Method and system for customizing an orthodontic archwire
AssigneeLingualcare, Inc.
InventorsRuedger Rubbert, Thomas Weise
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for applying a desired shape to an orthodontic archwire includes the steps of obtaining a numerical description of the desired shape of an orthodontic archwire, generating a description of the design of a fixture basing on the numerical description, manufacturing a fixture basing on this description of the design, constraining a wire into the fixture and applying an adequate treatment to the wire in order to cause it to adopt the shape dictated by the fixture.
Claims16
A method to permanently apply a desired non-planar shape to an orthodontic archwire, the method comprising the steps of:
- obtaining a numerical description of a desired non-planar shape of an orthodontic archwire;
- generating a description of a design of a fixture reflecting said numerical description of an orthodontic archwire;
- manufacturing a fixture based on the description of the design so that at least a portion of the fixture adapted to receive a wire has a non-planar shape;
- constraining a wire in the at least a portion of the fixture causing it to adopt a non-planar shape as dictated by the fixture;
- and
- exposing the fixture with the wire to conditions to thereby cause the wire to permanently adopt the non-planar shape as dictated by the fixture constrained therein.
A method to apply a desired non-planar shape to a plurality of orthodontic archwires having different cross-sections, the method comprising:
- obtaining a numerical description of a desired non-planar shape of an orthodontic archwire;
- generating a description of a design of a virtual fixture responsive to the numerical description, the generating including:
- obtaining largest wire cross-section to be heat-treated in the fixture,
- retrieving each coordinate system represented in the description of the design,
- obtaining length of a wire portion associated with each coordinate system,
- generating a plurality of points defining a virtual retainer for each coordinate system, and
- merging all virtual retainers from each coordinate system with adjacent retainers and a base plate to create the virtual fixture;
- supplying data defining the virtual fixture to a numerically controlled manufacturing device;
- manufacturing a fixture based on the virtual fixture so that at least a portion of the fixture adapted to receive a wire has a non-planar shape;
- manually inserting each of a plurality of wires having a different cross-section into the at least a portion of the fixture;
- exposing the fixture with each wire inserted therein to heat to thereby cause each wire to permanently adopt a shape dictated by the fixture;
- and
- removing the wire from the fixture to thereby receive a customized orthodontic archwire having a non-planar shape.
A method to apply a desired non-planar shape to an orthodontic archwire, the method comprising:
- obtaining a numerical description of a desired non-planar shape of a customized orthodontic archwire;
- generating a description of the design of a virtual fixture responsive to the numerical description;
- supplying data defining the virtual fixture to a numerically controlled manufacturing device;
- manufacturing a fixture based at least partially on the virtual fixture so that at least a portion of the fixture adapted to receive a wire has a non-planar shape;
- manually inserting wire into the at least a portion of the fixture;
- exposing the fixture with the wire inserted therein to heat;
- and
- removing the wire from the fixture to thereby receive a non-planar customized orthodontic archwire.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.