EP0502227A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Method of forming orthodontic brace and orthodontic brace formed by such method
Assignee: Ormco Corp
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Filing: 1991-03-06
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2011-03-06
Abstract
Abstract In a method of forming an orthodontic brace (10) calculations, preferably digital, on the contour and the desired positionings of the patient's teeth are made to determine the geometry (e.g. grooves) to be provided in brackets (12) for receiving an arch wire (14) to form an orthodontic brace. Such geometry is intended to provide for the disposition of the arched wire on the brackets (12) in a progressive curvature in a horizontal plane and a substantially linear configuration in a vertical plane. The geometry of the brackets (12) is altered (e.g. by cutting grooves (24) in the brackets (12) at individual positions and angles and with particular depths) in accordance with such calculations of the bracket geometry.
Inventors
- 👤 Craig A. Andreiko
- 👤 Terry L. Sterrett
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 21:02
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61C; A61C7/00; A61C7/12; A61C7/002
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
141 words
A method of forming a dental orthodontic brace (10) from a plurality of brackets (12) each being adapted to be arranged at a tooth, and an arch wire (14) disposed in a progressive curvature in a plan view and a substantially linear configuration in an elevational view, including the steps of: calculating the geometry to be provided individually for each bracket (12) to receive the arch wire (14) in the progressive curvature in the plan view and the substantially linear configuration in the elevational view, such calculations being provided on the basis of parameters of the existing and the desired dispositions of the tooth in the patient's mouth, and providing the individual brackets (12) with the calculated parameters to receive the arch wire (14) in the progressive curvature in the plan view and the substantially linear configuration in the elevational view.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
50 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 including the steps of: disposing the arch wire (14) on the brackets (12) in the progressive curvature in the plan view and in the substantially linear configuration in the elevational view in accordance with the parameters provided for the individual brackets (12).
Claim 3
Independent Claim
56 words
A method as set forth in claims 1 or 2, wherein the calculated geometry is provided for each individual bracket (12) by cuting a groove (24) in such bracket (12) at a particular angle in the bracket (12) and to a particular depth in the bracket (12) and at a particular position in the bracket (12).
Claim 4
Independent Claim
28 words
A method as set forth in any of claims 1 to 3 wherein the parameters of each tooth in the patient's mouth are determined from a model (30).
Claim 5
Independent Claim
35 words
A method as set forth in any of claims 1 to 4 wherein said step of determining the parameters includes determining the thickness of the tooth at progressive positions on the tooth in vertical direction.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
26 words
A method as set forth in any of claims 1 to 5 wherein said step of determining the parameters includes determining the contour of the tooth.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
71 words
A method as set forth in any of claims 1 to 6 wherein the determinations of the parameters of the teeth in the patient's mouth are in a digital form, the prescription of the desired configuration of the teeth in the patient's mouth is in a digital form and the calculations of the optimal positions of the geometries of the brackets (12) in the patient's mouth are in a digital form.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
45 words
A method as set forth in any of claims 1 to 7 including the step of controlling the operation of numerically controlled machinery (40), in accordance with the calculations of the geometries of the brackets (12), to provide the brackets (12) with such geometric parameters.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
77 words
A method as set forth in any of claims 1 to 8 wherein the arched wire (14) is attached to the brackets (12) in accordance with the geometries provided in the brackets (12), the brackets (12) are attached to a model (30) of the teeth in the patient's mouth, and a mold is made of the model (30) of the teeth in the patient's mouth with the brackets (12) and the arch wire (14) on the teeth.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
36 words
A method as set forth in any of claims 1 to 9, including the step of providing a map identifying the different brackets (12) and showing the placement of the brackets (12) on the patient's teeth.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
186 words
An orthodontic brace (10) for dispostion in a patient's mouth to displace the teeth in the patient's mouth to a particular disposition and configuration, characterized by an arch wire (14), a plurality of brackets (12) each provided with particular geometries to retain the arch wire (14) in a progressive curvature in a plan view and in a substantially linear configuration in an elevational view, each bracket (12) being formed from a support member (18) and a pad (16) adhered to the support member (18) and constructed to be adhered to an associated one of the teeth, the geometries of each support member (18) and pad (16) including individual parameters for the length, width and depth of each groove (24) and the angle of the groove (24) in the support member (18) and further including the height of the support member (18), the angle between the adherence of the pad (16) to the support member (18) and the adherence of the pad (16) to the associated tooth and any curvature of the pad surface adhered to the associated tooth and the width of the support member (18).
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
43 words
An orthodontic brace as set forth in claim 11, including, the arch wire (14) being disposed in the grooves (24) of the support members (18) and having a progressively curved configuration in a plan view and a linear configuration in an elevational view.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
56 words
An orthodontic brace as set forth in claim 11 or 12, the geometries of the support member (18) being provided in accordance with the particular disposition and configuration of the teeth in the patient's mouth and the pads (16) being provided with configurations to conform to the contour of the associated teeth in the patient's mouth.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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