Vibrating orthodontic remodelling device

• US 8,500,446 B2
• Filed: 11/22/2012
• Issued: 08/06/2013
• 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.
• Primary Examiner(s): ROSEN, ERIC J
• Application Number:
  US13/684,220
• Publication Number:
  US 20130059263A1
• Time in Patent Office: 257 Days
• Field of Search: 433/2, 433/8, 433/9, 433/18, 433/24, 433/29, 433/215, 433/118, 433/119
• US Class Current: 433/18
• 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 comprising:

a) an intraoral bite plate comprising;

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

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

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

b) an extraoral 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 bite plate 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 and

e) said vibrator being able to vibrate at a frequency of 0.1-400 Hz and at a force of 5 Newtons.