VIBRATING ORTHODONTIC REMODELLING DEVICE

• US 20130059263A1
• Filed: 11/22/2012
• Published: 03/07/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Advanced Orthodontics and Education Association, LLC
• Original Assignee: Orthoaccel Technologies, Inc
• Inventors: LOWE, Michael K., SWOL, Lawrence W.
• Granted Patent: US 8,500,446 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 433/6
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 7/00 Orthodontics, i.e. obtaining or maintaining the desired position of teeth, e.g. by straightening, evening, regulating, separating, or by correcting malocclusions
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 7/002 Orthodontic computer assisted systems
• 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 bite plate allowing for contact with occlusal and facial and/or lingual maxillary and mandibular teeth is coupled to an extraoral housing containing a rechargeable battery coupled to a vibrator coupled to a processor coupled to data and charging port or ports. The housing is at least water resistant, and a hatch allows access to the data and charging port or ports only. The device is fitted with a very smooth and quiet vibrator, with minimal variance on operating specifications.

Claims

1. An orthodontic remodeling device, consisting essentially of:

a) an extraoral vibratory source;

b) an extraoral processor that controls said vibratory source and captures and transmits usage data;

c) a power source that drives said vibratory source;

d) an intraoral attachment consisting essentially of a bite plate allowing for contact with occlusal surfaces and at least one of lingual and buccal surfaces of a patient'"'"'s teeth, wherein a patient biting on said bite plate holds said orthodontic remodeling device in place during use;

e) said extraoral vibratory source being coupled to the intraoral attachment;

f) wherein said orthodontic remodeling device is hermetically sealed and can vibrate at a frequency of 0.1-400 Hz.

2. The orthodontic remodeling device of claim 1, wherein said vibratory source is a motor.

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

4. An orthodontic remodeling device comprising:

a) an intraoral bite plate comprising;

i) a substantially U-shaped surface for contacting an occlusal surface of teeth;

ii) said U-shaped bite plate having an outside edge having upper and lower rims to contact an upper and lower facial surfaces of teeth and gums;

iii) said U-shaped bite plate having an inside edge having optional upper and lower rims to contact at least a portion of an upper and lower lingual surfaces of teeth and gums;

b) an extraoral waterproof housing containing a rechargeable battery operably coupled to a vibrator operably coupled to a processor for capturing usage data operably coupled to a data-and-charging port for transmitting said data and charging said battery;

c) said U shape bite reversibly and operably connected to said housing;

d) wherein said device is held in place during usage by teeth clamping on the bite plate and lacks other head attachment means.

5. The orthodontic remodeling device of claim 4, said vibrator being able to vibrate at 1-1200 Hz at a force of 0.1-5 Newtons.

6. The orthodontic remodeling device of claim 4, said vibrator being able to vibrate at 10-40 Hz.

7. The orthodontic remodeling device of claim 4, said vibrator being able to vibrate at 0.1-0.5 Newtons.

8. The orthodontic remodeling device of claim 4, wherein said bite plate comprises a rigid inner core and a biocompatible coating.

9. The orthodontic remodeling device of claim 8, wherein said inner rigid core is metal.

10. The orthodontic remodeling device of claim 8, wherein said inner rigid core is a plastic of less than 40 Shore D.

11. The orthodontic remodeling device of claim 8, wherein said biocompatible coating is medical grade silicone.

12. The orthodontic remodeling device of claim 8, wherein said inner rigid core is a plastic of less than 40 Shore D and said biocompatible coating is medical grade heat cured silicone rubber.

13. The orthodontic remodeling device of claim 4, said housing having an access hatch therein for patient access to said data-and-charging port, but not said battery or processor.

14. The orthodontic remodeling device of claim 13, said access hatch being accessible only with a tool.

15. The orthodontic remodeling device of claim 14, said access hatch being tethered to said housing.

16. The orthodontic remodeling device of claim 4, said device having a noise level less than 55 dB when measured at 6 inches, and being capable of vibrating at a frequency of 20-40 Hz, with a variance of only 2 Hz, and a force of 0.1-0.5 Newtons, with a variance of +−

0.05 N.

17. The orthodontic remodeling device of claim 16, said vibrator being an offset motor with an integrated encoder.

18. The orthodontic remodeling device of claim 16, said vibratory source being a DC 6V motor having off-set weight and 8 line integrated encoder.

19. The orthodontic remodeling device of claim 4, wherein said processor stores usage data and coding sufficient to convert said usage data into daily use, average daily use and average weekly or monthly use.

20. The orthodontic remodeling device of claim 4, said data-and-charging port being a USB port.

21-22. -22. (canceled)