Orthodontic Device Alloy Composition for Strength Without Bulk
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional medical devices made from stainless steel or cobalt-chromium alloys lack improved properties such as strength, durability, and biocompatibility, and often require increased bulk and weight to achieve desired performance, which can limit their application and effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
A novel alloy comprising molybdenum and rhenium, with optional additions of titanium, zirconium, and other alloying agents, is used to enhance the medical device's properties like radiopacity, strength, flexibility, and biostability, allowing for reduced size and weight while maintaining or exceeding the performance of traditional materials.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If conventional stainless steel or cobalt-chromium alloys are used to make medical devices, then the devices can achieve basic strength and durability, but the devices require increased bulk and weight which limits their application and effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material composition parameters by using a novel alloy system with molybdenum (40-70 wt%), rhenium (20-50 wt%), and optional third elements (0.1-10 wt% each of titanium, zirconium, niobium, or tantalum). This parameter change in alloy composition achieves superior strength properties while reducing the need for increased bulk and weight compared to conventional stainless steel or cobalt-chromium alloys
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite alloy material combining molybdenum and rhenium as base elements with trace additions of other metals. This composite material structure provides enhanced strength, radiopacity, and biocompatibility while maintaining reduced weight and bulk compared to traditional medical device materials
2Reliability
If conventional alloys are used, then the devices can be manufactured with standard materials, but they lack improved properties such as strength, durability, and biocompatibility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the material parameters by incorporating specific alloying elements (molybdenum, rhenium, and optional third elements) in controlled quantities. This changes the material's biocompatibility, radiopacity, and mechanical properties while maintaining manufacturability through established metallurgical processes
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by adding specific elements (titanium, zirconium, niobium, or tantalum) in small quantities (0.1-10 wt%) to enhance specific properties such as biocompatibility and radiopacity without significantly complicating the overall manufacturing process. The controlled trace additions provide targeted property improvements
3Volume of moving object
If traditional materials are used, then the devices can be made with current technology, but they require additional marker materials for radiopacity and cannot be made smaller or thinner
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material density and composition parameters by using molybdenum (40-70 wt%) and rhenium (20-50 wt%) which provide high radiopacity. This allows the device to be made smaller and thinner (reduced volume) while maintaining adequate radial strength and eliminating the need for additional marker materials
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the alloy material multi-functional by incorporating elements that simultaneously provide structural strength, radiopacity, and biocompatibility. This universal material replaces the need for separate structural components and radiopaque marker materials, enabling reduced device volume while maintaining all necessary functions
4Duration of action of moving object
If conventional materials are used, then the devices can be manufactured currently, but they lack improved fatigue life, crack resistance, and recoil properties
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the alloy composition parameters with molybdenum (40-70 wt%), rhenium (20-50 wt%), and controlled trace elements (0.1-10 wt%). This parameter optimization enhances fatigue life and crack resistance by creating a material structure that resists deformation and failure under cyclic loading, while the controlled composition keeps manufacturing complexity manageable
Data Source
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AI summary
A method and process for at least partially forming a medical device. The present invention is generally directed to a medical device that is at least partially made of a novel alloy having improved properties as compared to past medical devices. The novel alloy used to at least partially form the medical device improves one or more properties (e.g., strength, durability, hardness, biostability, bendability, coefficient of friction, radial strength, flexibility, tensile strength, tensile elongation, longitudinal lengthening, stress-strain properties, improved recoil properties, radiopacity, heat sensitivity, biocompatibility, improved fatigue life, crack resistance, crack propagation resistance, etc.) of such medical device.