Modular Orthodontic Appliance With Custom Couplings and Arch Segments
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing orthodontic treatments face challenges such as high costs, prolonged treatment duration, frequent office visits, inconvenience due to removal requirements, and patient compliance issues with traditional braces and aligners, which hinder effective orthodontic force transmission.
Innovation Solution
An orthodontic appliance combining pre-made and custom elements, utilizing 3-D printing for in-office fabrication, allows for easy installation and replacement without removal during eating, drinking, or brushing, and minimizes device loss, featuring customizable coupling units and arch member segments that transmit orthodontic forces effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If custom-made flexible aligners are used to reposition teeth, then orthodontic treatment effectiveness is improved, but manufacturing cost and time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The orthodontic device is divided into separate modular components: a custom-made aligner portion and a pre-made tray portion. The custom aligner portion is fabricated only when needed using digital imaging and 3-D printing, while the tray portion can be pre-manufactured and stored. This segmentation allows the system to combine the effectiveness of custom alignment with the cost-efficiency of pre-made components, reducing overall manufacturing time and cost while maintaining treatment effectiveness.
2Ease of operation
If removable aligners are used for orthodontic treatment, then aesthetics and comfort are improved, but patient compliance and treatment outcome are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the advantages of removable aligners with fixed bracket systems by combining a custom-made aligner portion with a pre-made tray portion that can be permanently attached to teeth. This hybrid approach maintains the aesthetic and comfort benefits of removable devices while ensuring treatment reliability through permanent attachment and integrated design, eliminating the compliance issues associated with fully removable aligners.
3Reliability
If traditional braces are used to align teeth, then treatment effectiveness is ensured, but hygiene and aesthetics are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses a thin, flexible custom-made aligner portion that can be precisely fitted to the teeth' surface anatomy. This thin-film approach allows the device to provide effective orthodontic forces while maintaining better hygiene access and aesthetics compared to traditional braces, as the flexible material can conform to tooth surfaces without creating bulky protrusions that interfere with cleaning or appearance.
4Reliability
If frequent office visits are required for orthodontic adjustments, then treatment monitoring is improved, but time and convenience are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The invention incorporates pre-made tray portions that can be prepared and stored in advance, allowing orthodontic adjustments to be performed at the office before the patient's scheduled visit. The digital imaging and 3-D printing capabilities enable preliminary fabrication of custom components, reducing the need for frequent in-office visits and allowing treatment monitoring to occur less frequently while maintaining effectiveness.
Data Source
AI summary
An orthodontic appliance comprises a combination of pre-made and custom elements to provide treatment versatility with minimized costs and time delays. The appliance comprises a pre-made arch member segment elastically deformed to removably attach to coupling units bonded to teeth. The appliance also comprises a connection module to further elastically deform the arch member segment to generate motive forces or to just connect separate arch member segments in variations. In another embodiment the appliance comprises pre-made connectors having one end attached to a tooth and another end elastically deformed to attach to an arch component. The attachment to teeth comprises coupling units bonded to teeth in variations. The arch components, coupling units, and connection modules may be custom made to match surfaces inside the mouth. Motive forces may be generated by the elastic deformation of the arch member segment, connectors, arch component, or connection module to align teeth.