WO2008045917A2

WO2008045917A2 - Orthodontic double spring

Info

Publication number: WO2008045917A2
Application number: PCT/US2007/080898
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kevin Corcoran; Stephen Gorton Tracey
Original assignee: Ormco Corporation
Priority date: 2006-10-10
Filing date: 2007-10-10
Publication date: 2008-04-17
Also published as: WO2008045917A3

Abstract

An orthodontic double spring device (10) includes a first spring segment (12), a second spring segment (14), and an intermediate segment (16) which may have an attachment device (18) affixed thereto.

Description

ORTHODONTIC DOUBLE SPRING PRIORITY CLAIM

10001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application

Serial No. 60/850,624, filed October 10, 2006 and entitled "Orthodontic Devices, implants and Related Apparatus," the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] This invention generally relates to orthodontic devices, and more particularly, to orthodontic springs. BACKGROUND

[0003] Coil spring devices are used in orthodontic procedures to provide both extension and contraction forces for orthodontic treatments. It is generally believed that coil springs less than about 5mm in length are not particularly useful in typical orthodontic applications because they do not provide sufficient pushing or pulling forces. Thus, for certain orthodontic treatments requiring use of a coil spring, if there is limited space that may render the use of know coil spring devices impossible. It is believed that some orthodontic clinicians have taken traditional coil springs and doubled them over to use in orthodontic procedures requiring a shorter spring length. This is not a completely acceptable solution as there are typically no component parts of the spring for connecting the mid-portion to another device in the orai environment. SUMMARY

[0004] The present invention relates to an orthodontic spring device which has a relatively short overall length and includes two spring sections and an intermediate section between the two spring sections. The intermediate section has a connector for engaging another device in the patient's mouth. The design is intended to obviate the practice of some clinicians who take traditional springs and double them over to use in circumstances requiring a shorter length of spring. With the double spring device of the present invention, orthodontic treatments in limited space regions can effectively be performed by essentially doubling the force exerted by the spring due to the presence of the two spring sections.

[0005] In one embodiment of the present invention, the orthodontic double spring has two spring segments separated by an intermediate segment that advantageously includes an attachment device affixed thereto. One example of an attachment structure for the double spring is a J-hook. It will be appreciated that other structures can be used, including eyelets and swivel eyelets of the type described and shown in co- pending PCT international application No. filed on October 10, 2007, entitled "Orthodontic Auxiliary Device Having a Swivel For Adapting to implants," which is expressly incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. The attachment structure, whether it be a J-hook, eyelet or swivel eyelet, can be affixed to another orthodontic device, such as a hook or an orthodontic implant.

[0006] The spring segments each have at their distal end an eyelet to facilitate the attachment of the orthodontic double spring to an orthodontic implant. To increase the force applied by the orthodontic double spring, the eyelets at the distal ends of the spring segments may be affixed to a single orthodontic implant to enhance the force vector.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] Various additional features and aspects will become readiiy apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art from the following description of illustrative embodiments of the invention and from the drawings in which:

[0008] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of the oral environment showing an orthodontic double spring of the present invention;

[0009] Fig. 2 is a perspective view of an orthodontic double spring of the present invention; and

[0010] Fig. 3 is a perspective view of an orthodontic double spring of the present invention shown in an alternative orientation relative to Figs. 1 and 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] The orthodontic double spring 10 of the present invention includes first and second spring segments 12 and 14, an intermediate segment 16 between spring segments 12 and 14. The intermediate section 16 includes an attachment structure for attaching the orthodontic double spring to another orthodontic device such as a hook or implant. Fig. 1 shows the orthodontic double spring 10 of the present invention wherein the attachment structure is a J-hook 18 affixed to a hook-like structure 20. In the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the spring segments 12 and 14 have at their distal ends eyelets 22 and 24 which may be used to attach the orthodontic double spring to orthodontic implants 26 and 28. In an alternative orientation shown in Fig. 3, the double spring may be utilized by lining up the eyelets 22 and 24 and the spring segments 12 and 14 such that both eyelets are fitted onto a single implant 30. in this orientation, the force vectors applied to the implant are double what they would be if only one spring segment were attached thereto, and this may be accomplished in a relatively smaller space.

[0012] While the present invention has been iilustrated by description of one or more embodiments and while these embodiments have been described in detail, it is not the intention of the applicant to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the claims to such detail. Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. The invention in its broader aspects is, therefore, not limited to the specific details, representative systems, apparatus and method, and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the spirit or scope of the applicant's inventive concept. [0013] What is claimed is:

Claims

1. An orthodontic spring comprising two spring segments and an intermediate segment therebetween.

2. The orthodontic spring of claim 1 further comprising a connector operatively coupled to the intermediate section.

3. The orthodontic spring of claim 2 wherein said connector is a J-hook.

4. The orthodontic spring of claim 2 wherein said connector is an eyelet.

5. The orthodontic spring of claim 4 wherein said eyelet is a swivel eyelet.

6. The orthodontic spring of claim 1 wherein said spring segments are coil springs and wherein each coii spring segment has an eyelet and a distal end thereof.