Segmented Force Member for Orthodontic Tooth Movement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current orthodontic treatment methods, particularly those using clear tray aligners, face challenges in achieving complex tooth movements such as root movements and rotations due to insufficient forces and moments, and manual orthodontic treatment planning is time-consuming and requires expensive equipment.

Innovation Solution

A computing device-based system that receives data on a virtual dentition and force member characteristics to determine force vectors and conditions for optimal tooth movement, allowing for the design of force members with multiple segments to maintain constant force over displacement, thereby improving treatment planning efficiency and effectiveness.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If clear tray aligners are used for orthodontic treatment, then treatment is less invasive and more comfortable, but the forces and moments applied to teeth are insufficient to achieve complex tooth movements such as root movements and rotations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepatient comfort and invasivenessVSAvoidforce and moment magnitude

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The force member is divided into multiple segments along its length, with each segment having independently adjustable force characteristics. This segmentation allows the aligner to generate sufficient localized forces and moments for complex tooth movements while maintaining overall patient comfort through controlled force distribution across multiple segments rather than a single high-force application

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different segments of the force member are designed with different force characteristics tailored to the specific requirements of different tooth regions. This allows optimization of force magnitude and direction at each local position to achieve complex movements like root movements and rotations where uniform force application would be insufficient

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Adaptability or versatility

If manual orthodontic treatment planning is performed using traditional methods, then treatment plans can be customized for each patient, but the process is very time-consuming and requires expensive equipment

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment plan customizationVSAvoidtreatment planning time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system creates a digital copy (virtual model) of the patient's dentition and uses computational algorithms to generate treatment plans based on this digital replica. This eliminates the need for expensive physical articulation equipment and manual manipulation of dental models, significantly reducing planning time while maintaining the ability to customize treatment for each patient's specific anatomy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual mechanical treatment planning methods with an automated computational system that uses algorithms to calculate optimal tooth movement trajectories, force member configurations, and treatment stages. This substitution of mechanical/manual processes with computational automation dramatically reduces planning time while preserving treatment customization capabilities

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Stability of the object's composition

If force members with multiple segments are designed to maintain constant force over displacement, then force control is improved, but the computational complexity and design difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveforce constancy over displacementVSAvoidforce member design complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The force member is divided into multiple segments, each with its own force-displacement characteristics. By carefully designing the geometry and material properties of individual segments, the system achieves near-constant force output over the full range of tooth displacement while keeping the design process manageable through modular segment configuration rather than requiring complex monolithic structures

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS20220346912A1System and method for determining a force vector on a virtual dentition

Publication Date: 2022.11.03 SOLVENTUM INTELLECTUAL PROPERTIES CO

AI summary

Aspects of the present disclosure relate to a method and system of determining a first force vector of a selected point in a first position on a virtual dentition of the oral cavity based on the first aggregate force characteristic of a force member, having multiple segments, in the first configuration and determining a second force vector of the selected point in a second position on the virtual dentition based on the first aggregate force characteristic of the force member in the first configuration. The method includes determining a condition of whether the second force vector (or force magnitude thereof) is within 90 percent of the first force vector (or force magnitude thereof) at 50 percent of displacement between the first position and the second position and performing an operation based on the condition.