Orthodontic archwire

Claim 2

An orthodontic shape-memory alloy archwire for ligating to orthodontic appliances, comprising: a shape-memory alloy wire formed into an arch shape and exhibiting superelastic properties for imparting a substantially constant force upon deflection within a patient's mouth, the shapememory alloy wire being heat treated so that at least one section of the archwire exhibits a predetermined modulus of elasticity and thus imparts a predetermined range of force when deflected, the distal ends of the archwire being treated to exhibit substantially diminished superelastic properties in comparison to the at least one other section of the archwire, the distal ends thus being deformable into shapes to prevent them from slipping through orthodontic appliances when mounted thereto.

Claim 3

An orthodontic shape-memory alloy archwire as defined in claim 1, wherein the distal ends are heat treated to exhibit diminished superelastic properties.

Claim 4

An orthodontic shape-memory alloy archwire as defined in claim 1, further comprising: a dopant applied to the distal ends thereof, the dopant permitting each distal end to be deformed and to retain the deformed shape.

Claim 5

An orthodontic shape-memory alloy archwire as defined in claim 3, wherein the shape-memory alloy wire includes Ni-Ti and the dopant includes iron.

Claim 8

A method of making an orthodontic shape-memory alloy archwire as defined in claim 5, wherein the distal ends are heat treated.

Claim 9

A method of making an orthodontic shape-memory alloy archwire as defined in claim 6, wherein the distal ends are heat treated at a temperature within the range of about 600° C. to 900° C.

Claim 10

A method of making an orthodontic shape-memory alloy archwire as defined in claim 5, wherein a dopant is applied the distal ends of the archwire.

Claim 11

A method of making an orthodontic shape-memory alloy archwire as defined in claim 8, wherein the dopant includes iron.

Claim 12

An orthodontic shape-memory alloy archwire for ligating to orthodontic appliances, comprising: a shape-memory alloy wire formed into an arch shape and exhibiting superelastic properties for imparting a substantially constant force upon deflection when mounted to a patient's teeth, the distal ends of the archwire being treated to substantially diminish their superelastic properties in comparison to the other sections of the archwire, the distal ends thus being deformable into shapes to secure them to orthodontic appliances when mounted thereto.

Claim 13

An orthodontic shape-memory alloy archwire for ligating to orthodontic appliances, comprising: a shape-memory alloy wire formed into an arch shape and exhibiting superelastic properties for imparting a substantially constant force upon deflection when mounted to a patient's teeth, the distal ends of the archwire being treated to substantially diminish their superelastic properties in comparison to the other sections of the archwire, the distal ends thus being deformable into shapes to secure them to orthodontic appliances when mounted thereto.

Claim 14

An orthodontic shape-memory alloy archwire as defined in claim 10, wherein the distal ends are heat treated.

Claim 15

An orthodontic shape-memory alloy archwire as defined in claim 10, wherein the distal ends are treated with a dopant.

Claim 16

An orthodontic shape-memory alloy archwire, comprising: a Ni-Ti alloy wire formed into an arch shape and exhibiting superelastic properties for imparting a substantially constant force upon deflection within a patient's mouth, the section of the archwire corresponding to the front teeth being heat treated to exhibit a first predetermined modulus of elasticity, the sections corresponding to the bicuspids being heat treated to exhibit a second predetermined modulus of elasticity, and the sections corresponding to the molars being heat treated to exhibit a third predetermined modulus of elasticity, each section of the archwire thus imparting a predetermined range of force when deflected, and the distal ends of the archwire being heat treated to substantially diminish their superelastic properties in comparison to the other sections of the archwire, the distal ends thus being deformable into shapes to secure them to orthodontic appliances when mounted thereto.

Claim 17

An orthodontic shape-memory alloy archwire, comprising: a Ni-Ti alloy wire formed into an arch shape and exhibiting superelastic properties for imparting a substantially constant force upon deflection within a patient's mouth, the section of the archwire corresponding to the front teeth being heat treated to exhibit a first predetermined modulus of elasticity, the sections corresponding to the bicuspids being heat treated to exhibit a second predetermined modulus of elasticity, and the sections corresponding to the molars being heat treated to exhibit a third predetermined modulus of elasticity, each section of the archwire thus imparting a predetermined range of force when deflected, and the distal ends of the archwire being heat treated to substantially diminish their superelastic properties in comparison to the other sections of the archwire, the distal ends thus being deformable into shapes to secure them to orthodontic appliances when mounted thereto.

Claim 20

A method of making an orthodontic shape-memory alloy archwire as defined in claim 14, wherein the distal ends of the archwire are heat treated at a temperature within the range of about 600° to 900° C.

Claim 21

A method of making an orthodontic shape-memory alloy archwire as defined in claim 15, wherein the section of the archwire corresponding to the front teeth is heat treated at a temperature within the range of about 400° C. to 600° C. for a time period within the range of about one hour to about 2.5 hours; the sections of the archwire corresponding to the bicuspids are heat treated at a temperature within the range of about 400° C. to 600° C. for a time period within the range of about 15 minutes to 1 hour; and the sections of the archwire corresponding to the molars are heat treated at a temperature within the range of about 400° C. to 600° C. for a time period within the range of about 0 to 10 minutes.

Claim 22

An orthodontic shape-memory alloy archwire for ligating to orthodontic appliances, comprising: a Ni-Ti alloy wire formed into an arch shape and exhibiting superelastic properties for imparting a substantially constant force upon deflection thereof when mounted to teeth, the sections of the archwire corresponding to the front teeth, the bicuspids, and the molars of a dental arch, each being heat treated differently than the others, and thus exhibiting a different modulus of elasticity than the others, and the distal ends of the archwire being heat treated at a temperature within the range of about 600° to 900° C. to substantially diminish their superelastic properties in comparison to the other sections of the archwire, the distal ends thus being deformable into shapes to secure them to orthodontic appliances.

Claim 23

An orthodontic shape-memory alloy archwire for ligating to orthodontic appliances, comprising: a Ni-Ti alloy wire formed into an arch shape and exhibiting superelastic properties for imparting a substantially constant force upon deflection thereof when mounted to teeth, the sections of the archwire corresponding to the front teeth, the bicuspids, and the molars of a dental arch, each being heat treated differently than the others, and thus exhibiting a different modulus of elasticity than the others, and the distal ends of the archwire being heat treated at a temperature within the range of about 600° to 900° C. to substantially diminish their superelastic properties in comparison to the other sections of the archwire, the distal ends thus being deformable into shapes to secure them to orthodontic appliances.

Claim 24

An orthodontic shape-memory alloy archwire as defined in claim 17, wherein the sections of the archwire corresponding to the front teeth have been heat treated at a temperature within the range of about 400° C. to 600° C. for a time period within the range of about one hour to about 2.5 hours; the sections of the archwire corresponding to the bicuspids have been heat treated at a temperature within the range of about 400° C. to 600° C. for a time period within the range of about 15 minutes to 1 hour; and the sections of the archwire corresponding to the molars have been heat treated at a temperature within the range of about 400° C. to 600° C. for a time period within the range of 0 to 10 minutes.

Claim 25

An orthodontic shape-memory alloy archwire for ligating to orthodontic appliances, a Ni-Ti alloy wire formed into an arch shape and exhibiting superelastic properties for imparting a substantially constant force upon deflection thereof when mounted to teeth, the sections of the archwire corresponding to the front teeth, the bicuspids, and the molars of a dental arch, each being heat treated differently than the others, and thus exhibiting a different modulus of elasticity than the others, and the distal ends of the archwire including an iron dopant thereon, the distal ends thus being deformable into shapes to secure them to orthodontic appliances.

Claim 26

An orthodontic shape-memory alloy archwire for ligating to orthodontic appliances, a Ni-Ti alloy wire formed into an arch shape and exhibiting superelastic properties for imparting a substantially constant force upon deflection thereof when mounted to teeth, the sections of the archwire corresponding to the front teeth, the bicuspids, and the molars of a dental arch, each being heat treated differently than the others, and thus exhibiting a different modulus of elasticity than the others, and the distal ends of the archwire including an iron dopant thereon, the distal ends thus being deformable into shapes to secure them to orthodontic appliances.

Claim 27

An orthodontic shape-memory alloy archwire for ligating to orthodontic appliances, comprising: a shape-memory alloy wire formed into an arch shape and exhibiting superelastic properties for imparting a substantially constant force upon deflection within a patient's mouth, an anterior section of the archwire being heat treated to exhibit a first predetermined modulus of elasticity, and at least one posterior section of the archwire being heat treated to exhibit a second predetermined modulus of elasticity, the distal ends of the archwire being heat treated to substantially diminish their superelastic properties in comparison to the other sections of the archwire, the distal ends thus being deformable into shapes to fix them relative to orthodontic appliances when mounted thereto.

Claim 28

An orthodontic shape-memory alloy archwire for ligating to orthodontic appliances, comprising: a shape-memory alloy wire formed into an arch shape and exhibiting superelastic properties for imparting a substantially constant force upon deflection within a patient's mouth, an anterior section of the archwire being heat treated to exhibit a first predetermined modulus of elasticity, and at least one posterior section of the archwire being heat treated to exhibit a second predetermined modulus of elasticity, the distal ends of the archwire being heat treated to substantially diminish their superelastic properties in comparison to the other sections of the archwire, the distal ends thus being deformable into shapes to fix them relative to orthodontic appliances when mounted thereto.