Motorized Orthodontic Appliance with Microcontroller for Individual Tooth Movement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional orthodontic and orthognathic devices lack individualization and control, leading to inconsistent and uncomfortable tooth movement and bone modification, with frequent adjustments required, causing discomfort and inaccuracies in treatment outcomes.
Innovation Solution
An electrically powered orthodontic/orthognathic device with a motor and microcontroller that applies predictable, constant force to teeth and bones through lever arms, allowing for customized treatment plans and reducing the need for frequent professional visits, with a rechargeable battery and programmable microprocessor for precise control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional orthodontic appliances with flexible wires and preadjusted arch form are used, then teeth can be aligned gradually, but all teeth must follow the preadjusted arch form even if some teeth are already in proper position, lacking individualization
Solution Approach 1:
The appliance is divided into separate adjustable components for each tooth or group of teeth. Each segment can be independently adjusted to apply specific forces to individual teeth, allowing customized treatment plans that address the specific needs of each patient without forcing all teeth to follow a single preadjusted arch form.
Solution Approach 2:
The appliance incorporates adjustable and reconfigurable elements that can be modified during treatment. The wire arrangement, bracket positions, and force application points can be dynamically adjusted to change the treatment plan as teeth move, enabling individualization and adaptability to evolving treatment requirements.
2Manufacturing precision
If conventional distalization appliances are used to move posterior teeth distally, then space can be created, but difficulty and lack of control make the appliance incompletely effective
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces conventional mechanical distalization appliances with a system that uses controlled wire flexibility and bracket mechanics to achieve distalization. The preadjusted arch form and wire configuration provide built-in control mechanisms that guide tooth movement in the desired direction, eliminating the need for complex external control systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The appliance design incorporates inherent feedback mechanisms through the wire-b bracket interaction. As teeth move, the wire flexibility and bracket positions provide continuous feedback that automatically adjusts force application to maintain control over movement direction, ensuring complete effectiveness without requiring external monitoring or adjustment.
3Reliability
If conventional distraction osteogenesis devices are used to reposition bones, then bone structure can be changed, but the devices require periodic retensioning and adjustment requiring professional intervention at great inconvenience and discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The appliance is preadjusted with predetermined wire configurations and bracket positions that are optimized for specific treatment objectives. This preliminary adjustment ensures that the correct forces are applied from the outset, eliminating the need for periodic retensioning and professional visits during treatment.
Solution Approach 2:
The appliance is designed to be self-adjusting through its preconfigured wire and bracket system. The inherent flexibility of the wires and the geometry of the brackets automatically maintain proper force application as teeth and bones move, eliminating the need for periodic professional intervention and making the treatment process more convenient for patients.
4Productivity
If conventional orthodontic expanders with screws that need to be turned daily are used, then maxilla can be expanded, but daily maintenance and adjustment cause discomfort and inconvenience
Solution Approach 1:
The expander appliance is preadjusted with predetermined wire configurations that are optimized for maxillary expansion. The preadjusted arch form and wire arrangement automatically provide the necessary expansion forces without requiring daily patient intervention, eliminating the need for daily screw turning while maintaining effective expansion rates.
Solution Approach 2:
The expander design incorporates self-adjusting mechanisms where the wire flexibility and bracket geometry automatically maintain expansion forces as the maxilla expands. This self-service capability eliminates the need for daily maintenance and patient effort, significantly improving convenience while maintaining treatment effectiveness.
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 enables precise and reproducible tooth and bone movement, reducing patient discomfort and improving treatment accuracy, allowing for independent tooth movement and complex bone repositioning without the need for daily adjustments, enhancing treatment efficiency and patient comfort.
Implementation Method 1
An electrically powered orthodontic/orthognathic device with a motor and microcontroller that applies predictable, constant force to teeth and bones through lever arms
Implementation Method 2
The motor provides tension to teeth and/or bone structure through one or more lever arms that connect the tensioning motor of the orthodontic/orthognathic device to tooth or bone
Data Source
AI summary
An orthodontic/orthognathic device for correcting and changing tooth placements and bone structure, and a method of using orthodontic/orthognathic device for tooth movement, correcting syndromic conditions of the mouth and osteogenetic correction. The device may be used for maxillary distraction and expansion as well as mandibular separation and expansion. The device can be controlled by computer to direct tooth and bone placement.