Notched cutting pliers and method of making a shell-like dental appliance

Abstract

The application provides a slot shearing pliers for shearing a slot on a shell-shaped tooth appliance, comprising a first plier body and a second plier body which are hinged, wherein the first plier body comprises a first plier head and a first plier handle, the second plier body comprises a second plier head and a second plier handle, the first plier head is provided with a slotting cutter which protrudes towards the second plier head, the second plier head is provided with an empty slot, the slotting cutter and the empty slot are matched with each other at a predetermined position to complete the shearing of the slot; the slot shearing pliers further comprise a damage prevention device which is arranged on the first plier handle and / or the second plier handle, the gap between the first plier head and the second plier head when they are closed can be adjusted according to the thickness of the appliance to be sheared; when the slotting cutter and the empty slot are matched to shear the slot, the inner surface of the first plier head and the inner surface of the second plier head are prevented from contacting the shell-shaped tooth appliance to be sheared and damaging the shell-shaped tooth appliance to be sheared. The application further provides a method for manufacturing a shell-shaped tooth appliance with the slot by using the slot shearing pliers.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of orthodontic technology, and particularly relates to the manufacturing technology of shell-shaped orthodontic appliances, and more specifically to the method of manufacturing a slotted cutting forceps and a shell-shaped orthodontic appliance. Background Technology

[0002] With the development and maturation of invisible orthodontic technology, and its advantages over traditional fixed braces, such as aesthetics, comfort, and ease of removal, the use of shell-shaped orthodontic appliances for orthodontic treatment is becoming increasingly popular among patients. Current shell-shaped orthodontic appliances are removable aligners made from special polymer transparent films through thermoforming or direct 3D printing. In the treatment plan, a virtual treatment plan is designed based on the patient's intraoral condition. Then, based on this virtual plan, a shell-shaped orthodontic appliance is fabricated that repositions the teeth from a first layout to a second layout. The fabricated shell-shaped appliance is a series of polymer shell-shaped instruments that gradually adjust the tooth layout. When the patient wears the shell-shaped appliance, it allows the teeth to be rearranged and gradually change to the target orthodontic position.

[0003] However, in the process of orthodontic treatment using shell-shaped orthodontic appliances, it is often necessary to use other auxiliary tools in conjunction with the treatment. For example, when the teeth need traction force, traction is usually achieved by using traction hooks. This is done by cutting slots (including open and closed slots) on the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance and then attaching traction hooks to the tooth surface. Using this method requires cutting the slots at the locations where the traction hooks need to be set, and the size of the slots needs to expose the traction hooks; or directly cutting open slots to use as traction hooks.

[0004] Cutting notches on shell-shaped orthodontic appliances is a challenging process due to their small size. It requires skilled operators, as the inner surfaces of the two jaws of the cutting forceps come into direct contact with the inner and outer surfaces of the appliance. Because the polymer materials used to manufacture these appliances have elastic deformation properties, this contact can lead to two undesirable outcomes: First, excessive force can damage the appliance, causing breakage or cracking, rendering it unusable and requiring remanufacturing. This wastes resources and time. Second, remanufacturing increases patient waiting time, negatively impacts the experience, and may even delay treatment, affecting the overall outcome. In another scenario, although the contact does not cause the orthodontic appliance to crack or break, the force exerted by the inner surfaces of the two forceps on the inner and outer surfaces of the appliance can cause elastic deformation at the contact points between the forceps and the appliance. This can result in burrs and severe wear around the grooves, leading to substandard quality of the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance and increasing production costs.

[0005] Therefore, it is of great significance to study a new type of slotted cutting pliers that can solve the above-mentioned technical problems. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The technical problem solved by the present invention is to overcome the defects of the prior art and to provide a slotted cutting forceps for limiting cutting that can be adjusted according to the thickness of the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance to be cut, and a method for manufacturing the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance.

[0007] The technical solution of this invention is as follows:

[0008] A slot-cutting pliers for cutting slots in a shell-shaped orthodontic appliance includes a hinged first pliers body and a second pliers body. The first pliers body includes a first pliers head and a first pliers handle, and the second pliers body includes a second pliers head and a second pliers handle. The first pliers head has a slotting blade protruding towards the second pliers head, and the second pliers head has a slot. The slotting blade and the slot engage at a predetermined position to cut the slot. The slot-cutting pliers include an anti-damage device disposed on the first pliers handle and / or the second pliers handle. The anti-damage device adjusts the gap between the first pliers head and the second pliers head when closed according to the thickness of the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance to be cut. The gap prevents damage to the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance when the inner surfaces of the first pliers head and the second pliers head come into contact with it during the cutting process.

[0009] More preferably, the anti-vandalism device includes a protrusion disposed on the first pliers handle and / or the second pliers handle. When the slotted blade and the open end cooperate to cut the slot, the protrusion restricts the relative movement distance between the first pliers head and the second pliers head.

[0010] More preferably, the size of the protrusion is such that when the cutting tool and the hollow part cooperate to cut the groove, the inner surface of the first or second pliers head does not contact the surface of the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance.

[0011] More preferably, the slotted cutting pliers further includes a release part, which is disposed around the slotted edge of the first pliers head. One side of the release part is disposed adjacent to the inner surface of the first pliers head, and the other side of the release part is disposed facing the inner surface of the second pliers head.

[0012] More preferably, the slow-release portion is a gel layer coated on the inner surface of the first pliers head adjacent to the periphery of the slotted blade, or a slow-release pad made of elastic material sleeved around the periphery of the slotted blade.

[0013] More preferably, the size of the protrusion satisfies the requirement that when the slotting cutter and the hollow part cooperate to cut the slot, the inner surfaces of the first and second pliers make contact with the surface of the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance without causing elastic deformation of the corresponding contact portion of the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance.

[0014] More preferably, the protrusion includes a limiting part and a fixing part. The protrusion is connected to the mounting part of the first clamp handle and / or the second clamp handle through the fixing part. The limiting part is located between the first clamp handle and the second clamp handle and is used to limit the distance of relative movement between the first clamp handle and the second clamp handle.

[0015] More preferably, the anti-vandalism device includes a limiting bolt, and a mounting hole is provided on the first or second pliers corresponding to the mounting position of the protrusion. The screw portion of the limiting bolt passes through the mounting hole and protrudes from the inner surface of the first or second pliers to form the limiting portion. The part of the screw that connects to the mounting hole is the fixing portion.

[0016] More preferably, the anti-vandalism device further includes a locking nut, which cooperates with the limiting bolt to lock the limiting bolt onto the first or second clamp handle.

[0017] More preferably, the limiting dimension of the limiting part is adjusted by screwing in or out the limiting bolt.

[0018] More preferably, the limiting bolt is provided with a scale mark for identifying the limiting type. The limiting type is set according to the thickness of the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance, and the limiting type is marked by screwing the limiting bolt in or out.

[0019] Further preferably, the slotted cutting pliers according to claim 7 are characterized in that: the mounting part includes a mounting hole disposed on the inner surface of the first pliers handle and / or the inner surface of the second pliers handle, the protrusions are multiple, wherein each protrusion has a limiting part of a length specification, and the protrusions are detachably connected to the mounting hole through the fixing part.

[0020] More preferably, the mounting portion includes a plurality of mounting holes, which are arranged sequentially along the inner surface of the first pliers handle and / or the inner surface of the second pliers handle in the length direction. The length of the limiting portion of the protrusion is a fixed length, and the protrusion is detachably connected to one of the mounting holes through the fixing portion.

[0021] More preferably, the mounting portion includes a plurality of mounting holes, which are sequentially arranged along the inner surface of the first pliers handle and / or the inner surface of the second pliers handle in the length direction. There are a plurality of protrusions, wherein each protrusion has a limiting portion of a certain length specification. The position of the mounting hole corresponds one-to-one with the protrusion with the limiting portion of the different length specifications. The protrusion is detachably connected to the mounting hole corresponding to the protrusion through the fixing portion.

[0022] More preferably, the length of the limiting portion is designed based on the limiting distance parameter, the thickness of the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance, and the installation position of the protrusion.

[0023] More preferably, when the position of the mounting hole remains unchanged, the length of the limiting portion decreases as the thickness of the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance increases.

[0024] More preferably, when the position of the mounting hole changes, the length of the limiting part remains unchanged when the change in the position of the mounting hole adapts to the change in the distance between the limiting part and the opposite pliers after the protrusion is installed and the change in the thickness of the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance.

[0025] More preferably, when the position of the mounting hole changes, if the increase in the distance between the limiting part and the opposite pliers after the protrusion is installed is greater than the increase in the thickness of the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance, the length of the limiting part increases; conversely, the length of the limiting part decreases. In this case, a one-to-one correspondence is formed between the protrusion and the mounting position.

[0026] More preferably, the fixing part is slidably connected and fixed to the mounting part provided on the first clamp handle and / or the second clamp handle, and the fixing part can slide along a preset track on the mounting part between a number of fixed connection positions to achieve different limit size adjustments.

[0027] More preferably, the slotted cutting forceps is further provided with a positioning part for assisting in adjusting the position of the slot. The positioning part includes a support surface for supporting the edge of the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance. The positioning part is disposed on the second forceps head and is located below the end of the opening away from the second forceps handle.

[0028] More preferably, when the positioning part is disposed between the upper and lower ends of the second clamp head along the opening, the positioning part is disposed on the left and / or right side of the opening.

[0029] More preferably, when the positioning part is disposed below the opening, the positioning part is disposed adjacent to or near the lower end of the opening.

[0030] More preferably, the positioning part is slidably connected to the second jaw, and the positioning part can slide along a preset slide rail on the second jaw between several fixed connection positions to achieve different positioning size adjustments.

[0031] More preferably, the positioning part further includes a buffer part, the lower surface of the buffer part is disposed adjacent to the support surface of the positioning part, and the upper surface of the buffer part is disposed facing the top of the second clamp head.

[0032] More preferably, the buffer portion is a buffer pad made of elastic material disposed on the support surface of the positioning portion.

[0033] More preferably, the buffer pad is a gel layer coated on the support surface of the positioning part.

[0034] More preferably, the slotted cutting pliers further includes a receiving groove disposed on the first pliers head and corresponding to the positioning part. When the cutting pliers cut the slot, the positioning part is at least partially received in the receiving groove to avoid interference between the positioning part and the first pliers head during cutting.

[0035] More preferably, the opening includes a shearing hole and an outlet hole disposed adjacent to the shearing hole, wherein the shearing hole is disposed adjacent to the jaw side, and the minimum dimension of any cross section of the outlet hole perpendicular to the shearing direction is greater than or equal to the maximum dimension of any cross section of the shearing hole perpendicular to the shearing direction.

[0036] More preferably, the height of the groove cutter along the shearing direction is 1.5 to 2.5 times the thickness of the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance diaphragm to be sheared, and the minimum dimension of the depth of the opening along the shearing direction is greater than or equal to the height dimension of the groove cutter.

[0037] More preferably, the minimum dimension of the depth of the opening along the shearing direction is 2.0 to 3.0 times the thickness of the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance to be sheared.

[0038] More preferably, the distance from the top of the upper edge of the opening to the top of the second clamp head in a direction perpendicular to the cutting direction is 0.6 mm to 1 mm.

[0039] More preferably, the length of the grooved blade in the direction perpendicular to the shearing direction is 3.0 mm to 4.0 mm.

[0040] More preferably, the cutting surface of the grooved blade includes a large end and a small end, and the overall shape is roughly "teardrop-shaped".

[0041] More preferably, the contour shape of the shearing surface of the slotted blade matches the contour shape of the slot, which has the following geometry: when used as a traction hook, the maximum dimension of the cross-section perpendicular to the shearing direction at the large end of the slot is 1 to 2 times the cross-sectional dimension of the traction member in the unstressed state, and the minimum dimension of the cross-section perpendicular to the shearing direction at the small end of the slot is from the minimum cross-sectional dimension of the traction member after deformation to the cross-sectional dimension of the traction member in the unstressed state, wherein the dimension of the cross-section is the cross-sectional area.

[0042] More preferably, the contour shape of the shearing surface of the slotted cutter matches the contour shape of the slot, which has the following geometry: including a receiving portion, a limiting portion, and a guiding portion. One end of the limiting portion is connected to the receiving portion, and the other end is connected to the guiding portion. The dimensional relationship of any cross-section of the slot perpendicular to the shearing direction satisfies the following condition: the minimum dimension of the cross-section of the receiving portion and the minimum dimension of the guiding portion are both greater than the maximum dimension of the cross-section of the limiting portion, wherein the dimension of the cross-section is the cross-sectional area.

[0043] More preferably, the accommodating part, the limiting part, and the guiding part are smoothly connected.

[0044] More preferably, the groove is roughly gourd-shaped.

[0045] More preferably, when the slot is used as a traction hook, the maximum size of the cross-section of the receiving part perpendicular to the shearing direction is 1 to 2 times the cross-sectional size of the traction member in the unstressed state, and the minimum size of the cross-section of the limiting part perpendicular to the shearing direction is from the minimum cross-sectional size of the traction member after deformation to the cross-sectional size of the traction member in the unstressed state, and the size of the cross-section is the cross-sectional area.

[0046] The present invention also provides a method for manufacturing a shell-shaped orthodontic appliance, comprising the following steps:

[0047] Obtain a shell-shaped orthodontic appliance to be cut;

[0048] Using any of the above-described slotted cutting pliers, a slot is made on the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance to be cut, resulting in a shell-shaped orthodontic appliance with a slot.

[0049] More preferably, the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance to be sheared is prepared by thermoforming or direct 3D printing.

[0050] A further preferred embodiment of the method for manufacturing the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance includes forming a groove on the edge of the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance for use as a traction hook.

[0051] More preferably, the groove has a large end and a small end, and the overall shape is roughly "teardrop-shaped"; the maximum size of the cross section of the large end perpendicular to the shearing direction is 1 to 2 times the cross section size of the traction member in the unstressed state, and the minimum size of the cross section of the small end perpendicular to the shearing direction is the minimum cross section size of the traction member after deformation to the cross section size of the traction member in the unstressed state, and the size of the cross section is the cross section area.

[0052] More preferably, the groove shape includes a receiving portion, a limiting portion, and a guiding portion, with one end of the limiting portion connected to the receiving portion and the other end connected to the guiding portion; wherein, the dimensional relationship of any cross-section of the groove perpendicular to the shearing direction satisfies the following condition: the minimum dimension of the cross-section of the receiving portion and the minimum dimension of the guiding portion are both greater than the maximum dimension of the cross-section of the limiting portion, and the dimension of the cross-section is the cross-sectional area; the receiving portion, the limiting portion, and the guiding portion are smoothly connected.

[0053] More preferably, the groove is roughly gourd-shaped.

[0054] More preferably, the maximum dimension of the accommodating portion along the cross section perpendicular to the shearing direction is 1 to 2 times the cross section dimension of the traction member in the unstressed state, and the minimum dimension of the limiting portion along the cross section perpendicular to the shearing direction is the minimum cross section dimension of the traction member after deformation to the cross section dimension of the traction member in the unstressed state.

[0055] The slotted cutting forceps provided by this invention, applied to shell-shaped orthodontic appliances, have at least the following advantages compared to existing technologies:

[0056] This invention incorporates an anti-damage device on the handles of the slotted cutting pliers. When the slotting blade and the open end engage to cut a slot in the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance, this anti-damage device limits the relative movement between the first and second handles. This prevents excessive movement during the cutting process, which could cause the inner surfaces of the first and second pliers to come into contact with the appliance and crack or create scratches on its outer surface. This reduces the likelihood of defective products due to slotting and improves the product yield. In addition, the limiting distance of the anti-damage device is adjustable. The gap between the first and second pliers can be adjusted according to the thickness of the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance to be cut. This can meet the needs of cutting shell-shaped orthodontic appliances of different thicknesses. There is no need to change to different sizes of slotted cutting pliers for shell-shaped orthodontic appliances of different thicknesses. It is widely adaptable, saves resources, and is convenient, simple and easy to implement. Attached Figure Description

[0057] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the slotted shearing pliers in Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

[0058] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram illustrating a specific implementation of the anti-vandalism device in Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

[0059] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram illustrating a specific implementation of the anti-vandalism device in Embodiment 2 of the present invention;

[0060] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram illustrating a specific implementation of the anti-vandalism device in Embodiment 3 of the present invention;

[0061] Figures 5a-5c This is a schematic diagram illustrating a specific implementation of the positioning part in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0062] Figures 6a-6b This is a schematic cross-sectional view of the opening along the shearing direction in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0063] Figures 7a-7b This is a schematic diagram of a cross-section of the grooving blade perpendicular to the shearing direction in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0064] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram illustrating a specific implementation of the sustained-release portion in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0065] Figures 9a-9bThis is a schematic diagram of the shape of the slot used as a traction hook in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0066] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the operation of the slotted shearing pliers in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0067] Explanation of diagram labels:

[0068] 100: Groove cutting pliers; 1: First pliers body; 101: First pliers head; 1010: Inner surface of the first pliers head; 102: First pliers handle; 2: Second pliers body; 201: Second pliers head; 2010: Inner surface of the second pliers head; 2011: Outer surface of the second pliers head; 202: Second pliers handle; 3: Groove cutter; 4: Hole; 5: Anti-damage device; 50: Protrusion; 501: Limiting part; 502: Fixing part; 200: Shell-shaped orthodontic appliance to be cut;

[0069] 30: Slow-release part, 6: Limiting bolt, 601: Scale end, 7: Nut, 8: Mounting part, 80: Mounting hole, 9: Rail, 10: Positioning part, 103: Buffer part, 11: Slide rail, 12: Receiving groove, 301: Large end, 302: Small end, 303: Receiving part, 304: Limiting part, 305: Guiding part, 401: Shearing hole, 402: Outlet hole, 300a: "Teardrop" shaped groove, 300b: "Gourd" shaped groove;

[0070] X: shearing direction, Y: direction perpendicular to the shearing direction;

[0071] L1: Height of the grooving cutter along the shearing direction; L2: Depth of the cut along the shearing direction; L3: Distance from the top of the upper edge of the cut in the direction perpendicular to the shearing direction to the top of the second jaw. Detailed Implementation

[0072] The present invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0073] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the specific implementation methods of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the drawings described below are merely some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings and other implementation methods can be obtained based on these drawings without any creative effort.

[0074] To keep the drawings concise, only the parts relevant to the invention are shown schematically in each figure, and they do not represent the actual structure of the product. Furthermore, for ease of understanding, in some figures, components with the same structure or function are shown only schematically, or only one is labeled.

[0075] In this invention, the terms "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "inner," "outer," and "top," etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are used only for the convenience of describing this invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or component referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this invention.

[0076] In this invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the term "connection" should be interpreted broadly, for example, it can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part, and it can be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium.

[0077] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the specific implementation of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0078] Example 1

[0079] like Figure 1 As shown, the present invention provides a slotting cutter 100 for cutting slots on a shell-shaped orthodontic appliance, comprising a first clamping body 1 and a second clamping body 2 connected by hinges. The first clamping body 1 includes a first clamping head 101 and a first clamping handle 102. The second clamping body 2 includes a second clamping head 201 and a second clamping handle 202. The first clamping head 101 has a first clamping head inner surface 1010, on which a slotting blade 3 is provided. The slotting blade 3 protrudes toward the second clamping head 201 in the direction of the second clamping head inner surface 2010. The second clamping head 201 has a slot 4, which is a channel on the second clamping head 201 corresponding to the relative position of the slotting blade 3. The slot 4 extends along the cutting... The cutting direction penetrates the inner surface 2010 and outer surface 2011 of the second pliers. During cutting, the slotting blade 3 and the opening 4 cooperate at a predetermined position to complete the cutting of the slot. Specifically, the side wall of the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance is placed between the first pliers 101 and the second pliers 201. The relative movement of the first pliers 101 and the second pliers 201 causes the slotting blade 3 to cut the side wall of the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance in the cutting direction and at least partially enter the opening 4, thereby forming the slot on the side wall of the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance. The waste generated after cutting is discharged from the other end of the opening 4. The waste refers to the part of the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance that is cut off during the slot cutting.

[0080] Please continue to refer to Figure 1As shown, the slotted shearing pliers 100 also includes an anti-damage device 5. In this embodiment, the anti-damage device 5 is disposed on the second plier handle 202. The anti-damage device 5 includes a protrusion 50 disposed on the second plier handle 202. The protrusion 50 includes a limiting part 501 and a fixing part 502 disposed adjacent to the limiting part 501. The second plier handle 202 is provided with a mounting part (not shown). The protrusion 50 is mounted on the second plier handle 202 through the cooperation of the fixing part 502 and the mounting part. The limiting part 501 is located between the first plier handle 102 and the second plier handle 202. The device is used to limit the relative movement distance between the first pliers 102 and the second pliers 202 during cutting. Specifically, since the limiting part 501 is located between the first pliers 102 and the second pliers 202, when the first pliers 102 and the second pliers 202 move relative to each other, the inner surface of the first pliers 102 will contact the end of the limiting part 501, thereby limiting the relative movement distance between the first pliers 102 and the second pliers 202, and thus limiting the relative movement distance between the slot cutter 3 and the opening 4 during the cutting process, avoiding damage to the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance. It should be noted that the key to the anti-damage device 5 is limiting the relative movement distance between the first pliers 102 and the second pliers 202 during cutting. Therefore, the anti-damage device 5 can also be set on the first pliers 102 or simultaneously on the first pliers 102 and the second pliers 202, so that it can play a role in preventing damage to the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance during slot cutting.

[0081] Please refer to the above as well. Figure 2As shown, specifically in this embodiment, the anti-vandalism device 5 includes a limiting bolt 6 disposed on the second clamp handle 202. The portion of the limiting bolt 6 that protrudes from the side of the second clamp handle 202 facing the first clamp handle 102 (i.e., the inner side of the second clamp handle 202) after passing through the mounting hole (not labeled) provided on the second clamp handle 202 forms the limiting part 501. The portion of the limiting bolt 6 that connects with the mounting hole provided on the second clamp handle 202 forms the fixing part 502. In use, the length of the limiting bolt 6 protruding between the first jaw 102 and the second jaw 202, i.e., the length of the limiting part 501, can be adjusted by screwing in or out the limiting bolt 6. This allows adjustment of the limiting part 501's restriction on the movement distance between the first jaw 102 and the second jaw 202 when the slotted shearing pliers 100 cuts the slot, thereby limiting the relative movement distance of the first jaw head 101 and the second jaw head 201 in the cutting direction. This ensures that when the slotting blade 3 and the open end 4 cooperate to cut the slot, the inner surface 1010 of the first jaw head or the second jaw head... The inner surface 2010 does not contact the surface of the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance to avoid damage to the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance when the inner surfaces 1010 and 2010 of the first and second pliers come into contact with it; or to prevent elastic deformation of the part of the pliers in contact with the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance due to the force exerted by the inner surfaces of the two pliers 101 and 201 on the inner and outer surfaces of the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance, which would lead to wear or burrs around the groove.For example, by screwing the threaded portion of the limiting bolt 6 in several turns, the length of the limiting part 501 increases, thus shortening the relative movement distance between the first clamp handle 102 and the second clamp handle 202. This also shortens the relative movement distance between the first clamp head 101 and the second clamp head 201 in the cutting direction. Conversely, by unscrewing the threaded portion of the limiting bolt 6 several turns, the length of the limiting part 501 decreases, thus increasing the relative movement distance between the first clamp handle 102 and the second clamp handle 202. This also shortens the relative movement distance between the first clamp head 101 and the second clamp head 201 in the cutting direction. The relative movement distance of the second pliers 201 in the cutting direction also increases during cutting, thereby adjusting the limiting distance. This design can meet the needs of cutting slots in shell-shaped orthodontic appliances with different thicknesses. By adjusting the limiting distance, the relative movement distance between the first pliers 101 and the second pliers 201 during cutting is adjusted, thus avoiding damage to the shell-shaped orthodontic appliances caused by cutting slots in shell-shaped orthodontic appliances of different thicknesses. This improves the adaptability of the slot-cutting pliers 100 to cutting slots in shell-shaped orthodontic appliances of different thicknesses. The thickness of the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance refers to the thickness of the diaphragm when the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance is manufactured by thermoforming or by 3D printing.

[0082] Furthermore, after the length of the limiting part 501 is selected, in order to better fix the limiting bolt 6, in some embodiments, the anti-vandalism device 5 may also include a locking nut 7. The locking nut 7 is installed on the limiting bolt 6. By adjusting the position of the locking nut 7 on the limiting bolt 6, the limiting bolt 6 and the second clamp handle 202 are fixedly locked. This can prevent the length of the limiting part 501 from changing between the limiting bolt 6 and the second clamp handle 202 due to vibration, human error or other reasons during the use of the slotted shearing pliers 100, thereby affecting the correct use of the slotted shearing pliers 100. For example, when the length of the limiting part 501 changes... If the length of the limiting part 501 unexpectedly shortens, the relative movement distance between the first pliers 102 and the second pliers 202 during cutting will be shortened. This may prevent the slot cutting pliers 100 from completing the slot cutting on the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance. If the length of the limiting part 501 unexpectedly shortens, the movement distance between the first pliers 102 and the second pliers 202 during cutting will be lengthened. This may cause excessive compression and contact between the inner surfaces 1010 of the first pliers head and 2010 of the second pliers head and the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance when the slot cutting pliers 100 is cutting the slot, thereby damaging the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance to be cut. Furthermore, to facilitate operation, the limiting bolt 6 can also be provided with scale markings for identifying the limiting type. These scale markings are determined according to the thickness of the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance. The scale markings are located at the scale end 601, which is situated on the threaded rod between the nut of the limiting bolt 6 and the locking nut 7. The limiting scale markings at the scale end 601 can, for example, correspond to the thickness parameters of the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance, such as 0.6mm, 0.8mm, or 1.0mm. During use, the limiting type is determined according to the thickness of the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance. To adjust the thickness parameter of the orthodontic appliance, simply rotate the limiting bolt 6 so that the scale mark on the scale end 601 is aligned with the end face of the locking nut 7 adjacent to the scale end 601. For example, when cutting a shell-shaped orthodontic appliance with a thickness parameter of 0.8mm, simply align the 0.8mm scale line on the scale end 601 with the end face of the locking nut 7 adjacent to the scale end 601. This is very convenient and easy for users to operate, allowing for quick and easy adjustment of the size of the limiting part 501 when cutting slots for shell-shaped orthodontic appliances of different thicknesses. Figure 2The locking nut 7 shown securely fastens the limiting bolt 6 to the second clamp handle 202 at the outer surface of the second clamp handle 202. Clearly, it is also feasible to secure the limiting bolt 6 to the second clamp handle 202 at the inner surface of the locking nut 7. Furthermore, the scale end 601 does not necessarily need to be located on the threaded rod between the nut of the limiting bolt 6 and the locking nut 7; the position of the scale end 601 only needs to facilitate operation.

[0083] Furthermore, in order to quickly and conveniently locate or adjust the position of the cutting slot on the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance to be cut, in some embodiments, the slot cutting forceps 100 may also include a positioning part 10 for assisting in adjusting the position of the slot, such as... Figures 5a-5c As shown, the positioning part 10 includes a support surface for supporting the edge of the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance. The positioning part 10 is disposed on the inner surface 2010 of the second pliers head, and the positioning part 10 is a protrusion extending from the inner surface 2010 of the second pliers head toward the inner surface 1010 of the first pliers head. Figure 5a As shown, in some cases, the positioning part 10 can be disposed adjacent to or near the lower part of the opening 4 on the second clamp head 201. Adjacent means disposed close to the lower end face of the opening 4, and near means disposed close to but not close to the lower end face of the opening 4. In this case, when it is necessary to groove close to the gingival margin, the groove cutting clamp with the adjacent placement method is selected, and when it is necessary to groove at a certain distance from the gingival margin, the groove cutting clamp with the near placement method is selected. Of course, in order to save resources and facilitate use, it can also be movably connected to the second clamp head 201 below the opening 4 along the vertical position of the second clamp head 201, for example, it can be disposed on the lower part of the opening 4. A slide rail is provided below the opening 4 along the upper and lower positions of the second clamp head 201 to realize the sliding connection of the positioning part. Of course, other settings that can realize the movable connection are also feasible. At this time, the positioning function of different slot positions can be realized. When cutting the slots at different slot positions, the user only needs to adjust the upper and lower positions of the positioning part 10 according to the different slot positions for fixation, and then place the gingival edge of the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance to be cut on the support surface of the positioning part 10 to complete the cutting at the position where the slot is needed. Such slot cutting clamps are convenient and quick to use, have a wider range of adaptability, and save resources.

[0084] like Figure 5bAs shown, in other cases, the positioning part 10 can be fixedly or movably connected to the left side of the second pliers 201 at the position between the upper and lower ends of the opening 4. In this case, the positioning and cutting slot is an open slot, such as a slot used as a traction hook for hanging traction components. When the positioning part 10 is fixedly connected, the positioning part 10 carries the edge of the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance and can position the cutting slot at one position. When the positioning part 10 is movably connected, for example, a slide rail 11 is preset on the left side of the second pliers 201. The slide rail 11 includes several fixed connection positions at different positions. The 0 is adjustable and fixed between the upper and lower ends of the second pliers 201 along the opening 4. At this time, the positioning part 10 supports the edge of the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance and can position the slots for cutting at different positions. In use, the positioning part 10 is slid according to the required slot position and fixed to the second pliers 201 through the fixed connection position of the slide rail 11. Fixing the positioning part 10 at different fixed connection positions of the slide rail 11 can enable the positioning part 10 to meet the positioning function when cutting slots of different sizes. In use, according to the slot position, the gingival edge of the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance is placed on the support surface of the positioning part 10 for slot cutting. Of course, whether it is a fixed connection or a movable connection, the positioning part 10 can also be located on the right side of the second pliers 201 (not shown) or as... Figure 5c As shown on both sides, this setup can achieve essentially the same effect. Obviously, when set to both sides, the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance can have a relatively wider support surface when cutting the slot, which can improve the stability of positioning during cutting.

[0085] Furthermore, considering that the edges of shell-shaped orthodontic appliances are usually irregular in shape, such as having a curved shape similar to the gum line, the stability of the support when the edges of the shell-shaped orthodontic appliances are supported on the support surface of the positioning part 10 is not ideal. To provide more stable support for the edge of the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance during positioning, in some embodiments, a buffer portion 103 can be provided on the support surface of the positioning part 10. The buffer portion 103 is a cushioning pad made of an elastic material (such as rubber, silicone, etc.) provided on the support surface of the positioning part 10. In one case, the cushioning pad 103 can be a gel layer coated on the support surface of the positioning part 10. In this case, when the positioning part 10 supports the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance to be cut, the edge of the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance is supported by the elastic buffer portion 103. The buffer portion 103 can undergo elastic deformation that adapts to the edge of the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance. On the one hand, it can more stably support the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance. On the other hand, due to the buffering effect of the buffer portion 103, it can protect the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance to be cut when it is supported, and prevent the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance to be cut from being damaged by the impact force when it is supported by the positioning part 10 without the buffer portion 103. This prevents the positioning part 10 from damaging the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance to be cut due to impact force when carrying it, and also prevents instability when the positioning part 10 and the edge of the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance to be cut are in contact, thus affecting the cutting effect. Of course, a buffer pad can also be prefabricated and then fixed to the support surface of the positioning part 10 by adhesive or other means.

[0086] Please continue to refer to Figure 5aAs shown, in order to achieve quick and convenient positioning or adjustment of the slot position while ensuring that the positioning part 10 does not interfere with the relative movement of the first jaw 101 and the second jaw 201, that is, the presence of the positioning part 10 does not affect the relative movement distance of the first jaw 101 and the second jaw 201, the slot shearing pliers 100 is also provided with a receiving groove 12. The receiving groove 12 is disposed on the inner surface 1010 of the first jaw and at a position corresponding to the positioning part 10. The geometric shape of the receiving groove 12 should satisfy the following: when the first jaw 101 and the second jaw 201 move relative to each other to perform slot shearing, the positioning part 10 can enter and exit the receiving groove 12 without any obstruction. Specifically, for example, the shape and size of the receiving groove 12 can be set to be basically consistent with the shape of the positioning part 10. Here, "basically consistent" means that the shape of the receiving groove 12 can be consistent with the shape of the positioning part 10, but the size of the receiving groove 12 is greater than or equal to the size of the positioning part 10. In use, as the slotting blade 3 and the opening 4 gradually approach and cooperate to complete the slotting shearing, the receiving groove 12 gradually accommodates the positioning part 10. The positioning part 10 can be completely accommodated in the receiving groove 12 or partially accommodated in the receiving groove 12. In this way, the protrusion length of the positioning part 10 can be avoided from affecting the shearing thickness of the slotting blade 3 and the opening 4 during slotting shearing, thus ensuring that the slotting shearing can be completed. This avoids the slotting blade 3 being unable to enter or fully enter the opening 4 due to the protrusion length of the positioning part 10, thereby preventing the slotting shearing from being unable to be completed.

[0087] Please refer to Figure 6a As shown, in order to ensure that the waste material cut out after slotting can be smoothly discharged from the opening 4, reducing subsequent processes and saving time and effort, in some embodiments, the size of the opening can be set with the following geometric structure: the shape and size of the cross-section of the channel in the opening 4 near the inner surface 2010 of the second clamp head in the direction perpendicular to the cutting direction matches the shape and size of the cutting surface of the slotting blade 3, and the shape and size of the cross-section of the remaining channel in the opening 4 in the direction perpendicular to the cutting direction is larger than the shape and size of the cutting surface of the slotting blade 3. Specifically, for example, in one case, the opening 4 can be set with a geometric structure including a cutting hole 401 and an outlet hole 402 adjacent to the cutting hole 401. The shape and size of the cutting hole 401 matches the shape and size of the cutting surface of the slotting blade 3, and the shape and size of the outlet hole 402 is larger than the shape and size of the cutting surface of the slotting blade 3. The opening 4 is generally in the shape of a "stepped" hole. Figure 5c , 6aAs shown, the "X" direction represents the shearing direction, that is, the direction in which the slotted blade 3 cuts into and out of the opening 4, and the "Y" direction represents the direction perpendicular to the shearing direction. In use, the slotted blade 3... Figure 6a When cutting in the indicated shearing direction, the material first passes through the shearing hole 401, ensuring a groove that matches the shape of the slotting blade 3. Simultaneously, the waste material after shearing can be smoothly discharged through the larger outlet hole 402, minimizing waste residue and avoiding subsequent waste cleaning, thus saving time and effort. Please refer to... Figure 6b As shown, it should be noted that in some other cases, the shape and size of the cross-section of the channel forming the opening 4 in the direction perpendicular to the shearing direction are arranged in a manner that gradually increases from the inner surface 2010 of the second jaw to the outer surface 2011 of the second jaw. The shape and size of the portion of the opening 4 adjacent to the inner surface 2010 of the second jaw matches the shape and size of the shearing surface of the slotted blade 3. In short, any geometric structure that satisfies the condition that "the shape and size of the cross-section of the channel in the opening 4 near the inner surface 2010 of the second jaw in the direction perpendicular to the shearing direction matches the shape and size of the shearing surface of the slotted blade 3, and the shape and size of the cross-section of the remaining portion of the channel in the opening 4 in the direction perpendicular to the shearing direction is larger than the shape and size of the shearing surface of the slotted blade 3" is feasible and falls within the scope of protection of this invention.

[0088] In some embodiments, when the slotted cutting forceps 100 cuts a slot used as a traction hook on a shell-shaped orthodontic appliance to be cut, the slotting blade 3 may also have the following geometry so that the slotted blade 3, in conjunction with the hollow opening 4, cuts a slot including a large end 301 and a small end 302, with an overall shape roughly "teardrop-shaped". Figure 7a As shown, when the slot is used as a traction hook, the maximum dimension of the cross-section of the large end 301 perpendicular to the shear direction is 1 to 2 times the cross-sectional dimension of the traction member in its unstressed state. The minimum dimension of the cross-section of the small end 302 perpendicular to the shear direction is the minimum cross-sectional dimension of the traction member after deformation to the cross-sectional dimension of the traction member in its unstressed state. The cross-sectional dimension refers to the cross-sectional area of ​​the traction member, and the minimum cross-sectional dimension of the traction member after deformation is the cross-sectional dimension of the traction member when subjected to maximum traction force. For example, the cross-sectional area in the unstressed state is 1.0 mm². 2 Taking a rubber band traction component as an example, if the maximum traction force that the rubber band can withstand is 5N, then the minimum cross-sectional dimension is the dimension of the rubber band when subjected to 5N. If the minimum cross-sectional dimension of the rubber band after traction deformation is 0.5mm... 2 Therefore, the maximum dimension of the cross-section of the large end 301 perpendicular to the shearing direction is 1.0 mm. 2 ~2.0mm 2The minimum dimension of the cross-section of the small end 302 perpendicular to the shear direction is 0.5 mm. 2 ~1.0mm 2 In use, when the rubber band is stretched to its smallest cross-sectional size, it can be hooked into the large end 301 through the small end 302. After the rubber band is hooked into the large end 301, it returns to its original deformation and is housed in the large end 301 in a stress-free state. This avoids the rubber band's service life being affected by long-term deformation. At this time, the opening slot 300a cut by the slot shearing pliers 100 is referenced. Figure 9a As shown.

[0089] To facilitate easier insertion of the traction component into the slot used as a traction hook in practical applications, the slotting cutter 3 can be further improved to have the following geometric structure, so that the slot cutter 3, in conjunction with the opening 4, cuts a slot comprising a receiving portion 303, a limiting portion 304, and a guiding portion 305. One end of the limiting portion 304 is connected to the receiving portion 303, and the other end is connected to the guiding portion 305. The receiving portion 303, the limiting portion 304, and the guiding portion 305 are smoothly connected, and the overall slot is roughly "gourd-shaped." Figure 7b As shown, when the slot is used as a traction hook, the maximum dimension of the cross-section of the receiving part 303 perpendicular to the shear direction is 1 to 2 times the cross-sectional dimension of the traction member in its unstressed state. The minimum dimension of the cross-section of the limiting part 304 perpendicular to the shear direction is the minimum cross-sectional dimension of the traction member after deformation to the cross-sectional dimension of the traction member in its unstressed state. The cross-sectional dimension refers to the cross-sectional area. (The last sentence appears to be incomplete and possibly refers to a measurement or value, possibly related to 1.0 mm.) 2 Taking a rubber band traction component of a certain size as an example, the maximum dimension of the cross-section of the receiving portion 303 perpendicular to the shearing direction is 1.0 mm. 2 ~2.0mm 2 The minimum dimension of the limiting part 304 along the cross-section perpendicular to the shearing direction is 0.5 mm. 2 ~1.0mm 2 When in use, the rubber band is stretched and deformed. Since the minimum size of the guide part 305 is greater than the maximum size of the cross-section of the limiting part 304, that is, the minimum size of the guide part 305 is greater than the minimum cross-sectional size of the rubber band after being stressed, the rubber band can more easily pass through the limiting part 304 and finally be smoothly hooked into the receiving part 303. After being hooked in, the rubber band can return to its unstressed state and be received in the receiving part 303 in an unstressed state, avoiding the rubber band's service life being affected by long-term deformation. At this time, the slot 300b of the opening cut by the slot shearing pliers 100 is referenced. Figure 9b As shown.

[0090] like Figure 5aAs shown, in some embodiments, the height L1 of the groove cutter 3 along the shearing direction is 1.5 to 2.5 times the thickness of the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance to be sheared. For example, taking a shell-shaped orthodontic appliance with a thickness of 1.0 mm as an example, the height L1 of the groove cutter 3 along the shearing direction is 1.5 mm to 2.5 mm. This is because during shearing, the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance to be sheared will deform at the contact part between the groove cutter 3 and the opening 4. In order to cut through the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance, it is necessary to... The height L1 of the groove cutter 3 along the shearing direction is slightly greater than the thickness of the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance to be sheared; preferably, it is 1.5 to 2.5 times the thickness of the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance. The depth L2 of the opening 4 along the shearing direction is greater than or equal to the height L1 of the groove cutter 3 along the shearing direction; more preferably, the depth L2 of the opening 4 along the shearing direction is 2.0 to 3.0 times the thickness of the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance to be sheared. For example, taking a 1.0 mm thick shell-shaped orthodontic appliance as an example, then... The depth L2 of the opening 4 along the shearing direction is 2.0mm to 3.0mm. This ensures that the cutting tool 3 cuts through the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance to be sheared, while also preventing the cutting tool 3 from protruding from the opening 4 and entering the cavity of the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance, thus avoiding damage to the appliance, such as unexpected scratches, which would affect product yield. The distance L3 from the top of the upper edge of the opening 4 in the direction perpendicular to the shearing direction to the top of the second pliers 201 is 0.6mm to 1mm. The length of the cutting tool 3 along the inner surface 1010 of the first pliers in the direction perpendicular to the shearing direction is 3.0mm to 4.0mm. These dimensions allow the opening 4 on the second pliers 201 to extend as far into the cavity of the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance as possible, without damaging the appliance due to the top of the second pliers 201 touching the cavity. This allows for the cutting of smaller shell-shaped orthodontic appliances. In this way, when the slotted cutting forceps 100 cuts the slot, less of the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance body is removed, leaving more of the original portion. This minimizes the impact on the rigidity of the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance. Especially when the slotted cutting forceps 100 of the aforementioned size is used as a traction hook to cut the slot at the edge of the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance, the larger remaining portion significantly reduces the probability of edge warping, improving the product yield and without affecting the patient's experience or treatment time. Clearly, the slotted cutting forceps 100 provided above are compact and can be used not only with larger shell-shaped orthodontic appliances, such as those for adults, but also with smaller shell-shaped orthodontic appliances, such as those for children, offering wider applicability.

[0091] In some embodiments, to prevent damage to the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance when the inner surfaces 1010 and 2010 of the first and second pliers heads come into contact with the surface of the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance, the slotted cutting pliers 100 may further include a release section 30, such as... Figure 8 As shown, the sustained-release portion 30 is disposed around the groove 3 of the first pliers head 101. One side of the sustained-release portion 30 is disposed adjacent to the inner surface 1010 of the first pliers head, and the other side is disposed towards the inner surface 2010 of the second pliers head. The sustained-release portion 30 can be a gel layer coated on the inner surface 1010 of the first pliers head adjacent to the periphery of the groove 3, or it can be a sustained-release pad made of an elastic material (such as rubber, silicone, etc.) with a notch with the same shape and size as the groove 3. In use, the sustained-release pad is simply placed around the periphery of the groove 3. As the slotting blade 3 and the open end 4 gradually approach each other to cooperate in cutting the slot, the inner surface 1010 of the first clamp head will not directly contact the surface of the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance to be cut, but will contact it through the release part 30. When the release part 30 contacts the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance to be cut, the release part 30 will undergo adaptive elastic deformation, which can not only play a buffering role, but also prevent the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance to be cut from being damaged due to excessive force between the first clamp head 101 and the second clamp head 201, thereby improving the product yield when cutting the slot on the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance.

[0092] Example 2

[0093] like Figure 3 As shown, the present invention provides a slot cutting pliers 100 for cutting slots on a shell-shaped orthodontic appliance. The difference between this embodiment and embodiment 1 is that the limiting part 501 in the protrusion 50 is a column, the fixing part (not shown) is disposed at one end of the limiting part 501, and the mounting part 8 with one or more mounting holes 80 is provided on the inner surface of the second pliers handle 202 along the length direction of the pliers handle. The protrusion 50 is detachably mounted on the mounting part 8 through the cooperation of the fixing part and the mounting hole 80. The connection between the fixing part and the mounting hole 80 can be a threaded connection or a detachable snap-fit ​​connection. The limiting part 501 can be a fixed length design or a variable length design.

[0094] Specifically, when there is only one mounting hole 80, in order to adjust the distance limited by the limiting part 501 to meet the predetermined limiting distance parameter, multiple limiting parts 501 of different lengths can be provided. For example, the length of the limiting part 501 can be designed according to the thickness of the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance, so that one mounting hole 80 can be combined with multiple protrusions 50 of different sizes to adjust the gap when the first pliers 101 and the second pliers 201 are closed. In this case, for ease of use, the specification parameters of the protrusion 501 can be marked on each protrusion 50 by means of scale markings. The specification parameters correspond to the thickness parameters of the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance. When there are multiple mounting holes 80, a fixed-length limiting part 501 can be selected. To adjust the distance limited by the limiting part 501, the specific position of the mounting hole 80 can be selected according to the parameters of the inclination setting of the inner surface of the second pliers 202, the thickness parameters of the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance, and the limiting distance parameters to meet different gap adjustments. When it is necessary to cut shell-shaped orthodontic appliances of different thicknesses, it is only necessary to select the corresponding mounting hole 80 according to the thickness of the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance to install the fixed-length protrusion 50. For ease of use, the corresponding thickness parameters can be marked at the mounting hole 80 on the mounting part 8. Of course, even when there are multiple mounting holes 80, the length of the limiting part 501 does not necessarily have to be fixed, but can be adjusted simultaneously. The position of the mounting hole 80 and the length of the limiting part 501 corresponding to the mounting hole 80 are designed based on the parameters of the inclination setting of the inner surface of the second pliers 202, the thickness parameters of the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance, and the limiting distance parameters. When it is necessary to cut shell-shaped orthodontic appliances of different thicknesses, it is only necessary to select the corresponding mounting hole 80 according to the thickness of the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance, and install the protrusion 50 of the limiting part 501 with the corresponding length corresponding to the mounting hole 80 in the mounting hole 80. Similarly, for ease of use, the specification parameters of the protrusion 50 can be marked on each protrusion 50 by means of scale markings, and the corresponding position parameters can be marked on the mounting part 8. The scale markings indicate the one-to-one correspondence between the mounting hole 80 and the protrusion 50.

[0095] In general, the length of the limiting part 501 is designed based on the limiting distance parameter, the thickness of the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance to be cut, and the installation position of the protrusion 50, and should meet one of the following conditions:

[0096] (1) When the position of the mounting hole 80 remains unchanged, the length of the limiting part 501 decreases as the thickness of the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance increases. For example, if only one mounting hole 80 is provided, the length of the limiting part 501 can be adjusted according to the change in the thickness of the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance. In use, the protrusion 50 with the corresponding length of the limiting part 501 can be installed on the mounting hole 80 according to the thickness of the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance.

[0097] (2) When the position of the mounting hole 80 changes, the change in the position of the mounting hole 80 makes the change in the distance between the limiting part 501 and the opposite pliers after the protrusion 50 is installed adapt to the change in the thickness of the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance, and the length of the limiting part 501 remains unchanged.

[0098] (3) When the position of the mounting hole 80 changes, if the increase in the distance between the limiting part 501 and the opposite pliers after the installation of the protrusion 50 is greater than the increase in the thickness of the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance, the length of the limiting part 501 increases; conversely, the length of the limiting part 501 decreases. At this time, a one-to-one correspondence is formed between the protrusion 50 and the mounting position.

[0099] The limiting distance is the distance between the inner surface 1010 of the first jaw and the inner surface 2010 of the second jaw when the first jaw 101 and the second jaw 201 are closed.

[0100] Example 3

[0101] like Figure 4As shown, the present invention provides a slot cutting forceps 100 for cutting slots on a shell-shaped orthodontic appliance. The difference between this embodiment and Embodiment 1 is that the limiting part 501 in the protrusion 50 is a column, and the fixing part (not shown) is disposed at one end of the limiting part 501. A mounting part 8 with a track 9 is provided on the inner surface of the second forceps handle 202 along the length of the forceps handle. The fixing part is slidably mounted within the track 9, and the limiting part 501 protrudes from the track 9. The protrusion 50 can be pre-set within the track 9. The fixed connection positions are slidably fixed between the fixed connection positions. The fixed connection positions can be set according to the parameters of the inclination of the inner surface of the first pliers 102, the thickness parameters of the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance, and the distance parameters to be limited by the limiting part 501. The protrusion 50 moves along the track 9 between the fixed connection positions to adjust the relative movement distance between the first pliers 102 and the second pliers 202 by the limiting part 501, thereby adjusting the relative gap between the first pliers 101 and the second pliers 201 during shearing. For ease of use, a mark indicating the corresponding thickness parameter can be set on the mounting part 8 at the position corresponding to the fixed connection position of the track 9. The limiting part 501 is set with a scale mark corresponding to the thickness parameter mark. In use, it is only necessary to move the protrusion 50 to the fixed connection position for fixing and align the scale mark on the limiting part 501 with the mark indicating the corresponding thickness parameter set at the corresponding position of the fixed connection position on the mounting part 8.

[0102] Example 4

[0103] This embodiment provides a method for manufacturing a shell-shaped orthodontic appliance, including: obtaining a shell-shaped orthodontic appliance to be cut; and using the slotted cutting forceps 100 from any of the above embodiments to create a slot on the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance to be cut, thereby obtaining a shell-shaped orthodontic appliance with a slot. Figure 10 As shown, in use, a shell-shaped orthodontic appliance 200 to be cut is first obtained; then, the slotting pliers 100 of any of the above embodiments are used to create slots on the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance 200. When the user places the slotting pliers 100 on the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance where the slot is needed to cut the slot, the user holds the first pliers handle 102 and the second pliers handle 202 and applies force, causing the first pliers head 101 and the second pliers head 201 to gradually move closer together, so that the slotting blade 3 and the slot 4 cooperate to complete the cutting of the slot. The slot can be cut at the gingival margin of the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance, or at the lingual or labial side of the crown surface of the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance, which can be adjusted according to actual needs; finally, a shell-shaped orthodontic appliance with slots is obtained.

[0104] In addition, in order to obtain the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance to be cut, the user can obtain the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance to be cut by thermoforming or direct 3D printing.

[0105] When using the aforementioned thermoforming method, the specific manufacturing process includes: firstly, designing and 3D printing a series of intermediate digital dental models of the upper and lower jaws to create a physical dental model; then, obtaining a maxillary shell-shaped orthodontic appliance and a mandibular shell-shaped orthodontic appliance containing tooth shapes by thermoforming on the physical dental model; finally, cutting the maxillary shell-shaped orthodontic appliance and the mandibular shell-shaped orthodontic appliance containing tooth shapes along the gingival line or adjacent to the gingival line to obtain the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance to be cut.

[0106] When using 3D printing, the specific manufacturing process includes: firstly, designing digital models of the upper and lower jaws to be cut into shell-shaped orthodontic appliances; and then using 3D printing to print the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance models.

[0107] Furthermore, the method for manufacturing the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance may include forming a groove on the edge of the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance to serve as a traction hook; the shape of the groove serving as a traction hook may include a large end and a small end (not labeled), such as... Figure 9a As shown, the overall shape is roughly "teardrop-shaped". The maximum dimension of the cross-section perpendicular to the shear direction at the large end is 1 to 2 times the cross-sectional dimension of the traction component in its unstressed state. The minimum dimension of the cross-section perpendicular to the shear direction at the small end is the minimum cross-sectional dimension of the traction component after deformation to the cross-sectional dimension of the traction component in its unstressed state. The cross-sectional dimension refers to the cross-sectional area of ​​the traction component. The minimum cross-sectional dimension of the traction component after deformation is the cross-sectional dimension of the traction component when subjected to maximum traction force. For example, the cross-sectional area in the unstressed state is 1.0 mm². 2 Taking a rubber band traction component as an example, if the maximum traction force that the rubber band can withstand is 5N, then the minimum cross-sectional dimension is the dimension of the rubber band when subjected to 5N. If the minimum cross-sectional dimension of the rubber band after traction deformation is 0.5mm... 2 Therefore, the maximum dimension of the cross-section of the large end 301 perpendicular to the shearing direction is 1.0 mm. 2 ~2.0mm 2 The minimum dimension of the cross-section of the small end 302 perpendicular to the shear direction is 0.5 mm. 2 ~1.0mm 2In use, when the rubber band is stretched to its smallest cross-sectional size, it can be hooked into the large end 301 through the small end 302. After the rubber band is hooked into the large end 301, it returns to its original deformation and is housed in the large end 301 in a stress-free state. This avoids the rubber band's service life being affected by long-term deformation. At this time, the groove 300a is referenced. Figure 9a As shown.

[0108] To facilitate easier insertion of the traction device into the slot used as a traction hook during practical use, the manufacturing method of the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance may include forming another slot for use as a traction hook on the edge of the shell-shaped orthodontic appliance. The slot for use as a traction hook includes a receiving portion 303, a limiting portion 304, and a guiding portion 305. One end of the limiting portion 304 is connected to the receiving portion 303, and the other end is connected to the guiding portion 305. The receiving portion 303, the limiting portion 304, and the guiding portion 305 are smoothly connected, and the overall slot is roughly "gourd-shaped." Figure 7b As shown, when the slot is used as a traction hook, the maximum dimension of the cross-section of the receiving part 303 perpendicular to the shear direction is 1 to 2 times the cross-sectional dimension of the traction member in its unstressed state. The minimum dimension of the cross-section of the limiting part 304 perpendicular to the shear direction is the minimum cross-sectional dimension of the traction member after deformation to the cross-sectional dimension of the traction member in its unstressed state. The cross-sectional dimension refers to the cross-sectional area. (The last sentence appears to be incomplete and possibly refers to a measurement or value, possibly related to 1.0 mm.) 2 Taking a rubber band traction component of a certain size as an example, the maximum dimension of the cross-section of the receiving portion 303 perpendicular to the shearing direction is 1.0 mm. 2 ~2.0mm 2 The minimum dimension of the limiting part 304 along the cross-section perpendicular to the shearing direction is 0.5 mm. 2 ~1.0mm 2 When in use, the rubber band is stretched and deformed. Since the minimum size of the guide part 305 is larger than the maximum size of the cross-section of the limiting part 304, that is, the minimum size of the guide part 305 is larger than the minimum cross-sectional size of the rubber band after being stressed, the rubber band can more easily pass through the limiting part 304 and finally be smoothly hooked into the receiving part 303. After being hooked in, the rubber band can return to its unstressed state and be received in the receiving part 303 in an unstressed state, avoiding the rubber band's service life being affected by long-term deformation. At this time, the slot 300b refers to... Figure 9b As shown.

[0109] It should be noted that the various implementation methods described in the above embodiments can be freely combined as needed to form different new implementation methods without causing contradictions. All implementation methods formed by such combinations are within the protection scope of this invention. In order to save space in the application text, they will not be described again here.

[0110] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention. It should be noted that for those skilled in the art, several improvements and modifications can be made without departing from the principle of the present invention, and these improvements and modifications should also be considered within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0111] Similarly, the above descriptions are merely specific embodiments of the present invention, but the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any variations or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in the present invention should be included within the scope of protection of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A slot-cutting pliers for cutting slots on shell-shaped orthodontic appliances, comprising a hinged first pliers body and a second pliers body; the first pliers body includes a first pliers head and a first pliers handle, and the second pliers body includes a second pliers head and a second pliers handle; the first pliers head is provided with a slotting blade protruding towards the second pliers head, and the second pliers head is provided with a slot, wherein the slotting blade and the slot cooperate at a predetermined position to cut the slot, characterized in that: The notched shearing pliers comprise a damage prevention device arranged on the first handle and / or the second handle, which adjusts the gap between the first jaw and the second jaw when they are closed according to the thickness of the shell-shaped dental appliance to be sheared; the gap enables the slotting cutter and the mouth to cooperate to shear the notches without the inner surface of the first jaw and the inner surface of the second jaw contacting the shell-shaped dental appliance and damaging the shell-shaped dental appliance; the notched shearing pliers further comprise a positioning part for assisting in adjusting the position of the notches, which is in sliding connection with the second jaw and can slide along the preset sliding rail on the second jaw between several fixed connection positions to achieve adjustment of different positioning sizes.

2. The notch cut nippers according to claim 1, characterized in that: The damage prevention device comprises a protruding part arranged on the first handle and / or the second handle, which limits the distance of relative movement between the first jaw and the second jaw when the slotting cutter and the mouth cooperate to shear the notches.

3. The notch cut nippers of claim 2, wherein: The size of the protruding part satisfies the condition that the inner surface of the first jaw or the inner surface of the second jaw does not contact the surface of the shell-shaped dental appliance when the slotting cutter and the mouth cooperate to shear the notches.

4. The notch cut nippers of claim 3, wherein: It further comprises a slow-release part arranged on the periphery of the slotting cutter of the first jaw, one side of which is adjacent to the inner surface of the first jaw, and the other side of which is arranged towards the inner surface of the second jaw.

5. The notch cut nippers of claim 4, wherein: The slow-release part is a gel layer coated on the inner surface of the first jaw adjacent to the periphery of the slotting cutter, or a slow-release pad made of elastic material sleeved on the periphery of the slotting cutter.

6. The notch cut nippers of claim 2, wherein: The size of the protruding part satisfies the condition that the inner surface of the first jaw and the inner surface of the second jaw contact the surface of the shell-shaped dental appliance and do not cause elastic deformation of the corresponding contact part of the shell-shaped dental appliance when the slotting cutter and the mouth cooperate to shear the notches.

7. The notch cut nippers according to any one of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that: The protruding part comprises a limiting part and a fixing part, the protruding part is connected to the mounting part of the first handle and / or the second handle through the fixing part, and the limiting part is located between the first handle and the second handle to limit the distance of relative movement between the first handle and the second handle.

8. The notch cut nippers of claim 7, wherein: The damage prevention device comprises a limiting bolt, the first handle or the second handle is provided with a mounting hole at the mounting position corresponding to the protruding part, the shank part of the limiting bolt protrudes out of the inner surface side of the first handle or the second handle after passing through the mounting hole to form the limiting part, and the part connected with the mounting hole of the shank is the fixing part.

9. The notch cut nippers of claim 8, wherein: The damage prevention device further comprises a locking nut, which cooperates with the limiting bolt to lock the limiting bolt on the first handle or the second handle.

10. The notch cut nippers of claim 8, wherein: The limiting size of the limiting part is adjusted by screwing in or out of the limiting bolt.

11. The notch cut nippers of claim 8, wherein: The limiting bolt is provided with a scale mark for identifying the limiting type, and the limiting type is set according to the thickness of the shell-shaped dental appliance, and the limiting type is calibrated by screwing in or out of the limiting bolt.

12. The notch cut nippers of claim 7, wherein: The mounting portion comprises a mounting hole arranged on the inner surface of the first handle and / or the second handle, and the protruding portion comprises a plurality of protruding portions, each of which has a limiting portion with a fixed length.

13. The notch cut nippers of claim 7, wherein: The mounting portion comprises a plurality of mounting holes arranged along the inner surface of the first handle and / or the second handle, and the protruding portion has a limiting portion with a fixed length.

14. The notch cut nippers of claim 7, wherein: The mounting portion comprises a plurality of mounting holes arranged along the inner surface of the first handle and / or the second handle, and the protruding portion comprises a plurality of protruding portions, each of which has a limiting portion with a fixed length, and the position of the mounting hole corresponds to the protruding portion with the limiting portion of a different length.

15. The notch cut nippers of claim 7, wherein: The length of the limiting portion is designed based on the limiting distance parameter, the thickness of the shell-shaped tooth appliance, and the mounting position of the protruding portion.

16. The notch cut nippers of claim 14, wherein: When the position of the mounting hole is fixed, the length of the limiting portion decreases as the thickness of the shell-shaped tooth appliance increases.

17. The notch cut nippers of claim 14, wherein: When the position of the mounting hole changes, the length of the limiting portion does not change when the change in the distance between the limiting portion and the opposite handle after the protruding portion is mounted is adapted to the change in the thickness of the shell-shaped tooth appliance.

18. The notch cut nippers of claim 14, wherein: When the position of the mounting hole changes, the length of the limiting portion increases when the increase in the distance between the limiting portion and the opposite handle after the protruding portion is mounted is greater than the increase in the thickness of the shell-shaped tooth appliance, and vice versa. At this time, a one-to-one correspondence is formed between the protruding portion and the mounting position.

19. The notch cut nippers of claim 7, wherein: The fixing portion is slidably connected to the mounting portion arranged on the first handle and / or the second handle, and the fixing portion can slide along the preset track on the mounting portion between several fixed connection positions to achieve the adjustment of different limiting sizes.

20. The notch cut nippers of claim 1, wherein: The positioning portion comprises a support surface for bearing the edge of the shell-shaped tooth appliance, and the positioning portion is arranged on the second handle below the distal end of the mouthpiece.

21. The notch cut nippers of claim 20, wherein: When the positioning portion is arranged between the upper and lower ends of the mouthpiece along the second handle, the positioning portion is arranged on the left side and / or the right side of the mouthpiece.

22. The notch cut nippers of claim 20, wherein: When the positioning portion is arranged below the mouthpiece, the positioning portion is arranged adjacent to or adjacent to the lower end of the mouthpiece.

23. The notch cut nippers according to any one of claims 20 to 22, characterized in that: The positioning portion further comprises a buffer portion, the lower surface of the buffer portion is arranged adjacent to the support surface of the positioning portion, and the upper surface of the buffer portion is arranged towards the top of the second handle.

24. The notch cut nippers of claim 23, wherein: The buffer portion is a buffer pad made of elastic material arranged on the support surface of the positioning portion.

25. The notch cut nippers of claim 24, wherein: The buffer pad is a gel layer coated on the support surface of the positioning portion.

26. The notch cut nippers according to any one of claims 20 to 22, characterized in that: The first jaw is provided with a receiving groove corresponding to the positioning portion, and the positioning portion is at least partially received in the receiving groove to avoid interference between the positioning portion and the first jaw during shearing.

27. The notch cut nippers according to any one of claims 1-6 or 20-22, characterized in that: The air opening comprises a shearing hole and a guide hole adjacent to the shearing hole, wherein the shearing hole is adjacent to one side of the groove cutter, and the minimum dimension of the guide hole along any cross section perpendicular to the shearing direction is greater than or equal to the maximum dimension of the shearing hole along any cross section perpendicular to the shearing direction.

28. The notch cut nippers according to any one of claims 1-6 or 20-22, characterized in that: The height of the groove cutter along the shearing direction is 1.5-2.5 times the thickness of the shell-shaped dental appliance to be sheared.

29. The notch cut nippers according to any one of claims 1-6 or 20-22, characterized in that: The minimum dimension of the depth of the air opening along the shearing direction is 2.0-3.0 times the thickness of the shell-shaped dental appliance to be sheared.

30. The notch cut nippers according to any one of claims 1-6 or 20-22, wherein: The distance from the top of the upper edge of the air opening to the top of the second jaw in the direction perpendicular to the shearing direction is 0.6-1 mm.

31. The notch cut nippers as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6 or 20 to 22, wherein: The length of the groove cutter in the direction perpendicular to the shearing direction is 3.0-4.0 mm.

32. The notch cut nippers according to any one of claims 1-6 or 20-22, characterized in that: The shearing surface of the groove cutter comprises a large end and a small end, and the overall shape is substantially "drop-shaped".

33. The notch cut nippers of claim 32, wherein: The contour shape of the shearing surface of the groove cutter matches the contour shape of the slot, which has the following geometric shape: when used as a traction hook, the maximum dimension of the large end of the slot along a cross section perpendicular to the shearing direction is 1-2 times the cross section dimension of the traction member in the unstressed state, and the minimum dimension of the small end of the slot along a cross section perpendicular to the shearing direction is the minimum cross section dimension of the deformed traction member to the cross section dimension of the traction member in the unstressed state, wherein the dimension of the cross section is the cross section area.

34. The notch cut nippers according to any one of claims 1-6 or 20-22, wherein: The contour shape of the shearing surface of the groove cutter matches the contour shape of the slot, which has the following geometric shape: comprising a receiving portion, a limiting portion and a guide portion, one end of the limiting portion is connected to the receiving portion, and the other end is connected to the guide portion, and the dimension relationship of the slot along any cross section perpendicular to the shearing direction satisfies the following conditions: the minimum dimension of the receiving portion cross section and the minimum dimension of the guide portion are both greater than the maximum dimension of the limiting portion cross section, wherein the dimension of the cross section is the cross section area.

35. The notch cut nippers of claim 34, wherein: The receiving portion, the limiting portion and the guide portion are smoothly connected.

36. The combination according to claim 35, wherein: The slot is substantially "gourd-shaped".

37. The combination according to claim 34, wherein: When used as a traction hook, the maximum dimension of the receiving portion along a cross section perpendicular to the shearing direction is 1-2 times the cross section dimension of the traction member in the unstressed state, and the minimum dimension of the limiting portion along a cross section perpendicular to the shearing direction is the minimum cross section dimension of the deformed traction member to the cross section dimension of the traction member in the unstressed state.

38. A method of fabricating a shell-like dental appliance, the method comprising: The method comprises the following steps: Obtaining a shell-shaped dental appliance to be sheared; Applying the slot shearing forceps of any one of claims 1-37 to the shell-shaped dental appliance to be sheared to make slots on the shell-shaped dental appliance to obtain a shell-shaped dental appliance with slots.

39. The method of fabricating a shell aligner of claim 38, wherein: The shell-shaped dental appliance to be sheared is prepared by hot pressing or direct 3D printing.

40. The method of fabricating a shell aligner of either of claims 38 or 39, wherein: The edge of the shell-shaped dental appliance forms a slot used as a traction hook. The shell-shaped dental appliance to be sheared is prepared by hot pressing or direct 3D printing.

41. The method of fabricating a shell aligner of claim 40, wherein: The shape of the notch comprises a large end and a small end, and the overall shape is substantially "drop-shaped"; the maximum dimension of the large end along a section perpendicular to the shearing direction is 1-2 times the section dimension of the traction member in the unstressed state, and the minimum dimension of the small end along the section perpendicular to the shearing direction is the minimum section dimension of the traction member after deformation to the section dimension of the traction member in the unstressed state, and the dimension of the section is the section area.

42. The method of fabricating a shell aligner of claim 40, wherein: The shape of the notch comprises a containing portion, a limiting portion and a guiding portion, one end of the limiting portion is connected to the containing portion, and the other end is connected to the guiding portion; wherein the dimension relationship of the notch along any section perpendicular to the shearing direction satisfies the following conditions: the minimum dimension of the section of the containing portion and the minimum dimension of the section of the guiding portion are both greater than the maximum dimension of the section of the limiting portion, the dimension of the section is the section area; the containing portion, the limiting portion and the guiding portion are smoothly and transitionally connected.

43. The method of fabricating a shell aligner of claim 42, wherein: The notch is substantially "gourd-shaped".

44. The method of fabricating a shell aligner of claim 42, wherein: The maximum dimension of the containing portion along a section perpendicular to the shearing direction is 1-2 times the section dimension of the traction member in the unstressed state, and the minimum dimension of the limiting portion along a section perpendicular to the shearing direction is the minimum section dimension of the traction member after deformation to the section dimension of the traction member in the unstressed state.

Images