The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 28, 1991
Filed:
Sep. 25, 1989
Craig Andreiko, Alta Loma, CA (US);
Terry L Sterrett, Long Beach, CA (US);
Ormco Corporation, Glendora, CA (US);
Abstract
A plurality of strands are disposed in a braided relationship to form a multi-strand filament. Each of the strands is formed from a material having substantially fifty five percent (55%) titanium and forty five percent (45%) nickel by weight. The strands have the properties of being formed to any desired configuration in an arched relationship at a suitable temperature such as approximately 490.degree. C. The multi-strand configuration is then bent from the desired configuration at a temperature below a particular temperature such as 10.degree. C.-15.degree. C. to conform to the actual configuration of the teeth in the patient's mouth and is attached to the patient's teeth in this bent configuration. The multi-strand filament returns to the desired configuration while attached to the patient's teeth, thereby causing the position of the teeth in the patient's mouth to become disposed in the desired configuration. In another embodiment, the multi-strand braid envelopes a centrally disposed wire. The centrally disposed wire may be made from the same material as, or a different material than, the braids, depending upon the characteristics desired.