US 2012/0058442 A1Published application

Self-ligating orthodontic bracket and method of making same

AssigneeOrmco Corporation

InventorsTodd I. Oda, Andres Rodriguez

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Abstract

An orthodontic bracket for coupling an archwire with a tooth comprises a bracket body configured to be mounted to the tooth and a clip. A clip slot extends through the bracket body transversely to the archwire slot. Upon deflection of the clip, it contacts the bracket body at locations that were not in contact before the deflection. The clip may also have various forms and include various structures that cooperate with the body when the clip is deflected to restrict or stop the deflection. The orthodontic bracket may comprise a securing mechanism that is configured to secure the resilient ligating clip in the closed position. A method of manufacturing a shaped unsintered body for use in manufacturing an orthodontic bracket is provided. A portion of the sinterable particles may be removed using a stream of energy to yield a plurality of posts which are then deformed.

Claims30

Dependent claims

An orthodontic bracket for coupling an archwire with a tooth, comprising:

a bracket body adapted to be mounted to the tooth and including:
an archwire slot adapted to receive the archwire therein and including a base surface and two opposing side walls extending away from the base surface;
a clip slot extending through the bracket body transversely to the archwire slot;
a first body portion;
and
a second body portion opposing the first body portion and being separated therefrom by the archwire slot, one of the first body portion and the second body portion including a support surface that is open to the archwire slot;
and
a resilient ligating clip that is slidably engageable with the support surface and the clip slot, the clip comprising a first clip portion and a second clip portion that extend generally in the same direction from a third clip portion, the clip being movable relative to the bracket body between an opened position in which the archwire is insertable into the archwire slot and a closed position in which the first clip portion opposes the base surface and the third clip portion is adjacent the support surface, wherein the clip is configured to flex and contact the bracket body on the body portion that includes the support surface when the first clip portion is deflected away from the base surface.

5 more elements

An orthodontic bracket for coupling an archwire with a tooth, comprising:

a bracket body adapted to be mounted to the tooth and including an archwire slot adapted to receive the archwire therein and a clip slot extending transverse to the archwire slot through the bracket body;
a resilient ligating clip that is slidably engageable with the bracket body and including a first clip portion and a second clip portion extending generally in the same direction from a third clip portion, the resilient ligating clip being movable relative to the bracket body between an opened position in which the archwire is insertable into the archwire slot and a closed position in which the first clip portion covers the archwire slot and the second clip portion resides in the clip slot;
and
a securing mechanism configured to secure the resilient ligating clip in the closed position and including a locking member forming a portion of one of the bracket body or the second clip portion and a receiving member forming a portion of the other of the bracket body or the second clip portion, the locking member and the receiving member configured to cooperate to form an interference fit therebetween when the resilient ligating clip moves from the closed position toward the opened position.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.