US 7,094,051 B2Granted

Orthodontic appliance

OwnerMichael O. Williamsinventor

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A mandibular and maxillary arch expansion apparatus having a first and second forward orthodontic bands and first and second rear orthodontic bands. The respective forward and rear orthodontic bands are interconnected by an expansion sheath element. The two forward bands are connected by a substantially straight, solid rod. The expansion sheaths exert lengthening forces while the solid rod resists lateral or widening forces. Also provided is a maxillary apparatus connected to a mandibular apparatus by a telescoping contraction connector. The device is positioned to exert adjustable contracting pressure for the correction of Class II malocclusions or overbite. Also provided is an arch expansion apparatus with a centrally disposed expansion element having two forward connector wires extending outwardly therefrom and two rearward connector wires extending outwardly. Each connector wire has an orthodontic band on the terminal end. The expansion element can be actuated so as to elongate the expansion element so as to exert arch expansion pressure.

Claims4

Dependent claims

An orthodontic arch expansion device, comprising:

a first forward orthodontic band;
a second forward orthodontic band;
a substantially straight connecting member between said first and second forward orthodontic bands;
a first rear orthodontic band;
a second rear orthodontic band;
a first spring loaded expansion apparatus between the first forward orthodontic band and the first rear orthodontic band;
a second spring loaded expansion apparatus between the second forward orthodontic band and the second rear orthodontic band;
said first and second expansion apparatuses each having one of a rigid hollow tube and a rigid rod connecting integrally inwardly of the first and second forward orthodontic bands, and said expansion apparatuses further including the other of a hollow tube and rod integrally connecting with the rear orthodontic bands;
a spring applied to each of the rods, and said rods extending into the hollow tubes, to provide for linear expansion between the forward and rear orthodontic bands to provide the exertion of lengthening forces upon the teeth to which the orthodontic arch expander device is applied.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 10/439,638Filed 16 May 2003 · continuation in part
Priority: 23 Apr 1998
Published: US 2003/0194675 A116 Oct 2003
Granted: 22 Aug 2006
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification3 codes

A61C 7/36
Orthodontics, i.e. obtaining or maintaining the desired position of teeth, e.g. by straightening, evening, regulating, separating, or by…: devices…
A61C 7/10
Orthodontics, i.e. obtaining or maintaining the desired position of teeth, e.g. by straightening, evening, regulating, separating, or by…: devices…
A61C
Dentistry

Family

Application09/065,344Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 23 Apr 1998
Application09/143,071Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 28 Aug 1998
Application09/406,426Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 27 Sep 1999
Application09/598,766Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 22 Jun 2000
Application09/750,527Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 29 Dec 2000
Application09/975,633Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 12 Oct 2001
Application10/186,604Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 2 Jul 2002
US 2003/0194675 A1Pre-grant publication · published 16 Oct 2003
US 6,877,982 B2Parent of this continuation-in-part
US 6,719,557 B1Parent of this continuation-in-part
US 6,520,772 B2Parent of this continuation-in-part
US 6,402,510 B1Parent of this continuation-in-part
US 6,241,517 B1Parent of this continuation-in-part
US 6,036,488 AParent of this continuation-in-part
US 5,919,042 AParent of this continuation-in-part
US 2002/0025502 A1Published application
US 2002/0031741 A1Published application
US 2002/0172909 A1Published application
US 7,094,051 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.