US 6,783,361 B2 · Orthodontic mechanical force module · patentgrep

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Abstract

The present invention is generally directed to an orthodontic mechanical force module having a jack screw whose rotation is controlled by a ratchet. In one embodiment, a pair of housings are interconnected with the patient in any appropriate manner, and are further rotatably interconnected with a rotatable spindle. At least one of these housings is also threadably engaged with the spindle. A ratchet is associated with the spindle to selectively allow the spindle to rotate only in a direction that increases a magnitude of the treatment forces being exerted on the patient by changing the spacing between the pair of housings by a movement of at least one of the housings along the spindle due to its rotation. That is, in an active position the ratchet precludes the spindle from rotating in a direction that would tend to reduce the magnitude of the treatment forces being exerted on the patient.

Claims54

Dependent claims

An orthodontic mechanical force module, comprising:

first and second housings;
a spindle that extends within and is rotatable relative to each of said first and second housings, wherein said first housing is further threadably interconnected with said spindle to move said first housing along a length dimension of said spindle by a rotation of said spindle to change a spacing between said first and second housings in a dimension measured along said length dimension of said spindle;
and
a unidirectional ratchet associated with said spindle, wherein said unidirectional ratchet controls rotation of said spindle, wherein said unidirectional ratchet comprises a ratchet wheel and a pawl, wherein said spindle comprises said ratchet wheel such that said ratchet wheel rotates along with a remainder of said spindle, wherein said pawl is at least engageable with said ratchet wheel, wherein said spindle comprises a first through hole, and wherein said pawl is disposed in at least partially overlying and spaced relation to an adjacent end of said first through hole.

1 more element

An orthodontic mechanical force module, comprising:

first and second housings;
a spindle that extends within and is rotatable relative to each of said first and second housings, wherein at least one of said first and second housings is threadably interconnected with said spindle to move said at least one of said first and second housings along a length dimension of said spindle during a rotation of said spindle to change a spacing between said first and second housings in a dimension measured along said length dimension of said spindle;
a plurality of detent apertures that are associated with said spindle, that are radially spaced about an axis along which said length dimension of said spindle extends, and that rotate along with said spindle;
a detent engageable with each of said plurality of detent apertures, wherein engagement of said detent with any of said plurality of detent apertures prevents rotation of said spindle in a first direction;
a plurality of adjustment apertures that extend at least within said spindle and that are radially spaced about said axis along which said length dimension of said spindle extends, wherein all of said plurality of adjustment apertures are located within a first region that extends completely about an entire circumference of said spindle and that extends along only a portion of said length of said spindle, wherein none of said plurality of detent apertures are located in said first region of said spindle;
and
a ratchet wheel associated and rotatable with said spindle and a pawl that is at least engageable with said ratchet wheel to prevent rotation of said ratchet wheel, and thereby said spindle, in said first direction, wherein said ratchet wheel comprises said plurality of detent apertures, wherein said pawl comprises said detent, wherein said ratchet wheel comprises first and second bosses that are spaced along said length dimension of said spindle and a plurality of notches disposed on a peripheral surface of each of said first and second bosses, wherein said plurality of notches comprises said plurality of detent apertures, and wherein said pawl is at least simultaneously engageable with one of said plurality of notches on each of said first and second bosses.

4 more elements

An orthodontic mechanical force module, comprising:

first and second housings;
a spindle that extends within and is rotatable relative to each of said first and second housings, wherein said first housing is further threadably engaged with said spindle such that said first housing moves along a length dimension of said spindle by a rotation of said spindle to change a spacing between said first and second housings in a dimension measured along said length dimension of said spindle, wherein said spindle comprises first and second bosses that are spaced along said length dimension of said spindle and that each comprise a peripheral surface, wherein said peripheral surface of each of said first and second bosses comprises a plurality of notches disposed about a reference axis along which said spindle extends in said length dimension;
a pawl assembly that comprises a pawl, wherein said pawl is simultaneously engageable with said peripheral surface of each of said first and second bosses;
and
a first guide pin that extends within each of said first and second housing, wherein said first guide pin is parallel with said spindle, and wherein said assembly is mounted on each of said spindle and said first guide pin.

2 more elements

An orthodontic mechanical force module, comprising:

first and second housings;
a spindle that extends within and is rotatable relative to each of said first and second housings, wherein said first housing is further threadably engaged with said spindle such that said first housing moves along a length dimension of said spindle by a rotation of said spindle to change a spacing between said first and second housings in a dimension measured along said length dimension of said spindle, wherein said spindle comprises a plurality of notches disposed about a reference axis along which said spindle extends in said length dimension;
a pawl assembly that comprises first and second oppositely disposed sides, a concave first recess on said first side, a concave second recess on said second side, and a pawl engageable with a portion of said spindle having said plurality of notches, wherein said spindle is received within said first recess;
and
a first guide pin that extends within each of said first and second housings, wherein said first guide pin is parallel with said spindle, and wherein said first guide pin is received within said second recess of said pawl assembly.

2 more elements

An orthodontic mechanical force module, comprising:

first and second housings;
a spindle that extends within and is rotatable to each of said first and second housings, wherein said first housing further threadably engaged with said spindle such that said first housing moves along a length dimension of said spindle by a rotation of said spindle to change a spacing between said first and second housings in a dimension measured along said length dimension of said spindle, wherein said spindle comprises first and second bosses that are spaced along said length dimension of said spindle and that each comprise a peripheral surface, wherein said peripheral surface of each of said first and second bosses comprises a plurality of notches disposed about a reference axis along which said spindle extends in said length dimension, wherein each of said plurality of notches comprises first and second planar surfaces that intersect and that are disposed in perpendicular relation to each other, and wherein said first planar surface of each said notch extends at least generally towards said reference axis;
and
a pawl simultaneously engageable with said peripheral surface of each of said first and second bosses.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.