Active Self-Ligating Orthodontic Bracket With Rail-Slide Lid
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing self-ligating orthodontic brackets face issues such as spring deformation, food residue accumulation, and instability due to lack of a fixed center of rotation, leading to inefficient tooth alignment and hygiene problems.
Innovation Solution
A bracket design featuring a body with a vertical slot, a lid that moves forward/backward, a spring and lock group with fixed ends, and a movement mechanism with rails and slides, ensuring the spring and lid are flush and stable during operation, preventing deformation and food residue accumulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a spring mechanism is provided on the bracket to exert force onto the wire, then the wire can be controlled and fitted into the slot, but the spring may deform, accumulate food residues, and become prevented by tartar
Solution Approach 1:
The spring mechanism is extracted from the traditional bracket design and replaced with a wire-controlled system. The wire itself serves as the actuating element that engages with the slot, eliminating the spring component that causes deformation and food accumulation problems while maintaining the ability to control wire positioning and exert force as needed
2Ease of operation
If the lid is made movable to open and close the slot, then wire insertion and removal is facilitated, but the spring and lid mechanism becomes complex and prone to deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The complex spring-lid mechanism is extracted and replaced with a simplified direct wire engagement system. The lid is eliminated in favor of a design where the wire directly interacts with the slot opening, allowing easy insertion and removal without requiring sophisticated moving parts or spring-loaded components
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using a lid that moves to cover the slot opening, the design inverts the approach by having the wire itself control access to the slot. The wire is inserted directly into the slot opening from the front, and its engagement is controlled by the wire's own geometry and elasticity rather than by a separate lid mechanism
3Force
If the spring stretches to exert force on the wire, then the wire is pushed into the slot, but the spring lacks a fixed center of rotation and becomes deformed
Solution Approach 1:
The spring is extracted from the system and replaced with the wire itself serving as the force-exerting element. The wire's elastic properties and geometric configuration provide the necessary force to engage with the slot and maintain positioning, eliminating the need for a separate spring component that would require a fixed center of rotation
Solution Approach 2:
The wire serves multiple functions simultaneously: it is both the orthodontic appliance that applies force to the tooth and the actuating element that engages with the slot mechanism. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate spring components and simplifies the overall structure while maintaining force application capability
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The design provides stable, hygienic, and efficient tooth movement with controlled force application, minimizing deformation and maintaining bracket functionality over time.
Implementation Method 1
a spring and lock group (19) having at least one spring (4) which is provided between the body (2) and the lid (3), which stretches in the vertical plane
Implementation Method 2
a movement mechanism (10) which has at least one rail (11) extending on the ceiling of the body (2) perpendicularly to the slot (5) and at least one slide (12) fitted into said rail (11)
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
The bracket (1 ) of the present invention is suitable to be used in orthodontic treatment, comprising a body (2); a slot (5) which extends in the vertical plane from the ceiling of the body (2) towards the base thereof and which receives a wire (21); a lid (3) which moves forwards/backwards so as to open/close the mouth of the slot (5); a spring and lock group (19) having at least one spring (4) which is provided between the body (2) and the lid (3), which stretches in the vertical plane and which moves together with the lid (3) with one end being fixed to the lid (3) and the other being free; and a movement mechanism (10) which has at least one rail (11) extending on the ceiling of the body (2) perpendicularly to the slot (5) and at least one slide (12) fitted into said rail (11 ) and extending downwards from the lower surface of the lid (3) and which enables the lid (3) to move by sliding on the ceiling of the body (2).