RELEASABLE PALATAL EXPANDERS

• US 20190314119A1
• Filed: 04/10/2019
• Published: 10/17/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Align Technology Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Align Technology Incorporated
• Inventors: KOPELMAN, Avi, KIMURA, Ryan, SHANJANI, Yaser, RILEY, Jeremy, SATO, Jun, GROVE, Bob, SHIRAZI AGHJARI, Reza
• Granted Patent: US 11,564,777 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 7/02 Tools for manipulating or working with an orthodontic appliance tools for placement of brackets A61C7/146; instruments for attaching elastic bands A61C7/306
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 7/023 for debonding or removing orthodontic devices
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 7/10 Devices having means to apply outwardly directed force, e.g. expanders

Abstract

Releasable and removable palatal expander apparatuses for expanding a patient'"'"'s palate (“palatal expanders”) and methods of using and making them. These releasable palatal expanders are adapted for ease in removal by the patient or caregiver, and may include a breach region configured to predictably bend or break when a pulling force is applied. The palatal expander apparatuses described herein may include one or more locks for locking the palatal expander onto the patient'"'"'s teeth. The lock(s) may be unlocked to release the palatal expander from the teeth. A lock may include a control for manually unlocking the lock. Unlocking the locks may allow the palatal expander to automatically disengage from the patient'"'"'s teeth.

Claims

1. A method of removing a palatal expander shell apparatus from a patient'"'"'s teeth, the method comprising:

applying a pulling force to a buccal side of the palatal expander shell apparatus while a first tooth engagement region is worn on a first portion of the patient'"'"'s teeth, a second tooth engagement region is worn on a second portion of the patient'"'"'s teeth, and while a palatal region extending between the first tooth engagement region and the second tooth engagement region is applying a lateral force between the first tooth engagement region and the second tooth engagement region,

wherein the pulling force causes a breach region of the palatal expander shell apparatus to break or bend along the breach region and to disengage the palatal expander shell apparatus from the first or second set of the patient'"'"'s teeth; and

removing the palatal expander shell apparatus from the patient'"'"'s oral cavity.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein applying the pulling force comprises applying less than 30 N.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein applying the pulling force comprises applying less than 20 N.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein applying the pulling force comprises pulling the buccal side of the palatal expander with a force having a laterally outward force component.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein applying the pulling force comprises pulling the edge of the buccal side of the palatal expander.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein applying the puling force causes the breach region to bend or break along the breach region so that the palatal expander shell apparatus disengages from one or more attachments between the palatal expander shell apparatus and the patient'"'"'s teeth.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein applying the puling force causes the breach region to bend along the breach region in a hinged manner.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein applying the puling force causes the breach region to break along the breach region.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein applying the pulling force comprises using a tool to apply a pulling force.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein applying the pulling force comprises using a fingernail to apply a pulling force.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein applying the pulling force comprises pulling on a detachment region on the buccal side of the palatal expander shell apparatus.

12. A method of removing a palatal expander shell apparatus from a patient'"'"'s teeth, the method comprising:

applying a pulling force to a buccal side of the palatal expander shell apparatus while a first tooth engagement region is worn on a first set of the patient'"'"'s teeth and a second tooth engagement region is worn on a second set of the patient'"'"'s teeth, and while a palatal region extending between the first tooth engagement region and the second tooth engagement region is applying a lateral force between the first tooth engagement region and the second tooth engagement region,

wherein the pulling force causes a breach region of the palatal expander shell apparatus to break or bend at a predetermined location and disengage from the first or second set of the patient'"'"'s teeth, wherein the breach region extends anteriorly to posteriorly along the palatal expander shell and comprise one or more regions having a mechanical strength that is less than the material strength of the regions of the palatal expander surrounding to the breach region; and

removing the palatal expander shell apparatus from the patient'"'"'s oral cavity.

13. A palatal expander apparatus, the apparatus comprising:

a pair of tooth engagement regions each extending anteriorly to posteriorly, and configured to be worn over the patient'"'"'s teeth, wherein the tooth engagement regions each comprise an occlusal side and a buccal side;

a palatal region connecting the pair of tooth engagement regions, wherein the palatal region is configured to apply a lateral force between the pair of tooth engagement regions when the apparatus is worn by the patient; and

a breach region extending anteriorly to posteriorly, the breach region configured to predictably bend or break when a pulling force is applied to the buccal side of either or both of the pair of tooth engagement regions.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the breach region has a mechanical strength that is lower than the mechanical strength of regions adjacent to either side of the breach region.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the breach region comprises a perforated region.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the breach region comprises a crease or channel.

17. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the breach region comprises one or more voids within the palatal expander shell apparatus.

18. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the breach region comprises a hinge.

19. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the breach region extends across the occlusive side of one of the pair of tooth engagement regions.

20. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the breach region is configured to break when a pulling force of greater than a predetermined value is applied to the buccal side of one of the pair of tooth engagement regions in a laterally outward direction.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the predetermined value is 10 N.

22. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the predetermined value is between 5 N and 100 N.

23. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the breach region is configured to bend in a hinged manner when a pulling force of greater than a predetermined value is applied to the buccal side of one of the pair of tooth engagement regions in a laterally outward direction.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the predetermined value is 10 N.

25. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the predetermined value is between 5 N and 100 N.

26. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the breach region is not visible.

27. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the breach region extends from an anterior end of the palatal expander shell apparatus to a posterior end of the palatal expander shell apparatus.

28. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a plurality of attachment regions each configured to couple to an attachment bonded to the patient'"'"'s teeth.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the breach region extends adjacent to one or more of the attachment regions along an anterior to posterior axis.

30. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a detachment region on the buccal side of at least one of the pair of pair of tooth engagement regions configured to receive the pulling force.

31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the detachment region comprises one or more of a slot, ledge, notch, lip, or gap on or adjacent to a lower edge of the buccal side.

32. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a plurality of vertical slots or slits extending from a bottom of the buccal side toward the breach region.

33. A palatal expander apparatus, the apparatus comprising:

a pair of tooth engagement regions each extending anteriorly to posteriorly, and configured to be worn over the patient'"'"'s teeth, wherein the tooth engagement regions each comprise an occlusal side and a buccal side;

a palatal region connecting the pair of tooth engagement regions, wherein the palatal region is configured to apply a lateral force between the pair of tooth engagement regions when the apparatus is worn by the patient; and

a breach region extending anteriorly to posteriorly, the breach region having a mechanical strength that is less than the mechanical strength of regions adjacent to either side of the breach region so that the breach region predictably bends or breaks when a pulling force having a laterally outward component is applied to the buccal side of either or both of the pair of tooth engagement regions.

34-85. -85. (canceled)