Dentistry – Orthodontics – Tool
Reexamination Certificate
2002-07-01
2004-09-07
Manahan, Todd E. (Department: 3732)
Dentistry
Orthodontics
Tool
C433S072000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06786719
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The field of the invention is tools with the preferred embodiments being particularly adapted for use in the field of orthodontic bracket placement, positioning, and alignment tools.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Dentists, orthodontists in particular, often use orthodontic hardware such as brackets and archwires in the prevention or correction of irregularities of the teeth. An orthodontic bracket is generally a metal or ceramic part fastened to a tooth to serve as a means for fastening an archwire. An archwire is a metal wire that is attached to the brackets to move the teeth of a patient in a manner desired by the patient's dentist. An example of a bracket and archwire assembly is shown in
FIG. 1
with bracket
10
being bonded to tooth
40
, and archwire
20
being coupled to bracket
10
by ligature wire
30
. Bracket
10
comprises base
11
, and stems
12
and
13
. Stems
12
and
13
each comprise two tie wings (
12
A,
12
B,
13
A, and
13
B) and an archwire receiving slot (
12
C and
13
C). In
FIG. 1
, bracket
10
can be characterized as having perpendicular axis A
1
and A
2
, and tooth
40
can be characterized as having a central axis A
3
, and an occlusal plane P
1
as shown.
Due to the small size of the brackets, it is generally desirable to use a holder such as a tweezers or pliers to pick up position bracket
10
on a tooth
40
. The positioning and alignment of bracket
10
relative to tooth
40
is particularly important to a dentist, as it tends to strongly impact the movement of tooth
40
during treatment. As such, it is generally desirable to position bracket
10
at a particular height relative to the top/occlusal surface of the tooth. Referring to
FIGS. 2A-2C
, the position of bracket
10
may be adjusted such that: (a) the vertical distance D
1
, the distance between the occlusal plane P
1
or occlusal surface of tooth
40
and horizontal axis A
2
, is a desired value; (b) the horizontal distance D
2
, the horizontal component of the distance between axis A
1
of bracket
10
and axis A
3
of tooth
40
, is a desired value (possibly zero); and the angle E
1
between axis A
1
and axis A
3
is a desired value (also possibly zero). Unfortunately, properly positioning and aligning bracket
10
is not always easy to accomplish. Because of this, tools for aiding in the holding, positioning, and aligning of brackets have been developed. Examples of such tools can be found at least in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,868,787 and 4,850,864, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,810,582 and in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,296,482, 5,312,248, and 5,304,061. However, this list is not exhaustive as other types of holders, gauges, and other tools are also known.
One type of holder that is particularly suitable for comparison purposes is the bracket holding tweezer of FIG.
3
. In
FIG. 3
, tweezer
50
comprises a pair of elongated members
51
and
51
′ placed in an adjacent lengthwise relationship with one another, each member having a first end part
52
and
52
′ and a second end part
53
and
53
′, the first end part forming a gripping mechanism
54
, and the second end parts coupled together to form a handle
55
. The tweezers of
FIG. 3
is a pre-tensioned or cross-over type having a gripping mechanism
54
comprising a jaw which is held in the closed position by tension formed by the shape of the tweezers, in particular by the cross-over portion
56
and the coupling together of ends
53
and
53
′. The user must apply pressure to the members
51
and
51
′ to open the jaw, align the object upon which the tweezers are to be used with, and then reduce the pressure on the members so that the object is held by the gripping area. In many instances, cross-over type holders are preferred in the placement of brackets on teeth.
The gripping jaw
54
that includes the first end parts
52
and
52
′ of the members
51
and
51
′, includes gripping surfaces
57
and
57
′ having front edges
58
and
58
′ that are typically used to grip the tie wings of an orthodontic bracket. The front edges
58
and
58
′ of the gripping jaws are typically inclined relative to a vertical axis to allow the holder to be angled away from the surface of a tooth during placement of a bracket. In some instances their front edges are cutting surfaces.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to apparatus for holding, positioning, and aligning other apparatus such as orthodontic brackets. Preferred embodiments of such apparatus include one or more of the following: (a) a bracket gripping mechanism; (b) a horizontal position indicator; (c) a vertical position indicator; and (d) an orientation indicator. In preferred embodiments, various portions of the apparatus serve multiple purposes, and interact with other portions to facilitate use of the apparatus. A most preferred apparatus comprises a handle, a bracket gripping mechanism, a combined orientation and horizontal position indicator, and a height gauge (vertical position indicator) that can also cooperate with the handle as an orientation indicator.
It is advantageous for a given apparatus to comprise an indicator that extends vertically upward and/or downward from the apparatus with the indicator providing a visual representation of the location of a centerline of a bracket or other apparatus being positioned. It is also advantageous to have such an indicator be non-perpendicular to a handle portion of the apparatus. If an apparatus comprises jaws, it is advantageous to position a vertically extending indicator between the jaws such that the indicator is positioned at or near the center of the gap between the jaws when the jaws are being used to hold a bracket or other apparatus. If an apparatus comprises a holder having angled jaws, it is advantageous to have such a vertically extending indicator be parallel to the jaws so as to provide a visual indication of the orientation of the jaws. Any vertically extending indicator is preferred to be near an end of a given apparatus to allow it to be close to a bracket or other apparatus being positioned and orientated. However, in the case of an orthodontic bracket holder, it is preferred that such vertically extending indicator be set at least slightly back from an end of the holder so as to avoid contact with the teeth and gums of a patient during use.
It is advantageous to be able to use most of the length of an elongated apparatus to provide a visual indication of the orientation of a bracket or other apparatus being positioned as the longer the indicator means is, the easier it is to determine improper orientation of the apparatus being positioned.
It is advantageous to include both position and orientation indicators on a holder apparatus so as to allow a bracket or other apparatus to be positioned and aligned without having to utilize a separate tool. It is contemplated that one advantage of using such an apparatus is that, particularly when dealing with using a fast setting bonding material to bond a bracket to a tooth, proper position and orientation can be obtained earlier during the setting process with a resultant reduction in risk of damage to the bond that that can be caused by movement during later stages of the setting process.
A desirable apparatus can be obtained by modifying an existing bracket holder by adding a height gauge to the handle of a standard bracket holder, and mounting a vertical bar near the jaws of the holder. In such a configuration, the vertical bar can be used simultaneously as both a position and orientation indicator. The height gauge can be used first as a height gauge, and subsequently as an orientation indicator in cooperation with a handle of the holder.
It is preferred that an included height gauge have a bracket contact portion set at a fixed distance from a tooth contacting portion will be advantageous. It is also preferred that the bracket contact portion be adapted to fit within the archwire receiving slots of the stems of a bracket, and, preferably, to comprise a wire loop or other me
Manahan Todd #E.
Progressive America, Inc.
Rutan & Tucker
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