An intraoral orthodontic treatment appliance

Abstract

An intraoral orthodontic appliance is arranged to correct maxillary deficiencies, particularly in patients in late growth stages. The one-piece appliance includes a central rapid expansion screw 9 tha

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an intraoral orthodontic appliance for correcting maxillary deficiency in skeletally mature patients (late teens to adults). BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Maxillary hypoplasia, characterised by underdevelopment of the upper jaw in the transverse, sagittal, and vertical dimensions, affects a significant portion of patients with class III malocclusions. While orthopaedic treatments can stimulate maxillary growth in younger patients, options for non-growing patients have been limited to uncomfortable external appliances or surgical interventions. Existing appliances such as facemasks, protraction headgear, and surgical procedures like Le Fort I osteotomy present drawbacks, including patient discomfort, extended treatment times, and potential surgical complications. A comfortable, practical intraoral appliance is needed to address the maxillary deficiency in skeletally mature patients. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to this invention there is provided an intraoral orthodontic appliance for correcting maxillary hypoplasia in the last growth stage, comprising: a central rapid expansion screw arranged to provide force in an anteroposterior direction, a body portion incorporating six bands secured on the right and left first premolars and first and second right and left molars, auxiliary wires integrated into the appliance to anchor the screw and bands so as to provide a controlled force for the forward protraction of the upper jaw. The present invention, herein referred to as a J-Expander, is a one-piece intraoral orthodontic appliance for correcting maxillary deficiency in the last growth stage. The J-Expander features a central hygienic rapid expansion screw (typically known as a Hyrax® screw), which provides force in an anteroposterior direction, surrounded by a body portion that incorporates six bands secured on the right and left first premolars and first and second right and left molars. These six orthodontic bands are preferably cemented on the respective teeth. Auxiliary wires are integrated into the appliance to anchor the screw and bands, providing controlled force for the forward protraction of the upper jaw. This tooth-borne appliance offers several advantages over traditional bulky appliances, including improved hygiene, increased patient comfort, minimal impact on speech, and better social acceptance. Preferably, the central rapid expansion screw comprises two segments, an anterior segment and a posterior segment, which can be separated by turning the central rapid expansion screw. The central rapid expansion screw portion of the J-Expander may be created using manufacturing techniques, such as casting or milling processes. Conveniently, the central rapid expansion screw is separated by inserting a key into the screw and turning it. Advantageously, a rigid wire of 2 millimetres diameter made of stainless steel connects the bands of each right and left first premolar to an anterior portion of the central rapid expansion screw. Advantageously, rigid wires made of 2 millimetres of stainless steel connect the bands of each firstand second molar to a posterior portion of the central rapid expansion screw. The central rapid expansion screw exerts considerable force, moving the anterior teeth from the first right premolars to the first left premolars in a forward position. Each screw turn is arranged to create a 0.25-millimetre movement. Advantageously, for the upper set of teeth, the J-Expander includes a lingual portion attached to the bands of the first and second right and left premolars and the first and second right and left molars. The lingual portion also contacts the lingual surface of the anterior teeth from the first right premolars to the first left premolars. Advantageously, the metal used for the lingual portions of the orthodontic expander is stainless steel wire suitable for dental applications, which provides the requisite durability and strength. Other metals, such as gold, platinum, titanium, cobalt-chromium, and molybdenum, may also be used. The central rapid expansion screw may be activated once every week, creating a 0.25-millimetre separation. The anterior part extends from the right first premolar to the left first premolar, while the posterior part includes the first and second permanent molars. By turning the screw, the two components of the J-Expander become separated: the anterior part separates from the posterior part. The anterior segment extends from the right first premolar to the left first premolar, whereas the posterior segment encompasses the first and second permanent molars. Due to the larger root surface area in the posterior segment, which consists of four teeth with increased bone contact surface area, the anchorage in the posterior section is significantly greater than in the anterior section. Consequently, the posterior teeth remain stationary while the anterior teeth move forward. Furthermore, the wire segment positioned on the anterior teeth's lingual aspect, extending from the right first premolar to the left first premolar, transfers pressure from the screw to the lingual surfaces of the anterior teeth, inducing forward movement. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 illustrates an example of the appliance in accordance with this invention in an upper jaw for protraction of the upper anterior teeth from the right first premolar to the left first premolar, Fig. 2 illustrates a top view of the appliance, Fig. 3 illustrates a bottom view of the appliance, Fig. 4 illustrates a lateral view of the appliance, Fig. 5 illustrates an activation key for use with the appliance. In the Figures like reference numerals denote like parts. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The intraoral orthodontic expander, herein referred to as a J-Expander, creates a considerable force in the anteroposterior direction. The central part of the J-Expander is made of a central rapid expansion screw, known as a Hyrax® screw, 9. The Hyrax® screw 9 can be made using manufacturing techniques such as casting or milling, and wires made of metal materials such as stainless steel, gold, platinum, titanium, cobalt-chromium, or molybdenum extend from the Hyrax® screw 9. Referring to Figures 1 - 4, the J-Expander is placed in the upper jaw, fitting around the first right upper premolar 36 and first left upper premolar 37 and the first right upper molar 32 and first left upper molar 33 and second right upper molar 30 second left upper molar 31, as shown in Figure 1. The Hyrax® screw has an anterior, i.e. front, screw body 9 and posterior, i.e. rear, screw body on opposed rails and both of which are internally threaded to accept a threaded shaft 10 which, when turned, is able to separate the exterior screw body 9 from the posterior screw body 13. The shaft 10 has a small diametrically extending hole 11, which allows insertion of an activation key 44, shown in Figure 5. When the key 44 is turned, it rotates the shaft 10, which moves the attached anterior screw body 9 and the posterior screw body 13 sections outwardly. The shaft's rotation moves the two halves of the device, anterior screw body 9 and posterior screw body 13 away from each other, gradually creating space between the two sections. A right metal arm 6 connects a band 4 around a first right upper premolar 36 to the anterior screw body 9 of the Hyrax® screw. The band 4 is incorporated with a bracket. A left metal arm 7 connects a band 5 around a first left upper premolar 37 to the anterior 5 screw body 9 of the Hyrax® screw. The band 5 is incorporated with a bracket 2. These arms are made from 2-millimetre stainless steel. A right-hand metal arm 14 connects a band 16 around a right upper molar 32 to the posterior screw body 13 of the Hyrax® screw. The band 16 is incorporated with a buccal tube 18 and an auxiliary slot 20. A left-hand metal arm 15 connects a band 17 around a left upper molar 33 to the posterior screw body 13 of the Hyrax® screw. The band 17 is incorporated with a buccal tube 19 and an auxiliary slot 21. The arms 14, 15 are made from 2-millimetre diameter stainless steel. The bands are preferably around the teeth with which they are associated. A right-hand metal arm 28 connects a band 22 around a second right upper molar 30 to the posterior portion screw body 13 of the Hyrax® screw 13. The band 22 is incorporated with a buccal tube 24 and an auxiliary slot 26. The left-hand metal arm 29 connects a band 23 around a second left upper molar 31, to the posterior screw body 13 of the Hyrax® screw. The band 23 is incorporated with a buccal tube 25 and an auxiliary slot 27. The arms 28, 29 are made from 2-millimetre diameter stainless steel. A 1-millimetre diameter stainless steel metal arm 1 interconnects a first upper right 4 and left 5 premolar band with the right and left upper canine teeth 38, 39, lateral teeth 40, 41 and central teeth 42, 43. A second right upper premolar 34 and a second left premolar 35 are also shown in Figure 1. In operation, by rotating the Hyrax® screw to open it, arm 1 pushes the anterior teeth from the first right premolar to the left premolar in a forward direction. The Hyrax® screw is adjusted by inserting the activation key 44 into the screw hole 11 and turning it a quarter turn once every week to create an incremental change of 0.25 millimetres. By turning the Hyrax® screw a quarter turn, i.e. 90°, provides a force of separation of 0.25 millimetres, and so the two components of the J-Expander become separated; that is, the anterior screw body 9 separates from the posterior screw body 13. Due to the larger root surface area in the posterior segment, consisting of four teeth 30, 31, 32, 33 with increased bone contact surface area, the anchorage in the posterior section is significantly greater than in the anterior section. Consequently, the posterior teeth remain stationary while theanteriorteeth move forward. Furthermore, the arm 1 positioned on the anterior teeth's lingual aspect, extending from the right first premolar 36 to the left first premolar 37, transfers pressure from the anterior part of the screw body 9 to the lingual surfaces of the anterior teeth 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, inducing forward movement.

Claims

1. An intraoral orthodontic appliance for correcting maxillary hypoplasia in the last growth stage, comprising:a central rapid expansion screw arranged to provide force in an anteroposterior direction, a body portion incorporating six bands secured on the right and left first premolars and first and second right and left molars, auxiliary wires integrated into the appliance to anchor the screw and bands so as to provide a controlled force for the forward protraction of the upper jaw.

2. The orthodontic appliance of claim 1, wherein the central rapid expansion screw comprises two segments, an anterior segment and a posterior segment, which can be separated by turning the central rapid expansion screw.

3. The orthodontic appliance of claims 1 or 2, wherein a rigid wire of 2 millimetres diameter made of stainless steel connects the bands of each right and left first premolar to the anterior segment of the central rapid expansion screw.

4. The orthodontic appliance of claim 1, wherein rigid wires made of 2 millimetres of stainless steel connect the bands of each first and second molar to the posterior segment of the central rapid expansion screw.

5. The orthodontic appliance of any preceding claim, wherein a lingual portion attached to the bands of the first and second right and left premolars and the first and second right and left molars also contacts the lingual surface of the anterior teeth from the first right premolars to the first left premolars.

6. The orthodontic appliance as claimed in claim 5, wherein the metal used for the lingual portion is one of stainless steel, gold, platinum, titanium, cobalt-chromium, and molybdenum5 7. The orthodontic appliance as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the centralrapid expansion screw may be activated once every week, creating a 0.25-millimetre separation.1003 03 25AMENDMENTS TO THE CLAIMS HAVE BEEN FILED AS FOLLOWS:CLAIMS:

1. An intraoral orthodontic appliance for correcting maxillary hypoplasia in the last growth stage, comprising:5 a central rapid expansion screw (Hyrax®) arranged to provide force in an anteroposterior direction, a body portion incorporating six bands (4, 5,16,17, 22, 23) secured on the right and left first premolars (36, 37) and first and second right and left molars (30, 31,32,33), auxiliary wires (1, 6, 7, 14, 15, 28, 29) integrated into the appliance to anchor the screw and bands so as to provide a controlled force for the forward protraction of the upper 10 jaw, wherein a 1mm diameter stainless steel metal arm (1) interconnects the first upper right (4) and left premolar band (5) with the left and right upper canine teeth (38, 39), lateral teeth (40, 41) and central teeth (42, 43).

2. The orthodontic appliance of claim 1, wherein the Hyrax® expansion screw comprises 15 two segments, an anterior segment and a posterior segment, which can be separated by turning the Hyrax® expansion screw.

3. The orthodontic appliance of claims 1 or 2, wherein a rigid wire of 2 millimetres diameter made of stainless steel connects the bands of each right and left first premolar 20 to the anterior segment of the Hyrax® expansion screw.

4. The orthodontic appliance of claim 1, wherein rigid wires made of 2 millimetres of stainless steel connect the bands of each first and second molar to the posterior segment of the Hyrax® screw.

255. The orthodontic appliance as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the metal used forthe lingual portion is one of stainless steel, gold, platinum, titanium, cobalt-chromium, and molybdenum30 6. The orthodontic appliance as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the Hyrax® screwexpander may be activated once every week, creating a 0.25-millimetre separation.Application No: GB2413426.4Examiner: Dr Matthew ParkerClaims searched: 1-7Date of search: 7 February 2025Patents Act 1977: Search Report under Section 17Documents considered to be relevant:Category Relevant to claims Identity of document and passage or figure of particular relevance X 1-7 CN 2492204 Y (PEOPLE S HOSPITAL JIANG AN DIS), see Figure X 1-7 US 2017 / 0209239 Al (SHOWKATBAKHSH et al ), see Figures 1 and 2 X 1-7 CN 109044542 A (SHANGHAI JINGGONG DENTAL TECH CO LTD), see Figure v A 1-7 CN 208511215 U (SHANGHAI 9TH PEOPLES HOSPITAL SHANGHAI JIAOTONG UNIV SCHOOL MEDICINE), see Figure 6-9 X 1-7 US 2020 / 0085538 Al (KIM), see Figure 1 v A 1-7 US 6435870 Bl (WALDE), see Figure 1 X 1-7 CN 209122495 U (SHANGHAI JINGGONG DENTAL TECH CO LTD), see Figure 2 X 1-7 CN 204600827 U (PLASTIC SURGERY HOSPITAL CAMS), see Figure 1Categories:X Document indicating lack of novelty or inventive step A Document indicating technological background and / or state of the art. Y Document indicating lack of inventive step if P Document published on or after the declared priority date but combined with one or more other documents of same category. before the filing date of this invention. & Member of the same patent family E Patent document published on or after, but with priority date earlier than, the filing date of this application.Field of Search:Search of GB, EP, WO &US patent documents classified in the following areas of the UKCX :Worldwide search of patent documents classified in the following areas of the IPC____________ A61C___________________________________________________ The following online and other databases have been used in the preparation of this search report SEARCH-PATENTInternational Classification:Subclass Subgroup Valid From A61C 0007 / 10 01 / 01 / 2006

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