Bioelectric Stimulator for Accelerating Orthodontic Tooth Movement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional orthodontic treatment is lengthy, often lasting 22 to 24 months, and is associated with side effects such as root length loss and gum and bone disease due to the slow process of tooth movement, which current methods like corticotomy and protein injections fail to effectively accelerate, leading to prolonged retention periods and high morbidity.
Innovation Solution
A bioelectric stimulator device that optimally releases specific proteins and cells in the right sequence to accelerate bone resorption and deposition, reducing orthodontic treatment time by targeting native bone pathways with controlled bioelectric signals, including RANKL, OPG, SDF-1, and VEGF, to enhance tooth movement and stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If conventional orthodontic treatment methods are used, then treatment can be completed with standard procedures, but treatment time is prolonged to 22-24 months
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the biochemical parameters of bone tissue by introducing recombinant human PTH (1-34) peptide, which alters the normal bone remodeling process to accelerate demineralization and remineralization rates, thereby speeding up tooth movement without extending treatment complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses recombinant human PTH (1-34) as an intermediary substance that mediates between the orthodontic force applied to teeth and the bone remodeling process, enhancing the body's natural bone resorption and formation pathways to facilitate faster tooth movement
2Loss of time
If corticotomy surgery is performed to accelerate tooth movement, then treatment time is shortened, but patient morbidity and pain increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical surgical intervention of corticotomy with a biochemical approach using PTH (1-34) peptide administration, which achieves bone remodeling acceleration through molecular signaling rather than physical bone cutting, thereby eliminating surgical morbidity and pain
Solution Approach 2:
The patent activates the body's own bone remodeling mechanisms through PTH (1-34) stimulation, allowing the patient's physiological systems to perform the bone resorption and formation processes needed for accelerated tooth movement without requiring external surgical intervention
3Productivity
If protein injection systems are used to enhance bone resorption, then tooth movement is accelerated, but the therapeutic agent washes out requiring continual re-injections
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves continuous therapeutic effect through sustained PTH (1-34) peptide administration that maintains continuous stimulation of bone remodeling pathways, unlike injection systems where the agent washes out; the continuous presence of PTH ensures persistent activation of osteoclast and osteoblast activity throughout the treatment period
4Stability of the object's composition
If prolonged retention period is used for bone deposition, then tooth stability is improved, but treatment duration extends by up to two years
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs periodic administration of PTH (1-34) peptide during the retention phase, creating cyclical stimulation of bone formation that accelerates the remineralization process; this periodic biochemical signaling intensifies bone deposition rates, allowing the same level of tooth stability to be achieved in a fraction of the time required by conventional passive retention
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 bioelectric stimulator significantly shortens orthodontic treatment time by up to 50%, reduces pain, and minimizes relapse, while providing stable tooth positioning and bone integration, offering a non-invasive and pain-free alternative to existing methods.
Implementation Method 1
accelerating bone resorption/demineralization at the leading edge of the tooth during orthodontic movement
Implementation Method 2
The bone is then re-mineralized on the trailing edge
Implementation Method 3
Specific proteins activate specific cells to cause the cells to initiate bone resorption
Implementation Method 4
specific proteins stimulate specific cells to differentiate into osteoblasts (bone deposition cells)
Data Source
AI summary
Described is a bioelectric stimulating device for reducing orthodontic treatment time (braces) with post-treatment stability enhancement. The device and associated methods provide a native sustainable optimal release of an increase in the quantity of the right cells and proteins over time and in the right sequence to optimize tooth movement with the braces by accelerating bone resorption at the leading edge of the tooth during movement. This acceleration phenomenon is responsible for being able to shorten orthodontic treatment time. Following the final alignment of the teeth, the same device can utilize the native response and accelerate the tooth/bone interface stability by targeting specific cells and proteins that are responsible for bone deposition (hardening) in order to shorten the retention phase, while greatly decreasing the chance of relapse (instability).