Self-ligating orthodontic bracket and 3D printing method thereof

Abstract

A self-ligating orthodontic bracket (10) is provided, comprising a bracket body (11), a sliding support (12), and a locking member (13). The bracket body (11) has an archwire groove (112) for accommodating the archwire and is configured to be fixed to the teeth by the constraint force applied by the archwire. The sliding support (12) is constructed on the bracket body (11) and extends along an unlocking direction away from the archwire groove (112) to form a groove (120) on the bracket body (11). The locking member (13) has a groove that can be opened along the groove. A first locking part (130) and a second locking part (131) that move in the locking direction and the opposite locking direction. The first locking part (130) is configured to move within a slide groove (120) so that the second locking part (131) moves synchronously above the sliding support (12). In the locking direction, the first locking part (130) locks when it moves to the target position, while the second locking part (131) closes the bow wire groove (112) to effectively enclose the bow wire in the bow wire groove (112).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of dental orthodontic technology, and more specifically to self-ligating orthodontic brackets and methods for 3D printing thereof. Background Technology

[0002] Orthodontic brackets, commonly used in orthodontic treatment, primarily function to apply effective orthodontic force to the teeth in conjunction with the archwire, thereby achieving the goal of tooth straightening. Traditional brackets mainly rely on auxiliary locking structures such as ligatures or elastic bands to fix the archwire, but these structures have drawbacks such as high friction, easy wear and tear, and uneven force transmission, which affect the effectiveness and efficiency of orthodontic treatment.

[0003] To overcome the technical defects of traditional brackets, self-locking brackets integrate built-in locking mechanisms such as sliding covers or rotating clamps, and use the reaction force generated by the deformation of the bow wire to achieve ligature-free fixation, thereby eliminating the need for traditional auxiliary locking structures, reducing frictional resistance and simplifying the operation steps.

[0004] However, existing self-locking bracket designs typically place the locking component between two sliding supports to form a spliced ​​structure, relying on the movement along the sliding supports to lock and unlock the archwire. This spliced ​​structure layout results in an uneven transition, easily causing jamming or positional deviations during the transition between locked and unlocked states. Furthermore, the spliced ​​structure hinders subsequent polishing and, because it faces the soft tissue of the human body (upper and lower lips), poses a risk of soft tissue damage. In addition, the numerous overhanging structures and the staggered arrangement of the slides and archwire grooves are unfavorable for 3D printing, especially for 3D printing without additional supports. Summary of the Invention

[0005] Various features relate to self-ligating orthodontic brackets and their 3D printing methods to address at least one of the aforementioned deficiencies, whether stated or not.

[0006] A first aspect of this application provides a self-ligating orthodontic bracket, comprising: a bracket body having an archwire groove for placing an archwire, the bracket body being configured to be fixed to a tooth by a restraining force applied by the archwire; a sliding support being configured on the bracket body; and a locking member being configured to act on the sliding support and be movable along the unlocking direction and the opposite locking direction to open and close the archwire groove; wherein, in the closed state of the archwire groove, the locking member is locked to the sliding support.

[0007] According to a preferred embodiment of the first aspect, the sliding support is configured to extend in an unlocking direction away from the archwire groove to form a groove on the bracket body; the locking member has a first locking portion and a second locking portion, the first locking portion being movable within the groove so that the second locking portion moves synchronously above the sliding support; wherein in the locking direction, when the first locking portion moves to a target position, it locks, and simultaneously the second locking portion closes the archwire groove to lock the archwire within the archwire groove.

[0008] According to a preferred embodiment of the first aspect, the bracket body includes a bracket seat and a bracket wing, the bracket wing and the sliding support being spaced apart on the bracket seat to form the bowwire groove in the spaced area between them.

[0009] According to a preferred embodiment of the first aspect, the bracket wing is configured to be higher than the sliding support in the vertical direction, so that in the locked state, the second locking part closely engages with the protruding portion of the bracket wing relative to the sliding support to lock the bow wire groove.

[0010] According to a preferred embodiment of the first aspect, the slide and the bow wire groove are arranged in parallel and their bottoms are placed on the same plane.

[0011] According to a preferred embodiment of the first aspect, the locking member has a transition portion for achieving a smooth transition between the first locking portion and the second locking portion.

[0012] According to a preferred embodiment of the first aspect, the first locking part extends a greater distance in the locking direction than the second locking part, so that during the locking process, the first locking part reaches the target position first and guides the second locking part to close the bowwire groove, thereby locking the bowwire in the bowwire groove.

[0013] According to a preferred embodiment of the first aspect, the area of ​​the first locking portion is configured to at least cover the bracket body, such that in the locked state, the first locking portion can completely close the bow wire groove.

[0014] According to a preferred embodiment of the first aspect, the orthodontic bracket further includes a first displacement limiting portion, which is constructed on the sliding support and the second locking portion, for limiting the displacement of the locking component to occur only along the unlocking direction and the locking direction.

[0015] According to a preferred embodiment of the first aspect, the first displacement limiting portion is configured to consist of a first protrusion and a first groove that engages with the first protrusion, the first protrusion being constructed on the sliding support and the first groove being constructed within the second locking portion, or conversely, the first protrusion being constructed within the second locking portion and the first groove being constructed on the sliding support.

[0016] According to a preferred embodiment of the first aspect, the orthodontic bracket further includes a second displacement limiting portion, which is configured on the movement path of the first locking portion to limit the first locking portion to lock on the movement path and prevent displacement when the first locking portion moves to the target position.

[0017] According to a preferred embodiment of the first aspect, the second displacement limiting portion is configured to consist of a second protrusion and a second groove that engages with the second protrusion, the second protrusion being constructed on the bracket body and / or the sliding support, and the second groove being constructed on the first locking portion, or conversely, the second protrusion being constructed on the first locking portion, and the second groove being constructed on the bracket body and / or the sliding support.

[0018] According to a preferred embodiment of the first aspect, the bowwire groove is arranged in a meandering manner in the extension direction, and / or the bottom of the bowwire groove is arranged at a predetermined angle to at least one adjacent groove wall.

[0019] According to a preferred embodiment of the first aspect, the orthodontic bracket further includes at least one elastic member configured between the sliding support and the locking member.

[0020] In a second aspect, this application provides a 3D printing method, comprising: using an energy beam to sinter or melt powder material applied layer by layer to a substrate to form a cross-sectional layer solidified layer by layer, until an orthodontic bracket according to any one of the first aspects is manufactured; wherein the printing direction of the orthodontic bracket is parallel to the extension direction of the archwire groove.

[0021] Thirdly, this application provides an interlocking component, which is integrally formed by 3D printing and includes: a sliding support body; a locking member configured to be movable relative to the sliding support body; wherein when the locking member moves to a target position, it locks the sliding support body, and the sliding support body also locks the locking member.

[0022] According to a preferred embodiment of the third aspect, a clearance space is formed between the sliding support and the locking component after being integrally formed by 3D printing.

[0023] According to a preferred embodiment of the third aspect, the locking member is used to close a groove in a locking direction, and the locking occurs during the process of the locking member closing the groove.

[0024] According to a preferred embodiment of the third aspect, the support body is configured to extend in an unlocking direction away from the groove to form a slide; the locking member has a first locking portion and a second locking portion, the first locking portion being configured to move within the slide so that the second locking portion moves synchronously above the support body; wherein in the locking direction, the first locking portion locks when it moves to a target position, while the second locking portion closes the groove.

[0025] It should be understood that the above general description and the following detailed description are merely exemplary and do not limit this application. Attached Figure Description

[0026] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form part of this specification, illustrate one or more embodiments of the present application and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the present application and to enable those skilled in the art to make and use the present application.

[0027] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the construction of a self-ligating orthodontic bracket according to the prior art is shown;

[0028] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the construction of a self-ligating orthodontic bracket according to an exemplary embodiment of this application is shown;

[0029] Figure 3 A side view of a self-ligating orthodontic bracket according to an example embodiment of this application is shown;

[0030] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of the structure of the bracket body according to an exemplary embodiment of this application is shown;

[0031] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of the construction of a locking component according to an exemplary embodiment of this application is shown;

[0032] Figure 6 A comparative schematic diagram of the arrangement of a self-ligating orthodontic bracket (a) according to the prior art and a self-ligating orthodontic bracket (b) according to an example embodiment of this application in the 3D printing direction is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0033] Exemplary embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, these exemplary embodiments may be implemented in various forms and should not be construed as limited to the examples set forth herein; rather, the description of these embodiments is intended to make this application more comprehensive and complete, and to fully convey the concept of the exemplary embodiments to those skilled in the art. The described features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. Numerous specific details are provided in the following description to provide a deeper understanding of embodiments of this application.

[0034] Figure 1 The construction of a self-ligating orthodontic bracket according to the prior art is shown. (Refer to...) Figure 1 The existing orthodontic bracket 20 mainly comprises a bracket body 26, sliding supports 22 and 23, a locking component 24, and bracket wings 21. The sliding supports 22 and bracket wings 21 are symmetrically formed on the bracket body 26, forming archwire grooves 25 for the archwire to pass through in the intervening area. The locking component 24 is movably constructed between the sliding supports 22 and 23 and can move along the unlocking direction U and the locking direction L to lock and unlock the archwire grooves 25. For example, when locked, the locking component 24 moves towards the construction direction of the bracket wings 21 until it is close to the side wall of the bracket wings 21, closing the archwire grooves 25. When unlocking is required, the locking component 24 moves in the opposite direction, opening the archwire grooves 25 to facilitate the adjustment or removal of the archwire.

[0035] It can be seen that, Figure 1 The orthodontic bracket 20 employs a splicing structure where the locking component 24 is located between two sliding supports 22 and 23. Due to the less-than-smooth transition at the splicing point, the locking component 24 is prone to jamming or positional deviation during the transition from the locked to the unlocked state (or vice versa), resulting in the archwire not being fully secured or released. Furthermore, the complex layout of this splicing structure is not conducive to subsequent polishing processes, easily causing rough edges, which in turn increases the risk of soft tissue damage during use because the bracket faces the soft tissues such as the upper and lower lips.

[0036] In order to overcome the above-mentioned defects, the structural composition and preferred embodiments of the self-ligating orthodontic brackets provided in the embodiments of this application will be described in detail below.

[0037] Figure 2 The present application describes the construction of a self-ligating orthodontic bracket according to an exemplary embodiment. Figure 3 It shows according to Figure 2 A side structure of a self-ligating orthodontic bracket. (See reference) Figure 2 and Figure 3The orthodontic bracket 10 provided in this embodiment mainly includes a bracket body 11, a sliding support 12, and a locking component 13. The bracket body 11 is generally composed of a bracket seat 111 and a bracket wing 110. The bracket seat 111, as the basic part of the overall structure, is used for bonding and fixing to the teeth. The bracket wing 110 is formed at one end of the bracket seat 111 and forms an approximately "L"-shaped structure with the bracket seat 111. Of course, the angle between the bracket wing 110 and the bracket seat 111 is definable and is not limited to a vertical angle or the angle shown in the figure. The sliding support 12 is constructed on the bracket body 11, and further on the bracket seat 111, extending along the unlocking direction U away from the bracket wing 110. A groove 120 is formed on the bracket body 11, thereby providing a movement guide channel for the locking component 13. The space between the sliding support 12 and the bracket wing 110 forms an archwire groove 112 for accommodating the archwire.

[0038] The locking component 13 is an element used to lock and unlock the bowwire within the bowwire groove 112. In some embodiments, the locking component 13 is configured to have a first locking portion 130 and a second locking portion 131, both of which are movable along the unlocking direction U and the opposite locking direction L. The first locking portion 130 is configured to move within the slide groove 120, its movement trajectory being guided and limited by the sliding support 12; the second locking portion 131 is configured above the sliding support 12 and moves synchronously with the first locking portion 130. In the locking direction L, when the first locking portion 130 moves to the target position within the slide groove 120, it locks, while the second locking portion 131 closes the bowwire groove 112 to lock the bowwire within the bowwire groove 112. Conversely, when unlocking is required, when the first locking part 130 moves along the unlocking direction U and disengages from its target position, its locking state is released. At this time, the second locking part 131 will also open the bow wire groove 112 accordingly, so that the bow wire can be easily inserted or adjusted.

[0039] It can be seen that, with Figure 1 Compared to the splicing structure where the locking component 24 is sandwiched between two sliding supports 22 and 23, this application provides a single sliding support 12 and sets the locking component 13 to have a first locking part 130 and a second locking part 131. The first locking part 130 moves within the groove 120 formed between the sliding support 12 and the bracket 111 to drive the second locking part 131 located above the sliding support 12 to move synchronously. This breaks through the limitations of the traditional splicing structure, allowing the second locking part 131 to move in a whole form (eliminating the sliding supports on both sides), realizing smooth unlocking and locking operations of the bow wire groove 112, while reducing the risk of jamming or positional deviation.

[0040] When the archwire groove 112 is in the closed state, the locking component 13 and the sliding support 12 can form an interlocking structure to achieve interlocking, especially in multiple directions (unlocking direction U, closing direction L, vertical direction, and the extension direction of the archwire groove 112) to prevent the locking component 13 from shifting. Based on this objective, in some embodiments, the orthodontic bracket 10 provided in this application can be configured to consist of a bracket body 11, a sliding support 12, and a locking component 13. The locking component 13 is configured to act on the sliding support 12 and can move along the unlocking direction U and its opposite closing direction L to open and close the archwire groove 112, thereby achieving mutual locking between the locking component 13 and the sliding support 12 when the archwire groove 112 is closed.

[0041] Specifically, when the locking component 13 is configured to have a first locking part 130 and a second locking part 131, the first locking part 130, when moving to the target position along the locking direction L, is not only guided and constrained by the sliding support 12 within the groove 120, but its direction of movement is also restricted, preventing it from sliding in, for example, the unlocking direction U, the locking direction L, and the extension direction of the archwire groove 112. Furthermore, the second locking part 131, in the locked state, fits against the upper structure of the sliding support 12, and further enhances the constraint capability in multiple directions through a shape-fitting or interlocking structure, enabling the locking component 13 to be stably held in a predetermined position, without displacement or loosening due to external forces or changes in the oral cavity environment.

[0042] It is understandable that the interlocking structure is achieved through the nested design between the locking component 13 and the sliding support 12. The first locking part 130 of the locking component 13 is configured to slide within the groove 120. The groove 120 not only guides the first locking part 130 in the unlocking direction U and the locking direction L, but also limits it in the extension direction of the bowwire groove 112, so that it does not move in the extension direction of the bowwire groove 112 when locked. In addition, the shape design of the first locking part 130 matches the inner wall of the groove 120, allowing it to fit tightly within the groove 120, enhancing the nesting effect between the locking component 13 and the sliding support 12. At the same time, the second locking part 131 is disposed above the sliding support 12 and moves synchronously with the first locking part 130. When the first locking part 130 moves to the target position along the locking direction L, the second locking part 131 moves to the predetermined locking position simultaneously and forms a nested engagement with the upper surface of the sliding support 12, so that it is not only supported in the vertical direction, but also constrained in the extension direction of the bow wire groove 112.

[0043] In some embodiments, the sliding support 12 is composed of a longitudinal portion 121 and an extension portion 122. The longitudinal portion 121 is a structure formed on the bracket seat 111 and has a certain height. Its forming direction is approximately parallel to the side wall of the bracket wing 110. The extension portion 122 starts from one end of the longitudinal portion 121 and extends in the unlocking direction U away from the bracket wing 110, terminating after extending a certain distance. The longitudinal portion 121 and the extension portion 122 form a groove 120 on the bracket seat 111 for the first locking part 130 to move. Correspondingly, the bottom of the extension portion 122 serves as the top of the groove 120, the surface of the bracket seat 111 covered by the extension portion 122 serves as the bottom of the groove 120, and the side wall of the longitudinal portion 121 serves as the groove wall of the groove 120. Furthermore, the slide groove 120 and the bow wire groove 112 are arranged in parallel and their bottoms are placed on the same plane, that is, both the bow wire groove 112 and the slide groove 120 are formed on the bracket 111.

[0044] The height of the longitudinal portion 121 (i.e., the height of the sliding support 12) can be defined. A reasonable and beneficial height for this application is that the longitudinal portion 121 is set lower than the bracket wing 110, that is, the height of the bracket wing 110 in the vertical direction is greater than that of the longitudinal portion 121. In this way, the excess height of the bracket wing 110 can be fully utilized as installation space for the second locking part 131, allowing the second locking part 131 to be installed in a higher position, so that the height of its upper surface is as close as possible to (slightly smaller / slightly larger / the same) the height of the bracket wing 110. Thus, in the locked state, the height matching allows the second locking part 131 to fit tightly with the protruding portion of the bracket wing 110 relative to the sliding support 12.

[0045] In some embodiments, the first locking part 130 has a longer extension distance in the locking direction L, which is significantly greater than that of the second locking part 131. This allows the first locking part 130 to move first and reach the predetermined target position ahead of time during the entire locking process, thereby playing a leading and positioning role in the mechanical action and guiding the second locking part 131 to close the bowwire groove 112, thus closing the bowwire within the bowwire groove 112. Specifically, when the locking member 13 begins to move along the locking direction L, the first locking part 130, due to its longer extension stroke, first slides into the slide groove 120 and reaches the set locking position first. This early positioning action allows the first locking part 130 to form a tight fit with the sliding support 12 and the corresponding limiting structure, preventing errors caused by small displacements in the direction. At the same time, since the first locking part 130 is already firmly positioned, its position and state provide a clear motion reference and guide for the second locking part 131. The locking action of the second locking part 131 is guided by the first locking part 130, gradually closing the bowwire groove 112. During the locking process, the second locking part 131, in coordination with the first locking part 130, ultimately ensures that the bow wire groove 112 is completely closed, thereby firmly locking the bow wire within the bow wire groove 112. Thus, through a step-by-step locking mechanism of pre-positioning and subsequent closure, both the closure of the bow wire groove 112 and the fixation of the bow wire achieve better results in the locked state, thereby improving the problem of bow wire loosening easily caused by inaccurate locking in traditional structures.

[0046] Reference Figure 3 The locking component 13 is generally composed of a first locking part 130 and a second locking part 131. However, more specifically, it can be divided into a first locking part 130, a second locking part 131, and a transition part 132. Both the first locking part 130 and the second locking part 131 are constructed in the unlocking direction U and the locking direction L, respectively. Therefore, the transition part 132 is provided to achieve a smooth transition between the first locking part 130 and the second locking part 131. It can be understood that the first locking part 130, the second locking part 131, and the transition part 132 are a whole, with the transition part 132 serving as the part connecting the first locking part 130 and the second locking part 131. Furthermore, the transition part 132, in addition to physically connecting the first locking part 130 and the second locking part 131, also functionally adjusts the difference in movement between the two and ensures a smooth transition. In actual operation, when the locking component 13 moves along the locking direction L, the first locking part 130 can be positioned first and achieve initial locking, while the transition part 132 guides the second locking part 131 to smoothly close the bow wire groove 112, and finally achieves the fixation of the bow wire.

[0047] The thickness of the transition portion 132 can be, for example, the thickness of the extension 122 of the sliding support 12, to divide the locking member 13 into a second locking portion 131 above the extension 122 and a first locking portion 130 below the extension 122 (movable along the slide groove 120). The thickness of the extension 122, as a horizontal extension of the sliding support 12, provides a natural dimensional reference for the transition portion 132. By setting the thickness of the transition portion 132 to be the same as or similar to that of the extension 122, the transition portion 132 can act as a boundary and connection within the locking member 13, dividing the entire locking member 13 into upper and lower functional areas. The upper second locking part 131 is supported by the transition part 132, and its lower surface cooperates with the upper surface of the extension part 122, so that in the locked state, the second locking part 131 can accurately close the bow wire groove 112, thereby securing the bow wire; while the lower first locking part 130 is arranged below the extension part 122 and moves along a predetermined trajectory in the slide groove 120, achieving accurate displacement control through interaction with the guide structure of the sliding support 12.

[0048] In some embodiments, the area of ​​the first locking portion 130 is configured to at least cover the bracket body 11, so that in the locked state, the first locking portion 130 can completely seal the archwire groove 112. That is, the archwire groove 112 has a certain width in the extending direction, and the size of the first locking portion 130 is sufficient to cover this width. Thus, when the locking member 13 enters the locked state, the archwire in the archwire groove 112 will not be disturbed by external forces or accidentally moved. At the same time, the complete sealing effect also helps to prevent impurities and food debris in the oral cavity from entering the archwire groove, reducing the adverse effects that environmental factors may have on the orthodontic treatment process. In addition, setting the first locking portion 130 to cover the entire area of ​​the bracket body 11 can provide a larger force-bearing area during the locking process, thereby evenly distributing the orthodontic force transmitted by the archwire and reducing local stress concentration.

[0049] Figure 4 The structure of the bracket body according to an exemplary embodiment of this application is shown. Figure 5 The construction of a locking component according to an example embodiment of this application is shown. (Refer to...) Figure 4 and Figure 5 In some embodiments, the orthodontic bracket 10 also has a first displacement limiting part 14, which is respectively constructed on the sliding support 12 and the second locking part 131, and is used to limit the displacement of the locking member 13 to occur only along the unlocking direction U and the locking direction L.

[0050] In one embodiment, the first displacement limiting part 14 can be configured as a first protrusion 140 and a first groove 141 that engages with the first protrusion 140. In this structure, the relative arrangement of the first protrusion 140 and the first groove 141 can be implemented in two ways: one is to fix the first protrusion 140 to the sliding support 12, while the corresponding first groove 141 is machined within the second locking part 131; the other is to place the first protrusion 140 within the second locking part 131 and create a corresponding first groove 141 on the sliding support 12. Regardless of the approach, the basic design principle is that the interlocking of the protrusion and groove physically limits the locking member 13 during movement, preventing unnecessary displacement in directions other than opening and closing, and ensuring that the locking member 13 moves only in predetermined opening and closing directions.

[0051] In a specific example, the first displacement limiting part 14 can be provided with a wedge structure, that is, the first protrusion 140 is set as a wedge block, and the corresponding position is set as a wedge groove, i.e., the first groove 141. The advantage of the wedge structure is that its inclined surface can produce a progressive limiting effect on the surface of the matching part. For example, when the first locking part 130 and the second locking part 131 move during the locking process, a self-locking effect is generated between the wedge block and the wedge groove, so that the locking part 13 will not be displaced due to the lateral component force after reaching the predetermined locking position. The locking part 13 can remain stable throughout the locking process, avoiding the failure of the bow wire groove 112 to be completely closed due to movement deviation or unexpected external force interference.

[0052] In an optional example, the first displacement limiting part 14 can also be configured as a mortise and tenon structure. For example, the mortise and tenon structure can be configured to include a protruding tenon pre-set above the sliding support 12 or inside the second locking part 131, and a corresponding mortise set on the other side. After assembly, the tenon and mortise can fit precisely together to form a strong interlocking structure, thereby effectively limiting the displacement of the locking part 13 to occur only along the unlocking direction U and the locking direction L, preventing lateral movement in the extension direction of the bow wire groove 112. The mortise and tenon structure can provide an effective limiting effect, and during movement, due to the tight fit between the tenon and mortise, it can also resist external force interference and reduce the risk of structural loosening caused by mechanical friction or vibration. Optionally, the geometry of the mortise and tenon structure can be optimized according to actual needs, such as using different cross-sectional shapes or sizes.

[0053] Continue to refer to Figure 3 In some embodiments, the orthodontic bracket 10 also has a second displacement limiting part 15, which is constructed on the movement path of the first locking part 130 and is used to limit the first locking part 130 to lock on the movement path and prevent displacement when the first locking part 130 moves to the target position.

[0054] In one embodiment, the second displacement limiting portion 15 is configured to consist of a second protrusion 150 and a second groove 151 that engages with the second protrusion 150.

[0055] In an exemplary arrangement, the second protrusion 150 can be constructed on the bracket 111, and the second groove 151 can be constructed on the first locking portion 130, specifically at the bottom of the first locking portion 130. Alternatively, the second protrusion 150 can be constructed on the sliding support 12, specifically at the bottom of the extension 122, and the second groove 151 can be constructed on the first locking portion 130, specifically at the top of the first locking portion 130. Alternatively, the second protrusion 150 can be constructed on the first locking portion 130, specifically at the bottom of the first locking portion 130, and the second groove 151 can be constructed on the bracket 111. Alternatively, the second protrusion 150 can be constructed on the first locking portion 130, specifically at the top of the first locking portion 130, and the second groove 151 can be constructed on the sliding support 12, specifically at the bottom of the extension 122. All these different arrangements can achieve precise positioning and locking of the first locking portion 130 through the second displacement limiting portion 15.

[0056] In some embodiments, the second groove 151 may be provided as one or more. If only one second groove 151 is provided, when the first locking part 130 moves along the slide 120 and engages with the second protrusion 150 at the unique second groove 151, it indicates that the first locking part 130 has reached the predetermined target position, and at the same time, it causes the second locking part 131 to fit tightly with the bracket wing 110, thereby completing the closure of the archwire groove 112 and the locking of the archwire. If multiple second grooves 151 are provided, a more hierarchical limiting function can be achieved. While facilitating disassembly and adjustment, the locking position can also be finely adjusted as needed, thereby better adapting to different clinical needs. In summary, the second displacement limiting part 15, through the cooperation of the second protrusion 150 and the second groove 151, can lock the movement path of the first locking part 130 when it moves to the target position.

[0057] The following is an exemplary application of a self-ligating orthodontic bracket according to an embodiment of this application on a tooth. For example, in actual orthodontic treatment, the therapist fixes the bottom of the bracket body 11 (e.g., mesh-like) to the tooth surface with adhesive, and inserts a pre-bent archwire into the archwire groove 112 formed on the bracket body 11. After the archwire is placed, the archwire groove 112 is closed by a locking member 13. The locking member 13 includes a first locking part 130 and a second locking part 131 (in a more specific embodiment, it also includes a transition part 132 connecting the two). When it is necessary to securely lock the archwire, the physician moves the locking member 13 along the locking direction L by operation. The first locking part 130, which has a longer extension distance in the locking direction, first slides to a predetermined position in the groove 120, and guides the upper second locking part 131 to move synchronously by means of its priority positioning function, so that the archwire groove 112 is completely closed, and the archwire is securely locked in the archwire groove 112. The first displacement limiting part 14 and the second displacement limiting part 15, through their respective protrusions, grooves, or tenon structures, restrict the locking part 13 to move only along the unlocking direction U and the locking direction L, thus avoiding displacement caused by external force or assembly errors in the archwire extension direction (lateral direction). It is foreseeable that the application of the embodiments of this application makes the orthodontic brackets more securely fixed to the teeth. During orthodontic treatment, because the archwire can always remain in the predetermined position, the transmission of orthodontic force is more uniform, and the treatment effect is thus improved.

[0058] In some embodiments, the archwire groove 112 may have a meandering path, meaning that it is not a straight line in its extension direction, but has several continuous or discontinuous bends. In this way, the archwire groove 112 can be pre-set with a curved path, so that during the installation process, after the archwire enters the archwire groove 112, it automatically aligns along the curved path, thereby achieving self-positioning and reducing the reliance on manual adjustment by the therapist.

[0059] In some embodiments, the bottom of the bowwire groove 112 is arranged at a preset angle with the adjacent groove wall. This preset angle refers to the angle between the bottom of the groove and at least one adjacent groove wall, which can be set according to the desired bowwire direction and locking effect. For example, the angle between the bottom of the groove and the walls of the bracket wing 110 and the longitudinal portion 121 allows the bowwire to smoothly enter the bowwire groove 112 at the preset angle when inserted, while also more securely holding the bowwire within the groove in the locked state. This facilitates accurate bowwire positioning and creates a suitable force transmission path when the bowwire contacts the bracket. For example, the preset angle between the bottom of the groove and the adjacent groove wall can be set between approximately 10° and 90°. Of course, this preset angle does not require the bottom of the groove and the adjacent groove wall to maintain the same angle over the entire length; rather, it can be segmented according to the functional requirements of different sections.

[0060] In some embodiments, the bowwire groove 112 may only adopt a meandering arrangement, or only adopt a groove bottom and groove wall arrangement at a preset angle, or combine the two structural features to achieve self-positioning of the bowwire groove 112 in the extension direction while enhancing the stable locking effect of the bowwire in the groove through the groove bottom and groove wall arrangement at a preset angle. That is, in the embodiment combining the two, the bowwire groove 112 not only presents a continuous meandering direction, but its groove bottom and adjacent groove walls are also formed at a preset angle, so that the bowwire is aligned along the predetermined curved path when inserted, and at the same time, in the locked state, the bowwire can be evenly stressed and stably fixed in the groove.

[0061] It should be understood that the meandering groove structure provides a natural guiding channel for the archwire, enabling it to self-position within the bracket and simplifying the clinical installation process. Furthermore, the cooperation between the groove bottom and the groove wall at a preset angle improves the locking effect between the archwire and the bracket, preventing the archwire from loosening due to minor deviations during orthodontic treatment. Finally, combining these two features can meet different clinical needs and enable the archwire to accurately transmit orthodontic forces at different angles and curvatures.

[0062] In some embodiments, the orthodontic bracket 10 provided in this application may further include an elastic member (not shown), which may be one or more and is configured between the sliding support 13 and the locking member 13. Specifically, the elastic member may be arranged along the opening and closing direction to assist the locking member 13 in stable movement under the support of the sliding support 13. For example, in one embodiment, the elastic member may be located between the extension 122 and the transition portion 132, so that the locking member 13 can form a natural limiting effect through the elastic restoring force provided by the elastic member when opening or closing, preventing the locking member 13 from accidentally sliding without control. Furthermore, in another possible structure, the elastic member may also be arranged between the longitudinal portion 121 and the first locking portion 130, so that the locking member 13 always maintains a proper fit during sliding, avoiding functional failure due to loosening or vibration.

[0063] The specific form of the elastic component can take various structural forms to achieve the desired elastic cushioning effect. For example, the elastic component can take the form of a metal spring or microspring, which has good elastic recovery performance and can absorb impact when the locking component 13 moves; it can also take the form of a gasket or elastic plate made of rubber, silicone or other flexible elastomers, which provides cushioning through its softness.

[0064] The elastic component ensures that the orthodontic bracket 10 is securely locked during use and provides appropriate cushioning when unlocking is required. Furthermore, it reduces the direct contact pressure between the locking component 13 and the sliding support 13, minimizing material fatigue that may occur with prolonged use and enhancing the bracket's durability. Especially during orthodontic treatment, which may require multiple opening and closing operations, the elastic component allows for greater controllability in each operation, reducing potential discomfort to the patient's oral tissues and improving wearing comfort.

[0065] In addition to the many benefits already described above, the self-ligating orthodontic brackets provided in this application also facilitate the use of 3D printing technology for molding, especially the effect of 3D printing without adding supports, which will be further explained below.

[0066] This article does not specifically limit the types of 3D printing involved. For example, it can be additive manufacturing processes based on powder beds, such as LPBF (Laser Powder Bed Fusion), EBM (Electron Beam Melting), SLM (Selective Laser Melting), SLS (Selective Laser Sintering), and other types of 3D printing that use powder as the building material.

[0067] Figure 6 A comparative schematic diagram of the 3D printing orientation arrangement of a self-ligating orthodontic bracket (a) according to the prior art and a self-ligating orthodontic bracket (b) according to an exemplary embodiment of this application is shown. Both the prior art orthodontic bracket 20 and the orthodontic bracket 10 of this application, due to their overall structure and the presence of key components (such as the archwire groove), require the selection of a reasonable and effective printing direction during the 3D printing process. Generally, a preferred 3D printing direction is parallel to the extension direction of the archwire groove, that is, using the sidewall of the orthodontic bracket as the bottom or top during printing. For example, it can be as follows... Figure 6 As shown, printing can proceed from A to B, or vice versa (with B serving as the bottom layer during printing). This printing direction ensures that the critical structure of the tray is well supported during printing and achieves relatively high dimensional accuracy.

[0068] However, as described above, the existing orthodontic bracket 20 employs a splicing structure where the locking component 24 is sandwiched between two sliding supports 22 and 23. This structure presents two main problems during 3D printing: First, due to the numerous overhangs between the locking component 24 and the two sliding supports 22 and 23, these overhangs cannot be self-supported during printing and are prone to deformation. Therefore, support structures must be added at appropriate locations to ensure print quality. However, adding supports not only reduces printing efficiency but also adds numerous post-processing steps, impacting the overall manufacturing cycle. Second, the movement of the locking component 24 depends on the grooves provided within the sliding supports 22 and 23. However, these grooves and the archwire groove 25 are staggered in the vertical direction, making it impossible to achieve precise dimensional control on the same plane simultaneously. This makes it difficult to simultaneously meet the dimensional accuracy requirements (e.g., maintaining approximately ±0.02mm) of the two key structures (grooves and archwire grooves) during 3D printing, thus affecting the bracket's assembly accuracy and performance.

[0069] In contrast, the orthodontic bracket 10 provided in the embodiments of this application is used. (See also...) Figure 6 (b) In the improved orthodontic bracket 10 of this application embodiment, the traditional splicing structure is eliminated, and a continuous, integral locking component 13 is adopted. In this configuration, the locking component 13 forms a complete and continuous structure in the printing direction, with no or almost no overhanging parts. Therefore, no additional support structure is needed during printing, which significantly improves printing efficiency and ensures printing quality. At the same time, the continuous, integral locking component also reduces post-printing processing time and enables integrated printing without subsequent assembly.

[0070] The orthodontic bracket 10 of this embodiment further optimizes the arrangement of the slide groove 120 and the archwire groove 112. Both are constructed in parallel arrangement, and their bottoms are placed on the same horizontal plane, thereby ensuring that the dimensional accuracy of the key grooves can be controlled simultaneously, meeting the requirement of dimensional accuracy of approximately ±0.02mm. This structure improves the relative positioning accuracy of the key components of the bracket and reduces errors caused by interlayer misalignment during the printing process. Furthermore, the continuous and integral locking component 13 facilitates subsequent surface polishing. Its smooth outer surface and non-overhanging structure are conducive to achieving high-quality surface finish, further reducing the risk of damage to human soft tissues (such as the upper and lower lips) due to uneven bracket surfaces. It is evident that the orthodontic bracket 10 of this embodiment has significant advantages in 3D printing: it achieves efficient unsupported molding by optimizing the printing direction and structural layout, and ensures the stability of the orthodontic bracket during overall assembly and use by precisely controlling the dimensional accuracy of key components, while also simplifying subsequent polishing and assembly processes.

[0071] Benefiting from this, the present application also provides a 3D printing method, which employs, for example, powder bed additive manufacturing technology. Its basic principle is to use an energy beam (e.g., a laser beam) to locally sinter or melt powder material applied layer by layer onto a substrate, thereby forming progressively solidified cross-sectional layers until a complete orthodontic bracket 10 is constructed. In this method, firstly, selected powder material is uniformly laid on the substrate to form a powder layer of uniform thickness. Next, using a digital model generated by computer-aided design, the energy beam is controlled to scan the powder layer along a preset printing path, causing the powder material in the designated area to sinter or melt, and form a solid cross-sectional layer after cooling. After one layer is solidified, the printing platform is lowered to a certain height, and a new layer of powder is laid, repeating the aforementioned steps until the entire orthodontic bracket 10 structure is formed.

[0072] During the printing process, it is important to note that the extension direction of the bow wire groove 112 is selected as the printing direction. That is, during the printing process, the side wall of the groove is treated as the bottom or top to ensure that the bow wire groove 112 and the adjacent slide groove 120 can be continuously formed on the same plane, so as to ensure the dimensional accuracy of these two structures.

[0073] For example, the 3D printing method of this application can also be optimized in terms of energy beam control and scanning strategy. For instance, by adjusting the power of the energy beam, scanning speed, and focal point position, each layer of powder material can be solidified under optimal conditions, achieving good fusion between powders and avoiding incomplete fusion or localized overheating during printing. This improves the surface finish and structural integrity of the finished product, and shortens printing time and reduces post-processing steps. For example, in the embodiments of this application, since the continuous integral structure of the tray 10 eliminates the overhanging portion of the traditional spliced ​​structure, no additional support material is needed, thus improving printing efficiency and simplifying subsequent cleaning and polishing steps.

[0074] The term "powder" as used in this article refers to raw materials used to manufacture three-dimensional objects. Physically, it refers to powder particles, which can have different shapes, sizes, and particle sizes. Preferably, the "powder" used in this article is made of metallic materials, such as stainless steel, cobalt-chromium, titanium, titanium alloys, and other metals that can be manufactured or used. Alternatively, powders of ceramics, plastics, and composite materials can also be used to construct three-dimensional objects.

[0075] This application also provides an interlocking component.

[0076] This interlocking assembly is manufactured using a 3D printing method, for example, by sintering or melting powder material layer by layer laid on a substrate using an energy beam to achieve the integral molding of the assembly (sliding support and locking component), eliminating the need for subsequent assembly. Through this 3D printing process, a predetermined clearance space is formed between the sliding support and the locking component after printing. This clearance space allows the locking component to slide freely relative to the sliding support along predetermined unlocking and locking directions. When the locking component moves to a predetermined target position along the locking direction, its structural design enables it to lock into the sliding support, forming an interlocked state. In other words, when the locking component moves to the target position, the sliding support locks it, and the locking component simultaneously constrains the sliding support, thus maintaining the stability of the entire interlocking assembly under external forces.

[0077] In some embodiments, the locking member is used to close a groove along the locking direction, the groove being, for example, designed to accommodate other working parts. In the interlocking assembly, a sliding support is configured to extend along the unlocking direction away from the groove, forming a groove. The locking member is structurally further divided into a first locking part and a second locking part, wherein the first locking part is configured to move within the groove, its movement guided by the sliding support, and the second locking part is disposed above the sliding support and moves synchronously with the first locking part. When the first locking part moves to the target position along the locking direction, it can engage within the groove, while simultaneously guiding the second locking part toward the groove, thereby closing the groove and achieving the locking purpose.

[0078] The advantages of this interlocking assembly are at least reflected in the following aspects: Firstly, due to the interlocking cooperation between the locking component and the sliding support, the assembly can effectively resist external impacts and vibrations in the locked state, preventing unexpected movement; secondly, the integrated 3D printing process eliminates splicing and assembly errors that are easy to occur in traditional manufacturing, improving the forming accuracy of structures (such as chutes and grooves).

[0079] The interlocking assembly provided in this application can be applied to orthodontic brackets. It should be understood that in the application of the interlocking assembly to orthodontic brackets, the locking component is used to close the slot, namely the archwire slot 112 disclosed above, and the interlocking assembly can select any applicable structural feature from the various embodiments described above. Of course, the interlocking assembly provided in this application is not limited to application in orthodontic brackets; it is also applicable to other products that require interlocking structures to achieve motion limiting, buffering, or locking effects. Through the interlocking assembly of this application, adjustments can be made according to the structural requirements of different products, such as changing the structural relationship between the locking component and the sliding support, adjusting the preset engagement mechanism or displacement limiting mechanism, etc., to meet the interlocking function requirements in different fields.

[0080] Other embodiments of this application will readily conceive of by those skilled in the art upon consideration of the specification and practice of the disclosure herein. This application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of this application that follow the general principles of this application and include common knowledge or customary techniques in the art not disclosed herein. The specification and embodiments are to be considered exemplary only, and this application is not limited to the precise structures described above and shown in the accompanying drawings, and various modifications and changes can be made without departing from its scope.

Claims

1. A self-ligating orthodontic bracket, comprising: A bracket body having an archwire groove for accommodating the archwire, the bracket body being configured to be fixed to the teeth by the restraining force applied by the archwire; A sliding support body is constructed on the bracket body; as well as A locking component is configured to act on the sliding support and is movable along the unlocking direction and its opposite locking direction to open and close the bowwire groove. In the closed state of the bow wire groove, the locking component and the sliding support are locked together.

2. The orthodontic bracket according to claim 1, wherein the sliding support is configured to extend in an unlocking direction away from the archwire groove to form a groove on the bracket body; The locking component has a first locking part and a second locking part. The first locking part is configured to move within the groove so that the second locking part moves synchronously above the sliding support. In the locking direction, when the first locking part moves to the target position, it locks, and at the same time the second locking part closes the bowwire groove to lock the bowwire in the bowwire groove.

3. The orthodontic bracket according to claim 1, wherein the bracket body comprises a bracket seat and a bracket wing, the bracket wing and the sliding support being spaced apart on the bracket seat to form the archwire groove in the spaced area between them.

4. The orthodontic bracket according to claim 3, wherein the bracket wing is configured to be higher than the sliding support in the vertical direction, and in the locked state, the second locking part closely engages with the protruding part of the bracket wing relative to the sliding support to lock the archwire groove.

5. The orthodontic bracket according to claim 2, 3 or 4, wherein the groove and the archwire groove are arranged in parallel and their bottoms are placed on the same plane.

6. The orthodontic bracket according to claim 2, wherein the locking member has a transition portion for achieving a smooth transition between the first locking portion and the second locking portion.

7. The orthodontic bracket according to claim 2, wherein the first locking part extends a greater distance in the locking direction than the second locking part, such that during the locking process, the first locking part preferentially reaches the target position and guides the second locking part to close the archwire groove, thereby locking the archwire in the archwire groove.

8. The orthodontic bracket according to claim 2, wherein the area of ​​the first locking portion is configured to at least cover the bracket body, such that in the locked state, the first locking portion can completely close the archwire groove.

9. The orthodontic bracket according to claim 2 further includes a first displacement limiting part, the first displacement limiting part being constructed on the sliding support and the second locking part, for limiting the displacement of the locking member to occur only along the unlocking direction and the locking direction.

10. The orthodontic bracket according to claim 9, wherein the first displacement limiting portion is configured as consisting of a first protrusion and a first groove that engages with the first protrusion. The first protrusion is formed on the sliding support, and the first groove is formed within the second locking part. Or conversely, the first protrusion is constructed within the second locking portion, and the first groove is constructed on the sliding support.

11. The orthodontic bracket according to claim 2 further includes a second displacement limiting part, the second displacement limiting part being constructed on the movement path of the first locking part, for limiting the first locking part to lock on the movement path and prevent displacement when the first locking part moves to the target position.

12. The orthodontic bracket according to claim 11, wherein the second displacement limiting portion is configured as consisting of a second protrusion and at least one second groove engaging with the second protrusion. The second protrusion is formed on the bracket body and / or the sliding support, and the at least one second groove is formed on the first locking part. Alternatively, the second protrusion is formed on the first locking portion, and the at least one second groove is formed on the bracket body and / or sliding support.

13. The orthodontic bracket according to claim 1, wherein the archwire groove is arranged in a meandering manner in the extension direction, and / or, the bottom of the archwire groove is arranged at a predetermined angle to at least one adjacent groove wall.

14. The orthodontic bracket of claim 1, further comprising at least one elastic member configured between the sliding support and the locking member.

15. A 3D printing method, comprising: An energy beam is used to sinter or melt powder material applied layer by layer to a substrate to form a cross-sectional layer that is solidified layer by layer until an orthodontic bracket as described in any one of claims 1 to 12 is manufactured. The orthodontic bracket is printed in a direction parallel to the extension direction of the archwire groove.

16. An interlocking assembly, said interlocking assembly being integrally formed using 3D printing and comprising: Sliding support; A locking component, which is configured to be movable relative to the sliding support; When the locking component moves to the target position, it locks the sliding support, and the sliding support also locks the locking component.

17. The interlocking assembly of claim 16, wherein a clearance space is formed between the sliding support and the locking component after being integrally formed by the 3D printing.

18. The interlocking assembly according to claim 16 or 17, wherein the locking member is used to close a groove in the locking direction, and the locking occurs during the process of the locking member closing the groove.

19. The interlocking assembly of claim 18, wherein the support is configured to extend in an unlocking direction away from the groove to form a slide; The locking component has a first locking part and a second locking part. The first locking part is configured to move within the groove so that the second locking part moves synchronously above the support. In the locking direction, when the first locking part moves to the target position, it locks, and at the same time the second locking part closes the groove.

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