# US 2019/0167385 A1 · Orthodontic system and device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0167385 A1 - Document ID: US20190167385A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/314,070 - Filed: 2017-07-07 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Earliest claimed: 2016-07-07 - Assignees: New York University - Applicants: New York University - Inventors: Mani Alikhani; Cristina Teixeira; Serafim Oliveira; Chinapa Sangsuwon - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190167385A1 ## CPC - A61C 7/14: Brackets (A61C7/28 takes precedence); Fixing brackets to teeth - A61C 7/008: {using vibrating means} - A61C 7/22: Tension adjusting means - A61C 7/28: Securing arch wire to bracket - A61C 7/30: by resilient means; {Dispensers therefor} - F16H 19/04: comprising a rack - 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) - F16H: GEARING ## Abstract An orthodontic device and, in particular, an orthodontic bracket that is slidable along a wire without external forces is provided. The device may include a first and second gear, each of which are independently movable between a locked position in which the gear is prevented from rotation, and a released configuration in which the gear extends into the channel to engage a wire received within the channel and is rotatable to move the device along the wire. The first gear may be rotatable to move the device in a first direction while the second gear may be rotatable to move the device in a second direction opposite the first direction. Thus, the first and second gears have the ability to move along the wire in short or long distances, as desired. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An orthodontic device for imparting a force in a mesial-distal direction of a tooth, comprising: a body portion having a channel extending therethrough from a first end to a second end, the channel being configured to slidably receive an archwire therein; a first gear coupled to the body portion, the first gear being movable between a first locked configuration in which the first gear is prevented from rotation, and a first released configuration in which the first gear engages an archwire received within the channel and is rotatable to move the device along the wire in a first direction; and a second gear coupled to the body portion, the second gear being movable between a second locked configuration in which the second gear is prevented from rotation, and a second released configuration in which the second gear engages an archwire received within the channel and is rotatable to move the device along the wire in a second direction opposite the first direction, wherein the first gear is biased towards the first released configuration, and the second gear is biased towards the second released configuration. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The orthodontic device of claim 1, further comprising a base portion configured to be attached to a surface of a tooth, wherein the body portion is removably attachable to the base portion. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The orthodontic device of claim 1, wherein the device is reversibly attachable to the archwire between a first orthodontic bracket attached to a first tooth and a second orthodontic bracket attached to a second tooth adjacent to the first tooth. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The orthodontic device of claim 1, further comprising a first biasing element biasing the first gear towards the first released configuration. ### Claim 5 (canceled) ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The orthodontic device of claim 4, wherein the first biasing element is compressed when the first gear is in the first locked position such that release of the first biasing element imparts a first force to rotate the first gear in the first direction. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The orthodontic device of claim 4, further comprising a first locking lever pivotally movable between a first locking position in which the first locking lever compresses the first biasing element and a first release position in which the first locking lever is pivoted away from the first biasing element. ### Claim 8 (depends on 4) The orthodontic device of claim 4, further comprising a second biasing element biasing the second gear towards the second released configuration. ### Claim 9 (canceled) ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The orthodontic device of claim 8, wherein the second biasing element is compressed when the second gear is in the second locked position such that release of the second biasing element imparts a second force to rotate the second gear in the second direction. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The orthodontic device of claim 8, further comprising: a first locking lever pivotally movable between a first locking position in which the first locking lever compresses the first biasing element and a first release position in which the first locking lever is pivoted away from the first biasing element; and a second locking lever pivotally movable between a second locking position in which the second locking lever compresses the second biasing element and a second release position in which the second locking lever is pivoted away from the second biasing element. ### Claim 12 An orthodontic system comprising: an archwire; a device having a channel extending from a first end to a second end therethrough, the channel configured to slidably receive an archwire therethrough; a first gear coupled to the device, the first gear being movable between a first locked configuration in which the first gear is prevented from rotation, and a first released configuration in which the first gear engages the archwire received within the channel and is rotatable to move the device along the wire in a first direction; and a second gear coupled to the device, the second gear being movable between a second locked configuration in which the second gear is prevented from rotation, and a second released configuration in which the second gear engages an archwire received within the channel and is rotatable to move the device along the wire in a second direction opposite the first direction. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The orthodontic system of claim 12, further comprising a first spring biasing the first gear towards the first released configuration. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The orthodontic system of claim 13, wherein the first spring is compressed when the first gear is in the first locked position such that release of the first spring imparts a first force to rotate the first gear in the first direction. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The orthodontic system of claim 13, further comprising a first locking lever pivotally movable between a first locking position in which the first locking lever compresses the first spring and a first release position in which the first locking lever is pivoted away from the first spring. ### Claim 16 (canceled) ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The orthodontic system of claim 12, wherein the archwire has a circular or rectangular cross-sectional shape. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The orthodontic system of claim 12, wherein at least a portion of the archwire is corrugated. ### Claim 19 (canceled) ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The orthodontic system of claim 18, wherein the corrugation includes a plurality of grooves around a cross-section of the archwire. ### Claim 21 (depends on 18) The orthodontic system of claim 18, wherein the corrugation includes a plurality of grooves extending half of a cross-section circumference of the archwire. ### Claim 22 (depends on 12) The orthodontic system of claim 12, further comprising: a first orthodontic bracket attached to a first tooth, and a second orthodontic bracket attached to a second tooth adjacent to the first tooth, wherein the device is reversibly attachable to the archwire between the first and second orthodontic brackets. ### Claim 23 (depends on 12) The orthodontic system of claim 12, wherein the device is an orthodontic bracket. ### Claim 24 An orthodontic device comprising: a body portion having a channel extending therethrough from a first end to a second end, the channel being configured to slidably receive an archwire therein; a first gear coupled to the body portion, the first gear being movable between a first locked configuration in which the first gear is prevented from rotation, and a first released configuration in which the first gear engages an archwire received within the channel and is rotatable to move the device along the wire in a first direction; a second gear coupled to the body portion, the second gear being movable between a second locked configuration in which the second gear is prevented from rotation, and a second released configuration in which the second gear engages an archwire received within the channel and is rotatable to move the device along the wire in a second direction opposite the first direction; a first biasing element biasing the first gear towards the first released configuration; and a second biasing element biasing the second gear towards the second released configuration.