Self-Ligating Orthodontic Bracket With Elastic Cover Lock

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing orthodontic brackets, particularly self-ligating types, face challenges in convenience and hygiene due to the need for ligature mounting and potential food residue retention, which can complicate procedures and affect oral hygiene.

Innovation Solution

An orthodontic bracket design featuring a body with a guide part and a cover that allows linear and rotational movement, secured by an elastic member, which also presses the cover to maintain a locked state and keep a wire in place, enhancing convenience and hygiene by eliminating the need for ligature installation and reducing food residue accumulation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a self-ligating bracket is used, then the time required for the procedure is reduced and oral hygiene is improved, but the device complexity increases due to the cover mechanism and elastic member

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocedure timeVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The bracket is designed as a self-ligating system where the elastic member automatically presses the cover to maintain the locked state without requiring manual ligation operations. The cover mechanism with hinge part and locking parts enables automatic wire securing, eliminating the need for separate ligature application steps and reducing procedure time while maintaining functional simplicity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The cover is designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing linear and rotational movement through the hinge part that rotates about an axis. This dynamic design enables the cover to transition between open and locked states, facilitating easy wire insertion and removal while maintaining a secure locked position during treatment, thus reducing overall procedure time

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If a ligature is installed on the orthodontic bracket, then the wire is secured in place, but food residue is retained on the ligature and bracket reducing oral hygiene

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewire retentionVSAvoidfood residue retention

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The traditional ligature is completely removed from the system and replaced with a different mechanism. The cover acts as a clamp that secures the wire through friction and mechanical constraint rather than through a separate ligature material, eliminating the surface where food residue would accumulate and making the bracket easier to clean

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The mechanical ligature system is replaced with an elastic member-based pressing mechanism. The elastic member deforms to press the cover against the wire, creating friction-based retention without requiring a separate ligature element. This substitution eliminates the food-trapping ligature while maintaining reliable wire security through the cover's mechanical constraint

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Ease of operation

If the cover is made movable to enable easy operation, then the ease of operation is improved, but the stability of the locked state may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of operationVSAvoidlocked state stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The elastic member is pre-loaded to continuously press the cover toward the locked state, creating a restoring force that maintains stability. This elastic cushioning ensures that any minor disturbances or vibrations during operation do not cause the cover to accidentally disengage, while still allowing intentional opening when needed, thus balancing ease of operation with locked state stability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Solution Approach 2:

The locking mechanism combines multiple components with complementary properties: the rigid cover and body provide structural stability, while the elastic member provides flexible pressing force. The hinge part with rotation axis enables controlled movement, and the combination of these elements creates a system that is both easy to operate and stable when locked

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

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 a convenient and hygienic orthodontic bracket that simplifies the treatment process, reduces procedure time, and maintains a stable locked state, preventing foreign substances from entering between the bracket and cover, thus improving patient comfort and oral hygiene.

Implementation Method 1

an elastic member configured to press the cover to maintain a locked state of the cover

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic force: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP3284436B1Orthodontic bracket

Publication Date: 2020.03.25 BIOCETEC

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AI summary

Disclosed is an orthodontic bracket. An orthodontic bracket according to an aspect of the present invention comprises a body attached to teeth, a cover linear-movably and rotatably coupled to the body, and an elastic member which applies pressure to the cover so as to keep the cover locked, wherein the cover is locked to the body while pressing a wire such that the wire is seated in the body.