Angled Curved Shutter Orthodontic Bracket for Torque Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing self-ligating orthodontic brackets suffer from archwire looseness within the slot, leading to inadequate tooth positioning and torque control, particularly with passive systems that fail to maintain consistent contact with the archwire across different sizes and configurations.
Innovation Solution
A resilient locking shutter member with angled outer tracks and a guide bar is used, allowing the shutter to slide between open and closed positions, ensuring constant contact with the archwire, especially with larger rectangular wires, and applying a lingual force to secure it towards the base of the slot, utilizing materials like nickel-titanium or spring steel for enhanced resiliency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a passive self-ligating bracket with a straight clip design is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the archwire becomes loose within the slot leading to inadequate tooth positioning and torque control
Solution Approach 1:
The clip is designed to be resilient and movable between engaged and disengaged positions, allowing it to dynamically adapt to different archwire sizes and configurations while maintaining consistent contact and control throughout the orthodontic treatment process
Solution Approach 2:
The clip features a curved configuration that complements the natural curvature of archwires, ensuring optimal contact surface area and consistent engagement regardless of the archwire's cross-sectional shape or size
2Ease of operation
If a passive self-ligating bracket is used, then the ease of operation is improved, but the torque control is inadequate especially with larger rectangular archwires
Solution Approach 1:
The resilient clip's material properties and geometric parameters are optimized to generate sufficient contact force and torque control across the full range of archwire sizes, from thin round wires to thick rectangular wires, while maintaining ease of operation
Solution Approach 2:
The clip is pre-configured in an engaged position that automatically applies the necessary retaining force to the archwire upon insertion, eliminating the need for additional tightening operations while ensuring immediate torque control
3Force
If a resilient locking shutter member with angled tracks is used, then the torque control is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bracket is divided into distinct functional components: the bracket body, the resilient clip, and the angled tracks. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently for its specific function while maintaining overall system simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The addition of angled tracks introduces a new spatial dimension to the clip's movement path, enabling the clip to apply torque control forces more effectively while maintaining a compact overall bracket design
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
This design provides more precise tooth alignment and improved torque control by maintaining contact with the archwire throughout the treatment process, even with larger archwires, reducing the risk of root resorption and enhancing orthodontic tooth movement.
Implementation Method 1
a resilient locking shutter member with angled outer tracks and a guide bar is used, allowing the shutter to slide between open and closed positions, ensuring constant contact with the archwire
Implementation Method 2
utilizing materials like nickel-titanium or spring steel for enhanced resiliency
Data Source
AI summary
An orthodontic bracket that having a clip angulated toward the lingual direction in a diagonal orientation for active seating of archwires. The bracket having a lingual vertical slot, a pair of gingival tie wings and a pair of occlusal tie wings. An archwire slot extending mesiodistally across the body. A locking shutter with a pair of resilient arms connected by a guide bar and moveable between an open position allowing placement of the archwire and a closed position inhibiting removal of the archwire. A pair of tracks on each of the outer lateral surfaces of the body, extending from the occlusal tie wings and into the gingival tie wings. The tracks dimensioned to receive the resilient arms therein. The tracks extend in a substantially occlusal-gingival direction, angled lingually by an angle Θ with respect to a plane parallel to a vertical that is perpendicular to the occlusal plane.