VIBRATING ORTHODONTIC STRIP

• US 20150182305A1
• Filed: 09/16/2013
• Published: 07/02/2015
• 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.
• Granted Patent: US 10,039,617 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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. An orthodontic remodeling device, comprising:

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

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

c) said back surface having an adhesive layer 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 back surface is flat, and 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. 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 device shaped to fit against a lingual or occlusal surface of said aligner, said vibrating 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) attachment means for reversibly coupling said aligner to said vibrating strip or plate.

15. The orthodontic remodeling system of claim 14, 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 14 about 22-24 hours a day, applying said vibrating device to said aligner using said attachment means, and activating said vibrating device for about 20 minutes a day.

16. A method of orthodontic remodeling, comprising wearing an orthodontic remodeling device, applying a peel-and-stick, 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.

18. A faster method of orthodontic remodeling, comprising a patient wearing an aligner about 22-24 hours daily, said patient applying a 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.