Self-Ligating Bracket With Segmented Spring Clip
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Solution Overview
Problem
Self-ligating orthodontic brackets face challenges in efficiently transferring corrective forces to teeth due to increased friction between the arch wire and the clip in active brackets, and lack of control in passive brackets, which can hinder effective tooth alignment.
Innovation Solution
A self-ligating bracket design featuring a spring clip with distal, mesial, and center arms that move between open and closed positions to occlude the arch wire slot, providing separate engagement points across a significant portion of the slot width, reducing friction and enhancing force transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If an active self-ligating bracket is used with a clip that extends into the edgewise slot and resiliently applies a seating force against the arch wire, then control of interactive forces between the clip and arch wire is improved, but friction between the arch wire and the clip increases which may reduce force transfer to the tooth
Solution Approach 1:
The clip is divided into multiple independent arms (distal arm with distal finger, mesial arm with mesial finger, and center arm with center finger) that can move independently relative to each other. Each arm engages with the arch wire at separate points, allowing differential movement and reduced friction at each engagement point while maintaining overall control of forces.
Solution Approach 2:
The clip arms are designed to be movable between engaged and disengaged positions rather than fixed. The distal arm, mesial arm, and center arm can dynamically adjust their engagement with the arch wire based on treatment requirements, enabling the system to adapt to changing force vectors and reduce friction through controlled movement.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If a passive self-ligating bracket is used with a clip that extends across and beyond the arch wire slot and is fixed or restrained against movement, then friction is reduced, but control over the interactive forces between the clip and arch wire is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The clip transitions from a fixed passive design to a dynamic active design where the distal arm, mesial arm, and center arm can move independently. This allows the system to maintain low friction while regaining control over interactive forces through controlled movement of each arm segment.
Solution Approach 2:
By segmenting the clip into multiple independent arms, the system achieves both low friction (through reduced contact pressure at each segment) and force control (through independent movement of each segment), resolving the contradiction between these two requirements.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If the clip of a passive self-ligating bracket is designed to form a tube with the arch wire slot, then the arch wire can slide freely with minimal friction, but the clip cannot provide active seating force against the arch wire
Solution Approach 1:
The clip is segmented into multiple arms that can independently engage with the arch wire. The distal arm, mesial arm, and center arm can each apply seating force at different locations along the arch wire, providing active force application while maintaining a configuration that allows sliding with minimal friction.
Solution Approach 2:
The clip arms are designed to dynamically switch between a sliding configuration (when force application is not needed) and an engaged configuration (when seating force is required). This dynamic capability allows the system to provide both low friction during sliding and active force application when needed.
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 design improves the efficiency of force transfer to teeth by minimizing friction and maintaining engagement across a substantial slot width, allowing for more precise tooth alignment and reduced risk of clip removal during treatment.
Implementation Method 1
A spring clip includes a distal arm which includes a distal arm body and a distal finger. The spring clip includes a mesial arm which includes a mesial arm body and a mesial finger. The spring clip includes a center arm which includes a first center arm body and a second arm center body. The first center arm body and the second arm body are connected by a center arm bar. The spring clip is movable between an open position and a closed position.
Data Source
AI summary
A self-ligating bracket includes a bracket body and a spring clip. The bracket body includes a mesial channel, a distal channel, a center channel, and an arch wire slot. The spring clip includes a distal arm, mesial arm, and a center arm which are moveably within the mesial channel, distal channel, and center channel between an open position and a closed position to occlude the arch wire slot.