Not Applicable.
Not Applicable.
Not Applicable.
The present invention relates generally to orthodontic appliances. More particularly, the present invention is directed to prefabricated adjustable appliances used for applying corrective forces to malpositioned teeth.
The characteristics of various orthodontic devices and their overall effectiveness during specific types of tooth movement are of major importance for the success of orthodontic treatment and the stability of the patient's end result. There is a long history of specific devices used for certain types of correction. One example of a corrective device is the headgear device which is designed and used to push the maxilla and the maxillary dentition posteriorly, without imparting extrusive or intrusive forces to the teeth.
Many orthodontists have advocated early headgear treatment to guide the growth of the maxilla and to provide certain limited forces to move teeth. Oftentimes the orthodontist's goals are to distalize the maxillary teeth into a correct relationship with the mandibular teeth. Unfortunately, when headgear is utilized, the patient's teeth often tip instead of moving bodily. To overcome this undesired movement, doctors often use a combination of extraoral and intraoral devices and mechanics to achieve the desired motion or movement of particular malpositioned teeth.
Despite the effectiveness of these known appliances in moving posterior teeth, they can often produce less than ideal results. Other types of orthodontic devices for correcting the relative position of the teeth of a dental arch are also known in the field. Unfortunately, it is difficult to move teeth with these devices because reciprocal forces can cause undesirable tooth movement. Therefore, implants, commonly known as temporary anchorage devices, have recently been used to eliminate the reciprocal forces. However, current implant-based devices necessarily require extensive lab time for fabrication of the appliances. Each device must be custom fabricated for the particular patient and application. Still other implants do not allow the fabrication of appliances at all. Therefore, it would be advantageous to provide an adjustable auxiliary device effective for moving posterior teeth such as molars in movements such as extrusion, intrusion, retraction, protraction, and/or distalization that is simple to use and install and allows for multiple exertion members to be simultaneously attached. The present invention disclosed below meets and surpasses such needs with one simple device.
The following description and the annexed drawings set forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention. These embodiments are indicative of but a few of the various ways in which the principles of the invention may be employed. There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated.
The present invention discloses an auxiliary force exertion device for anchoring to a patient's principal maxillary or mandibular bone by use of temporary anchorage devices, or other suitable means, for applying corrective forces for intrusion, extrusion, retraction, protraction, and/or distalization movement positioning to at least malpositioned first and/or second molars, or other malpositioned teeth.
Embodiments of the auxiliary device comprise a prefabricated length-adjustable configuration comprising a rod having a first anchor attachment portion proximate to an end of a rod and a separate tube having a second anchor attachment portion proximate to an end of the tube.
It should be understood that any one of the features of the invention may be used separately or in combination with other features. It should be understood that features which have not been mentioned herein may be used in combination with one or more of the features mentioned herein. Other systems, methods, features, and advantages of the present invention will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the present invention, and be protected by the accompanying claims.
The foregoing summary as well as the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown herein. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present invention. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.
The following discussion is presented to enable a person skilled in the art to make and use the invention. The general principles described herein may be applied to embodiments and applications other than those detailed herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims. Therefore, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and features disclosed herein.
As an introduction to the present invention, the context of the following discussion is primarily one in which reference is made to various embodiments of an auxiliary device anchored to a patient's principal maxillary bone by use of a temporary anchorage device that is utilized for applying corrective extrusive, intrusive, retractive, protractive, and/or distalization forces and movement positioning to malpositioned teeth, such as the depicted first and second molars.
Furthermore, the present invention is directed toward prefabricated appliance components that may be assembled shortly before use, allowing assembly while the patient is in the chair. Therefore, the disclosed implant and orthodontic appliances may be connected without the necessity of lab time while still facilitating a variety of tooth movements. Embodiments of the disclosed invention also provide a spring loaded rod and piston molar distalizer, a rod and piston reversibly attachable intruder, a rod and piston reversibly attachable extruder, and a rod and piston reversibly attachable mandibular advancer.
Referring now to the drawings and initially to
The component cap 80 and implant 70 are more clearly depicted in
However, a person having ordinary skill in the art would instantly recognize that the present invention is not limited to the anchorage/attachment combination disclosed herein. Other types of anchorage devices and complementary attachment portions may be utilized with only minimal effort and are fully contemplated by the present invention. Therefore, the present invention contemplates the use of all accommodating future implant devices for use with the present invention.
With further reference to
As shown in the embodiment of the device 10 of
With specific reference now to
To accommodate attachment of the force retraction member 100 to a particular tooth, such as the depicted first molar 90 or second molar 85, a device such as a metal band 120 or metal bracket 125 may be utilized. For the embodiment depicted in
To permit and encourage corresponding intrusive movement of two or more teeth when coupled to the adjustable auxiliary device 10, a removable, semi-rigid archwire 170 may be interposed and connected between two teeth, as shown between metal band 120 of the first molar 90 and metal bracket 125 of the second molar 85. The archwire 170 may facilitate the desired tooth movement by moving the two or more teeth in parallel.
Using the disclosed methods and apparatus, embodiments of the present invention may be utilized to provide intrusion of as little as 1 mm or 2 mm up to a maximum of 20 mm to 25 mm. However, an average intrusion of approximately 3 mm to 6 mm is anticipated to be the most commonly desired displacement to correct a malpositioned tooth, such as first molar 90 or second molar 85.
In operation the adjustable auxiliary device 10 may be generally installed in a series of basic, common steps. First, one or more implants 70 are surgically placed in the maxillary jaw bone 130 superior and in close proximity to the teeth to be intruded. The prefabricated components, the tube 20 and the rod 25, are individually placed onto the corresponding implants 70. In the depicted embodiments, the integral component caps 80 are secured onto the respective implants 70, but other means of securing the components onto the implants 70 are contemplated. The tube 20 and rod 25 are aligned to be in close proximity and generally parallel to one another. This arrangement allows the tube 20 and rod 25 to be individually marked with respect to the complementary part. Thus, both the tube 20 and the rod 25 may be marked to allow each component to be cut short of the opposite implant 70 by approximately 3 mm. The cutting of the tube 20 and the rod 25 may be done before or after removal of the two components from their respective implants 70. After removal and cutting, the prefabricated components, tube 20 and rod 25, may be assembled by inserting the rod 25 into the tube 20 to form the adjustable auxiliary device 10. Thereafter, the assembled adjustable auxiliary device 10 may be reversably coupled, as a unit, to the two implants 70. After installation of the adjustable auxiliary device 10, force retraction members 100 may be placed in position between a force attachment prong 60 of the adjustable auxiliary device 10 and the hook projection member 110 of a metal band 120 or metal bracket 125 secured on particular tooth, such as a first molar 90 or second molar 85.
Now turning to
The primary difference between the combination intrusive/extrusive auxiliary device 15 may further comprise one or more sleeves, such as the depicted first sleeve 140 and second sleeve 145 of
The first sleeve 140 and the second sleeve 145 are generally comprised from a material such as stainless steel, titanium, titanium alloy, NiTi alloy, rubber, plastic, nylon, or carbon fiber with stainless steel being the preferable material. Each sleeve 140, 145 will generally have a substantially hollow body to enclose a portion of a force application member 155. In the depicted embodiment, the force application member 155 is a coil spring 150 in combination with a metal piston 160 providing vertical translational movement when attached to one or more teeth of the patient. However, the present embodiment contemplates other vertical translational extrusive devices without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. As with the embodiment of
The combination intrusive/extrusive auxiliary device 15 depicted in
Using the methods and apparatus disclosed with reference to
As with the adjustable auxiliary device 10 of earlier figures, combination intrusive/extrusive auxiliary device 15 depicted in
After installation of the combination intrusive/extrusive auxiliary device 15, the force application member 155 may be placed into the first sleeve 140 and second sleeve 145. For the depicted force application member 155, a combination of a coil spring 150 and a metal piston 160, the force application member 155 is placed into the respective sleeve 140, 145 and compressed superiorly and reversibly attached to the particular tooth. In particular, this is accomplished in the depicted embodiment of
Although not depicted in the appended figures, it is contemplated that in certain instances, a single combination intrusive/extrusive auxiliary device 15 may be utilized to provide intrusive forces to one particular tooth while providing extrusive forces to another tooth. A person having ordinary skill in the art would instantly recognize that this may be accomplished by providing a single sleeve, such as first sleeve 145, and force application member 155 for providing extrusive forces to the second molar 85. At the same time a force retraction member 100 may be coupled to the first molar 90, as in
Now turning to
As further shown in
The tubular conduit 21 has an approximate 90-degree bend 24. Therefore, an extension arm 23 is defined by the tubular conduit 21. In particular, the extension arm 23 extends away from the 90-degree bend 24. The distal end of the extension arm 23 is provided with at least one, and preferably two tooth interface pins 61A and 61B.
The 90-degree bend 24 allows the anteroposterior force adjustable device 16 to be maintained in a generally horizontal position when clinically installed. This permits the maximum posterior forces to be applied to one or more teeth attached to the device 16. In operation, the pins 61A and 61B are interfaced with the tooth requiring posterior movement by inserting or attaching the pins 61A and 61B to a metal band 120 or metal bracket 125 as depicted in
Upon insertion of an implant 70 into the maxillary bone 130, or other desired location of the patient, the orthodontist may attach the component cap 80 to the implant 70 and insert pins 61A and 61B into a metal band 120 or metal bracket 125. As a result, over time, the force exerted by the force application member 150 against the cylindrical conduit 21 causes a generally posterior movement of the attached teeth. The depicted embodiment contemplates a range of posterior displacement ranging from as little as 1 mm up to a maximum of 50 mm with an average displacement of 7 mm.
Now turning to
Specifically, adjustable and articulable auxiliary device 17 comprises a first anchor attachment portion 40 at one end of a rod 25. In this particular embodiment, the first anchor attachment portion is embodied in a key-hole configuration 82. In particular, the larger opening of the key-hole configuration 82 enables the upper ball of an implant 70 (depicted in
As further shown in
The cooperating assembly 22 further comprises an articulable hook device 64 hingeably engaged by hinge joint 200 with an end abutment device 158. The articulable hook device 64 comprises at least one, preferably two, tooth coupling tabs 62 and 63. The coupling tabs 62 and 63 are integrally designed as part of the articulable hook device 64 and extend away from the articulable hook device 64 in generally arcuate bifurcations and extend in a direction that is substantially opposite in direction as the first anchor attachment portion 40. It is also contemplated that the present invention may utilize a transverse hinge to provide for additional configuration options. In view of the present disclosure, a person having ordinary skill in the art would instantly appreciate the advantages provided by a transverse hinge. Therefore, it is within the scope and spirit of the present invention to use such hinges.
In operation, the tooth coupling tabs 62 and 63 are interfaced with the tooth requiring posterior and/or rotational movement by inserting or attaching the tabs 62 and 63 to a metal band 120 or metal bracket 125 on a patient's tooth, as described with respect to other embodiments. The metal band 120 and metal bracket 125 described are similar to the types utilized in the previous embodiments. However, one skilled in the art will understand that any type, style, or design of band or bracket or other attachable device can be utilized with the tabs 62 and 63 of the present invention without departing from the scope and spirit thereof.
Upon insertion of the implant 70 into the maxillary bone 130, or other desired location of the patient, the orthodontist simply attaches cap 80 of the adjustable and articulable auxiliary device 17 to the implant 70 and inserts tabs 62 and 63 into the metal band 120 or metal bracket 125 as desired. As a result, over time, the force exerted by the force application member 150 against the end 154 of the cooperating assembly 22 causes a generally posterior and/or rotational movement of the attached teeth. The present invention contemplates posterior displacement in the range of approximately 1 mm to approximately 50 mm with an expected average displacement of approximately 7 mm.
The above disclosure provides for adjustable auxiliary devise for exerting extrusive, intrusive, retractive, protracive, and/or distalization forces upon malpositioned molars or other teeth. Such specific design that provides adjustable custom fitting and movement forces is not available in today's market. The present invention meets that need and contemplates future technological advancements that allow other improvements and functionality thereto. In addition, although the present invention is described in connection and use orthodontic dentistry, the inventor of the present invention contemplates that such applications are unlimited and are covered by the present disclosure.
Although the invention has been shown and described with respect to a certain preferred embodiment or embodiments, it is obvious that equivalent alterations and modifications will occur to others skilled in the art upon the reading and understanding of this specification and the annexed drawings. In particular regard to the various functions performed by the above described components (devices, etc.), the terms (including a reference to a “means”) used to describe such components are intended to correspond, unless otherwise indicated, to any component which performs the specified function of the described component (i.e., that is functionally equivalent), even though not structurally equivalent to the disclosed structure which performs the function in the herein illustrated exemplary embodiments of the invention.