World Class Technology Corporation

Bear Medical Systems, Inc.

Mem Dental Technology Co., Ltd

Alberto Ruiz-Vela

Juergen Bathen

Thomas Pitts

Douglas F DeVries

Thomas P Westfall

Anthony J Caterina

Clyde R Visser

Maurice J Brooks

An instrument for facilitating opening of a ligating member for an orthodontic bracket. The instrument includes one tip designed to engage an opening feature on a labial side of a ligating door of the orthodontic bracket, and another tip designed to sit underneath a tie wing formed on a body of the orthodontic bracket. When the instrument is in position against the orthodontic bracket, squeezing together the handles results in the tips applying a reciprocal force on the ligating door and the bracket body to open the ligating door along the occlusal direction.

Tool for use with orthodontic brackets

The disclosure relates to an orthodontic bracket including a ligating member mountable to a bracket body, the ligating member moveable between an open and closed position over an archwire slot. The orthodontic bracket includes a channel formed between the bracket body and the ligating member, and a resilient biasing member extending into the channel, the biasing member interacting with the ligating member to retain the ligating member in either the open or closed position.

Orthodontic bracket with a biased ligating member

An orthodontic bracket with an adjustable hook designed to facilitate bending. The orthodontic bracket includes a bracket body mountable to a tooth and an adjustable hook extending from the bracket body, the adjustable hook comprising a stem base structure a bend region extending from the stem base structure, a neck region extending from the bend region, and a head extending from the neck region. In some embodiments, the adjustable hook has a length, L, measured from a bottom portion of the stem base structure to the head, and a length, L, measured from a bottom portion of the neck region of the hook stem to a free end of the head, wherein Lis greater than or equal to 60% of L.

Adjustable hook for orthodontic brackets

Ligating member for an orthodontic bracket

An orthodontic bracket includes a bracket body with a recess on a top surface of the bracket body and an archwire slot adapted to receive an orthodontic wire. The orthodontic bracket also includes a ligating member with a projection on its bottom surface. The ligating member is movably connected to the bracket body for retaining the orthodontic wire in the archwire slot when the ligating member is moved from an open position to a closed position. The orthodontic bracket also includes a discrete spring positioned in the recess on the bracket body such that a force is required to move the ligating member from the open position to the closed position.

Self-ligating bracket

The disclosure relates to an orthodontic system and treatment method, including an arrangement of orthodontic brackets against the patient's teeth such that the depth of the respective archwire slots of the brackets generally increases from the anterior teeth moving toward the posterior teeth. The gradual increase of the archwire slot in the bracket arrangement provides for finer control over the movement of the anterior teeth, while providing sufficient control and freedom of movement for the posterior teeth.

Orthodontic system with variably-sized archwire slot

An orthodontic system having brackets with variably sized slots.

A system including the method employed, for controlling the flow of a pressurized gas through a variable orifice flow control valve in a pressurized gas conduit system, such as a ventilator, in response to either a desired flow rate/volume input signal, a desired pressure signal or both. With respect to the flow rate input signal, the system generates a flow signal indicative of the actual flow rate of gas through the flow control valve by measuring the pressure drop across the valve and using the actual orifice area based on a control valve position signal given to the valve. This flow signal is compared to the flow rate input signal to give a correction signal which is used to form a volume flow reference signal. With respect to the desired pressure signal, a signal indicative of the effective pressure at a set location in the system is compared to the desired pressure signal and processed to give a pressure flow reference signal. Depending on the mode desired, either the volume flow reference signal or the pressure flow reference signal or the greater of the two becomes a flow reference signal that is used to generate a control valve position signal based on a predetermined relationship. This signal is then used to vary the valve orifice area and correct the flow rate.

Flow control system for medical ventilator

A gas blending system includes a proportional mixing valve having a valve element movable between first and second limits of travel corresponding to a minimum and maximum percentage, respectively, of one of the gases in the blended mixture. The position of the valve element is detected by a detection mechanism, producing a position signal inputted to a microcomputer. The microcomputer also receives a control signal representing a desired percentage of one of the gases to be blended. The microcomputer calculates a desired valving element position as a function of the value of the control signal, and generates a drive signal as a function of a comparison made by the microcomputer between the detected valve element position and the desired position. A motor drives the valve element to the desired position in response to the drive signal. The system also includes an accumulator for accumulating a selected volume of gas mixture flowing from the outlet of the valve prior to delivery of the mixture to a downstream demand. The accumulator increases the effective peak flow rate capacity of the system, while 'smoothing out' instantaneous changes in downstream flow rate demand before the effects of such changes are experienced at the valve.

Growing community of inventors

Alta Loma, CA, United States of America

Alberto Ruiz-Vela