Vibrating dental devices

• US 9,028,250 B2
• Filed: 11/09/2009
• Issued: 05/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Advanced Orthodontics and Education Association, LLC
• Original Assignee: Orthoaccel Technologies, Inc
• Inventors: Ling, Jeremy, Kaufman, Michael E., Lowe, Michael K., Spaulding, Glenn
• Primary Examiner(s): ROSEN, ERIC J
• Application Number:
  US12/615,049
• Publication Number:
  US 20100055634A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,010 Days
• Field of Search: 433/2, 433/8, 433/9, 433/24, 433/29, 433/215, 433/82, 433/86, 433/118, 433/119, 433/18, 433/147
• US Class Current: 433/18
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 1/0015 Electrical systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 2204/005 using chip tag or any electronic identification mean, e.g. RFID
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 7/12 Brackets; Arch wires; Combinations thereof; Accessories therefor

Abstract

A variety of improvements to the vibrating devices for dental remodeling are provided, including improved bite plate designs that accommodate common patient bite structure, a connector for a bite plate, a sizing tray for same, as well as better motors providing improved performance characteristics for an extraoral vibrator, and a completely intraoral vibrating dental plate with very thin cross section.

Claims

1. A vibrating orthodontic device comprising:

a detachable U-shaped bite plate having a connector protruding therefrom;

wherein said U-shaped bite plate has an upper facial edge and a lower facial edge to contact facial surfaces of upper and lower teeth;

an extraoral vibrator operatively coupled to a power source;

each of said vibrator and said power source contained within an extraoral housing having a socket into which said connector snap fits;

said connector comprising a cylindrical shaft having a free end and an attached end;

wherein said connector further comprises a flare between said attached end and said U-shaped bite plate;

said cylindrical shaft having a pair of matching pins protruding from said shaft at said attached end; and

,

said cylindrical shaft having a groove spaced from said attached end, wherein said groove circumnavigates the shaft;

wherein said cylindrical shaft has a diameter of 6.35 mm and length of 10.25 mm and said groove is 4 mm from said attached end.

2. The vibrating orthodontic device of claim 1, wherein said cylindrical shaft is beveled at said free end.

3. The vibrating orthodontic device of claim 1, wherein said vibrator vibrates at a force of 0.2 Newtons.

4. The vibrating orthodontic device of claim 1, wherein said vibrator vibrates at a frequency of 30 Hz.

5. A vibrating orthodontic device comprising:

a detachable U-shaped bite plate having a connector protruding therefrom, wherein said bite plate has an upper facial edge and a lower facial edge to contact upper and lower facial surfaces of teeth;

an extraoral vibrator operatively coupled to a power source;

each of said vibrator and said power source contained within an extraoral housing having a socket into which said connector snap fits;

said connector comprising a cylindrical shaft having a free end and an attached end and a pair of matching protrusions at said attached end, said free end being beveled;

said cylindrical shaft also having a groove circumnavigating said cylindrical shaft approximately midway along said shaft;

and

said vibrator vibrating on activation at 30 Hz and 0.2 N;

wherein said cylindrical shaft has a diameter of 6.35 mm and length of 10.25 mm and said groove is 4 mm from said attached end.

6. A vibrating orthodontic device comprising:

a detachable U-shaped bite plate having a connector protruding therefrom, wherein said bite plate has an upper facial edge and a lower facial edge to contact upper and lower facial surfaces of teeth;

an extraoral vibrator operatively coupled to a power source;

each of said vibrator and said power source contained within an extraoral housing having a socket into which said connector snap fits;

said connector comprising a cylindrical shaft having a free end and an attached end and a pair of matching protrusions at said attached end, said free end being beveled;

said cylindrical shaft also having a groove circumnavigating said cylindrical shaft approximately midway along said shaft;

and

said vibrator vibrating on activation at one frequency between 20-30 Hz and at one force of 0.2 N;

wherein said cylindrical shaft has a diameter of 6.35 mm and length of 10.25 mm and said groove is 4 mm from said attached end.