Ormco Corporation

The Kippgroup

David L Ludwig

Craig A Andreiko

Raymond P Feith

James F Reher

Timothy L Truitt

This invention is directed to a plastic orthodontic appliance having projecting structure extending outwardly from a bonding base. The projecting structure includes a broadened outer extremity and undercuts proximate the outer extremity which form mechanical bonds with a bonding adhesive. In one application, a plurality of appliances in the form of slotted brackets is provided for cooperating with an archwire to apply corrective forces to a patient's teeth on which the brackets are mounted. Another aspect of the invention concerns a method of making plastic orthodontic appliances suitable for mechanical bonding. The method includes molding a plastic orthodontic appliance having undeformed projecting structure and subsequently softening and compressing the outer extremity of the projecting structure to form undercuts. In a preferred embodiment, the projecting structure is a plurality of posts.

Plastic orthodontic appliance, plastic appliance mechanical bonding base

A device for transferring fluid with minimum fluid displacement includes a valve internal chamber adapted for receiving an actuator therethrough for facilitating introduction of fluid into the valve internal chamber. A biased member abuts against either a compressible gas or an ambient atmosphere, and is adapted for being moved by the actuator. Movement of the biased member results in displacement of either the compressible gas or the ambient atmosphere to thereby offset a displacement of fluid in the valve internal chamber that was introduced by insertion of the actuator into the valve internal chamber. A valve outlet port is adapted for outputting fluid from the valve internal chamber. The valve outlet port is configured in fluid communication with the valve internal chamber at all times, and is adapted for allowing fluid to freely flow between the valve internal chamber and the valve outlet port.

Minimum fluid displacement medical connector

Plastic orthodontic appliance having a mechanical bonding base and

This invention is directed to a plastic orthodontic bracket reinforced with a metal insert having rotation wings. The bracket includes a protrusion extending into the archwire slot and having an upper end elevated above the bottom wall of the archwire slot. The upper end of the protrusion is adapted to contact the underside of an orthodontic archwire located in the archwire slot and to support at least a portion of the archwire above the bottom wall of the archwire slot.

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San Juan Capistrano, CA, United States of America

David L Ludwig