Orthodontic appliance contraction connector

A contracting connector for connection between the maxilla and the mandible for the treatment of an underbite in a subject in need of such treatment, comprising;

• a tubular body having a inner lumen, said tubular body being a telescoping tubular body;
• an anterior rod and a posterior rod slidingly engaged in the lumen, said posterior rod being attachable to the maxilla and said anterior rod being attachable to the mandible;
• and
• a spring connected between the anterior rod and posterior rod within the lumen whereby the spring exerts contracting pressure on the two rod sections.

A contracting sheath device for connecting the mandible to the maxilla to correct an underbite in a subject in need of such correction, comprising:

• an adjustable hollow sheath, said sheath having an externally threaded posterior section and an internally threaded anterior section, said anterior section threadedly engaging said posterior section whereby rotation of said anterior section in one direction lengthens the sheath and rotation in an opposite direction shortens the sheath, said sheath including an eyelet at a posterior end thereof, the eyelet being attachable to a maxillary apparatus;
• a rod slidingly engaged within the sheath, said rod having an eyelet at an anterior end thereof, the eyelet being attachable to a mandibular apparatus;
• and
• a spring coiled around said rod and extending between the posterior end of said sheath and the anterior end of said rod, said spring disposed to urge said rod rearwardly relative to said sheath, thereby exerting an underbite corrective pressure on the mandible.

A contracting sheath device for connecting the mandible to the maxilla to correct an underbite in a subject in need of such correction, comprising:

• an adjustable hollow sheath, said sheath having an externally threaded posterior section and an internally threaded anterior section, said anterior section threadedly engaging said posterior section whereby rotation of said anterior section in one direction lengthens the sheath and rotation in an opposite direction shortens the sheath;
• apparatus;
• an anterior rod slidingly engaged within the sheath and an opposed posterior rod slidingly engaged within the sheath, said anterior rod having an eyelet at an anterior end thereof attachable to a mandibular apparatus, said posterior rod having an eyelet at a posterior end thereof attachable to a maxillary apparatus;
• and
• a spring connected between said anterior and posterior rods, said spring disposed to exert a contracting pressure on said anterior rod and said posterior rod, thereby exerting an underbite corrective pressure on the maxilla and the mandible.

An orthodontic device for connecting the mandible to the maxilla to correct an underbite in a subject in need of such correction, comprising:

• a maxillary apparatus for attachment to the maxilla of the subject;
• a mandibular apparatus for attachment to the mandible of the subject;
• at least one contracting connector attached between said maxillary apparatus and said mandibular apparatus, said contracting connector including an adjustable hollow sheath, said sheath having an externally threaded posterior section and an internally threaded anterior section, said anterior section threadedly engaging said posterior section whereby rotation of said anterior portion in one direction lengthens the sheath and rotation in an opposite direction shortens the sheath, said sheath including an eyelet at a posterior end thereof, the eyelet being attachable to the maxillary apparatus;
• a rod slidingly engaged within the sheath, said rod having an eyelet at an anterior end thereof, the eyelet being attachable to the mandibular apparatus;
• and a spring coiled around said rod and extending between the posterior end of said sheath and the anterior end of said rod, said spring disposed to urge said rod posteriorly relative to said sheath, thereby exerting an underbite corrective pressure on the mandible.

An orthodontic device for connecting the mandible to the maxilla to correct an underbite in a subject in need of such correction, comprising:

• a maxillary apparatus for attachment to the maxilla of the subject;
• a mandibular apparatus for attachment to the mandible of the subject;
• at least one contracting connector attached between said maxillary apparatus and said mandibular apparatus, said contracting connector including an adjustable hollow sheath, said sheath having an externally threaded posterior section and an internally threaded anterior section, said anterior section threadedly engaging said posterior section whereby rotation of said anterior section in one direction lengthens the sheath and rotation in an opposite direction shortens the sheath;
• an anterior rod slidingly engaged within the sheath and an opposed posterior rod slidingly engaged within the sheath, said anterior rod having an eyelet at an anterior end thereof attachable to the mandibular apparatus, said posterior rod having an eyelet at a posterior end thereof attachable to the maxillary apparatus;
• and a spring connected between said anterior and posterior rods, said spring disposed to exert a contracting pressure and said anterior rod and said posterior rod, thereby exerting an underbite corrective pressure on the maxilla and the mandible.

In an orthodontic device having a maxillary apparatus, a mandibular apparatus and at least one adjustable connector between the maxillary apparatus and the mandibular apparatus, the adjustable connector including an outer hollow sheath and a spring-biased tube within the sheath, the improvement comprising:

• said outer hollow sheath having at least one opening formed therein and said inner tube having a channel formed therein extending along the outer axial length of the tube and positioned adjacent the at least one opening in the outer hollow sheath;
• and
• a locking structure engaged in said at least one opening in the outer hollow sheath, said locking structure disposed to engage said channel and secure said sheath in a desired position relative to said inner tube;
• said channel including a plurality of linerally aligned locking structure engagement openings formed therein.