US3977082A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Palatal expander
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1975-09-23
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Granted: 1976-08-31
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Expires: 1995-09-23
Abstract
Abstract The expander fits into the upper region of the patient's palatal cavity, and has a longitudinally extending screw which can be given prescribed turns by the patient over a predetermined timetable in order to spread his palate. The screw has forward and rear segments which threadably receive nuts oppositely threaded with respect to one another so that rotation of the screw causes movement of the nuts toward and away from one another. Laterally outwardly movable linkages are pivotally supported on these nuts so that the device operates in the manner of a scissors jack, and orthodontic wires are provided to connect the linkages to orthodontic bands which fit onto the patient's teeth so that the mechanical force and moment achieved in the scissors jack construction can be used to spread the patient's palatine bone segments.
Inventors
- 👤 Raymond E. Siatkowski
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 15:03
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61C; A61C7/00; A61C7/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
142 words
A device for expanding a patient's palate laterally and comprising in combination: a. a longitudinally extending screw having oppositely threaded segments, and having an interior end adapted to be located behind the patient's upper front teeth said interior end defining a head adapted to receive a torque applying tool, b. a front nut and a rear nut threadably received on front and rear segments of said screw, said nuts being movable in opposite longitudinal directions in response to rotation of said screw. c. left and right hand linkages, each of which linkages are pivotally connected to said front and rear nuts respectively, and each of which linkages includes an apex which moves laterally in response to the longitudinal movement of said nuts, and d. orthodontic wires carried by said apexes and including free end portions adapted for attachment to the patient's teeth.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
142 words
A device for expanding a patient's palate laterally and comprising in combination: a. a longitudinally extending screw having oppositely threaded segments, and having an interior end adapted to be located behind the patient's upper front teeth said interior end defining a head adapted to receive a torque applying tool, b. a front nut and a rear nut threadably received on front and rear segments of said screw, said nuts being movable in opposite longitudinal directions in response to rotation of said screw. c. left and right hand linkages, each of which linkages are pivotally connected to said front and rear nuts respectively, and each of which linkages includes an apex which moves laterally in response to the longitudinal movement of said nuts, and d. orthodontic wires carried by said apexes and including free end portions adapted for attachment to the patient's teeth.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
48 words
The device defined in claim 1 wherein said left and right linkages are mirror images of one another, and wherein each linkage includes a front link means and a rear link means having one end of each link means pivotally connected to said front and rear nuts respectively.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
The device defined in claim 2 wherein said left and right linkages each further include a short intermediate link member pivotally connected at its opposite ends to said front and rear link means respectively, said intermediate link members defining said laterally movable apexes.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
69 words
The device defined by claim 3 wherein said orthodontic wires are of stainless steel with a diameter in excess of 0.04 inches said wires being so attached to one of said intermediate link members as to provide two free end portions thereof at the left and at the right sides of the device for attachment to at least one of the patient's teeth on each side of his mouth.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
129 words
A device for expanding a patient's palate laterally, and comprising: a. a longitudinally extending screw having an interior and adapted to be located behind the patient's upper front teeth and having a head adapted to receive a torque applying tool, b. first means threadably received on said screw for longitudinal movement in response to rotation of said screw, c. second means rotatably received on said screw, d. left and right linkage means pivotally connected to at least one of said first and second means and including left and right apexes which move at least generally laterally in response to said longitudinal movement of said first means, and e. orthodontic wires carried by said apexes and including free end portions adapted for attachment to the patient's teeth, via orthodontic bands.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
129 words
A device for expanding a patient's palate laterally, and comprising: a. a longitudinally extending screw having an interior and adapted to be located behind the patient's upper front teeth and having a head adapted to receive a torque applying tool, b. first means threadably received on said screw for longitudinal movement in response to rotation of said screw, c. second means rotatably received on said screw, d. left and right linkage means pivotally connected to at least one of said first and second means and including left and right apexes which move at least generally laterally in response to said longitudinal movement of said first means, and e. orthodontic wires carried by said apexes and including free end portions adapted for attachment to the patient's teeth, via orthodontic bands.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-08-31 | 1980-03-01 | 1980-08-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-08-31 | 1984-03-01 | 1984-08-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-08-31 | 1988-03-01 | 1988-08-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |