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US 12,765,971 B2Granted
Self-ligating orthodontic bracket
AssigneeSolventum Intellectual Properties Company
InventorMing-Lai Lai
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present disclosure provides high strength, self-ligating appliances with orthodontically desirable dimensions. The appliances of the present disclosure incorporate a door slidably engaged to a channel in the body; one that can be opened or closed depending on the equilibrium position of an integral protrusion on the door. Cooperating grooves and rails on the body and the door can guide the door between the open and closed positions and mitigate against unintentional detachment.
Claims20
An orthodontic appliance comprising:
- a base having a bonding surface,
- a body extending outwardly from the base, the body including a mesial-distally extending archwire slot having a bottom wall and an occlusal-gingivally extending channel offset from a central axis of the body,
- a mesial door support section and a distal door support section formed on the body and separated by the channel, wherein the mesial door support section has a greater volume than the distal door support section;
- a door slidably coupled to the body and moveable between an open state, in which an archwire is positionable within the archwire slot, and a closed state, in which the archwire is retained within the archwire slot,
- wherein, in the closed state, the door extends over and covers the mesial door support section and the distal door support section, and a portion of the door is positioned above a central portion of the archwire slot and above at least a portion of each of the mesial and distal door support sections, wherein the door is slidable along a direction that is oblique to the bottom wall of the archwire slot,
- wherein a lingual surface of the door includes at least one groove extending through at least a portion of an occlusal-gingival height of the door, and wherein, in the closed state, a portion of the groove is positioned over the archwire slot, and
- wherein a beam is deflectable in a direction toward a bottom of the channel to allow the door to transition between the open state and the closed state.
4 more elements
An orthodontic appliance comprising:
- a base having a bonding surface;
- a body extending outwardly from the base, the body including a mesial-distally extending archwire slot and an occlusal-gingivally extending channel offset from a central axis of the body;
- and
- a door slidably coupled to the body and movable between an open state and a closed state, wherein the door includes a strut having an occlusal leading projection, a gingival trailing projection, and a protrusion disposed between the occlusal leading projection and the gingival trailing projection, and wherein the strut is slidably received in the channel;
- wherein, in the closed state, the door extends over and covers a plurality of door support sections formed on the body, and a portion of the door is positioned above a central portion of the archwire slot and above at least a portion of the plurality of door support sections, and wherein the door is slidable along a direction that is oblique to a bottom wall of the archwire slot, and
- wherein a beam is deflectable in a direction toward a bottom of the channel to allow the door to transition between the open state and the closed state.
3 more elements
An orthodontic appliance comprising:
- a base having a bonding surface;
- a body extending outwardly from the base, the body including a mesial-distally extending archwire slot and an occlusal-gingivally extending channel offset from a central axis of the body;
- and
- a door slidably coupled to the body and movable between an open state and a closed state, wherein a lingual surface of the door includes at least one groove extending along at least a portion of an occlusal-gingival height of the door, and wherein, in the closed state, a portion of the groove is positioned over the archwire slot;
- wherein, in the closed state, the door extends over and covers a plurality of door support sections formed on the body, and a portion of the door is positioned above a central portion of the archwire slot and above at least a portion of the plurality of door support sections, and wherein the door is slidable along a direction that is oblique to a bottom wall of the archwire slot, and
- wherein a beam is deflectable in a direction toward a bottom of the channel to allow the door to transition between the open state and the closed state.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.