Orthodontic extraoral traction appliance

Abstract

An orthodontic extraoral traction appliance includes at least one central body, one or more rest portions to be positioned on the patient's head, and one or more traction portions, which engage an intraoral brace. The appliance is provided with one or more sensors for detecting and/or measuring the force exerted by the traction portions.

Claims

1. An orthodontic extraoral traction appliance, comprising: at least one central body (1); one or more rest portions (2, 3, 4, 5) to be positioned on a patient's head; one or more traction portions (6), which engage an intraoral brace; and one or more sensors (7, 8) detecting and/or measuring a traction force exerted by the traction portions (6).

2. The orthodontic extraoral traction appliance according to claim 1, wherein the traction portions (6) comprise elastic bands fastened to the central body (1), said elastic bands engaging with hooks provided in the intraoral brace.

3. The orthodontic extraoral traction appliance according to claim 1, wherein the traction portions (6) comprise elements made of a shape memory material fastened to the central body (1), said elements engaging hooks provided in the intraoral brace.

4. The orthodontic extraoral traction appliance according to claim 3, wherein the shape memory material is composed at least partially of a Nickel-Titanium alloy.

5. The orthodontic extraoral traction appliance according to claim 1, wherein the sensors (7, 8) comprise pressure sensors provided inside at least one of the rest portions (2, 3, 4, 5).

6. The orthodontic extraoral traction appliance according to claim 5, wherein at least one of said sensors (7, 8) are provided in proximity of an area coupling the traction portions (6) to the central body (1).

7. The orthodontic extraoral traction appliance according to claim 6, wherein the pressure sensors are adapted to carry out an evaluation of a pressure state of the rest portions (2, 3, 4, 5), whereby said evaluation is used as an activation to measure the traction force exerted by the traction portions (6) by the sensors provided in the proximity of the area coupling the traction portions (6) to the central body (1).

8. The orthodontic extraoral traction appliance according to claim 1, wherein the sensors (7, 8) comprise piezoelectric sensors.

9. The orthodontic extraoral traction appliance according to claim 1, wherein the sensors (7, 8) comprise strain gauges.

10. The orthodontic extraoral traction appliance according to claim 1, further comprising a control unit (9) receiving, as input, data detected by the sensors (7, 8).

11. The orthodontic extraoral traction appliance according to claim 10, wherein the control unit (9) is is adapted to compare values detected by the sensors (7, 8) with threshold values and/or ranges of reference values.

12. The orthodontic extraoral traction appliance according to claim 11, further comprising an acoustic and/or visual signalling unit (91) that receives, as the input, the data from the control unit (9) and that generates an alarm signal if the values detected by the sensors (7, 8) exceed the threshold values and/or fall outside the ranges of reference values.

13. The orthodontic extraoral traction appliance according to claim 10, further comprising a storage unit (94) for the values detected by said sensors (7, 8) that receives as input the data from the control unit (9).

14. The orthodontic extraoral traction appliance according to claim 10, further comprising a remote communication unit (92) for the values detected by said sensors (7, 8), wherein the remote communication unit receives as input the data from the control unit (9).

15. The orthodontic extraoral traction appliance according to claim 14, further comprising a web-based application for displaying data sent by the remote communication unit (92).

16. The orthodontic extraoral traction appliance according to claim 1, further comprising a system that sets the traction force exerted by the traction portions (6).

17. The orthodontic extraoral traction appliance according to claim 1, wherein the orthodontic extraoral traction appliance is configured as a face mask for correcting skeletal malocclusions in skeletal Class III, wherein the central body (1) is comprises at least one curved bar, having, in proximity of opposite ends of the curved bar, one of the rest portions (2) to be positioned on the patient's forehead and one of the rest portions (3) to be positioned on the patient's chin respectively, further comprising, in an intermediate region, an element (10) coupling the traction portions (6).

18. The orthodontic extraoral traction appliance according to claim 1, wherein the orthodontic extraoral traction appliance comprises two central bodies (1) to be arranged on the opposite sides of the patient's head, the central bodies (1) being connected together by one or more rest portions that cooperate with a back (4) and/or with a top (5) of the patient's head, the two central bodies (1) being further connected to the traction portions (6).

19. A face mask for correcting skeletal malocclusions in skeletal class III, comprising: at least one curved bar, provided, in proximity of opposite ends of the curved bar, with a first rest portion (2) to be positioned on a patient's forehead and a second rest portion (3) to be positioned on the patient's chin, and, in an intermediate region, with a coupling element (10) coupling traction portions (6), which engage an intraoral brace; and one or more sensors (7, 8) detecting and/or measuring a force exerted by the traction portions (6).

20. The face mask according to claim 19, wherein the sensors (7, 8) comprise pressure sensors provided within at least one of the first or second rest portions (2, 3, 4, 5).

21. The face mask according to claim 19, wherein one or more said sensors (7, 8) are provided on the coupling element (10).

22. The face mask according to claim 19, further comprising a control unit (9) comparing values detected by the sensors (7, 8) with threshold values and/or ranges of reference values.

23. The face mask according to claim 22, further comprising an acoustic and/or visual signalling unit (91) that receives, as input, data from the control unit (9) and that generates an alarm signal if the values exceed the threshold values and/or fall outside the ranges of reference values.

Description

[0047] These and other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will be more clear from the following description of some embodiments shown in the annexed drawings wherein:

[0048] FIG. 1 is a first embodiment of the appliance;

[0049] FIG. 2 is a second embodiment;

[0050] FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram.

[0051] FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention relating to a face mask for correcting skeletal malocclusions in skeletal class III.

[0052] The face mask comprises a single central body composed of a curved bar 1, provided in proximity of the opposite ends with a rest portion 2 on the patient forehead and a rest portion 3 on the patient chin respectively.

[0053] The bar 1 is provided in an intermediate region with an element 10 coupling the traction portions, in the example of FIG. 1 it is composed of elastic bands 6. The elastic bands 6 engage an intraoral brace, not shown in the figures.

[0054] As set forth above, as an alternative or in combination the traction portions comprise elements made of a shape memory material, such as for example Nickel-Titanium alloy or similar shape memory alloys.

[0055] The coupling element 10 is provided with two side arms 100 extending in opposite directions along an axis perpendicular to the bar, at whose ends the traction elastic bands 6 being coupled. Such arrangement allows the elastic bands 6 to be placed at the hooks provided in proximity of the canine teeth on the intraoral brace.

[0056] The appliance is provided with one or more sensors for detecting and/or measuring the force exerted by the traction portions.

[0057] In the example of the figure there is provided a pressure sensor 7 incorporated into the rest portion 3 on the patient chin 3. In a variant embodiment, that can be carried out in combination or as an alternative, it is possible to provide a further pressure sensor in the rest portion 2 on the patient forehead.

[0058] There are further provided sensors 8 placed in proximity of the area connecting the traction portions to the central body, in particular along the arms 100 of the element 10 connecting the elastic bands 6 to the bar 1.

[0059] The sensors can be strain gauges or piezoelectric sensors and/or pyroelectric sensors, force-sensitive resistors or other types of similar sensors.

[0060] The sensors are in communication with a control unit 9, that receives as input the detected data. Preferably the control unit is placed in the rest portion 3 on the chin 3. There is provided a signalling unit 91, preferably comprising warning lights of different type for showing the patient or physician information about the use of the mask, such as for example the fact of having reached the hours necessary for the treatment.

[0061] The sensors can record the moment when the patient wears the mask and the force applied by the elastic bands 6.

[0062] FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment, wherein the appliance is an orthodontic extraoral traction appliance comprising two central bodies 1 intended to be arranged on the opposite sides of the patient head, which central bodies 1 are connected together by a rest portion 4 intended to cooperate with the back of the patient neck and of two rest portions 5 intended to cooperate with the head top. The central bodies are connected to the traction portion or “headgear” 6.

[0063] A sensor 8 is placed on each central body 1 in proximity of the coupling area of the traction portion 6. As an alternative or in combination it is possible to provide further sensors placed in the rest portions 4 and 5.

[0064] The control unit 9 and the signalling unit 91 in the example in the figure are provided in the rest portion 4 intended to cooperate with the back of the patient neck, but they can be provided in the central body 1 or in the rest portion 5 intended to cooperate with the head top.

[0065] FIG. 3 shows a functional block diagram of the appliance of the present invention, showing a sensor 7 placed in communication with the control unit 9 for transmitting the detected data.

[0066] The control unit is provided with a unit comparing the values detected by the sensors with threshold values and/or with ranges of reference values.

[0067] In the example in the figure there is provided a unit 93 for the user to set the threshold values and/or the ranges of the reference values.

[0068] A acoustic and/or visual signalling unit 91 is provided generating a warning signal if the values exceed the threshold values and/or fall outside the ranges of the reference values. The signalling unit 91 can comprise one or more LEDs, that can be of different colours or can take different colours depending on the results of the comparison. The signalling unit 91 further can comprise a buzzer for acoustically signalling an alarm or the proper use of the appliance. In one embodiment the signalling unit comprises a display showing the countdown of the residual time necessary for the therapy in the day.

[0069] A unit 94 is provided for storing the data detected by the sensors 7, which data can be saved in order to be later analyzed. The storage unit 94 can comprise a removable support, such as for example a MicroSD card.

[0070] There is further provided a remote communication unit for the data detected by the sensors 7, such to send the data to a remote device 10. At the same manner the remote device 10 can interface with the setting unit 93 for remotely adjust the operation of the control unit 9 and of the further units.