SMART ORTHODONTIC BRACKET

Abstract

The present invention provides an improved orthodontic bracket with integrated piezosensor chip determining even the slightest change in initial installation setup of orthodontic bracket system and further notifying the subscriber electronically comprising of orthodontic bracket, for holding the tooth; at least one wire, for connecting the orthodontic brackets; and at least one sensor chip placed on the bracket and/or on the wire, wherein, at least one pulse oximeter is installed at the periphery of the bracket base to ensure force applied are within biological limits; the invention provides a detachable wireless frequency transmitter to be placed on the bracket of tie-wing to permit clinical recycling of the bracket; and optionally allowing a handheld laser scanner/photospectrometer to measure the frictional coefficient between the archwire and bracket to determine exact amount of force required for tooth retraction; to determine the bonding technique for detecting voids in adhesive; and to determine the distance between forces applied and center of mass of the tooth.

Claims

1. An improved orthodontic bracket comprising an orthodontic bracket, for holding the tooth; at least one wire, for connecting the orthodontic brackets; and at least one sensor chip placed on the bracket and/or on the wire, wherein: atleast one pulse oximeter is installed at the periphery of the bracket base to ensure force applied within the biological limits; a detachable wireless frequency transmitter to be placed on the bracket of a tie-wing to permit clinical recycling of the bracket; and optionally allowing a handheld laser scanner/photospectrometer to measure the frictional coefficient between an archwire and the bracket to determine exact amount of force required for tooth retraction.

2. The improved orthodontic bracket as claimed in claim 1, wherein said handheld laser scanner/photospectrometer is used to determine worn out wire.

3. The improved orthodontic bracket as claimed in claim 1, wherein said piezosensors on the bracket of the tie-wing allows piezosensors to withstand the temperature during clinical recycling.

4. The improved orthodontic bracket as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensor chip gathers and relays information related to change in installation set up of the orthodontic bracket system telemetrically and provides information about the change from the initial setup of the orthodontic bracket system and allows the clinician to determine if a wire becomes passive and needs to be changed, if the bracket has been de-bonded or requires replacement.

5. The improved orthodontic bracket as claimed in claim 1, wherein the two bracket members are not connected by an elastomeric component therefore there is force decay of the elastomeric component in saliva causing improper force level detection.

6. The improved orthodontic bracket as claimed in claim 1, wherein 3D piezosensor detects frictional force and also measure the integrity of the bonding of the bracket to the teeth.

7. A method of determining force applied within biological limits comprising steps of: a) installing atleast one pulse oximeter at the periphery of the bracket base to control the amount of force applied; b) installing atleast one detachable wireless frequency transmitter to be placed on the bracket of tie-wing to communicate with external and internal devices and sensors; c) utilizing atleast one handheld scanner to generate data and, collate and analyse data from steps a) and b); d) transmit the data from step c) to the central processor for measuring the frictional coefficient between the archwire and bracket, determining the exact amount of force required for tooth retraction, determining the bonding technique for detecting voids in adhesive and determining the distance between forces applied and center of mass of the tooth; and e) notifying a registered user of the processed data from step d).

8. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein said pulse oximeter is a programmable device to control the amount of force applied.

9. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein said central processor is attached to a Visual display unit, a communication unit and an input device.

10. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the handheld scanner is preferably the laser scanner/photospectrometer.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0029] A complete understanding of the device and method of the present invention may be obtained by reference to the following drawing:

[0030] FIG. 1, shows smart orthodontic bracket according to the present invention;

[0031] FIG. 2, the smart orthodontic bracket showing the top view of the base is shown;

[0032] FIG. 3, the smart orthodontic bracket showing the top view of the bracket;

[0033] FIG. 4, the smart orthodontic bracket showing the top view of the bracket; and

[0034] FIG. 5, shows a handheld laser scanner/photospectrometer to measure the frictional coefficient between the archwire and bracket.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0035] The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiment set forth herein. Rather, the embodiment is provided so that this disclosure will be thorough, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.

[0036] In an embodiment of the present invention, the invention provides for a smart orthodontic bracket system fitted with at least one 3D piezosensor chip and an RFID chip, which controls the amount of pressure exerted on a tooth and telemetrically relays information about the slightest change in the installation of the orthodontic bracket fitted.

[0037] In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the smart orthodontic bracket system comprises of plurality of orthodontic brackets, for holding the tooth; at least one wire, for connecting the orthodontic brackets; and at least one sensor chip placed on the bracket and/or on the wire, wherein the sensor chip gathers and relays information related to change in installation set up of the orthodontic bracket system telemetrically and provides information about the change from the initial setup of the orthodontic bracket system and allows the clinician to determine if a wire becomes passive and needs to be changed, if the bracket has been de-bonded or requires replacement etc. The orthodontic brackets and wires are preferably made up of metal such as steel, titanium etc. The sensor chip is most preferably a 3D piezosensor chip designed to measure changes in pressure, strain or force, however other sensor chips may also be installed either alone or in combination. The installation information shall include but not limited to the tension on the wires, pressure exerted on the individual tooth, alignment of the tooth such as crowding or spacing, any other conformational or spatial change, change in the pressure, strain or force etc.

[0038] In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the invention provides a method of automatically notifying change in the installation set up of orthodontic bracket system to a subscriber. The method comprises of collecting the installation information when the smart orthodontic bracket system is installed and setting the same as reference; storing the information on a remote server and other memory based hand held device(s); collecting the installation information in fixed or variable programmed or non programmed interval(s); comparing the initial data and the latest data; and finally notifying the receiver of the percent change from the initial installation pressure, strain or force kept as reference.

[0039] In an embodiment of the current invention, the invention provides a smart orthodontic bracket system fitted with at least one sensor chip such as a 3D piezosensor chip, which telemetrically provides information about the change from the initial setup of the orthodontic bracket system wherein additional pulse oximeter at the periphery of the bracket base is to ensure force levels are within biological limits.

[0040] In an embodiment of the current invention, the invention allows configuration of a handheld laser scanner/photospectrometer to measure the frictional coefficient between the archwire and bracket to determine exact amount of force required for tooth retraction, or if wire is worn out- advocate change of wire; to determine the bonding technique for detecting voids in adhesive; and to determine the distance between forces applied and center of mass of the tooth, as with age and recession of the gums the center of mass changes.

[0041] In an embodiment of the current invention, the invention provides a detachable wireless frequency transmitter to be placed on the bracket of tie-wing to permit clinical recycling of the bracket, which is conventionally done by heating the bracket base with a blow torch that damages the wireless transmitter but the present invention provides piezosensors on the bracket of tie-wing that shall allow piezosensors to withstand the temperature.

[0042] As shown in FIG. 1, the smart orthodontic bracket 10 has tie wings 4, grooves 5 for bonding, a 3D piezosensor 2 positioned at a particular slot height 6 in a manner so as to sense wire interaction. Another sensor (not shown) is located at the base 1 of the bracket which detects defending. The 3D piezosensor 2 and RFID chip (not shown) for a smart orthodontic bracket system fitted which controls the amount of pressure exerted on a tooth and telemetrically relays information about the slightest change in the installation of the orthodontic bracket fitted.

[0043] As shown in FIG. 2, the smart orthodontic bracket showing the top view of the base is shown. The base 1 is shown to have specially designed multiple grooves 5 to accommodate 3D piezosensors (not shown in the figure). The base 1 is attached to the teeth. The base 1 rests on the teeth due to traction provided by multiple grooves 5.

[0044] As shown in FIG. 3, the smart orthodontic bracket showing the top view of the bracket. The view elucidates the detachable wireless frequency transmitter 8 such as RFID installed on the tie wings.

[0045] As shown in FIG. 4, the smart orthodontic bracket showing the top view of the bracket, having installed grooves 5 to accommodate 3D piezosensors 2. The smart orthodontic bracket showing the detachable wireless frequency transmitter 8 such as RFID installed on the tie wings 4. The 3D piezosensors 2 installed in multiple grooves 5 to ensure that the force applied are within biological limits. Further, the detachable arrangement of detachable wireless frequency transmitter 8 is specifically highlighted.

[0046] In an embodiment of the current invention, the invention provides a method of determining force applied within biological limits comprising steps of a. installing atleast one pulse oximeter at the periphery of the bracket base to control the amount of force applied; b. installing atleast one detachable wireless frequency transmitter to be placed on the bracket of tie-wing to communicate with external and internal devices and sensors; c. utilizing atleast one handheld scanner to generate data and, collate and analyse data from steps a and b; and d. transmit the data from step c to a central processor for measuring the frictional coefficient between the archwire and bracket, determining the exact amount of force required for tooth retraction, determining the bonding technique for detecting voids in adhesive and determining the distance between forces applied and center of mass of the tooth; and notifying a registered user of the processed data from step d. The pulse oximeter is a programmable device to control the amount of force applied. The central processor is attached to a Visual display unit, a communication unit and a input device. The handheld scanner is preferably a laser scanner/photospectrometer.

[0047] As shown in FIG. 5, a handheld laser scanner/photospectrometer to measure the frictional coefficient between the archwire and bracket. The scanner/photospectrometer 10 shown here, augmented with a probe 11 to determine the exact amount of force required for tooth retraction and determines if the wire is worn out; to determine the bonding technique for detecting voids in adhesive; and to determine the distance between forces applied and center of mass of the tooth, as with age and recession of the gums the center of mass changes.

[0048] Thus the present technology undermines the drawbacks of state of the art and provides an orthodontic bracket system fitted with at least one piezosensor chip, which telemetrically provides information about the change from the initial setup of the orthodontic bracket system and allows the clinician to determine if a wire becomes passive and needs to be changed, if the bracket has been de-bonded and requires replacement etc. All the data collected shall be transmitted to a local server that shall be synchronized with the dentist's database that would update information for visits.