US4909735A — Straight line orthodontic setup method and appara…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 104 words

A method of creating an orthodontic arch form with orthodontic bracket archwire slots level and aligned relative to one another in a horizontal plane, comprising: making a model of a patient's malocclusion and separating individual model teeth from the model; setting up the separated model teeth in a substantially straight line arrangement in a correct mutual anatomic position; locating orthodontic brackets in a level position on the model teeth as positioned in said straight line; memorizing the positions of the brackets on the model teeth; transferring the model teeth as a group from the straight line arrangement to a curved arrangement defining an archform.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 104 words

A method of creating an orthodontic arch form with orthodontic bracket archwire slots level and aligned relative to one another in a horizontal plane, comprising: making a model of a patient's malocclusion and separating individual model teeth from the model; setting up the separated model teeth in a substantially straight line arrangement in a correct mutual anatomic position; locating orthodontic brackets in a level position on the model teeth as positioned in said straight line; memorizing the positions of the brackets on the model teeth; transferring the model teeth as a group from the straight line arrangement to a curved arrangement defining an archform.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 56 words

A method according to claim 1 including: forming an archwire to conform to the archwire slots of the brackets in said curved arrangement; mounting the brackets individually to the patient's teeth in positions replicating the memorized positions thereof on the corresponding model teeth; and installing the formed archwire in the brackets mounted on the patient's teeth.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 98 words

A method according to claim 1 in which: the step of locating the orthodontic brackets includes releasably mounting the brackets individually in bracket support fixtures and positioning the bracket support fixtures so that the brackets are arranged in a straight line; and the step of setting up the model teeth in a correct mutual anatomic position includes positioning the model teeth individually so that a surface of each model tooth approaches contact with a base of its respective bracket as closely as possible while retaining the correct mutual anatomic relationship of the model teeth in a straight line.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 51 words

A method according to claim 3 including transferring the brackets individually to the patient's teeth in positions replicating the positions thereof on the corresponding model teeth and shimming the base of any bracket that could not be brought into contact with the surface of the model tooth in the setting-up step.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 82 words

A method according to claim 3 in which: the setting up step includes mounting the model teeth individually on separate setup plates and aligning the setup plates in a straight line in a predetermined relationship to the bracket support fixtures; and the step of transferring the model teeth from the straight line arrangement to a curved arrangement includes placing the setup plates on an alignment plate and locating the setup plates with the model teeth in a curved arrangement defining an archform.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 60 words

A method according to claim 5 including; mounting a plurality of archwire forming fixtures on the alignment plate with each archwire forming fixture positioned in a relationship to each setup plate which corresponds to the predetermined relationship of the setup plate to the respective bracket support fixture in the setting up step; and forming an archwire in the archwire fixtures.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 64 words

A method according to claim 1 including positioning a plurality of archwire forming fixtures, each having an archwire slot, relative to the model teeth in said curved arrangement defining an archform, so that the positions of the archwire slots of the fixtures replicate the positions of the archwire slots in the brackets relative to the respective model teeth established in the straight line arrangement.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 101 words

A method according to claim 1 in which: the setting up step includes: mounting the model teeth individually on separate setup plates; aligning the setup plates in a predetermined labio-lingual index position relative to one another; and positioning the model teeth in a mutually correct anatomical position in a straight line on the setup plates; and the transferring step includes transferring the model teeth on the setup plates on a plane into said curved arrangement while retaining the position of the teeth in relation to the index position, thereby transforming the index positions of the setup plates to said curved arrangement.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 78 words

A method according to claim 8 including positioning a plurality of archwire forming fixtures, each having an archwire slot, relative to the index positions of the setup plates in said curved arrangement defining an archform, whereby the positions of the archwire slots of the fixtures replicate the positions of the archwire slots in the brackets relative to the respective model teeth established in the straight line arrangement, and forming an archwire using the archwire slots in the fixture.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 99 words

Apparatus for straightline setup of plaster model teeth for positioning of orthodontic brackets and forming archwires to fit into archwire slots of the brackets, the apparatus comprising; a plurality of separate setup plates structure mounted as a group atop a setup fixture in a predetermined alignment relationship for mounting model teeth thereon on a straight line; and a plurality of bracket support fixtures positioned to support a plurality of orthodontic brackets with their archwire slots in a straight line, each support fixture being mounted adjacent one of the setup plates for aligning a corresponding model tooth- with each bracket.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 99 words

Apparatus for straightline setup of plaster model teeth for positioning of orthodontic brackets and forming archwires to fit into archwire slots of the brackets, the apparatus comprising; a plurality of separate setup plates structure mounted as a group atop a setup fixture in a predetermined alignment relationship for mounting model teeth thereon on a straight line; and a plurality of bracket support fixtures positioned to support a plurality of orthodontic brackets with their archwire slots in a straight line, each support fixture being mounted adjacent one of the setup plates for aligning a corresponding model tooth- with each bracket.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 96 words

Apparatus according to claim 10, in which the setup plate structures are detachable from the setup fixture, further including: an alignment fixture for positioning the setup plate structures thereon with the model teeth in a curved arrangement defining an archform; and a plurality of archwire forming fixtures, each forming fixture being mountable on an alignment plate in a predetermined relationship to one of the setup plates; each forming fixture including an archwire forming slot positioned in the same position to the associated model as the archwire slot of the bracket held in the bracket support fixture.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 34 words

Apparatus according to claim 11 in which the setup plate structures includes an intermediate plate detachably mountable on the setup fixture and the bracket support fixtures which are fixedly mounted on the setup fixture.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 18 words

Apparatus according to claim 11 in which the bracket support fixtures are detachably mounted on the setup fixture.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 34 words

In combination, apparatus according to claim 10 and an orthodontic bracket, including a releasable clamp in the bracket support fixture and complementary architecture in the bracket for the clamp to rigidly engage the bracket.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 23 words

Apparatus according to claim 10, including means for aligning each model tooth relative to its respective bracket support fixture in a labio-lingual direction.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 23 words

Apparatus according to claim 10, including means for aligning each model tooth relative to its respective bracket support fixture in a mesio-distal direction.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 23 words

Apparatus according to claim 10, including means for aligning each model tooth relative to its respective bracket support fixture in an inciso-gingival direction.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 105 words

Apparatus according to claim 10, in which the setup plate structures are detachable from the setup fixture, further including: an alignment fixture for positioning the setup plates thereon with the model teeth in a curved arrangement defining an archform; and a plurality of archwire forming fixtures, each forming fixture being mountable on an alignment plate in a predetermined relationship to one of the setup plate structures and including means for holding an arch wire for forming same; the alignment plate including means for positioning and fixing the setup plate structures in a generally radial pattern to define the curved archform relationship of the model teeth.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 53 words

Apparatus according to claim 18, in which the positioning and fixing means includes a radial slot in the setup plate structures and a curved slot in the alignment fixture, to permit radial and circumferential movement of the setup plate structures and means for clamping each setup plate structure and the alignment fixture together.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 39 words

Apparatus according to claim 18 in which each setup plate structure includes a setup plate detachably mounted atop an intermediate plate and the combined setup and intermediate plates being detachably mountable on the setup fixture in a predetermined position.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1993-03-19	1993-09-18	1994-03-20	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1997-03-19	1997-09-18	1998-03-20	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2001-03-19	2001-09-18	2002-03-20	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Straight line orthodontic setup method and apparatus

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