US 12,350,122 B1
Orthodontic device for lateral tooth movement
Grant G. Coleman, Charlotte, NC (US)
Filed by Grant G. Coleman, Charlotte, NC (US)
Filed on Jan. 12, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/574,136.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/136,839, filed on Jan. 13, 2021.
Int. Cl. A61C 7/22 (2006.01); A61C 7/14 (2006.01)
CPC A61C 7/22 (2013.01) [A61C 7/14 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An orthodontic system, comprising:
(a) a plurality of orthodontic brackets, including a first bracket that is attached to a first tooth in a first jaw, the first jaw being an upper or lower jaw, and a second bracket that is attached to a second tooth in the first jaw;
(b) an archwire that is arranged around the first jaw and coupled to the first and second brackets; and
(c) a single continuous length of metal wire, having elastic properties, wherein:
(i) the single continuous length of metal wire has a first U-shaped end that is hooked around the first bracket such that a first leg of the first U-shaped end is an upper portion that extends over the first bracket and a second leg of the first U-shaped end is a lower portion that extends under the first bracket,
(ii) the single continuous length of metal wire continues from the first leg, of the first U-shaped end, in a first serpentine path that is defined by a first plurality of lobes of the wire such that each lobe of the first plurality of lobes extends over a respective bracket, including the first and second brackets, of the plurality of orthodontic brackets,
(iii) the single continuous length of metal wire continues from the second leg, of the first U-shaped end, in a second serpentine path that is defined by a second plurality of lobes of the wire such that each lobe of the second plurality of lobes extends under a respective bracket, including the first and second brackets, of the plurality of orthodontic brackets,
(iv) the wire of the second serpentine path has no connection to the wire of the first serpentine path,
(v) the wire of the first serpentine path continues to form a first leg of a second U-shaped end of the single continuous length of metal wire, and the wire of the second serpentine path continues to form a second leg of the second U-shaped end of the single continuous length of metal wire,
(vi) the second U-shaped end of the loop is stretched and hooked around the second bracket, with the first leg of the second U-shaped end extending over the second bracket and the second leg of the second U-shaped end extending under the second bracket, thereby placing the loop in tension between the first and second brackets,
(vii) each lobe of the first serpentine path of the upper portion of the single continuous length of metal wire is generally aligned with, and forms half of a lobe pair with, a respective corresponding lobe of the second serpentine path of the lower portion of the single continuous length of metal wire, and
(viii) each successive lobe pair defines a loop segment that is positioned around a successive bracket, of the plurality of orthodontic brackets, along the first jaw.