Vibrating orthodontic strip

• US 10,039,617 B2
• Filed: 09/16/2013
• Issued: 08/07/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Advanced Orthodontics and Education Association, LLC
• Original Assignee: Orthoaccel Technologies, Inc
• Inventors: Lowe, Michael K., Swol, Lawrence W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rodriguez, Cris L
• Assistant Examiner(s): APONTE, MIRAYDA ARLENE
• Application Number:
  US14/422,252
• Publication Number:
  US 20150182305A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,786 Days
• Field of Search: 433 6, 433 18, 433 24, 433171, 128861, 601 30
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 7/008 using vibrating means
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 7/08 Mouthpiece-type retainers or positioners, e.g. for both the lower and upper arch arch-shaped medicament applicators for teeth or gums A61C19/063; mouthguards for protecting the teeth of sportsmen A63B71/085

Abstract

A low cost disposable peel-and-stick vibrating orthodontic strip can be attached to existing orthodontic devices such as aligners, thus speeding dental remodeling by as much as 50%. A low cost orthodontic appliance generally in the form of a peel-and-stick vibrating strip that can be advantageously applied to existing orthodontic devices, such as aligners, positioners, fixed appliances, or even applied directly to teeth.

Claims

1. A flat planar vibrating orthodontic remodeling device for use with a separate orthodontic remodeling appliance, comprising:

a) a flat planar strip having a flat back surface and a flat front surface;

b) said flat planar strip having one or more vibratory sources thereon operably connected to one or more power sources;

c) said flat back surface being peel-and-stick and having an adhesive layer for reversibly coupling to said separate orthodontic remodeling appliance and a removable protective coating over said adhesive layer; and

,

d) wherein said orthodontic remodeling device is hermetically sealed and can vibrate at a frequency of 1-40 Hz and a force of 0.1-0.5 Newtons.

2. The orthodontic remodeling device of claim 1, wherein said front surface is smoothly rounded at a top edge and a bottom edge, and flat between said edges.

3. The orthodontic remodeling device of claim 1, wherein said power source is a coin battery.

4. The orthodontic remodeling device of claim 1, wherein said power source is a charged capacitor.

5. The orthodontic remodeling device of claim 1, wherein said vibratory source is a coin vibrator.

6. The orthodontic remodeling device of claim 1, further comprising an on/off switch.

7. The orthodontic remodeling device of claim 1, further comprising a processor programmed to automatically activate said device at least twice per day for a period of at least one minute.

8. The orthodontic remodeling device of claim 1, further comprising a waterproof silicone coating.

9. The orthodontic remodeling device of claim 1, wherein said power source is a coin battery, said vibratory source is a coin DC motor vibrator, and wherein said planar strip has a waterproof silicone coating.

10. The orthodontic remodeling device of claim 1, said device being able to vibrate at 30 Hz at a force of 0.2-0.25 Newtons.

11. The orthodontic remodeling device of claim 1, said vibrator being able to vibrate at 5-30 Hz and 0.1-0.3 Newtons.

12. The orthodontic remodeling device of claim 1, said device having a noise level less than 55 dB when measured at 6 inches, and being capable of vibrating at a frequency between 20-40 Hz with a variance of only 2 Hz, and a force between 0.1-0.5 Newtons with a variance of +−

0.05 N.

13. The orthodontic remodeling device of claim 1, further comprising a processor for controlling said vibratory source.

14. The orthodontic remodeling device of claim 13, wherein said vibratory source is a piezoelectric motor.

15. An orthodontic remodeling system, comprising:

a) an aligner shaped to closely fit teeth and apply an orthodontic remodeling force to one or more teeth;

b) a vibrating flat strip or plate shaped to fit against a lingual or occlusal surface of said aligner, said vibrating flat strip or plate being hermetically sealed and vibrating at a frequency between 1-40 Hz and a force between 0.1-0.5 Newtons when in use; and

,

c) peel-and-stick attachment means for reversibly coupling said aligner to said vibrating flat strip or plate.

16. The orthodontic remodeling system of claim 15, wherein said attachment means is selected from an adhesive, a magnet and magnetically responsive metal insert, a snap fit connector and socket, one or more hooks, or a spring clip.

17. A method of orthodontic remodeling, comprising wearing the aligner of claim 15 about 22-24 hours a day, applying said vibrating flat planar strip or plate to said aligner using said attachment means, and activating said vibrating device for about 20 minutes a day.

18. A method of orthodontic remodeling, comprising wearing an orthodontic remodeling device, applying a peel-and-stick, flat planar, waterproof, vibrating strip that vibrates at a frequency between 20-40 Hz and a force between 0.1-0.3 Newtons to said orthodontic remodeling device, and activating said vibrating strip for a period of time.

19. A faster method of orthodontic remodeling, comprising a patient wearing an aligner about 22-24 hours daily, said patient applying a peel-and-stick vibrating device to said aligner, said vibrating device shaped to fit against a lingual or occlusal surface of said aligner, and activating said vibrating device for about 20 minutes a day, wherein the time needed for orthodontic remodeling is about half that needed when said aligner is used alone without said vibrating device.