Orthodontic Bracket Slot with Side Gap for 3D Tooth Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing orthodontic brackets lack the capability to effectively control tooth movement in three dimensions, particularly torque, rotation, and angulation, due to limitations in the design of the archwire slot, which can lead to reduced force exertion and inefficient tooth alignment.

Innovation Solution

The orthodontic bracket features a slot with four radially delimited surfaces along the archwire axis, including a base surface, cover surface, and two side surfaces, with a gap allowing for enhanced control of tooth movement by maintaining archwire tension and preventing displacement, thereby enabling control in all three axes simultaneously.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a conventional orthodontic bracket slot is used with an elastic ligature, then the archwire can be secured in the slot, but the archwire may lose tension and displacement may occur when forces exceed the ligature's urging capability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvearchwire retentionVSAvoidarchwire tension

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of using a closed slot that relies on elastic ligatures to urge the archwire in, the invention inverts the approach by providing a slot with a predefined gap that allows the archwire to be inserted and retained through friction and geometric constraint. The gap between the slot side surface and cover surface creates a retention mechanism that does not depend on elastic ligatures, thereby maintaining archwire tension without loss.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Reliability

If the slot is completely closed, then the archwire is constrained, but the complexity of the bracket design increases and ease of operation decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetooth movement controlVSAvoidarchwire insertion

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The slot is segmented by introducing a gap between the slot side surface and the cover surface. This segmentation creates an opening that facilitates archwire insertion while maintaining constraint in other directions. The gap allows the archwire to be inserted easily without requiring complex opening mechanisms, yet provides sufficient constraint for reliable tooth movement control in three dimensions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of operation

If the slot opening is oriented in a specific direction, then insertion is facilitated, but control of tooth movement in certain axes is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvearchwire insertionVSAvoidtorque control

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention transitions from a two-dimensional slot opening (either fully open or fully closed in one direction) to a three-dimensional gap configuration. The gap between the slot side surface and cover surface creates a retention pathway that does not compromise control in any particular axis. This dimensional approach allows archwire insertion while maintaining reliable torque, rotation, and angulation control simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS11311352B2Orthodontic bracket and an orthodontic appliance

Publication Date: 2022.04.26 SOLVENTUM INTELLECTUAL PROPERTIES CO

AI summary

An orthodontic bracket that forms a slot for receiving an archwire. The slot extends through the orthodontic bracket along an archwire axis. The slot is delimited in directions radially of the archwire axis by a slot base surface, an opposite slot cover surface and two opposite slot side surfaces. Further, the slot has an open side that is provided by a gap within one of the slot side surfaces in a dimension along the archwire axis.