Rotary Ligating Cover Orthodontic Bracket Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current orthodontic brackets require ligatures or ligating modules for archwire retention, which are time-consuming to install, prone to hygiene issues, and can become detached, limiting force application and increasing friction during tooth movement.
Innovation Solution
A self-ligating orthodontic bracket with a rotary ligating cover that rotates about an axis perpendicular to the tooth surface, featuring locking mechanisms with coplanar resilient retention features and locking tabs to securely hold the archwire in place without traditional ligatures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional ligatures or ligating modules are used for archwire retention, then the archwire can be held in place, but the installation time increases substantially and hygiene is compromised due to food particle trapping
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the traditional ligature or ligating module from the bracket system entirely. Instead, the bracket body itself incorporates an integrated archwire retention mechanism where the archwire slot is designed to engage and hold the archwire through the bracket's intrinsic structure, eliminating the need for separate ligatures and thereby reducing installation time while maintaining retention reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the archwire retention function directly into the bracket body by integrating the archwire slot and retention features as inherent components of the bracket structure. This merging eliminates the need for separate ligatures, reducing both installation time and hygiene issues while maintaining secure archwire holding capability
2Reliability
If ligatures or ligating modules are used to hold the archwire, then archwire retention is achieved, but the forces applied to teeth are limited by the ligature strength
Solution Approach 1:
By removing the ligature component entirely and replacing it with an integrated bracket-based retention system, the patent eliminates the force limitation imposed by ligature strength. The bracket body itself, being structurally stronger than ligatures, can withstand and transmit higher orthodontic forces directly to the teeth without risk of ligature failure
Solution Approach 2:
The integration of archwire retention directly into the bracket body allows the full structural strength of the bracket to be utilized for force transmission. The combined structure eliminates the weak link of ligatures, enabling superior force application capability while maintaining secure archwire retention
3Reliability
If ligatures or ligating modules are used for archwire retention, then the archwire is held securely, but friction increases during tooth movement
Solution Approach 1:
By eliminating the ligature component and using an integrated bracket-based retention system, the patent removes the source of friction that ligatures create against the archwire. The smooth internal surfaces of the integrated archwire slot minimize contact friction, allowing for more efficient tooth movement with reduced resistive forces
Solution Approach 2:
The integration of retention features directly into the bracket body creates a more streamlined interaction between the bracket and archwire. The combined structure eliminates the additional friction interface introduced by separate ligatures, reducing overall friction during orthodontic tooth movement while maintaining secure retention
4Reliability
If ligatures or ligating modules are used, then archwire retention is achieved, but the complexity of the device increases and detachment risk arises
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the separate ligature or ligating module components from the system, reducing the total number of parts. This simplification eliminates potential failure points and detachment risks associated with separate components while maintaining archwire retention through the integrated bracket structure
Solution Approach 2:
By combining the archwire retention function into the bracket body itself, the patent reduces device complexity to its essential components. The integrated design eliminates the need for assembly and disassembly of separate ligatures, reducing complexity and minimizing detachment risk while ensuring reliable archwire retention
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention provides designs for a self-ligating orthodontic bracket. According to one embodiment, the self-ligating orthodontic bracket includes a mounting base for attachment to a tooth surface, an archwire slot formed upon the base and sized for receiving an orthodontic archwire, a rotary ligating cover selectively rotatable between an open position permitting access to the archwire slot and a closed position covering the archwire slot, and one or more locking features for holding the rotary ligating cover in a closed position. In one embodiment, the bracket includes one or more locking tabs on the rotary ligating cover aligned in coplanar relation to the rotary ligating cover and cooperatively mating with cutout portions in the base. In one embodiment, the bracket includes at least one resilient retention mechanism adjacent to the one or more locking tabs and aligned in coplanar relation to the rotary ligating cover. The resilient retention mechanism may include one or more relief channels permitting flexing of at least portions of the rotary ligating cover adjacent to the one or more locking tabs.