Adjustable Orthodontic Bracket Torque via Pivot Drum
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current orthodontic bracket systems face challenges in making fine adjustments to torsional forces applied to teeth without requiring the removal of archwires or brackets, limiting the precision and efficiency of orthodontic treatments.
Innovation Solution
The development of orthodontic bracket assemblies with pivotally coupled archwire cradles and pivot-adjusting drums, allowing for incremental adjustments of torque without removing the archwire, through a mechanism where the archwire cradle pivots relative to the bracket base in correspondence with the rotation of the pivot-adjusting drum, facilitated by an adjustment driver.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional orthodontic brackets are used, then brackets can be securely attached to teeth with archwire slots, but fine adjustment of torsional forces requires removal of archwires and replacement of brackets
Solution Approach 1:
The bracket incorporates a movable component (such as a sliding element or rotating drum) that allows the archwire slot to be dynamically repositioned relative to the bracket base. This dynamic mechanism enables continuous adjustment of the slot's angular orientation, allowing fine-tuning of torsional forces applied to the tooth without removing the bracket or archwire.
Solution Approach 2:
The bracket is divided into separable components, including a movable adjustment element that can be independently positioned. This segmentation allows the adjustment mechanism to be manipulated separately from the main bracket body, enabling precise control over the archwire slot's position while the bracket remains fixed on the tooth.
2Adaptability or versatility
If archwire slots are fixed in brackets, then brackets are simpler in structure, but adjustment of prescriptive forces requires bracket removal and replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The bracket incorporates a movable component (such as a sliding element or rotating drum) that allows the archwire slot to be dynamically repositioned relative to the bracket base. This dynamic mechanism enables continuous adjustment of the slot's angular orientation, allowing fine-tuning of torsional forces applied to the tooth without removing the bracket or archwire.
Solution Approach 2:
The bracket design integrates multiple functions into a single device: it provides both the structural support of a traditional bracket and the adjustment capability of a variable-angle slot system. The movable component allows the same bracket to deliver different prescriptive forces for different treatment stages, eliminating the need for multiple specialized bracket types.
Data Source
AI summary
Orthodontic bracket assemblies with archwire cradles that pivot in correspondence with the rotation of pivot-adjusting drums. The orthodontic bracket assemblies include a pivot-adjusting drum that is configured to be selectively rotated relative to a bracket base about an adjustment axis within a range of operative rotation positions, an archwire cradle that is configured to be selectively pivoted about a cradle axis relative to the bracket base within a range of operative pivot positions, and an adjustment driver that is operatively coupled to the archwire cradle and the pivot-adjusting drum and causes the archwire cradle to pivot relative to the bracket base in correspondence with a rotation of the pivot-adjusting drum. A rotation of the pivot-adjusting drum about the adjustment axis adjusts the torque that is applied to the patient's tooth during prescriptive use of the bracket assembly.