Maxillary Expander With Palatal Segmentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing maxillary skeletal expanders either directly affect tooth movement, causing undesirable alveolar effects, or require multiple installations and surgical procedures due to insufficient force distribution, leading to increased stress on screws and bone, discomfort, and inefficiency in achieving orthopedic expansion.

Innovation Solution

A maxillary expander device comprising a pair of bodies fixed to the hard palate with adjustable aligners and multiple fasteners that apply expansion forces without engaging teeth, distributing forces more evenly along the median palatine suture, allowing for interchangeable screw sizes and reduced stress on screws and bone, while maintaining a stable expansion without disrupting tongue function.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Force

If force is applied directly to the hard palate using mini screws, then orthopedic expansion is improved, but stress on screws and bone increases leading to potential breakage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveorthopedic expansion forceVSAvoidscrew and bone integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The expander is divided into multiple independent bodies (first body, second body, third body, fourth body) that can be separately attached to the hard palate at different locations. This segmentation distributes the applied force across multiple attachment points rather than concentrating it at two points, reducing stress on individual screws and bone structures while maintaining effective orthopedic expansion force.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Device complexity

If only two mini implants are used on each side of the median palatine suture, then device complexity is reduced, but force distribution becomes insufficient leading to increased stress on each implant

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of implantsVSAvoidstress on each mini implant

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSStress or pressure

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of using only two mini implants per side, the device employs four separate bodies (first, second, third, and fourth bodies) that can be attached at multiple locations on the hard palate. This segmentation increases the number of force distribution points from two to four per side, significantly reducing the stress burden on each individual implant while maintaining manageable device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Force

If expansion screw is activated fully in skeletally mature individuals, then orthopedic expansion is achieved, but tooth movement and alveolar effects occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveexpansion forceVSAvoidtooth movement and alveolar effects

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The design extracts the force application from tooth-borne anchorage and relocates it entirely to hard palate attachment points. By removing the connection to teeth and applying force exclusively through mini screws embedded in the hard palate, the system achieves orthopedic expansion without transmitting harmful forces to the teeth and alveolar bone, eliminating tooth movement and alveolar effects.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Reliability

If multiple devices are required for satisfactory skeletal expansion, then orthopedic expansion effectiveness is improved, but number of surgical procedures and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveskeletal expansion effectivenessVSAvoidnumber of surgical procedures

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The invention merges multiple expansion functions into a single integrated device by combining first, second, third, and fourth bodies into one cohesive expander system. This unified design provides sufficient force distribution and orthopedic effectiveness in a single device, eliminating the need for multiple sequential procedures while maintaining reliable skeletal expansion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 device achieves efficient orthopedic expansion with reduced alveolar and tooth effects, minimizing discomfort and the need for multiple surgical procedures, while maintaining effective force distribution and stability during the expansion and holding phases.

Implementation Method 1

As the screw is turned, a bilateral force is generated against the teeth and jaws to cause displacement of the teeth and the maxillary arch

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical Force: Mechanical Force

Implementation Method 2

The Moon expander uses four mini screws/temporary anchorage devices to mount a pair of bodies to the ceiling of the hard palate

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical Force: Mechanical Force

Implementation Method 3

a pair of first bodies (100a-b) configured for intraoral attachment to a hard palate of a patient on either side of a median palatine suture

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical Fastener: Mechanical Fastener

Data Source

PatentUS10575926B2Maxillary expander

Publication Date: 2020.03.03 FACEGENICS INC

AI summary

An orthodontic device and method to treat maxillary deficiencies by expanding the upper palate of a patient is provided. The device and method do not require any engagement with teeth of the patient.