Method for forming nickel/titanium braided arch wires
First Claim
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1. In a method for making orthodontic arch wires, the steps comprising:
- (a) providing eight-ten strands of substantially circular cross section of an alloy of nickel/titanium alloy;
(b) forming said strands into a braid of substantially circular cross section, such braid consisting solely of said strands;
(c) deforming said braid into a substantially rectangular cross section;
(d) winding said deformed braid about a fixture of substantially oval cross section providing a pair of elongate arcuate surfaces of substantially the radius desired for the finished arch wires;
(e) heat treating said deformed braid on said fixture by maintaining it at a temperature of about 400-600°
C. for a period of at least two minutes and thereafter quenching it; and
(f) cutting said deformed and heat treated braid along the length of the fixture at the ends of said arcuate surfaces to produce arch wires of generally arcuate configuration.
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Abstract
An orthodontic arch wire exhibiting relatively constant force over range of deflection of 0.8-1.8 mm and resiliently returnable to its initial position from flexure up to 90° is formed from a braid of nickel/titanium alloy. In the process for making the arch wire, eight strands of the alloy are initially formed into a braid of circular cross section which is then deformed into a rectangular cross section. The deformed braid is wound about a fixture, is heated treated on the fixture and thereafter cut to produce a pair of arch wires from each coil about the fixture. The nickel/titanium alloy is one having a nominal composition of 55% nickel and 45% titanium.
49 Citations
5 Claims
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1. In a method for making orthodontic arch wires, the steps comprising:
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(a) providing eight-ten strands of substantially circular cross section of an alloy of nickel/titanium alloy; (b) forming said strands into a braid of substantially circular cross section, such braid consisting solely of said strands; (c) deforming said braid into a substantially rectangular cross section; (d) winding said deformed braid about a fixture of substantially oval cross section providing a pair of elongate arcuate surfaces of substantially the radius desired for the finished arch wires; (e) heat treating said deformed braid on said fixture by maintaining it at a temperature of about 400-600°
C. for a period of at least two minutes and thereafter quenching it; and(f) cutting said deformed and heat treated braid along the length of the fixture at the ends of said arcuate surfaces to produce arch wires of generally arcuate configuration. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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Specification