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US 12,653,587 B2Granted
Maxillary expander and protraction device
AssigneeFacegenics, Inc.
InventorsCameron Kaveh, Richard Beranek
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A medical device and method of expanding the maxilla of a patient via application of intra-orally generated forces and/or applying externally generated protraction forces to the maxilla of the patient is provided. The medical device can embody multiple configurations device that include skeletal anchorage device alone or in combination with a fixed aligner or an adjustable aligner.
Claims20
A maxillary expander, comprising:
- (i) first bodies, each having at least 2 first threaded apertures, and sized to be coupled intraorally to a hard palate of a patient on either side of the median palatine suture,
- (ii) bone screws, one for each first threaded aperture, having
- (a) a threaded upper end configured to engage threads of the first threaded apertures, and
- (b) a threaded lower end configured to screw into the hard palate of the patient,
- (iii) first fasteners, and
- (iv) an adjustable aligner configured to couple to the first bodies, and including an adjustment mechanism configured to cause the first bodies to move away from each other when the adjustable aligner is coupled to the first bodies,
- wherein the adjustable aligner may be coupled and uncoupled from the first bodies while the bone screws are inserted in the first threaded apertures and screwed into the hard palate,
- the first bodies further have second threaded apertures,
- the adjustable aligner further has third apertures, and
- the first fasteners are configured to be threadably screwed into the second threaded apertures, and received through the third apertures.
7 more elements
A method of applying forces to a maxilla of a patient with a maxillary expander, the maxillary expander comprising
- (i) first bodies, each having at least 2 first threaded apertures, and sized to be coupled intraorally to a hard palate of a patient on either side of the median palatine suture,
- (ii) bone screws, one for each first threaded aperture, having
- (a) a threaded upper end configured to engage threads of the first threaded apertures, and
- (b) a threaded lower end configured to screw into the hard palate of the patient, and
- (iii) an adjustable aligner configured to couple to the first bodies, and including an adjustment mechanism configured to cause the first bodies to move away from each other when the adjustable aligner is coupled to the first bodies,
- wherein the adjustable aligner may be coupled and uncoupled from the first bodies while the bone screws are inserted in the first threaded apertures and screwed into the hard palate,
- the method comprising:
- coupling the maxillary expander to the maxilla of the patient;
- and
- adjusting the adjustment mechanism to apply a force to the first bodies to cause movement of the first bodies relative to one another and to cause expansion of the maxilla,
- wherein the coupling comprises coupling the first bodies to opposite sides of the palatine suture.
8 more elements
A method of applying forces to a maxilla of a patient with a maxillary expander, the maxillary expander comprising
- (i) first bodies, each having at least 2 first threaded apertures, and sized to be coupled intraorally to a hard palate of a patient,
- (ii) bone screws, one for each first threaded aperture, having
- (a) a threaded upper end configured to engage threads of the first threaded apertures, and
- (b) a threaded lower end configured to screw into the hard palate of the patient, and
- (iii) an adjustable aligner configured to couple to the first bodies, and including an adjustment mechanism configured to cause the first bodies to move away from each other when the adjustable aligner is coupled to the first bodies
- the method comprising:
- coupling the maxillary expander to the maxilla of the patient;
- and
- adjusting the adjustment mechanism to apply a force to the first bodies to cause movement of the first bodies relative to one another and to cause expansion of the maxilla,
- wherein the coupling comprises coupling the first bodies to opposite sides of the palatine suture.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.