| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|
| 20090004617 | SELF-LIGATING ORTHODONTIC BRACKETS AND ORTHODONTIC BRACKET SYSTEMS - Self-ligating orthodontic brackets and bracket systems. The orthodontic bracket includes a contact point on its bracket body and a contact point on a movable member used to self-ligate an archwire in an archwire slot defined in the bracket body. The contact points are arranged such that different portions of a tip on an orthodontic hand tool can be placed in a contacting relationship with the contact points and used to place the movable member in an open position. | 01-01-2009 |
| 20090004618 | ORTHODONTIC HAND TOOLS FOR USE WITH A SELF-LIGATING ORTHODONTIC BRACKET AND METHODS FOR USING SUCH ORTHODONTIC HAND TOOLS - Orthodontic hand tools and methods for using the orthodontic hand tools in conjunction with self-ligating orthodontic brackets. The orthodontic hand tool includes a tip configured to contact a contact point on a bracket body of the bracket and to also contact a contact point on a movable member coupled with the bracket body. When the tip is used, the tip applies a force to the first and second contact points effective to move the movable member relative to the bracket body with negligible force transferred from the tip to the patient's tooth. | 01-01-2009 |
| 20090004619 | SELF-LIGATING ORTHODONTIC BRACKET AND DEVICES FOR DEPLOYING SAME - An orthodontic bracket for coupling an archwire with a tooth includes a bracket body having an archwire slot adapted to receive the archwire therein and a movable member engaged with the bracket body and movable between an opened position and a closed position. A securing mechanism is configured to secure the movable member in at least the closed position and includes a projecting portion and a receiving portion. The projecting portion may include a generally elongate pin capable of flexing relative to a central axis thereof to secure the movable member in at least the closed position. An orthodontic assembly includes an orthodontic bracket and an alignment device for positioning the bracket on the tooth. | 01-01-2009 |
| 20090291404 | ORTHODONTIC BRACKETS AND APPLIANCES AND METHODS OF MAKING AND USING ORTHODONTIC BRACKETS - Orthodontic brackets and appliances, and methods of making and using orthodontic brackets. The orthodontic bracket may include a molded identification marking including at least one alphanumeric character disposed on a visible surface. A kit of self-ligating orthodontic brackets may be provided that includes individual brackets of different archwire slot widths for attachment to anterior and posterior teeth during a corrective orthodontic treatment. An appliance or auxiliary may be provided that includes a spring-loaded latch operative to secure the appliance to an orthodontic bracket. | 11-26-2009 |
| 20100159411 | Low Profile Self-Ligating Orthodontic Brackets And Methods Of Using Such Orthodontic Brackets - Low profile self-ligating orthodontic brackets and methods of using such orthodontic brackets. The bracket includes a bracket body, a latching member, and a hinge pin pivotally coupling a hinged end of the latching member with the bracket body. The hinge pin, which is made of a resilient material, is configured to flex so that a portion of the latching member can be engaged with a recess defined in the bracket body to couple the non-hinged end of the latching member with the bracket body. | 06-24-2010 |
| 20100178629 | SELF-LIGATING ORTHODONTIC BRACKET AND DEVICES FOR DEPLOYING SAME - An orthodontic bracket for coupling an archwire with a tooth includes a bracket body having an archwire slot for receiving the archwire and a movable member engaged with the bracket body and movable between opened and closed positions. The movable member includes a leading edge having a non-uniform pushing element configured to guide the archwire into the archwire slot as the movable member is closed. An associated method includes providing a movable member for an orthodontic bracket and providing a non-uniform pushing element on a leading edge thereof. The pushing element may include a chamfer formed along the leading edge of the movable member. | 07-15-2010 |
| 20100261131 | Orthodontic Bracket and Method of Correcting Malpositioned Teeth - An orthodontic bracket comprises a bracket body and a ligating member. The ligating member retains an archwire in an archwire slot and includes archwire control structure including projecting portions spaced apart in a mesial-distal direction with a recessed area therebetween. The recessed area and the projecting portions overlie the archwire slot. The recessed area may include a flat or a curved surface in a mesial-distal direction. The recessed area and projecting portions may define a radius of curvature that is less than the radius of curvature of the archwire seated in the slot. The archwire contacts one or both the projecting portions resulting in a larger moment arm and better rotational control of the bracket with the force applied by the archwire. | 10-14-2010 |
| 20100285420 | ORTHODONTIC BRACKET HAVING A LINGUALLY BIASED CLOSURE MEMBER AND ASSOCIATED METHOD - An orthodontic bracket includes a bracket body having an archwire slot configured to receive the archwire and a base surface that at least in part defines the archwire slot. A movable member is engaged with the bracket body and movable between an opened position and a closed position. A resilient member is configured to engage the movable member to impose a force that biases the movable member toward the base surface of the archwire slot. A method of moving a tooth includes inserting the archwire into the archwire slot, closing the movable member to capture the archwire within the archwire slot, and imposing a force on the movable member that biases the movable member toward the base surface of the archwire slot. | 11-11-2010 |
