Orthodontic Bracket Inverted Retaining Regions Archwire Bowing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Orthodontic archwires often experience bowing or curving within existing bracket systems, leading to instability and difficulty in secure retention, which affects the effectiveness of orthodontic treatments.
Innovation Solution
The orthodontic bracket design features inverted archwire retaining regions with recesses and corresponding retaining ridges that exert forces to securely hold archwires in place, resisting bowing through a combination of channel-induced bowing portions and opposing forces, allowing for secure retention and positioning of archwires within the bracket.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If archwires are retained in conventional bracket channels, then orthodontic treatment can proceed, but the archwires experience bowing or curving that leads to instability and difficulty in secure retention
Solution Approach 1:
The archwire retention channel is divided into multiple inverted V-shaped retaining regions spaced along the channel length. Each retaining region independently grips the archwire, segmenting the retention function to prevent overall bowing and maintain archwire shape stability throughout the channel.
Solution Approach 2:
The retaining regions are inverted V-shapes with the opening facing toward the bracket base rather than outward. This inversion allows the retaining regions to actively engage and grip the archwire from above, converting the passive channel into an active retention mechanism that resists archwire bowing and ensures stable positioning.
2Ease of operation
If archwires are secured in laterally entered archwire retaining channels, then archwire positioning is improved, but the channel design becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The inverted V-shaped retaining regions are configured to face toward the bracket base, creating a lateral entry path for the archwire. This inversion simplifies the insertion process by allowing the archwire to be laterally engaged by the opening of the inverted V-shapes, while the closed end of each V-shape provides secure retention without requiring complex additional structures.
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
This design effectively secures archwires within the bracket, preventing bowing and ensuring stable positioning, which enhances the effectiveness of orthodontic treatments by maintaining the archwire's shape and facilitating proper tooth alignment.
Implementation Method 1
the elasticity of the archwire to retain an initial non-curved shape causes the archwire to resist a channel induced bow in the archwire
Implementation Method 2
the corresponding retaining regions for the channel together with the corresponding retaining ridge, bind or wedge the archwire within the channel. Accordingly, the opposing forces between the channel and archwire secure the archwire within the channel
Data Source
AI summary
An orthodontic bracket is disclosed having three archwire retention channels in the mesial-distal directions, a central channel and two side channels. The two side channels each include a pair of spaced apart inverted archwire retaining regions having a recess that opens generally towards the bracket base. Each such recess is for grasping or holding an archwire therein. Each of the side channels has an archwire retaining ridge extending gingivally-occlusally along the adjacent side of the bracket base between the two retaining regions of the channel. For each channel, its retaining ridge exerts a force on a portion of an archwire facing away from the archwire portion residing in the recesses of the retaining regions of the channel. The force on the archwire is directed toward the interiors of the recesses of the retaining regions for assisting in seating the archwire in the recesses.