Dentistry – Orthodontics – Means to transmit or apply force to tooth
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-11
2001-07-03
Wilson, John J. (Department: 3732)
Dentistry
Orthodontics
Means to transmit or apply force to tooth
C433S003000, C206S820000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06254383
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention pertains to the handling of dental elastics, and more particularly, to a system for carrying, dispensing, and installing dental elastics.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Orthodontic ligatures, dental separating rings and synthetic elastics, collectively referred to herein as “dental elastics,” are widely employed to selectively interconnect various orthodontic and dental appliances (e.g., orthodontic brackets, wire, springs and accessories), as may be determined to be appropriate by practitioners on a case-by-case basis. Such elastics are generally toroidally-shaped and fabricated from resilient materials.
While early elastics were individually cut from surgical latex tubing, elastics are now generally molded and integrally interconnected to a “stick” carrier, wherein the number of ligatures on a stick is sufficient to fulfill the requirements for a given patient visit. In this regard, the packaging of elastics has been driven by greater awareness of infection control and sterilization requirements, wherein any elastics on a stick that are not utilized in conjunction with a given patient visit may be disposed of at a relatively low waste expense.
Typically, the disconnection of elastics from a stick carrier is accomplished by grasping an elastic with a placement tool and pulling the elastic away from the stick. As will be appreciated, such a procedure can stretch and thereby damage the elastics (e.g., due to permanent deformation effects), thereby adversely impacting the intended performance. Further, handling of an elastic via manipulation of a placement tool (i.e., to establish proper grasping of the elastic for installation) can be tedious for dental and orthodontic practitioners.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The primary objective of the present invention is to provide an improved system for carrying, dispensing and/or installing elastics.
More particularly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved method and device for disconnecting elastics from a carrier.
A further object is to provide an improved method and device for facilitating selective grasping of an elastic with a placement instrument so as to facilitate installation of the elastic within a patient's mouth.
Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide for the improved carrying, or packaging, of elastics to provide enhanced ease-of-use by practitioners.
One or more of these objectives and additional advantages can be realized by the present invention which is directed to the handling of elastics interconnected to a carrier member or runner. The runner may be sized for hand manipulation by a practitioner and may have a plurality of interconnected via corresponding connectors in an aligned manner along at least one side of the runner. Such elastics will generally have an opening therethrough for selective interconnection with orthodontic componentry (e.g. brackets).
In one aspect of the invention, the invention comprises a separate dispenser for receiving an elastics/runner assembly and for engaging one or more of the corresponding connectors to facilitate the selective disengagement of one or more corresponding elastics from the runner. The dispenser may be of a tubular construction with an internal passageway or channel passing therethrough, such channel being sized to matingly and slidably receive at least a portion of the runner therethrough. Further, the dispenser may include a slot that extends from at least one end of the dispenser and through which elastics/connectors that are interconnected to the carrier may project. Preferably such slot is linearly disposed and is of a width that accommodates the passage of elastics and/or connectors therethrough. An end or side portion of the slot may be provided with a cutting edge to facilitate disconnection of the elastics from the runner. The elastics may be shaped so as to define a circular, oval, square, rectangular or other opening shape therethrough.
In use, one end of the runner may be inserted into the channel of a slotted end of the dispenser with the interconnected elastics projecting outwardly from the dispenser through the slot thereof. The leading elastic may then be grasped by a placement tool (e.g., held by one hand) and the dispenser may be held (e.g., by the other hand). Either or both of the runner and dispenser may then be opposingly advanced until the leading elastic has engaged the cutting edge of the slot (e.g, at a closed end of the slot) and disengaged from the runner. Preferably, disengagement occurs as a combinative result of a pulling and severing action.
In another aspect of the invention, the elastics/runner assembly and dispenser can be correspondingly sized so that only a predetermined portion of each elastic will project through the slot of the dispenser to facilitate ready grasping by a placement instrument and installation in a patient's mouth by a practitioner. In this regard, the elastic should project through the slot so that at least a portion of the elastic opening is located outside of the dispenser. Preferably, the exposed portion of the elastic opening should not exceed about one-half of the opening, and most preferably the exposed portion should comprise about one-quarter of the opening. Such positioning facilitates easy and effective grasping of the elastic by the placement device and facilitates subsequent installation of the elastic in a patient's mouth. That is, for example, by limiting the grasping of an elastic to about one-half, or most preferably one-quarter, of its opening, the elastic opening in the ungrasped portion is still accessible for ready placement over or around an orthodontic or dental appliance during installation.
In a related aspect of the present invention, the width of the dispenser slot should preferably be less than the width of the nose or beak of the placement tool utilized to grasp, disconnect and install an elastic. Such relative sizing facilitates the above-noted grasping and installation functions by providing a “positive stop” arrangement.
In an additional aspect of the present invention, at least a portion of the slot in the dispenser and an interfacing portion of an elastics/runner assembly may be configured to provide for a slight interference therebetween, wherein the elastics/runner assembly will be lightly restrained from independently sliding out of the dispenser channel after insertion thereinto. Of course, such interface should not prevent advancement of the elastics/runner assembly through the channel or removal therefrom when desired. The noted restraining interface may be provided by reducing the slot width at the open end thereof so as to be slightly less than the width of the resilient elastics and/or resilient connectors extending therethrough. Alternatively, an internal surface of the channel of the dispenser and/or a portion of the runner may be sized so as to provide the noted interference. Further, a retaining interference may be obtained from the frictional engagement of the severed connectors inside the dispenser in order to prevent the runner from independently sliding out of the dispenser after all of the dental elastics have been removed from the runner. Numerous additional techniques for achieving the noted retentive effect are also possible.
In yet another aspect of the present invention, a plurality of elastics/runner assemblies may be interconnected and packaged as a unit. By way of example, such plurality of assemblies may be interconnected in an H-shaped configuration. Further, the elastics interconnected to at least one of the plurality of assemblies may be differently sized and/or shaped from the elastics interconnected to the other assemblies. In the later regard, the elastics connected to certain assemblies may be toroidal while the elastics connected to one or more other assemblies may be of a round, rectangular or square configuration. Additionally, one or more of the assemblies may be provided with elastics extending along only one side thereof, while one or more of t
Marsh & Fischmann & Breyfogle LLP
White Velton C.
Wilson John J.
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