Force control, stop mechanism, regulating structure of removable arch adjustment appliance

Abstract

A removable arch adjustment appliance includes a removable shell having a plurality of cavities formed therein, wherein the plurality of cavities are shaped to receive at least one posterior tooth of a patient on each side of a patient's jaw. The shell can include an elastic transpalatal element that spans a palate of the patient and provides force to expand at least one of the spaces between the posterior teeth on each side of a patient's jaw or the palate of the patient. The transpalatal element can include a predetermined force characteristic, a number of force control elements to control the force provided by the transpalatal element, and/or a regulating structure to balance and direct the force provided by the transpalatal element, wherein the transpalatal element has a width specific to a stage of a treatment plan.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A removable arch adjustment appliance comprising:
 a removable shell having a plurality of cavities formed therein, wherein:
 the plurality of cavities are shaped to receive at least one posterior tooth of a patient on each side of a patient's jaw; and 
 the shell includes an elastomeric transpalatal element with a predetermined force characteristic that spans a palate of the patient, wherein the transpalatal element provides force to expand at least one of the space between the posterior teeth on each side of a patient's jaw or the palate of the patient; and 
   a stop mechanism located on the shell that provides a mechanical force on the transpalatal element of the shell at a predefined expansion length of the transpalatal element to reduce the force provided by the transpalatal element that expands the at least one of the space between the posterior teeth on each side of a patient's jaw or the palate of the patient.   
     
     
         2 . The removable arch adjustment appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the stop mechanism is a sliding stop mechanism, the sliding stop mechanism including:
 two opposing members partially spanning, in a lingual direction, the transpalatal element of the shell, wherein each opposing member includes a tab; and   a connection member connected to the two opposing members, wherein the connection member includes two tabs;   wherein the two tabs of the connection member provide the mechanical force on the transpalatal element of the shell, at the predefined expansion length, that is equal to the force provided by the transpalatal element of the shell.   
     
     
         3 . The removable arch adjustment appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the stop mechanism is a sliding stop mechanism, the sliding stop mechanism including:
 a member spanning, in a lingual direction, the transpalatal element of the shell; and   two tabs on opposing sides of the member;   wherein the member extends through the surface of the transpalatal element, and wherein the two tabs provide the mechanical force on the transpalatal element of the shell, at the predefined expansion length, that is equal to the force provided by the transpalatal element of the shell.   
     
     
         4 . The removable arch adjustment appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the stop mechanism is a tension stop mechanism, the tension stop mechanism including:
 a flexible member spanning, in a lingual direction, the transpalatal element of the shell;   wherein the flexible member provides the mechanical force on the transpalatal element of the shell, at the predefined expansion length, that is equal to the force provided by the transpalatal element of the shell.   
     
     
         5 . The removable arch adjustment appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the stop mechanism is a tension stop mechanism, the tension stop mechanism including:
 one or more hinged members spanning, in a lingual direction, the transpalatal element of the shell;   wherein the one or more hinged members provide the mechanical force on the transpalatal element of the shell, at the predefined expansion length, that is equal to the force provided by the transpalatal element of the shell.   
     
     
         6 . The removable arch adjustment appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the stop mechanism is a deflection limit stop mechanism, the deflection limit stop mechanism including:
 a stop mechanism with substantially the same shape as the transpalatal element of the shell;   wherein the stop mechanism provides the mechanical force on the transpalatal element of the shell, at the predefined expansion length, that is equal to the force provided by the transpalatal element of the shell on a first portion of the force providing portion of the shell, and wherein a second portion of the force providing portion of the shell is uninhibited by the stop mechanism.   
     
     
         7 . The removable arch adjustment appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the stop mechanism is a deflection limit stop mechanism, the deflection limit stop mechanism including:
 a curved stop mechanism with substantially the same shape as the transpalatal element of the shell;   wherein the curved stop mechanism provides the mechanical force on the transpalatal element of the shell, at the predefined expansion length, that increases as the transpalatal element of the shell expands.   
     
     
         8 . A removable arch adjustment appliance, comprising:
 a first plurality of tooth engagement structures shaped to mate with teeth of a patient along a first side of a dental arch;   a second plurality of tooth engagement structures shaped to mate with teeth of the patient along a second side of the dental arch;   a transpalatal element of the appliance configured to apply an expansion force via the first plurality of tooth engagement structures and via the second plurality of tooth engagement structures; and   a regulating structure connected between the transpalatal element and the first plurality of tooth engagement structures and configured to balance and direct the expansion force from the transpalatal element to the first plurality of tooth engagement structures.   
     
     
         9 . The appliance of  claim 8 , wherein the regulating structure comprises a ball joint. 
     
     
         10 . The appliance of  claim 8 , wherein the regulating structure comprises a universal joint. 
     
     
         11 . The appliance of  claim 8 , wherein the regulating structure comprises an arm that is pinned to the first plurality of tooth engagement structures and fixed to the transpalatal element. 
     
     
         12 . The appliance of  claim 8 , wherein the regulating structure comprises a mesh of arms having pinned connections between the arms. 
     
     
         13 . The appliance of  claim 8 , wherein the regulating structure comprises a portion of the appliance with areas of material removed therefrom yielding a shape and functionality of an accordion spring. 
     
     
         14 . The appliance of  claim 8 , wherein the transpalatal arch element terminates in a first shaft proximal to the regulating structure;
 wherein the first plurality of tooth engagement structures terminate in a second shaft proximal to the regulating structure; and   wherein the regulating structure comprises a coupling spring that dampens misalignment between the first shaft and the second shaft.   
     
     
         15 . The appliance of  claim 8 , further comprising a second regulating structure connected between the transpalatal element and the second plurality of tooth engagement structures and configured to balance and direct the expansion force from the transpalatal element to the second plurality of tooth engagement structures