# US 2010/0000069 A1 · Orthodontic bracket > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2010/0000069 A1 - Document ID: US20100000069A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 12/558,910 - Filed: 2009-09-14 - Published: 2010-01-07 - Earliest claimed: 2004-03-08 - Assignees: Ceramic Sciences Incorporated - Inventors: John C. Voudouris - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20100000069A1 ## CPC - A61C 7/287: {Sliding locks} - A61C 7/28: Securing arch wire to bracket - A61C 7/30: by resilient means; {Dispensers therefor} - B23K 26/0006: {taking account of the properties of the material involved (B23K26/32, B23K26/40 take precedence)} - B23K 26/0622: by shaping pulses - B23K 26/3584: {Increasing rugosity, i.e. roughening} - B23K 26/359: by providing a line or line pattern, e.g. a dotted break initiation line - A61C 13/0018: {using laser} - B23K 2101/06: Tubes - B23K 2103/26: {Alloys of Nickel and Cobalt and Chromium} - Y10T 29/49567: Dental appliance making - Y10T 29/49568: Orthodontic device making - Y10T 29/49888: Subsequently coating - Y10T 29/4998: Combined manufacture including applying or shaping of fluent material - Y10T 29/49982: Coating - A61C: DENTISTRY; APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR ORAL OR DENTAL HYGIENE (non-driven toothbrushes A46B; {tongue scrapers A61B17/24;} preparations for dentistry A61K6/00; preparations for cleaning the teeth or mouth A61K8/00, A61Q11/00) - B23K: SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract An orthodontic bracket comprising a body having an archwire slot and adapted to be secured to a tooth, and a clip coupled to the body and movable between an open position, permitting access to the archwire slot, and a closed position, inhibiting access to the archwire slot. The clip comprises a base material having recesses formed by laser-ablation, and a coating formed over at least a portion of the base material and over at least one of the recesses. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 1-19. (canceled) ### Claim 20 A method of making a self-ligating orthodontic bracket, the method comprising: creating a body having an archwire slot and adapted to be secured to a tooth; creating a clip including creating a clip base for the clip from a base material, creating recesses on the base material of the clip base using laser ablation, after creating recesses, applying a coating to at least a portion of the base material of the clip base to cover at least one of the recesses to create a coated clip; and attaching the coated clip to the body, the coated clip being movable relative to the body between a closed position, in which the coated clip covers the archwire slot, and an open position, in which the coated clip allows access to the archwire slot. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, wherein the base material of the clip base has a surface, the recesses being formed on the surface of base material of the clip base, and wherein creating recesses includes creating at least one of the recesses having an axis oriented at a non-normal angle with respect to the surface of the base material of the clip base to form an undercut in the surface of the base material of the clip base. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, wherein creating recesses includes creating at least one of the recesses having an axis oriented at about 45 degrees with respect to the surface of the base material of the clip base. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, wherein creating recesses includes creating a first group of recesses each having an axis oriented at a first angle with respect to the surface of the base material of the clip base and creating a second group of recesses each having an axis oriented at a second angle with respect to the surface of the base material of the clip base, the first angle being different than the second angle. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The method of claim 23, wherein creating recesses includes arranging the first group on a first portion of the surface of the base material of the clip base and the second group on a different second portion of the surface of the base material of the clip base, the first portion being adjacent to the second portion. ### Claim 25 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, wherein creating recesses includes directing a plurality of laser shots on at least one location on the base material of the clip base to form at least an associated one of the recesses. ### Claim 26 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, wherein the base material of the clip base has a surface, the recesses being formed on the surface of the base material of the clip base, and wherein creating recesses includes creating at least one crater on the surface of the base material of the clip base, creating at least one crater including depositing material from an associated recess onto the surface of the base material of the clip base adjacent the associated recess. ### Claim 27 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, wherein applying a coating includes applying a coating comprises a material selected from the group consisting of porcelain, epoxy, enamel, and hydroxyappatite. ### Claim 28 A method of making a clip for a self-ligating orthodontic bracket, the method comprising: creating a clip base from a base material; creating recesses on the base material of the clip base using laser ablation, wherein creating recesses includes directing a plurality of laser shots on an associated location on the base material of the clip base to form each of the recesses; and after creating recesses, applying a coating to at least a portion of the base material of the clip base to cover at least one of the recesses to create a coated clip. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The method of claim 28, wherein the base material of the clip base has a surface, the recesses being formed on the surface of the base material of the clip base, and wherein creating recesses includes creating at least one of the recesses having an axis oriented at a non-normal angle with respect to the surface of the base material of the clip base to form an undercut in the surface of the base material of the clip base. ### Claim 30 (depends on 28) The method of claim 28, wherein creating recesses includes creating a first group of recesses each having an axis oriented at a first angle with respect to the surface of the base material of the clip base and creating a second group of recesses each having an axis oriented at a second angle with respect to the surface of the base material of the clip base, the first angle being different than the second angle. ### Claim 31 (depends on 28) The method of claim 28, wherein the base material of the clip base has a surface, the recesses being formed on the surface of the base material of the clip base, and wherein creating recesses includes creating at least one crater on the surface of the base material of the clip base, creating at least one crater including depositing material from an associated recess onto the surface of the base material of the clip base adjacent the associated recess. ### Claim 32 (depends on 28) The method of claim 28, wherein applying a coating includes applying a coating comprises a material selected from the group consisting of porcelain, epoxy, enamel, and hydroxyappatite. ### Claim 33 (depends on 29) The method of claim 29, wherein creating recesses includes creating at least one of the recesses having an axis oriented at about 45 degrees with respect to the surface of the base material of the clip base. ### Claim 34 (depends on 30) The method of claim 30, wherein at least one of creating a first group and creating a second group includes creating the first group adjacent to the second group. ### Claim 35 A method of making a self-ligating orthodontic bracket, the method comprising: creating a body having an archwire slot and adapted to be secured to a tooth; creating a clip including creating a clip base for the clip from a base material, the base material having a surface, creating recesses on the surface of the base material of the clip base using laser ablation, creating recesses including creating a first group of recesses each having an axis oriented at a first angle with respect to the surface of the base material of the clip base and creating a second group of recesses each having an axis oriented at a second angle with respect to the surface of the base material of the clip base, the first angle being different than the second angle, after creating recesses, applying a coating to at least a portion of the base material of the clip base to cover at least one of the recesses to create a coated clip; and attaching the coated clip to the body, the coated clip being movable relative to the body between a closed position, in which the coated clip covers the archwire slot, and an open position, in which the coated clip allows access to the archwire slot.