pair of arms extending from opposing sides of an end of said body, said arms having a generally arcuate exterior surface;
- and
- a flange extending from each of said two arms, each of said flanges having an arcuate exterior surface having opposing ends connected by a chord surface;
- wherein each of said flanges comprises a detent;
- passing said alignment wire between said chord surfaces until said alignment wire is disposed at said end;
- rotating said body to cause said flanges to capture said alignment wire in locking recesses defined by a gap between said end of each said flanges and to cause said alignment wire to be received by each of said detents.
An orthodontic post comprising:
- a generally cylindrical body;
- a bore axially disposed through said body;
- a pair of arms extending from opposing sides of an end of said body, said arms having a generally arcuate exterior surface;
- a flange extending from each of said two arms, each of said flanges having an arcuate exterior surface having opposing ends connected by a chord surface;
- wherein when a fastener is received in said bore, said fastener holds said alignment wire against said flanges.
A method of interfacing an orthodontic post and an alignment wire comprising:
- providing an alignment wire;
- providing an orthodontic post comprising:
- a generally cylindrical body;
- a bore axially disposed through said body;
- a pair of arms extending from opposing sides of an end of said body, said arms having a generally arcuate exterior surface;
- and
- a flange extending from each of said two arms, each of said flanges having an arcuate exterior surface having opposing ends connected by a chord surface;
- providing a fastener;
- passing said alignment wire between said chord surfaces until said alignment wire is disposed at said end;
- rotating said body to cause said flanges to capture said alignment wire in locking recesses defined by a gap between said end of each said flanges;
- and
- inserting said fastener through said bore until said fastener holds said alignment wire against said flanges.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.