Orthodontic Archwire With Carbon Nanotube Bonding Substrates
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional orthodontic archwire devices often require dental cement for attachment to teeth, which can be cumbersome and uncomfortable for patients, and may not effectively address minor orthodontic malocclusions or relapse cases outside the treatment range of conventional realigner-retainer appliances.
Innovation Solution
An orthodontic archwire system featuring carbon-nanotube bonding substrates permanently fabricated onto the archwire, allowing for direct attachment to teeth without traditional brackets, providing a lower profile and improved comfort, and enabling correction of minor malocclusions and relapse cases through precise positioning of teeth.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional orthodontic brackets with dental cement are used for attachment, then secure bonding is achieved, but patient comfort deteriorates due to friction and cumbersome procedures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes traditional orthodontic brackets and dental cement from the attachment system. Instead, carbon nanotube bonding substrates are directly integrated onto the archwire, eliminating the need for separate bracket components and cement application procedures. This extraction of unnecessary components reduces friction and improves patient comfort while maintaining secure attachment through the unique properties of carbon nanotubes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes carbon nanotube bonding substrates as a composite material that combines the structural integrity needed for secure attachment with surface properties that reduce friction. The carbon nanotube structure provides both mechanical strength for reliable bonding and a low-friction surface that enhances patient comfort, resolving the contradiction between secure attachment and comfort.
2Adaptability or versatility
If traditional brackets are used, then comprehensive orthodontic treatment is possible, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functions of traditional brackets and bonding cement into a single integrated component: the carbon nanotube bonding substrate attached directly to the archwire. This consolidation eliminates multiple separate components (brackets, cement, bonding agents) while maintaining the necessary treatment capabilities, thereby reducing device complexity without sacrificing adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The carbon nanotube bonding substrate serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural attachment points, reduces friction against the archwire, and enables secure bonding to tooth surfaces. This multi-functionality allows the simplified device to maintain comprehensive treatment capabilities while reducing overall system complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If conventional realigner-retainer appliances are used, then standard orthodontic cases are treated, but minor malocclusions and relapse cases outside treatment range cannot be effectively addressed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes key parameters of the orthodontic system by introducing carbon nanotube bonding substrates with unique mechanical and friction properties. These parameter changes enable the appliance to effectively treat minor malocclusions and relapse cases that fall outside the conventional treatment range of realigner-retainer appliances, expanding adaptability while maintaining correction 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 system enhances patient comfort by reducing friction and allows for effective correction of minor orthodontic issues and relapse cases beyond conventional treatment ranges, facilitating the use of interceptive and removable orthodontic appliances.
Implementation Method 1
The carbon-nanotube bonding substrates adhere to the teeth in the patient's mouth through Van der Waal's forces
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, methods and apparatus are provided through which in some implementations an orthodontic apparatus includes a plurality of brackets, wherein each of the plurality of brackets includes a carbon-nanotube forest upon a carbon-nanotube bonding substrate that is adhered to a lingual bracket bonding surface, forming a plurality of carbon-nanotube bonding substrates.