| Orthodontic expander for increasing maxillary transverse dimension and method -> Monitor Keywords |
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Orthodontic expander for increasing maxillary transverse dimension and methodOrthodontic expander for increasing maxillary transverse dimension and method description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20080057458, Orthodontic expander for increasing maxillary transverse dimension and method. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
TECHNICAL FIELD [0001]The present invention relates to orthodontic expanders. More particularly, the present invention relates to apparatus and methods for improved operational features for orthodontic expanders for locking the orthodontic expander from slippage during treatment, for tracking expansion progress during treatment, and for providing directional and operational indicators that facilitate periodic adjustments during treatment. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002]Orthodontic expansion is an occasionally required dental procedure to provide additional spacing for the teeth of a person. Particularly, orthodontic expanders function to expand the midpalatine suture of a patient and thereby increasing the maxillary transverse dimension in patients with maxillary transverse hypoplasia. Current known orthodontic expanders each include a screw that upon rotation causes opposing portions of the expander to move apart. Legs extending from the expander attach to orthodontic bands engaged to teeth. The legs communicate the laterally outward force from the expander to the maxillary suture of the patient. The continued application for laterally outward force causes the transverse dimension to increase slowly. [0003]While orthodontic expanders have accomplished the goals of increasing the maxillary transverse dimension, there are drawbacks to their use. The available devices can experience slippage from frictional torque failure by which the screws turn back or slip from a setpoint. This leads to lost treatment time and additional clinical visits. The patient experiences frustration with the treatment and the orthodontic practice invests time and labor that could otherwise be directed to other patients. Also, present screw devices lack accurate indicators of the amount of opening being experienced during treatment, in part due to slippage, but also to inaccurate rotation count by the patient during interim adjustments of the expansion device, and inexact intraoral measurements. [0004]Another potential problem is over-opening the expansion device that can result in separation of the end of the screw from the expansion device. Separation requires removal and reinstallation of the expansion device typically on an emergency or rush basis. Further, separation can require a re-start of the expansion process after stabilization. At the conclusion of the expansion process, the expansion device must be held in place for three months or more, in order for the stretched midpalatine suture (synchondrosis) to be stably replaced with bone structure. [0005]Further, orthodontic expanders are custom fit to the upper palate of a patient with the legs soldered to the expander. Occasionally, unexpected position adjustments of the orthodontic expander are required. The particular orthodontic expander must be removed and discarded. Orthodontic expanders are also typically discarded upon completion of treatment. [0006]Accordingly, there is a need in the art for orthodontic expanders that have any one (or more) of the improved operational features of locking in-place to resist slippage during treatment, providing directional and adjustment indicators that facilitate tracking of treatment with periodic adjustments, restricting apparatus separation, and facilitating economical treatment by not having to discard the expander after use. It is to such independent operating features that the present invention is directed. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0007]The present invention meets the needs in the art by providing an improved orthodontic expander that includes one or more features of locking in-place to resist slippage during treatment, providing directional and adjustment indicators to facilitate tracking of treatment with periodic adjustments, restricting apparatus separation, and providing economical treatment with reusable components that are not discarded after treatment use. In one aspect, the improved orthodontic expander comprises a pair of opposing bodies that each define a threaded bore, with an adjacent guide bore and a guide pin extending from the body. The threads of the threaded bores are turned in opposing directions and the guide pins extending from the respective body are received in the guide bore of the opposing body. A threaded member having a first portion threaded in a first direction and a second portion threaded in an opposing second direction threadably engage a respective threaded bore of the opposing bodies, whereby rotation of the threaded member moves the opposing bodies together or apart selectively. A rotation member is rigidly attached to the threaded member medial opposing distal ends and defines a plurality of openings in a perimeter surface of the rotation member for engaging by a tool to rotate the threaded member selectively in a first direction and in a second opposing direction. A jam nut threadably received on the first portion of the threaded member is selectively movable against the body receiving the first portion of the threaded member to fix the opposing bodies in a selected spaced-apart relation. Legs connect the opposing bodies to a respective tooth for applying lateral force to a palate. [0008]In another aspect, the present invention provides a method of locking an orthodontic expander, comprising the steps of: [0009](a) positioning a pair of bodies in opposing relation for relative movement, each body defining a threaded bore, an adjacent guide bore, and a guide pin extending from the body, the threads of the threaded bores turned in opposing directions and the guide pins extending from the respective body for being received in the guide bore of the opposing body, the opposing bodies joined together for relative movement by a threaded member having a first portion threaded in a first direction and a second portion threaded in an opposing second direction that threadably engage a respective threaded bore of the opposing bodies, whereby rotation of the threaded member moves the opposing bodies together or apart selectively; [0010](b) moving a jam nut threadably received on the first portion of the threaded member to a distally spaced-apart position relative to the body that receives the first portion of the threaded member; [0011](c) rotating the threaded member to move the opposing bodies apart relative to each other; and [0012](d) moving the jam nut against a side face of the body receiving the first portion of the threaded member, to lock the threaded member from rotation. [0013]Features, objects, and advantages of the present invention will be apparent upon reading the following detailed description in conjunction with the claims and the appended drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0014]FIG. 1 is perspective exploded view of the orthodontic expander according to the present invention. [0015]FIG. 2 is a perspective detailed view of an expansion body used in the orthodontic expander illustrated in FIG. 1. [0016]FIG. 3 is a perspective detailed view of a jam nut used with the orthodontic expander illustrated in FIG. 1. [0017]FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the orthodontic expander mounted to teeth of a dental arch for expansion therewith. DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0018]Referring now in more detail to the drawings, in which like numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views, FIG. 1 illustrates in perspective exploded view an orthodontic expander 10 according to the present invention. The orthodontic expander 10 comprises a pair of opposing bodies 12, 14 that each defines a respective threaded travel bore 16, 18 substantially central to the body. The threads of the travel bores 16, 18 are turned in opposing directions for a purpose discussed below. Each body includes a pair of guide bores 20, 22 spaced-apart from the travel bore 16, 18. One guide bore 22' defines a key slot 24 that extends from an outward face of the body 14 substantially to but short of the opposing face of the body. An inward face 26 of the body 14 defines a stop 26 in the key slot 24 as discussed below. [0019]The guide bores 20, 22 receive a respective guide pin 30. One guide pin 30' includes a fin 34 that extends outwardly from an opposing end 36 parallel to a longitudinal axis of the guide pin. The fin 34 travels in the key slot 24 and a distal edge of the fin is visible from outside of the body 14 through an open face of the key slot 24. The guide pin 30' passes through the open key slot 24 of the body 14, the aligned opposing guide bore 20 in the body 12, and is secured at one end to the opposing body 12 (so that the opposing fin end is free to move relative to the body 14.) Continue reading about Orthodontic expander for increasing maxillary transverse dimension and method... Full patent description for Orthodontic expander for increasing maxillary transverse dimension and method Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Orthodontic expander for increasing maxillary transverse dimension and method patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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