Orthodontic bracket and method
US5160261A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | May 20, 1991 |
| Grant date | Nov 3, 1992 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 20, 2011 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61C7/303
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An edgewise bracket (10) is provided with notches (34, 36, 38 and 40) in wing tips (24, 25, 26 and 27), respectively. The notches (24, 25, 26 and 27) are generally concave and have a mesiodistal width slightly greater or slightly less than the thickness of an archwire retaining device (32) depending on whether the device (32) is a metallic wire or an elastomeric ligature. The archwire retaining device (32) is inserted into the notches (34, 36, 38, and 40) to retain an archwire (30) within a slot (28) which has a depth greater than a thickness of the archwire (30). The device (32) has selectively reduced undesired frictional contact with the archwire (30), and, therefore, frictional interference between the device (32) and the archwire (30), and the archwire (30) and the bracket (10) is reduced or eliminated.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.