Method of fracturing interfaces with an ultrasonic tool

• US 5,106,302 A
• Filed: 09/26/1990
• Issued: 04/21/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ormco Corporation (Envista Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Ormco Corporation (Envista Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Farzin-Nia, Farrokh, Sachdeva, Rohit C. L., Alliger, Howard M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wilson, John J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHERICHETTI, CINDY
• Application Number:
  US07/588,281
• Time in Patent Office: 573 Days
• Field of Search: 433/3, 433/24, 433/118, 433/119, 433/4, 433/159, 433/215
• US Class Current: 433/215
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 3/03 Instruments operated by vibration
• 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

Abstract

Method for fracturing the interface between dental structures that have been secured together. The device comprises an ultrasonic tool for providing bi-directional movement of a preferred amplitude and frequency. The tool is applied against one of the dental structures at an acute angle with respect to a plane in which the interface between the dental structures lies.

Claims

1. A method for fracturing the interface between two dental structures that have been secured together, comprising the steps:

providing an ultrasonic device having a generator for providing a predetermined frequency, a piezoelectric converter for producing a substantially bi-directional movement along the axis of the converter at said predetermined frequency, a horn having a connecting end and a working outer end, said connecting end being secured to said converter, for transferring said bi-directional movement to said outer end of said horn; and

placing the outer working end of said horn against one of said dental structures at an angle equal to or less than about 60°

with respect to a plane substantially containing the interface between said dental structures.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the longitudinal axis of said device is disposed at an angle less than about 30 degrees with respect to the plane containing the interface between said dental structures.

3. A method for fracturing the interface between two dental structures that have been secured together, comprising the steps:

providing an ultrasonic device having a converter for producing a bi-directional movement along the axis of the converter at a predetermined frequency, a horn having a connecting end and a working outer end, said connecting end being secured to said converter for transferring said bi-directional movement to said outer end of said horn; and

placing the outer working end of said horn against one of said dental structures at an angle less than about 60°

with respect to a plane containing the interface between said dental structure.

4. A method according to claim 3 wherein the longitudinal axis of said device is disposed at an angle less than about 30 degrees with respect to the plane in which the interface between said dental structures.

5. A method for fracturing the interface between two dental structures that have been secured together, comprising the steps:

providing an ultrasonic device having a generator for providing at a frequency equal to or greater than 18 kHz, a piezoelectric converter for producing a bi-directional movement along the axis of the converter at a predetermined frequency, a horn having a connecting end and a working outer end, said connecting end being secured to said piezoelectric converter said horn transferring said bi-directional movement to said outer end of said horn, and working tip secured to the outer end of said horn, placing the tip at an acute angle with respect to the plane which substantially contains the interface between said dental structures; and

placing the tip at an angle less than or equal to 60°

with said plane containing the interface between said dental structures.