Orthodontic appliance with improved precipitation hardening martensitic alloy
Assignee3M Innovative Properties Company
InventorsJohn J. Palmer, John S. Kelly, James D. Hansen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An orthodontic appliance such as a bracket or buccal tube is made of a stainless steel alloy that includes chromium, nickel and precipitates of titanium. The alloy imparts a relatively high strength to the appliance and is resistant to corrosion. Optionally, the appliance has structural sections that are smaller than corresponding sections of comparable appliances when made of conventional stainless steel alloys used in orthodontic appliances. As a consequence, the appliance is more aesthetic when mounted on a tooth of a patient undergoing treatment.
Claims9
An orthodontic appliance selected from the group consisting essentially of brackets, buccal tubes, cleats, lingual tubes, buttons, bite openers, Class II correction devices, facebows and archwires, wherein the appliance is made of an iron-based alloy that includes precipitates of titanium in an amount effective to strengthen the alloy.
An orthodontic bracket comprising:
- a base;
- a body extending from the base;
- and
- an archwire slot extending across the body, wherein the body is made of an iron-based alloy that includes precipitates of titanium in an amount effective to strengthen the alloy.
An orthodontic appliance selected from the group consisting essentially of brackets, buccal tubes, cleats, lingual tubes, buttons, bite openers, Class II correction devices, facebows and archwires, wherein the appliance includes a body consisting essentially of, in weight percent, about
- Cr 10-13 Ni 9-12 Ti 1-4 Mo 0.5-2 B <0.01 Mn <1 Si <0.5 C <0.03 N <0.03 P <0.04 S <0.02 Nb <0.5
- the balance being iron.
An orthodontic appliance selected from the group consisting essentially of brackets, buccal tubes, cleats, lingual tubes, buttons bite openers, Class II correction devices, facebows and archwires, wherein the appliance includes a body consisting essentially of, in weight percent, about
- Cr 11-12 Ni 10.5-11.5 Ti 1-2 Mo 0.5-1.5 B 0.001-0.005 Cu <1 Al <0.5 Mn <0.5 Si <0.25 C <0.02 N <0.02 P <0.02 S <0.01 Nb <0.1
- the balance being iron.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.