One-Piece Orthodontic Bracket for Ligature-Free Archwire Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current orthodontic brackets manufactured by bending and stamping lack secure retention of the treatment arch, allowing food debris to dislodge the arch and require ligatures for securing, which complicates their use, especially for minor misalignments and lingual treatments.
Innovation Solution
A simplified orthodontic bracket with a base plate featuring a guide curve and lateral tabs for secure arch retention, combined with a protector system for easy handling and adhesive application, allowing for flexible use on various teeth and arch shapes without the need for ligatures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a simplified bracket design without ligatures is used, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability of archwire retention deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The bracket employs a dynamic elastomeric ligature component that can deform and adapt during insertion to capture the archwire, then maintains continuous elastic pressure to secure retention. This dynamic behavior allows the simple bracket design to achieve reliable archwire holding without traditional ligatures.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical state and properties of the retention component by using an elastomeric material with specific durometer values (30-70 Shore A). This material parameter selection enables the component to be soft enough for easy insertion yet firm enough to provide secure archwire retention, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and reliability.
2Manufacturing precision
If bending die-cutting technology is revived and used, then manufacturing precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bracket design segments the retention function into a separate elastomeric ligature component that can be independently manufactured and attached. This segmentation allows the base bracket to remain simple while the specialized retention component provides the necessary precision and functionality, resolving the conflict between manufacturing precision and overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention combines traditional metal bracket materials with modern elastomeric materials to create a composite structure. The metal base plate provides structural integrity and can be precisely manufactured using bending die-cutting, while the elastomeric component adds functional capabilities for secure archwire retention, achieving high manufacturing precision without excessive complexity.
3Reliability
If the bracket is designed for secure archwire retention without ligatures, then reliability is improved, but ease of manufacture deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the ligature function from the traditional bracket design and implements it as a separate, pre-formed elastomeric component. This extraction allows the bracket base to be manufactured simply using bending die-cutting techniques, while the secure archwire retention is achieved through the separately attached elastomeric ligature, resolving the contradiction between reliability and ease of manufacture.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a particularly simple orthodontic bracket (10) manufactured using cutting and bending technology, proposed for a number of different indications. It comprises a base plate (1) having an adhesive side (3) and a visible side (2), and means for the guided retention of a treatment arch wire (11). The bracket (10) is made in one piece and comprises, as a guiding means, a longitudinal guiding bulge (6) extending mesio-distally and shaped out of the plane of the base plate (1). A treatment arch wire (11) can be guided through beneath said guide bulge (6), such that it lies against the base plate.