Orthodontic Handle for Crimpable Stop Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional crimpable sleeves on orthodontic archwires are difficult to handle and install due to their small size, tend to slide off, and require field assembly, leading to disengagement of archwires from brackets and irritation of gum or cheek tissue.
Innovation Solution
A handle with receptacles that securely retain crimpable stops, providing off-axis forces to prevent slippage and facilitating easy installation, and can be made from materials like plastic or metal to enhance visibility and ease of use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If crimpable sleeves are made small to fit on archwires, then they can be positioned between brackets, but they become difficult to handle and tend to slide off
Solution Approach 1:
The crimpable sleeve is nested within the handle receptacle, which provides a larger gripping surface area. The handle acts as an outer container that holds the small sleeve, making it easier to grasp and manipulate without directly handling the tiny sleeve itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The handle serves as an intermediary tool between the user's hand and the small crimpable sleeve. Instead of directly manipulating the difficult-to-grasp sleeve, the user grasps the handle which then transfers control to the sleeve through mechanical engagement in the receptacle.
2Ease of operation
If crimpable sleeves are handled in the field during installation, then they can be positioned on archwires, but they are easily mishandled and lost
Solution Approach 1:
The sleeve is nested within the protected environment of the handle receptacle during transport and storage. This nested configuration prevents the sleeve from being lost or mishandled, as it remains secured within the larger handle structure until installation is required.
Solution Approach 2:
The sleeve is pre-positioned within the handle receptacle before field use. This preliminary arrangement ensures the sleeve is ready for immediate installation without requiring separate handling steps, reducing the risk of loss or mishandling during the installation process.
3Reliability
If crimpable sleeves are retained in receptacles with mechanical engagement, then they are securely held, but the release mechanism becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The receptacle employs elastic deformation as a dynamic mechanism for both retention and release. The receptacle material elastically deforms to mechanically engage and securely hold the sleeve, then allows controlled release through deliberate deformation when force is applied to the handle, providing both security and simplicity.
4Productivity
If crimpable stops are pre-threaded on archwires, then installation is simplified, but the stops slide off during shipping and handling
Solution Approach 1:
The crimpable stop nested within the handle receptacle maintains its pre-threaded position on the archwire while being protected from sliding off during shipping and handling. The receptacle acts as a containment structure that preserves the stop's position without interfering with its pre-installed state on the archwire.
Solution Approach 2:
The stop is preliminarily positioned on the archwire and then secured within the handle receptacle before shipping. This preliminary dual-fixation approach ensures the stop remains in its correct position both on the archwire and within the handle during transport, preventing slippage while maintaining installation readiness.
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
The handle assembly ensures secure retention and easy positioning of crimpable stops on archwires, reducing the risk of disengagement and irritation, and simplifies the installation process by providing temporary frictional engagement and visibility aids.
Implementation Method 1
The receptacle is configured to elastically deform, thereby mechanically engaging the crimpable stop
Implementation Method 2
providing temporary frictional engagement
Data Source
AI summary
A handle for releasably retaining tubular sleeve-like crimpable stops is disclosed. The handle includes an elongated body with opposed ends and at least one receptacle positioned at one end of the body. The receptacle has an inside surface and defines an entry opening. The receptacle may be configured to mechanically retain the stop, or the stop may be releasably bonded to the receptacle by sticky substances like wax, any suitable adhesive or techniques such as heat bonding. The handle is molded from plastic in a color contrasting with the oral environment, such as orange. The handle aids in handling and positioning crimpable stops during installation of archwire assemblies in the oral environment. A stop retained in the disclosed handle is highly visible and can be handled without tools.