Patent US5692895A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5692895A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Luminescent orthodontic appliances
Assignee: Ormco Corp
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Filing: 1995-01-30
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Granted: 1997-12-02
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Expires: 2015-01-30
Abstract
Abstract Luminescent orthodontic appliances, such as brackets, archwires, bands and the like, having a luminescent pigment or mixture of luminescent pigments are described. In a preferred form, the luminescent pigment is a phosphorescent pigment comprising zinc sulfide doped with copper. The pigment gives the appliance a natural appearance in daylight and causes it to emit a greenish-white light in the dark after having been energized by an excitation light source. If desired, the luminescent orthodontic appliance may be made with a fluorescent pigment or a combination of fluorescent and phosphorescent pigments. If a fluorescent pigment is used, the bracket will exhibit a luminescence in daylight; whereas if a mixture of fluorescent and phosphorescent pigments are used, the appliance will luminesce in the dark after having been exposed to a light source, in addition to exhibiting a luminescence in the daylight. The luminescent appliances of this invention provide a fun alternative to traditional orthodontic appliances, particularly for younger patients, who can "show off" their braces to their families and friends.
Inventors
- 👤 Farrokh Farzin-Nia
- 👤 Ronald M. Malerstein
- 👤 Albert Ruiz-Vela
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 15:23
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61C; A61C7/00; A61C7/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 34
Claim 1
Independent Claim
14 words
A luminescent orthodontic bracket, comprising: an orthodontic bracket material including a nonremovable luminescent pigment.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
14 words
A luminescent orthodontic bracket, comprising: an orthodontic bracket material including a nonremovable luminescent pigment.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The bracket of claim 1 wherein said bracket material is selected from the group consisting of plastic, ceramic and metal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
11 words
The bracket of claim 1 wherein said bracket material is plastic.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
10 words
The bracket of claim 3 wherein said plastic is polycarbonate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
The bracket of claim 4 wherein said polycarbonate further includes reinforcing glass fibers.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The bracket of claim 5 wherein said glass fibers comprise in the range of about 20% to about 40% by weight of said bracket material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The bracket of claim 1 wherein said luminescent pigment comprises in the range of about 10% to about 15% by weight of said bracket material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The bracket of claim 1 wherein said luminescent pigment is selected from the group consisting of a phosphorescent pigment, a fluorescent pigment, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
The bracket of claim 8 wherein said phosphorescent pigment is selected from the group consisting of zinc sulfide doped with copper, zinc sulfide doped with copper and manganese, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The bracket of claim 1 wherein said luminescent pigment is dispersed within said bracket material.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The bracket of claim 1 wherein said luminescent pigment is deposited onto said bracket material.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
The bracket of claim 11 wherein said pigment is glazed, bombarded, ion-beam implanted or plasma coated.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
13 words
The bracket of claim 1 wherein said luminescent pigment includes a phosphorescent pigment.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
11 words
The bracket of claim 13 wherein said bracket material includes plastic.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
The bracket of claim 14 wherein said luminescent pigment is dispersed within said bracket material.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
13 words
The bracket of claim 1 wherein said luminescent pigment is a phosphorescent pigment.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
73 words
A phosphorescent plastic orthodontic bracket, comprising: a plastic bracket material including a phosphorescent pigment dispersed therein; said plastic bracket material being polycarbonate reinforced with glass fibers, said fibers comprising in the range of about 20% to about 40% by weight of said plastic bracket material; said phosphorescent pigment comprising zinc sulfide doped with copper, said pigment comprising in the range of about 10% to about 15% by weight of said plastic bracket material.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
73 words
A phosphorescent plastic orthodontic bracket, comprising: a plastic bracket material including a phosphorescent pigment dispersed therein; said plastic bracket material being polycarbonate reinforced with glass fibers, said fibers comprising in the range of about 20% to about 40% by weight of said plastic bracket material; said phosphorescent pigment comprising zinc sulfide doped with copper, said pigment comprising in the range of about 10% to about 15% by weight of said plastic bracket material.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
13 words
A luminescent orthodontic archwire, comprising: an orthodontic archwire including a nonremovable luminescent pigment.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
13 words
A luminescent orthodontic archwire, comprising: an orthodontic archwire including a nonremovable luminescent pigment.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
13 words
The archwire of claim 18 wherein said pigment is coated onto said archwire.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
16 words
The archwire of claim 19 wherein said pigment is glazed, bombarded, ion-beam implanted or plasma coated.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
25 words
The archwire of claim 18 wherein said luminescent pigment is selected from the group consisting of a phosphorescent pigment, a fluorescent pigment, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
12 words
The archwire of claim 18 wherein said pigment comprises a phosphorescent pigment.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
31 words
The archwire of claim 22 wherein said phosphorescent pigment is selected from the group consisting of zinc sulfide doped with copper, zinc sulfide doped with copper and manganese, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
14 words
The archwire of claim 23 wherein said phosphorescent pigment is coated onto said archwire.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
49 words
A luminescent orthodontic appliance used to move teeth in the correction of bite and tooth position, comprising: an orthodontic appliance which moves or assists in moving of teeth in the correction of bite and tooth position, said orthodontic appliance comprising: an orthodontic appliance material including a nonremovable luminescent pigment.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
49 words
A luminescent orthodontic appliance used to move teeth in the correction of bite and tooth position, comprising: an orthodontic appliance which moves or assists in moving of teeth in the correction of bite and tooth position, said orthodontic appliance comprising: an orthodontic appliance material including a nonremovable luminescent pigment.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
21 words
The appliance of claim 25 wherein said orthodontic appliance material is selected from the group consisting of plastic, ceramic and metal.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
24 words
The appliance of claim 25 wherein said pigment is selected from the group consisting of a phosphorescent pigment, a fluorescent pigment, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
15 words
The appliance of claim 25 wherein said pigment is dispersed within said orthodontic appliance material.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
15 words
The appliance of claim 25 wherein said pigment is deposited onto said orthodontic appliance material.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
16 words
The appliance of claim 29 wherein said pigment is glazed, bombarded, ion-beam implanted or plasma coated.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-12-01 | 2001-06-02 | 2001-12-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-12-01 | 2005-06-02 | 2005-12-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-12-01 | 2009-06-02 | 2009-12-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |