SELF-LIGATING ORTHODONTIC BRACKET

Abstract

A self-ligating orthodontic bracket has a bracket body having a mesial-distal arch wire slot extending in a labial direction of the bracket body, a base with a bonding surface and a channel oriented essentially perpendicular to the arch wire slot. There is at least one covering door for occluding the arch wire slot in a closed position and opening the arch wire slot in an open position. The at least one covering door is slidably coupled to the bracket body and is essentially linearly moveable between the closed position and the open position. There is at least one securing device orientated essentially parallel to the arch wire slot. The at least one securing device is completely arranged within the orthodontic bracket, completely enclosed by the bracket body and the at least one covering door in the closed position, the open position and in all intermediate positions.

Claims

1. A self-ligating orthodontic bracket (1), comprising: a bracket body (2) having a mesial-distal arch wire slot (3) extending in a labial direction of the bracket body (2), a base (4) with a bonding surface (5) and a channel (6) oriented essentially perpendicular to the arch wire slot (3), at least one covering door (7) configured for occluding the arch wire slot (3) in a closed position (8) and opening the arch wire slot (3) in an open position (9), wherein the at least one covering door (7) is slidably coupled to the bracket body (2), the at least one covering door (7) being essentially linear moveable between the closed position (8) and the open position (9) of the at least one covering door (7) and at least one securing device (10), the at least one securing device (10) being orientated essentially parallel to the arch wire slot (3), wherein the at least one securing device (10) is completely arranged within the orthodontic bracket (1), and is completely enclosed by the bracket body (2) and the at least one covering door (7) in the closed position (8), the open position (9) and in all intermediate positions.

2. The orthodontic bracket (1) according to claim 1, wherein the at least one covering door (7) comprises at least one notch (19), the at least one notch (19) extending in a lingual direction, wherein the at least one securing device (10) is arranged at least partially inside the at least one notch (19), wherein the at least one notch (19) secures the at least one securing device (10) in a labial direction in the closed position (8) and the open position (9), wherein the at least one covering door (7) occludes the at least one securing device (10) exhaustively in labial direction.

3. The orthodontic bracket (1) according to claim 1, wherein the at least one covering door (7) is securable by the at least one securing device (10) in the open position (9) and in the closed position (8) in the gingival direction and the occlusal direction.

4. A self-ligating orthodontic bracket (1), comprising: a bracket body (2) having a mesial-distal arch wire slot (3) extending in a labial direction of the bracket body (2), a base (4) with a bonding surface (5) and a channel (6) oriented essentially perpendicular to the arch wire slot (3), at least one covering door (7) configured for occluding the arch wire slot (3) in a closed position (8) and opening the arch wire slot (3) in an open position (9), wherein the at least one covering door (7) is slidably coupled to the bracket body (2), the at least one covering door (7) being essentially linearly moveable between the closed position (8) and the open position (9) of the at least one covering door (7) along a plurality of intermediate positions and at least one securing device (10), the at least one securing device (10) being orientated essentially parallel to the arch wire slot (3), wherein the at least one securing device (10) is configured to secure the at least one covering door (7) in an occlusal-gingival direction in the closed position (8) and/or the open position (9), wherein the orthodontic bracket (1) comprises at least two engagement positions for the at least one securing device (10), wherein the at least two engagement positions are separated from one another in an occlusal-gingival direction, wherein one engagement position corresponds to the open position (9) and the other engagement position corresponds to the closed position (8), wherein the at least one securing device (10) is movable between the at least two engagement positions by a movement of the at least one covering door (7) along the channel (6).

5. The orthodontic bracket (1) according to claim 4, wherein the at least one covering door (7) comprises at least one notch (19), the at least one notch (19) extending in a lingual direction, wherein the at least one securing device (10) is arranged at least partially inside the at least one notch (19), wherein the at least one notch (19) secures the at least one securing device (10) in a labial direction in the closed position (8) and the open position (9), wherein the at least one covering door (7) occludes the at least one securing device (10) completely in the labial direction.

6. The orthodontic bracket (1) according to claim 4, wherein the at least one securing device (10) is configured to secure the at least one covering door (7) in an occlusal-gingival direction in the closed position (8) or the open position (9).

7. The orthodontic bracket (1) according to claim 4, wherein the bracket body (2) comprises at least two engagement positions for the at least one securing device (10) on an outer surface (11) of the bracket body (2), wherein the at least two engagement positions are separated from one another in an occlusal-gingival direction, wherein one engagement position corresponds to the open position (9) and the other engagement position corresponds to the closed position (8).

8. The orthodontic bracket (1) according to claim 4, wherein the at least one covering door (7) is arranged in the channel (6) of the bracket body (2) and the channel (6) comprises an opening (22) in a labial direction, the at least one covering door (7) extending through the opening (22) along two side walls (23) of the opening (22).

9. The orthodontic bracket (1) according to claim 8, wherein one or both of the two side walls (23) comprises a first indent (24) for arranging the at least one securing device (10) at least partially within the first indent (24) to secure the at least one covering door (7) in the occlusal-gingival direction in the closed position (8), or one or both of the two side walls (23) comprises a second indent (25) for arranging the at least one securing device (10) at least partially within the second indent (25) to secure the at least one covering door (7) in the occlusal-gingival direction in the open position (9).

10. The orthodontic bracket (1) according to claim 9, wherein a slope of the at least one second indent (25) in an occlusal direction is lower compared to a slope of the at least one first indent (24) in a gingival direction.

11. The orthodontic bracket (1) according to claim 4, wherein the bracket body (2) comprises at least one depression (29) along the arch wire slot (3) for insertion of a tool (30) inside the at least one depression (29) to move the at least one covering door (7) from the closed position (8) to the open position (9).

12. The orthodontic bracket (1) according to claim 4, wherein the channel (6) comprises at least one recess (26) in a mesial-distal direction, wherein the at least one covering door (7) is arranged in the at least one recess (26), the at least one covering door (7) being movable between the closed position (8) and the open position (9) along the at least one recess (26) in an occlusal-gingival direction.

13. A self-ligating orthodontic bracket (1), comprising: a bracket body (2) having a mesial-distal arch wire slot (3) extending in a labial direction of the bracket body (2), a base (4) with a bonding surface (5) and a channel (6) oriented essentially perpendicular to the arch wire slot (3), at least one covering door (7) configured for occluding the arch wire slot (3) in a closed position (8) and opening the arch wire slot (3) in an open position (9), wherein the at least one covering door (7) is slidably coupled to the bracket body (2), the at least one covering door (7) being essentially linear moveable between the closed position (8) and the open position (9) of the at least one covering door (7) along a plurality of intermediate positions and at least one securing device (10), the at least one securing device (10) being orientated essentially parallel to the arch wire slot (3), wherein the at least one securing device (10) is configured to secure the at least one covering door (7) in an occlusal-gingival direction in the closed position (8) and/or the open position (9), wherein the at least one securing device (10) is essentially rod-shaped or in the form of a curved rod (28) and compressible in a mesial-distal direction to allow sliding movement of the at least one securing device (10) between the closed position (8) and the open position (9).

14. The orthodontic bracket (1) according to claim 13, wherein the at least one covering door (7) comprises at least one notch (19), the at least one notch (19) extending in a lingual direction, wherein the at least one securing device (10) is arranged at least partially inside the at least one notch (19), wherein the at least one notch (19) secures the at least one securing device (10) in a labial direction in the closed position (8) and the open position (9), wherein the at least one covering door (7) occludes the at least one securing device (10) exhaustively in labial direction.

15. The orthodontic bracket (1) according to claim 14, wherein the at least one covering door (7) fills the whole channel (6) essentially completely along an occlusal-gingival extension of the at least one covering door (7) except for the at least one notch (19).

16. The orthodontic bracket (1) according to claim 13, wherein the at least one securing device (10) is arranged in a plane spanned by a mesial-distal direction and a labial-lingual direction, wherein the at least one securing device (10) is curved in the plane in the labial-lingual direction and comprises two free ends (12, 13) comprising a first free end (12) and a second free end (13) enclosing a blunter angle in a labial direction, or is symmetrical with respect to the labial-lingual direction and comprises a concavely bent section (14), wherein the concavely bent section (14) borders a first straight section (15) and a second straight section (16), wherein the first straight section (15) includes the first free end (12) and the second straight section (16) includes the second free end (13).

17. The orthodontic bracket (1) according to claim 14, wherein the at least one notch (19) comprises at least one indentation (20) in a labial direction for arranging the at least one securing device (10) at least partially within the at least one indentation (20) or a bulge (21) in a lingual direction to secure the at least one securing device (10) in the labial direction, wherein the at least one covering door (7) is movable between the closed position (8) and the open position (9) by bending the at least one securing device (10) in a direction of the least one indentation (20).

18. The orthodontic bracket (1) according to claim 13, wherein a circumference (17) of the at least one securing device (10) is essentially circular, oval or polygonal.

19. The orthodontic bracket (1) according to claim 13, wherein the at least one securing device (10) consists of metal or composite material or the bracket body (2) or the at least one covering door (7) is an injection-molded, a 3D-printed or a milled plastic, metal or ceramics part.

20. A method for assembling a self-ligating orthodontic bracket (1) according to claim 1, comprising the steps of: partially inserting the at least one covering door (7) in the channel of the bracket body from a gingival to an occlusal direction, arranging the at least one securing device (10) onto the at least one covering door (7) inside at least one notch (19) in a labial direction, and moving the at least one covering door (7) into the open position (9), wherein the at least one securing device (10) secures the at least one covering door (7) in an occlusal-gingival direction in the open position (9) in a first engagement position.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWNGS

[0077] Further details and advantages of the present invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the description of the figures and with reference to the exemplary embodiments illustrated in the drawings. In the drawings, the figures show:

[0078] FIG. 1a a self-ligating orthodontic bracket according to a preferred embodiment, whereby a covering door is secured by a securing device in the closed position in a perspective view, whereby the covering door is cut in the representation to disclose the securing device,

[0079] FIG. 1b an enlarged section of the orthodontic bracket pursuant to FIG. 1a in a perspective view,

[0080] FIG. 2a an enlarged section of the orthodontic bracket pursuant to FIG. 1a in a perspective view with a different line of vision with respect to FIG. 1b,

[0081] FIG. 2b a schematic sectional view of the orthodontic bracket pursuant to FIG. 1a with a mesial-distal and labial-lingual section plane through the securing device with a line of vision in an occlusal direction,

[0082] FIG. 3a a covering door as used in the orthodontic bracket pursuant to FIG. 1a in three orthogonal views and a perspective view,

[0083] FIG. 3b a bracket body as used in the orthodontic bracket pursuant to FIG. 1a in a front view and a view from the top.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0084] FIG. 1 shows a self-ligating orthodontic bracket 1, the orthodontic bracket 1 comprising a bracket body 2 having a mesial-distal arch wire slot 3 extending in a labial direction of the bracket body 2. The orthodontic bracket 1 comprises a base 4 with a bonding surface 5 and a channel 6 oriented perpendicularly to the arch wire slot 3.

[0085] A covering door 7 is connected to the bracket body 2 which is suitable to occlude the arch wire slot 3 in a closed position 8 and to allow access to the arch wire slot 3 in an open position 9 (cf. FIG. 2b). The covering door 7 is cut in half behind the securing device 10 in a mesial-distal and labial-lingual plane in occlusal direction to disclose the securing device 10 that is hidden in the orthodontic bracket 1 once assembled so that the securing device 10 is exhaustively enclosed within the orthodontic bracket 1. The covering door 7 is slidably coupled to the bracket body 2, whereby the covering door 7 is linearly moveable between the closed position 8 and the open position 9 of the covering door 7. The covering door 7 is arranged in the channel 6 of the bracket body 2, whereby the channel 6 comprises an opening 22 in a labial direction and the covering door 7 extends through the opening 22 along two parallel side walls 23 of the opening 22.

[0086] The securing device 10 is restricted in the labial direction by the covering door 7, wherein the securing device is bendable in mesial-distal direction with an enlargement of the extension in the labial-lingual direction. It is also possible to allow—in particular only—movements in labial direction to be able to move the covering door 7 between the closed position 8 and the open position 9. The securing device 10 is built as a one-piece securing device 10. The securing device 10 is in the form of a bent rod 28, whereby in general a cross section can vary along the securing device 10.

[0087] The securing device 10 is completely arranged within the orthodontic bracket 1, completely enclosed by the bracket body 2 and the covering door 7 on top of the securing device 10 in the closed position 8, the open position 9 and in all intermediate positions.

[0088] The orthodontic bracket 1 comprises two engagement positions for the securing device 10 that are defined by two indents 24, 25. The two engagement positions are separated from one another in an occlusal-gingival direction, whereby one engagement position corresponds to the open position 9 and the other engagement position corresponds to the closed position 8, wherein the securing device 10 is movable between the two engagement positions by a movement of the covering door 7 along the channel 6. The engagement positions are arranged on an outer surface 11 of the bracket body 2.

[0089] The securing device 10 is rod-shaped or in the form of a curved rod 28 and compressible in a mesial-distal direction to allow sliding movement of the securing device and the covering door between the closed position 8 and the open position 9.

[0090] The orthodontic bracket 1 comprises the securing device 10, whereby the securing device 10 is orientated parallelly to the arch wire slot 3. The securing device 10 is arranged on an outer surface 11 of the bracket body 2 such that the covering door 7 is secured by the securing device 10 in an occlusal-gingival direction in the closed position 8 or the open position 9, dependent on the position of the securing device 10 on the outer surface 11.

[0091] The securing device 10 can easily be removed from the shown location on the outer surface 11 and again be placed on a different location on the outer surface 11, e.g. to enable the covering door 7 to move from the closed position 8 in which an arch wire is fixed in the arch wire slot 3 to the open position 9 in which the arch wire can be replaced. To enable this transition, the covering door 7 is shifted with force along the channel 6, whereby the securing device 10 bends inside a notch 19 of the covering door 7 to cancel the securement of the covering door 7. By spring force, the securing device 10 is again pressed against the bracket body 2 to restore the securement in the open position 9 or the closed position 8. Intermediate positions are conceivable as well.

[0092] To prevent the covering door 7 from falling out of the bracket body 2, the securing device 10 can secure the covering door 7 in the open position 9, whereby after replacing the arch wire the covering door 7 can move again into the closed position 8, whereby the covering door 7 is secured in the closed position 8 by placing the securing device 10 again in the shown location on the outer surface 11 inside two first indents 24. This is done internally in the orthodontic bracket 1 without requiring direct access to the securing device 10 that is completely hidden inside the orthodontic bracket 1.

[0093] The covering door 7 is securable by the securing device 10 in the open position 9 and in the closed position 8 in the occlusal-gingival direction by two engagement positions as securing positions of the securing device 10 along the outer surface 11 in the occlusal-gingival direction.

[0094] The securing device 10 is curved in a lingual direction and comprises two free ends 12, 13, a first free end 12 and a second free end 13 enclosing a blunter angle in a labial direction.

[0095] FIG. 1b shows the securing mechanism enlarged. A circumference 17 of the securing device 10 is circular. In general, the circumference 17 can also be of an oval or a polygonal shape—e.g. in form of a rectangular rod 28 that is bent. A cross section 17 of the securing device 10 is equal over a mesial-distal extent of the securing device 10 along the curved geometry of the securing device 10.

[0096] The covering door 7 comprises a notch 19 (cf. FIG. 3a), whereby the notch 19 secures the securing device 10 in a labial direction from an undesired removal of the orthodontic bracket 1, wherein the securing device 10 remains movable by orthodontic staff to rearrange the covering door 7 along the outer surface 11 of the bracket body 2.

[0097] In the closed position 8, the covering door 7 occludes the arch wire slot 3 in general exhaustively, whereby the covering door 7 particularly preferably contacts a bracket bar along the arch wire slot 3 in occlusal direction and the notch 19 secures the securing device 10 labially by exhaustive protrusion of the securing device 10 in gingival direction. Embodiments without an exhaustive protrusion or with an access that is occluded by the bracket body 2 are conceivable as well to exhaustively enclose the securing device 10 inside the orthodontic bracket 1.

[0098] In the open position 9, the covering door 7 does at most partially occlude the arch wire slot 3 so that a replacement of the arch wire is possible, wherein the covering door 7 notch 19 secures the securing device 10 labially by exhaustive protrusion of the securing device 10 in gingival direction. A movement of the covering door 7 from the open position 9 into the closed position 8 along the channel 6 is possible and requires less force acting on the covering door 7 or rather the securing device 10 as from the closed position 8 into the open position 9.

[0099] In the open position 9 and the closed position 8, it is preferred that the covering door 7 contacts the securing device 10 but this does not need to be the case. The covering door 7 extends exhaustively in a mesial-distal direction across the bracket body 2 for reduced pollution of the orthodontic bracket 1.

[0100] The securing device 10 consists of metal, an alloy or composite material. The bracket body 2 and the covering door 7 are injection-molded plastics parts, whereby in general also merely the bracket body 2 or the covering door 7 can be built as an injection molded part. The bracket body 2 and the covering door 7 can consist e.g. of metal and/or ceramics as well. A manufacturing process with respect to the bracket body 2 and/or the covering door 7 by milling and/or 3D-printing is possible as well.

[0101] FIG. 2a shows the enlarged securing mechanism from a different perspective. The notch 19 comprises two indentations 20 in the labial direction for arranging the two free ends 12, 13 within the two indentations 20. The notch 19 comprises a bulge 21 in a lingual direction to secure the securing device 10 in the labial direction, whereby the covering door 7 is movable between the closed position 8 and the open position by bending one or both free ends 12, 13 in direction of the indentations 20.

[0102] Both of the two side walls 23 comprise a first indent 24 for arranging the securing device 10 partially within the first indent 24 to secure the covering door 7 in the occlusal-gingival direction in the closed position 8. The two first indents 24 are arranged opposite to each other and facing each other in a mesial-distal direction.

[0103] Both of the two side walls 23 comprise a second first indent 25 for arranging the securing device 10 partially within the second indents 25 to secure the covering door 7 in the occlusal-gingival direction in the open position 9. The two second indents 25 are arranged opposite to each other and facing each other in a mesial-distal direction.

[0104] Exemplarily, the orthodontic bracket 1 can be assembled in the following way: The covering door 7 is partially inserted in the channel 6 of the bracket body 2 from a gingival to an occlusal direction through the channel 6, the securing device 10 is attached to the covering door 7, in particular by placing the securing device 10 inside the notch 19 in a labial direction, the covering door 7 is moved to the open position 9, wherein the securing device 10 is arranged onto the outer surface 11 of the bracket body 2 and the securing device 10 secures the covering door 7 in the occlusal-gingival direction in the open position 9—e.g. by positive form locking in occlusal-gingival direction between the securing device 10 and the bracket body 2 and the securing device 10 and the covering door 7.

[0105] Exemplarily, the assembled orthodontic bracket 1 can be rearranged in the following way: In the open position 9 or the closed position 8 the securing device 10 is bent in a mesial-distal direction—induced by the interaction of the movement of the covering door 7 and the securing device in the first indent 24 or the second indent 25 during an occlusal-gingival movement of the covering door 7—and the covering door 7 is moved between the closed position 8 and the open position 9 or vice versa, whereby afterwards the securing device 10 bends back (e.g. in the first indents 24 or the second indents 25 depending on the desired position of the covering door 7) to secure the covering door 7 in the occlusal-gingival direction in the closed position 8 or the open position 9.

[0106] Securing the covering door 7 in the occlusal-gingival direction can prevent the covering door 7 from exceeding the open position 9 and/or the closed position 8 by a barrier, whereby a movement of the covering door 7 between the open position 9 and closed position 8 is possible with sufficient force acting on the securing device 10 (securing the covering door 7 in usual forces during treatment). A movability of the covering door 7 can depend therefore on the position of the securing device 10 along the outer surface 11 or in which indents 24, 25 the securing device 10 is arranged.

[0107] The covering door 7 fills the whole channel 6 completely along an occlusal-gingival extension of the covering door 7 expect for the notch 19 and a play allowing movement of the covering door 7 between the closed position 8 and the open position 9.

[0108] FIG. 2b shows a cross section of the orthodontic bracket 1, whereby it can be seen that the securing device 10 is symmetrical with respect to a labial-lingual direction and comprises a concavely bent section 14. The concavely bent section 14 borders a first straight section 15 and a second straight section 16, whereby the first straight section 15 includes the first free end 12 and the second straight section 16 includes the second free end 13.

[0109] The channel 6 comprises two recesses 26 in a mesial-distal direction, whereby the covering door 7 is arranged in the two recesses 26, wherein the covering door 7 is movable between the closed position 8 and the open position 9 and vice versa along the two recesses 26 in an occlusal-gingival direction, if the securing device 10 does not prevent this movement. The two recesses 26 are concavely curved and the covering door 7 comprises two convexly curved outer faces 27 corresponding to the two recesses 26, viz. the covering door 7 is secured by the bracket body 2 in a labial-lingual direction (due to the channel 6).

[0110] The securing device 10 is arranged onto the covering door 7 in a bent form in lingual direction prior to a contact with the bracket body 2 by a device that is schematically indicated in the bottom left corner of FIG. 2b. It is also possible that the securing device 10 is in the form of a rod 28 prior to a contact with the bracket body 2 as indicated with dashed lines and bent in a lingual direction during contacting the bracket body 2. In general, the device can be shaped in a way to receive the rod 28 for attaching it to the covering door 7.

[0111] FIG. 3a discloses a covering door 7 without a cut for illustration. The covering door comprises a notch 19, the notch 19 extending in a lingual direction, whereby the at securing device 10 is arranged exhaustively inside the notch 19 during assembly and/or treatment. The notch 19 exceeds the convex outer face 27 of the covering door 7 but that has not to be the case in general.

[0112] FIG. 3b discloses a bracket body 2 for the orthodontic bracket 1, whereby it can be seen that a slope of a flank of the second indents 25 in an occlusal direction is lower compared to a slope of a flank of the first indents 24 in a gingival direction to enable an easier transition from the open position 9 to the closed position 8 than vice versa.

[0113] The bracket body 2 comprises a depression in an extension of the arch wire slot 3 for inserting a tool 30 that can be used to shift the covering door 7 in gingival direction from the closed position 8 to the open position 9 easier. The shape of the depression is in general arbitrary. Preferred is a depression with an essential rectangular cross-section.

[0114] A passage between the channel 6 and the arch wire slot 3 comprises a step to securely fix the arch wire inside the arch wire slot in the closed position 8. The step is not necessary in general.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0115] 1 self-ligating orthodontic bracket [0116] 2 bracket body [0117] 3 arch wire slot [0118] 4 base [0119] 5 bonding surface [0120] 6 channel [0121] 7 covering door [0122] 8 closed position [0123] 9 open position [0124] 10 securing device [0125] 11 outer surface [0126] 12 first free end [0127] 13 second free end [0128] 14 concavely bent section [0129] 15 first straight section [0130] 16 second straight section [0131] 17 circumference [0132] 18 cross section [0133] 19 notch [0134] 20 indentation [0135] 21 bulge [0136] 22 opening [0137] 23 side wall [0138] 24 first indent [0139] 25 second indent [0140] 26 recess [0141] 27 outer face [0142] 28 rod [0143] 29 depression [0144] 30 tool