Orthodontic Expander with Visible Nickel-Titanium Plates
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional orthodontic expanders face challenges due to their large size and the encapsulated nature of the coil spring, which limits space in the oral cavity and prevents visual inspection of spring compression by dentists.
Innovation Solution
The orthodontic expander design incorporates a pair of frames connected by longitudinal arms and transverse arms, utilizing a screw-operated push assembly with deformable nickel-titanium alloy plates instead of a coil spring, allowing for compactness and visible inspection of compression.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If a coil spring is used as the elastic means in the expander, then the operational capacity and force application are effective, but the overall size of the expander becomes excessive and the spring cannot be visually inspected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the coil spring from the expander structure and replaces it with nickel-titanium alloy plates that are visible and can be inspected. The elastic function is separated from the encapsulated spring and implemented through visible plates that maintain operational capacity while enabling visual assessment of compression state.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical form of the elastic means from an encapsulated coil spring to visible nickel-titanium alloy plates. This parameter change in the state and visibility of the elastic component allows both compact design and visual inspection of compression, resolving the contradiction between size reduction and detectability.
2Ease of operation
If the coil spring is encapsulated in the expander structure, then the structure is compact, but the dentist cannot visually check the state of compression
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the encapsulation that hid the spring and instead uses visible nickel-titanium alloy plates. This extraction of the visibility constraint allows the elastic means to be both compact and visually inspectable, improving ease of operation without significantly increasing volume.
3Volume of moving object
If the expander is designed to fit in the small space of an under-developed oral cavity, then the device is compact, but the coil spring length must be reduced which may affect operational capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from conventional spring material to nickel-titanium alloy, which provides superior elastic properties and memory effect. This material parameter change allows the elastic means to maintain full operational capacity in a compact form factor suitable for under-developed oral cavities, resolving the contradiction between size and reliability.
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 reduces the overall size of the expander while maintaining operational capacity and allows dentists to visually assess the compression state of the elastic means, enhancing efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
Implementation Method 1
said elastic means consist of a plurality of plates with arcuate profile arranged with their respective ends in reciprocal contact and with the respective concavities facing each other so as to include, in a non-compressed or partially compressed configuration, a volume whose value varies according to the compression of the same plates
Implementation Method 2
The shank of the same screw is screwed into the right body in a corresponding threaded through hole whose axis is perpendicular to the said surfaces of the same right body and is parallel to the guides. Between the head of the same screw and the left body there are provided elastic means of predetermined stiffness and deformable along the direction of sliding of the right body
Data Source
AI summary
Orthodontic expander including a left frame (T1) and a right frame (T2). The left frame (T1) and right frame (T2) respectively include a left body (1) and a right body (2) provided with structure for their anchorage to the teeth of a dental arch. The bodies (1.2) have through holes (10) oriented in an expansion direction (d). The frames (T1, T2) are slidingly mounted along the expansion direction (d) by guides (4) inserted in the holes (10) of the bodies (1.2). The distance (h) between the bodies (1, 2) is adjusted by a screw (5) screwed into the body (2) of one of the frames. The screw (5) has an operating head (51) positioned between the bodies (1.2) Elastic plates are positioned and acting between the frames (T1, T2) and can be activated or reactivated by acting on the screw (5) which compresses them to activate or reactivate them when desired.