ORTHODONTIC ARCHWIRE

Abstract

An orthodontic archwire is configured to treat a number of malocclusions. The archwire has a straight anterior section between a first posterior section and a second posterior section. The first posterior section and the second posterior section each have multiple radii of curvature and are mirror images of each other.

Claims

1. An orthodontic archwire, comprising: an elongated wire having a transverse rectangular cross-section along a length thereof; and a straight anterior section.

2. The orthodontic archwire of claim 1, wherein the straight anterior section has a length less than 0.400 inch.

3. The orthodontic archwire of claim 1, the straight anterior section has a length less than 0.675 inch.

4. The orthodontic archwire of claim 1, the straight anterior section has a length less than 1.000 inch.

5. The orthodontic archwire of claim 2, wherein a first posterior section and a second posterior section extend from the straight anterior section.

6. The orthodontic archwire of claim 5, wherein the first posterior section and the second posterior section each have multiple different radii of curvature.

7. The orthodontic archwire of claim 6, wherein the first posterior section and the second posterior section each have a first radius of curvature of 0.542 inch, a second radius of curvature of 0.243 inch, a third radius of curvature of 0.763 inch, and a fourth radius of curvature of 0.378 inch.

8. The orthodontic archwire of claim 7, wherein the first posterior section and the second posterior section are mirror images of each other.

9. The orthodontic archwire of claim 8, wherein the radii of curvature of the first posterior section and the second posterior section are the same.

10. The orthodontic archwire of claim 9, wherein the transverse rectangular cross-section has rounded corners configured to enhance comfort for a patient.

11. The orthodontic archwire of claim 10, wherein the archwire is formed from a metal including any of stainless steel, NiTi, CuNiTi, Titanium Beta III, Elgiloy and superelastic metal alloys.

12. An orthodontic archwire, comprising: an elongated wire having a transverse rectangular cross-section along a length thereof; and a straight anterior section between a curved first posterior section and a curved second posterior section.

13. The orthodontic archwire of claim 12, wherein the straight anterior section has a length less than 0.040 inch.

14. The orthodontic archwire of claim 12 the straight anterior section has a length less than 0.675 inch.

15. The orthodontic archwire of claim 12, the straight anterior section has a length less than 1.000 inch.

16. The orthodontic archwire of claim 13, wherein the first posterior section and the second posterior section each have multiple different radii of curvature.

17. The orthodontic archwire of claim 16, wherein the first posterior section and the second posterior section each have multiple different radii of curvature.

18. The orthodontic archwire of claim 17, wherein the first posterior section and the second posterior section are mirror images of each other.

19. The orthodontic archwire of claim 18, wherein the radii of curvature of the first posterior section and the second posterior section are the same.

20. The orthodontic archwire of claim 19, wherein the transverse rectangular cross-section has rounded corners configured to enhance comfort for a patient.

21. The orthodontic archwire of claim 20, wherein the archwire is formed from a metal including any of stainless steel, Niti, CuNiTi, Titanium Beta III, Elgiloy and superelastic metal alloys.

22. The orthodontic archwire of claim 16, wherein the first posterior section and the second posterior section each have a first radius of curvature of 0.770 inch, a second radius of curvature of 0.975 inch, a third radius of curvature of 0.843 inch, and a fourth radius of curvature of 0.253 inch.

23. An orthodontic archwire, comprising: an elongated wire having a transverse square cross-section along a length thereof; and a straight anterior section between a curved first posterior section and a curved second posterior section.

24. The orthodontic archwire of claim 23, wherein the straight anterior section has a length less than 0.040 inch.

25. The orthodontic archwire of claim 23 the straight anterior section has a length less than 0.675 inch.

26. The orthodontic archwire of claim 23, the straight anterior section has a length less than 1.000 inch.

27. The orthodontic archwire of claim 24, wherein the first posterior section and the second posterior section each have multiple different radii of curvature.

28. The orthodontic archwire of claim 27, wherein the first posterior section and the second posterior section each have multiple different radii of curvature.

29. The orthodontic archwire of claim 28, wherein the first posterior section and the second posterior section are mirror images of each other.

30. The orthodontic archwire of claim 29, wherein the radii of curvature of the first posterior section and the second posterior section are the same.

31. The orthodontic archwire of claim 30, wherein the transverse square cross-section has rounded corners configured to enhance comfort for a patient.

32. The orthodontic archwire of claim 31, wherein the archwire is formed from a metal including any of stainless steel, Niti, CuNiTi, Titanium Beta III, Elgiloy and superelastic metal alloys.

33. The orthodontic archwire of claim 27, wherein the first posterior section and the second posterior section each have a first radius of curvature of 0.770 inch, a second radius of curvature of 0.975 inch, a third radius of curvature of 0.843 inch, and a fourth radius of curvature of 0.253 inch.

34. An orthodontic archwire, comprising: an elongated wire having a transverse diametric cross-section along a length thereof; and a straight anterior section between a curved first posterior section and a curved second posterior section.

35. The orthodontic archwire of claim 34, wherein the straight anterior section has a length less than 0.040 inch.

36. The orthodontic archwire of claim 34 the straight anterior section has a length less than 0.675 inch.

37. The orthodontic archwire of claim 34, the straight anterior section has a length less than 1.000 inch.

38. The orthodontic archwire of claim 35, wherein the first posterior section and the second posterior section each have multiple different radii of curvature.

39. The orthodontic archwire of claim 38, wherein the first posterior section and the second posterior section each have multiple different radii of curvature.

40. The orthodontic archwire of claim 39, wherein the first posterior section and the second posterior section are mirror images of each other.

41. The orthodontic archwire of claim 40, wherein the radii of curvature of the first posterior section and the second posterior section are the same.

42. The orthodontic archwire of claim 41, wherein the transverse diametric cross-section has rounded corners configured to enhance comfort for a patient.

43. The orthodontic archwire of claim 42, wherein the archwire is formed from a metal including any of stainless steel, Niti, CuNiTi, Titanium Beta III, Elgiloy and superelastic metal alloys.

44. The orthodontic archwire of claim 38, wherein the first posterior section and the second posterior section each have a first radius of curvature of 0.770 inch, a second radius of curvature of 0.975 inch, a third radius of curvature of 0.843 inch, and a fourth radius of curvature of 0.253 inch.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] FIG. 1 is a top view depicting an upper arch orthodontic archwire.

[0016] FIG. 2A is a transverse cross-sectional view taken along lines 2A-2A of the upper arch orthodontic archwire of FIG. 1.

[0017] FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 2B-2B of the upper arch orthodontic archwire of FIG. 1.

[0018] FIG. 3 is a partial enlarged view of the straight anterior section of the upper arch orthodontic archwire.

[0019] FIG. 4 is a top view depicting a lower arch orthodontic archwire.

[0020] FIG. 5A is a transverse cross-sectional view taken along lines 5A-5A of the lower arch orthodontic archwire of FIG. 4.

[0021] FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 5B-5B of the lower arch orthodontic archwire of FIG. 4.

[0022] FIG. 6 is a partial enlarged view of the straight anterior section of the lower arch orthodontic archwire of FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0023] In FIGS. 1-3, an upper arch orthodontic archwire 20 includes an elongated wire 22 having a transverse rectangular cross-section 24 along a length of the elongated wire. As shown in FIG. 2, the transverse rectangular cross-section 24 has an area 26 having a height 28 and a width 30. The height 28 and the width 30 are the same along the length of the elongated wire 22. Since the upper arch archwire 20 will be mounted in an archwire slot of a series of orthodontic brackets, the transverse rectangular cross-section is standard in the industry and typically can be 0.016 inch wide by 0.022 inch high. Other standard cross-sectional dimensions include 0.014 inch wide by 0.025 inch high; 0.018 inch wide by 0.025 inch high; 0.017 inch wide by 0.025 inch high; and 0.019 inch wide by 0.025 inch high.

[0024] The cross-sectional shape 31 of the elongated wire 22 shown in FIG. 28 has a different area as that shown in FIG. 2A because the section line is at an angle to the elongated wire. The rectangular shaped elongated wire 22 has rounded corners to enhance the comfort of the patient. It is contemplated that the transverse cross-section of the archwire can be other than rectangular, such as square, diametric, or other similar cross-sectional shape without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0025] The elongated wire 22 also includes a straight anterior section 32 and a first posterior section 34 and a second posterior section 36 each extending from the straight anterior section 32. The first posterior section 34 and the second posterior section 36 each have multiple different radii of curvature and, in one embodiment, the first posterior section and the second posterior section are mirror images of each other. This embodiment prevents constriction of the canines when the wire is activated into the malocclusion.

[0026] In one embodiment, the straight anterior section 32 of the elongated wire 22 has a length 37 that is less than 0.400 inch. In another embodiment, the straight anterior section 32 has a length 37 that is less than 0.675 inch. In another embodiment, the straight anterior section 32 has a length 37 that is less than 1.000 inch. In another embodiment, the first posterior section 34 and the second posterior section 36 each have a first radius of curvature 38 of 0.542 inch, a second radius of curvature 40 of 0.243 inch, a third radius of curvature 42 of 0.763 inch, and a fourth radius of curvature 44 of 0.378 inch.

[0027] Referring to centerline CL for the upper arch orthodontic archwire 20: a centerpoint 39 of the first radius of curvature 38 is 0.050 inch from the CL; a centerpoint 41 of the second radius of curvature 40 is 0.115 inch from the CL; a centerpoint 43 of the third radius of curvature 42 is 0.954 inch from the CL; and a centerpoint 45 of the fourth radius of curvature 44 is 3.270 inch from the CL.

[0028] In FIGS. 4-6, a lower arch orthodontic archwire 50 includes an elongated wire 52 having a transverse rectangular cross-section 54 along a length of the elongated wire. As shown in FIG. 5A, the transverse rectangular cross-section 54 has an area 56 having a height 58 and a width 60. The height 58 and the width 60 are the same along the length of the elongated wire 52. Since the lower arch archwire 50 will be mounted in an archwire slot of a series of orthodontic brackets, the transverse rectangular cross-section is standard in the industry and typically can be 0.016 inch wide by 0.022 inch high. Other standard cross-sectional dimensions include 0.014 inch wide by 0.025 inch high; 0.018 inch wide by 0.025 inch high; 0.017 inch wide by 0.025 inch high; and 0.019 inch wide by 0.025 inch high.

[0029] In FIG. 5B, the area 61 of the cross-section of the elongated wire 52 is different than area 56 in FIG. 5A because the section line is at an angel to the elongated wire 52. The rectangular shaped elongated wire 52 has rounded corners to enhance the comfort of the patient.

[0030] The elongated wire 52 also includes a straight anterior section 62 and a first posterior section 64 and a second posterior section 66 each extending from the straight anterior section 62. The first posterior section 64 and the second posterior section 66 each have multiple different radii of curvature and, in one embodiment, the first posterior section and the second posterior section are mirror images of each other. This embodiment prevents constriction of the canines when the wire is activated into the malocclusion.

[0031] In one embodiment, the straight anterior section 62 of the elongated wire 52 has a length 68 that is less than 0.040 inch. In another embodiment, the straight anterior section 32 has a length 68 that is less than 0.675 inch. In another embodiment, the straight anterior section 32 has a length 68 that is less than 1.000 inch. In another embodiment, the first posterior section 64 and the second posterior section 66 each have a first radius of curvature 70 of 0.770 inch, a second radius of curvature 72 of 0.975 inch, a third radius of curvature 74 of 0.843 inch, and a fourth radius of curvature 76 of 0.253 inch.

[0032] Referring to centerline CL for the lower arch orthodontic archwire 50: a centerpoint 71 of the first radius of curvature 70 is on the CL; a centerpoint 73 of the second radius of curvature 72 is 0.180 inch from the CL; a centerpoint 75 of the third radius of curvature 74 is 1.043 inch from the CL; and a centerpoint 77 of the radius of curvature 76 is 5.425 inch from the CL.

[0033] The dimensions disclosed herein are exemplary and can vary depending upon the orthodontist and/or patient requirements.

[0034] Although the forgoing embodiments have been described in some detail by way of illustration and example, certain changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.