Orthodontic Tool for Rotary Archwire Cover Manipulation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing orthodontic appliances with rotary archwire covers lack a dedicated tool for easy manipulation, making it difficult for orthodontists to open and close the cover mechanism, which is essential for practical use.

Innovation Solution

An orthodontic tool with a handle and detachable fingers, featuring cylindrical pins and a conical probe, is designed to engage and rotate the rotary archwire cover, allowing for easy opening and closing of the archwire slot.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a rotary archwire cover mechanism is used in orthodontic brackets, then archwire retention is improved, but manipulation difficulty increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvearchwire retentionVSAvoidcover manipulation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

A specialized orthodontic tool acts as an intermediary device between the orthodontist and the rotary archwire cover. The tool includes a handle for gripping and a finger portion with a manipulator that engages with the cover's engagement feature, allowing the orthodontist to easily rotate the cover open and closed without directly manipulating the small bracket components

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The rotary archwire cover mechanism is designed with self-ligating features where the cover automatically locks into place when rotated to the closed position, and the tool's manipulator automatically engages with the cover's engagement feature, reducing the need for precise manual manipulation by the orthodontist

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Adaptability or versatility

If conventional dental tools are used to manipulate the rotary cover, then general availability is maintained, but operational efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetool compatibilityVSAvoidcover operation speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The orthodontic tool is designed with a handle portion that can accommodate different finger portions with various manipulator configurations, allowing a single tool platform to work with different bracket systems and cover designs, maintaining versatility while optimizing for the specific rotary cover manipulation task

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Volume of moving object

If the orthodontic bracket is made small for better fit, then patient comfort is improved, but tool access difficulty increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebracket sizeVSAvoidtool access

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The orthodontic tool is divided into separate functional segments: a handle portion for gripping, a finger portion for engagement, and a manipulator for interaction with the cover. This segmentation allows the finger portion to be slender and easily accessible to small brackets while the handle remains comfortable for the orthodontist's hand

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS8287274B2Tool for orthodontic appliance

Publication Date: 2012.10.16 WORLD CLASS TECHNOLOGY CORP

AI summary

An orthodontic tool for an orthodontic appliance includes a handle and at least one distal end having a finger. The finger has a manipulator, which may include a pin or a plurality of pins, and a probe for engaging a rotary archwire cover. Using the tool, the orthodontist may open and close the archwire cover, which is rotationally mounted to an orthodontic bracket.