Back to results
US 5,312,247 AGranted
Transpalatal orthodontic appliance of superelastic or shape-memory alloy
AssigneeOrmco Corporation
InventorsRohit C. L. Sachdeva, Farrokh Farzin-Nia
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Transpalatal orthodontic appliances are disclosed which utilize a shape-memory or superelastic alloy member as the force-supplying member of the device. Suitable alloys include the nickel-titanium (NiTi) alloys, the titanium-molybdenum alloys (TMA), and any other alloy composition which possesses superelastic or shape-memory characteristics. The alloy composition may preferably have a working rang of at least about 30% and a modulus of elasticity not exceeding about 15.times.10.sup.6 psi.
Claims29
A transpalatal orthodontic appliance comprising:
- a transpalatal force-supplying member of shape-memory or superelastic alloy having a substantially longitudinal axis and including a pair of terminal ends for connection to corresponding opposed teeth in a dental arch of a patient, said member having a predetermined activation temperature and a predetermined configuration, said member transforming to said predetermined configuration upon activation, wherein said member comprises means for exerting during transformation substantially constant corrective forces on said teeth in a dental arch along said longitudinal axis of said member.
A transpalatal orthodontic appliance comprising:
- first and second transpalatal force-supplying members of shape-memory or superelastic alloy, each member having a substantially longitudinal axis and including a pair of terminal ends for connection to corresponding opposed teeth in a dental arch of a patient, each said member having a predetermined activation temperature and a predetermined configuration, said members transforming to said predetermined configuration upon activation, wherein substantially constant corrective forces along its respective longitudinal axis and on said teeth in a dental arch.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.