Biodegradable Orthodontic Composite for Back Teeth

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional orthodontic methods using mini tubes are difficult to use, especially for teeth with inner diameters smaller than 0.5 mm, and are limited to treating only the front teeth due to the inability to insert wires from the back, resulting in discomfort and aesthetic issues.

Innovation Solution

An orthodontic composite comprising a hollow orthodontic member made of water-soluble or biodegradable materials, such as gelatin or cellulose derivatives, with a wire inserted into the hollow portion, allowing for attachment to teeth using an adhesive and subsequent biodegradation to facilitate tooth movement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If mini tubes with inner diameter smaller than 0.5 mm are used, then the orthodontic treatment can be more aesthetic and less visible, but it becomes very difficult to insert the wire into the tubes attached to irregularly crooked teeth

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of wire insertionVSAvoidtube inner diameter

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The orthodontic member is divided into two functional parts: a hollow tube structure for attachment and a wire for force application. The tube serves as a guide and anchor, while the wire provides the orthodontic force, allowing the tube to be smaller and more aesthetic while maintaining wire insertion capability through its hollow structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The wire is inserted into the hollow portion of the orthodontic member tube, creating a nested structure where the wire resides within the tube's hollow space. This nesting allows the tube to maintain a small outer diameter for aesthetics while providing internal space for wire placement and movement

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Adaptability or versatility

If mini tubes are used for orthodontic treatment, then the treatment can be simpler, but it is impossible to insert the wire from the back of the throat, thus limiting application to only front teeth

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveapplicability to different teethVSAvoidwire insertion method

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of inserting the wire from the back of the throat through the mini tube as in conventional methods, the invention allows wire insertion from the front or side through the hollow portion of the orthodontic member. This inverted insertion approach enables treatment of back teeth (molars) that were previously inaccessible, significantly expanding adaptability while maintaining operational simplicity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Reliability

If braces are used for orthodontic treatment, then the teeth can be moved effectively, but the braces have a large and complicated structure that is visible and deteriorates aesthetic appearance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveorthodontic treatment effectivenessVSAvoidbraces structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and eliminates the complex bracket structure from conventional braces, retaining only the essential hollow tube component for attachment and the wire for force application. This extraction of unnecessary structural elements maintains orthodontic effectiveness while dramatically reducing device complexity and improving aesthetics through minimal visibility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The orthodontic member uses a thin-walled hollow tube structure that is flexible yet sufficiently strong to guide the wire and attach to teeth. This thin-film-like structure provides the necessary mechanical properties for reliable orthodontic treatment while being minimal in size and highly aesthetic, unlike bulky traditional braces

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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

Enables simple and universal orthodontic treatment, including back teeth, with reduced discomfort and improved aesthetics, as the biodegradable material dissolves, creating clearance for smooth tooth movement along the wire.

Implementation Method 1

the orthodontic member includes a water-soluble or biodegradable material

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBiodegradation: Decomposition (biological)

Implementation Method 2

which may be dissolved or biodegraded after a predetermined period of time

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDissolution: Solvation

Data Source

PatentUS11291528B2Orthodontic composite and method for preparing same

Publication Date: 2022.04.05 VERICOM

AI summary

Disclosed is an orthodontic composite, comprising: an orthodontic member which has a tube shape, a hollow polygonal prism shape, a hollow truncated polygonal pyramid shape, a hollow truncated cone shape, or a funnel shape; and an orthodontic wire that is inserted into the hollow portion of the orthodontic member, wherein the orthodontic member includes a water-soluble or biodegradable material. Thereby, the orthodontic composite of the present invention making it simple to perform orthodontic treatment by attaching the orthodontic composite.