Orthodontic device and method for treating malocclusions

Abstract

A dental apparatus for use with a connecting member coupled to a jaw in a patient's mouth. The apparatus includes an orthodontic device and a connecting device carried by the orthodontic device. The connecting device includes a receptacle adapted to partially receive the connecting member and a blocking member. The blocking member is moveable relative to the receptacle between an opened position in which the connecting member may be disengaged from the receptacle and a closed position in which the connecting member is captured within the receptacle for pivotally engaging the orthodontic device with the connecting member. The orthodontic device may further include a biasing member selectively activated to provide a spring-biased force to the jaw. A method of using the dental apparatus includes moving the blocking member to capture/release the connecting member in the receptacle and activating/deactivating the biasing member to operate the apparatus in a different mode.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A dental apparatus comprising:
 a connecting member adapted to be coupled to a jaw, the connecting member including an operating end;   an orthodontic device including a first member and a second member adapted for telescoping relative movement with said tubular first member; and   a connecting device coupled to at least one of said first or second members of said orthodontic device, said connecting device having a receptacle and a blocking member, said receptacle adapted to receive said operating end of said connecting member, and said blocking member moveable relative to said receptacle between an opened position in which said connecting member may be disengaged from said receptacle and a closed position in which the blocking member captures said connecting member within said receptacle for pivotally engaging said orthodontic device with said connecting member.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said blocking member includes a first leg and a second leg arranged relative to said first leg such that said first and second legs extend about the operating end of said connecting member when said blocking member is in the closed position to secure said connecting member between said receptacle and said blocking member. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein said operating end defines a ball portion and a neck portion, and wherein said first and second legs extend about the neck portion of said operating end when said blocking member is in the closed position to secure the ball portion of said connecting member between said receptacle and said blocking member. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein said connecting device further includes a pin positioned between said first and second legs, said pin having an interference fit between said first and second legs to inhibit movement of said blocking member from the closed position to the opened position. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the blocking member includes a drum having an aperture therethrough and a cutout portion communicating with said aperture, said drum rotatable relative to said connecting device between the opened and closed positions, said cutout portion aligned with a bore in said connecting device when in the opened position to receive said connecting member in said receptacle, said cutout portion misaligned with said bore in said connecting device when in the closed position to at least partially capture said connecting member in said receptacle. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein said operating end defines a neck portion and a ball portion, the apparatus further comprising:
 a retaining member adapted to be fixedly secured within said receptacle and having a shaft portion and a head portion coupled to said shaft portion and said shaft portion having a cavity to receive the ball portion of said connecting member, said head portion having a slot extending about at least a part of the neck portion of said connecting member to at least partially secure the ball portion between said cavity and said head portion. 
 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein said connecting device further includes a detent and said drum further comprises a spring element, said spring element cooperating with said detent to inhibit movement of said blocking member from the closed position to the opened position. 
     
     
         8 . A convertible orthodontic device for connecting a mandibular jaw with a maxillary jaw, the convertible orthodontic device comprising:
 a tubular first member;   a second member telescopically received within said first member to define a tubular space, said first and second members arranged for relative movement as the mandibular jaw moves relative to the maxillary jaw;   a biasing member positioned within said tubular space; and   a spacer dimensioned to fit into said tubular space and adapted to be removably positioned on said second member,   wherein when said spacer is a tubular sleeve positioned on said second member, said spacer causes said biasing member to exert a biasing force opposing relative movement of said first and second members during at least a portion of the relative telescoping movement of the first and second members,   wherein when said spacer is not positioned on said second member, the biasing member does not impose a biasing force opposing relative movement of said first and second members.   
     
     
         9 . The convertible orthodontic device of  claim 8  wherein said spacer further comprises:
 a crimpable stop capable of being crimped to said second member at a position abutting said biasing member for causing compression of said biasing member during the relative telescoping movement of said first and second members. 
 
     
     
         10 . The convertible orthodontic device of  claim 8  further comprising:
 a connecting device mounted to said second member, said connecting device having a portion contacted by said first member to operate as a stop for the relative telescopic movement of said first and second members when said sleeve is not positioned on said second member, thereby operating the convertible orthodontic device as a Herbst appliance. 
 
     
     
         11 . The convertible orthodontic device of  claim 8  further comprising:
 a connecting device mounted to said second member, said connecting device having a portion contacted by said first member to operate as a stop for telescopic movement of said first and second members when said sleeve is positioned on said second member, thereby operating the convertible orthodontic device as a spring-biased jaw malocclusion correction device. 
 
     
     
         12 . An orthodontic treatment method for repositioning a mandibular jaw relative to a maxillary jaw, comprising:
 securing inner and outer telescoping members of an orthodontic device between the mandibular jaw and the maxillary jaw;   operating the inner and outer telescoping members of the orthodontic device in a Herbst operating mode to reposition the mandibular jaw relative to the maxillary jaw; and   activating a biasing member carried by the telescoping members of the orthodontic device to convert the orthodontic device from the Herbst operating mode to a second operating mode in which the active biasing member applies a biasing force directed to reposition the mandibular jaw relative to the maxillary jaw.   
     
     
         13 . The orthodontic treatment method of  claim 12  wherein the second operating mode is a spring-biased mode and the biasing force is a spring bias. 
     
     
         14 . The orthodontic treatment method of  claim 12  wherein the second operating mode is a mixed operating mode capable of simultaneously operating in both the Herbst operating mode and a spring-biased mode. 
     
     
         15 . The orthodontic treatment method of  claim 12  wherein the biasing member is a compression spring with coils, and activating the biasing member further comprises:
 crimping a crimpable stop on the inner telescoping member that abuts the coils of the compression spring for causing compression of the coils as the mandibular jaw moves relative to the maxillary jaw to thereby apply the biasing force. 
 
     
     
         16 . The orthodontic treatment method of  claim 12  wherein the biasing member is a compression spring with coils, and activating the biasing member further comprises:
 applying a sleeve on the inner telescoping member that abuts the coils of the compression spring for causing compression of the coils as the mandibular jaw moves relative to the maxillary jaw and to thereby apply the biasing force. 
 
     
     
         17 . A method for mounting an orthodontic device to a connecting member coupled to a patient's jaw, comprising:
 inserting the connecting member at least partially into a receptacle of a connecting device carried by the orthodontic device; and   moving a blocking member carried by the connecting device relative to the receptacle to capture the connecting member within the receptacle thereby pivotally engaging the orthodontic device with the connecting member.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising:
 moving the blocking member relative to the receptacle to permit removal of the connecting member from the receptacle. 
 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17  wherein moving the blocking member further comprises:
 placing legs of the blocking member about a narrow portion of the connecting member to secure a wide portion of the connecting member between the receptacle and the blocking member. 
 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17  wherein moving the blocking member further comprises:
 placing a portion of a spring clip about a narrow portion of the connecting member to secure a wide portion of the connecting member between the receptacle and the blocking member. 
 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 17  wherein moving the blocking member further comprises:
 rotating a drum so that a cutout portion of the drum is misaligned with a bore in the connecting device adapted to receive the connecting member, the misalignment at least partially securing the connecting member within the receptacle.