Multi-stranded coiled orthodontic arch wire

Abstract

An orthodontic arch wire adapted to be received within the channel of an orthodontic bracket includes a plurality of flexible metallic strands wound into a tightly wound elongated coil normally having an array of successively abutting and generally parallel turns. The coiled wire is made from a material sufficiently flexible to permit bending of the arch wire by selectively and at least partially separating adjacent turns thereof. According to a preferred embodiment, the wires are wound interleaved with one another so that adjacent turns are formed by different strands. A plurality of wires may be associated together to form a composite strand, and this composite strand may be used to form the elongated coil.

I claim: 
     
       1. An orthodontic arch wire adapted to be connected to an orthodontic bracket mounted on a maloccluded tooth, the arch wire comprising a plurality of adjacent strands coiled in the form of a tightly wound elongated coiled wire normally having an array of interleaved turns of and generally parallel, and having a lumen extending therethrough, said strands when formed into said turns having a predetermined radial thickness (t), said turns having a common internal dimension (d-FIG. 2; s1-FIG. 9) of said lumen no greater than two times said predetermined radial thickness (t) of said strands and having a common outer dimension no greater than approximately 0.025 inches, said strands being made from a material sufficiently elastic to at least permit bending of the arch wire over a short length thereof by selectively and at least partially separating adjacent turns, and to provide sufficient stiffness over a long length to provide adequate anchoring characteristics for orthodontic devices attached thereto. 
     
     
       2. An orthodontic arch wire according to claim 1 wherein said strands each have a generally rectangular cross-section. 
     
     
       3. An orthodontic arch wire according to claim 1 wherein said strands each have a generally circular cross-section. 
     
     
       4. An orthodontic arch wire according to claim 1 wherein said lumen is an elongate axial passage through said turns, and further comprising a resilient mandrel extending through said passage. 
     
     
       5. An orthodontic arch wire according to claim 1 further comprising an external flexible coating extending along and covering the outer surface of said turns. 
     
     
       6. An orthodontic arch wire according to claim 5 wherein said coating is made of an elastomeric material. 
     
     
       7. An orthodontic arch wire according to claim 1 comprising three adjacent strands wound adjacent each other forming said interleaved turns. 
     
     
       8. An orthodontic arch wire according to claim 1 comprising two adjacent strands would adjacent each other forming said interleaved turns. 
     
     
       9. An orthodontic arch wire according to claim 1 wherein said lumen is an elongate axial passage through said turns and is generally circular. 
     
     
       10. An orthodontic arch wire according to claim 1 wherein said lumen is an elongate axial passage through said turns and is generally rectangular. 
     
     
       11. An orthodontic arch wire according to claim 1 wherein each of said adjacent strands comprises a plurality of individual strands associated together to form a composite strand. 
     
     
       12. An orthodontic arch wire according to claim 11 wherein said composite strand comprises a plurality of individual wires twisted together. 
     
     
       13. An orthodontic arch wire adapted to be connected to an orthodontic bracket mounted on a maloccluded tooth, the arch wire comprising a plurality of adjacent strands coiled in the form of a tightly wound elongated coiled wire normally having an array of interleaved turns of said strands, said turns being successively abutting and generally parallel, and having a lumen extending therethrough, said strands when formed into said turns having a predetermined radial thickness (t), said turns having a common internal dimension (d-FIG. 2; s1-FIG. 9) of said lumen greater than two times said predetermined radial thickness (t) of said strands and no greater than three times said predetermined radial thickness (t) of said strands, and having a common outer dimension no greater than approximately 0.025 inches, said strands being made from a material sufficiently elastic to at least permit bending of the arch wire over a short length thereof by selectively and at least partially separating adjacent turns, and to provide sufficient stiffness over a long length to provide adequate anchoring characteristics for orthodontic devices attached thereto. 
     
     
       14. An orthodontic arch wire according to claim 13 wherein said strands each have a generally rectangular cross-section. 
     
     
       15. An orthodontic arch wire according to claim 13 wherein said strands each have a generally circular cross-section. 
     
     
       16. An orthodontic arch wire according to claim 13 wherein said lumen is an elongate axial passage through said turns, and further comprising a resilient mandrel extending through said passage. 
     
     
       17. An orthodontic arch wire according to claim 13 further comprising an external flexible coating extending along and covering the outer surface of said turns. 
     
     
       18. An orthodontic arch wire according to claim 17 wherein said coating is made of an elastomeric material. 
     
     
       19. An orthodontic arch wire according to claim 13 comprising three adjacent strands wound adjacent each other forming said interleaved turns. 
     
     
       20. An orthodontic arch wire according to claim 13 comprising two adjacent strands wound adjacent each other forming said interleaved turns. 
     
     
       21. An orthodontic arch wire according to claim 13 wherein said lumen is an elongate axial passage through said turns and is generally circular. 
     
     
       22. An orthodontic arch wire according to claim 13 wherein said lumen is an elongate axial passage through said turns and is generally rectangular. 
     
     
       23. An orthodontic arch wire according to claim 13 wherein each of said adjacent strands comprises a plurality of individual strands associated together to form a composite strand. 
     
     
       24. An orthodontic arch wire according to claim 23 wherein said composite strand comprises a plurality of individual wires twisted together. 
     
     
       25. An orthodontic arch wire adapted to be connected to an orthodontic bracket mounted on a maloccluded tooth, the arch wire comprising a plurality of wires associated together to form a composite strand, said composite strand being coiled to the form of a tightly wound elongated coil normally having an array of successively abutting and generally parallel adjacent turns, and having a lumen extending therethrough, said composite strand when formed into said turns having a predetermined nominal radial thickness (t), said turns having a common internal dimension (d-FIG. 2; s1-FIG. 9) of said lumen no greater than two times said predetermined radial thickness (t) of said composite strand and having a common outer dimension no greater than approximately 0.025 inches, said wires being made from a material sufficiently elastic to at least permit bending of the arch wire over a short length thereof by selectively and at least partially separating adjacent turns, and to provide sufficient stiffness over a long length to provide adequate anchoring characteristics for orthodontic devices attached thereto. 
     
     
       26. An orthodontic arch wire according to claim 25 comprising three of said composite strands located adjacent each other. 
     
     
       27. An orthodontic arch wire according to claim 25 wherein said wires each have a generally circular cross-section. 
     
     
       28. An orthodontic arch wire according to claim 25 wherein said lumen is an elongate axial passage through said turns, and further comprising a resilient mandrel extending through said passage. 
     
     
       29. An orthodontic arch wire according to claim 25 wherein said lumen is an elongate axial passage through said turns and is generally circular. 
     
     
       30. An orthodontic arch wire according to claim 25 wherein said lumen is an elongate axial passage through said turns and is generally rectangular. 
     
     
       31. An orthodontic arch wire according to claim 25 wherein said plurality of wires forming a composite strand are twisted together. 
     
     
       32. An orthodontic arch wire adapted to be connected to an orthodontic bracket mounted on a maloccluded tooth, the arch wire comprising a plurality of wires associated together to form a composite strand, said composite strand being coiled in the form of a tightly wound elongated coil normally having an array of successively abutting and generally parallel adjacent turns, and having a lumen extending therethrough, said composite strand when formed into said turns having a predetermined nominal radial thickness (t), said turns having a common internal dimension (d-FIG. 2; s1-FIG. 9) of said lumen greater than two times said predetermined radial thickness (t) of said composite strand and no greater than three times said predetermined radial thickness (t) of said composite strand, and having a common outer dimension no greater than approximately 0.025 inches, said wires being made from a material sufficiently elastic to at least permit bending of the arch wire over a short length thereof by selectively and at least partially separating adjacent turns, and to provide sufficient stiffness over a long length to provide adequate anchoring characteristics for orthodontic devices attached thereto. 
     
     
       33. An orthodontic arch wire according to claim 32 comprising three of said composite strands located adjacent each other. 
     
     
       34. An orthodontic arch wire according to claim 32 wherein said wires each have a generally circular cross-section. 
     
     
       35. An orthodontic arch wire according to claim 32 wherein said lumen is an elongate axial passage through said turns, and further comprising a resilient mandrel extending through said passage. 
     
     
       36. An orthodontic arch wire according to claim 32 wherein said lumen is an elongate axial passage through said turns and is generally circular. 
     
     
       37. An orthodontic arch wire according to claim 32 wherein said lumen is an elongate axial passage through said turns and is generally rectangular. 
     
     
       38. An orthodontic arch wire according to claim 32 wherein said plurality of wires forming a composite strand are twisted together. 
     
     
       39. An orthodontic arch wire adapted to be connected to an orthodontic bracket mounted on a maloccluded tooth, the arch wire comprising at least one inner strand coiled in the form of a tightly wound elongated coiled wire normally having an array of successively abutting adjacent turns, and at least one outer strand coiled around said coiled inner strand, said outer coil having a common outer dimension no greater than approximately 0.025 inches, said strands being made from a material sufficiently elastic to at least permit bending of the arch wire over a short length thereof by selectively and at least partially separating adjacent turns, and to provide sufficient stiffness over a long length to provide adequate anchoring characteristics for orthodontic devices attached thereto. 
     
     
       40. An orthodontic arch wire according to claim 39 wherein said at least one outer strand of said outer coil, when formed into said turns, having a predetermined radial thickness (t), said outer turns having a common internal dimension (d) no greater than three times said predetermined radial thickness (t) of said outer strands. 
     
     
       41. An orthodontic arch wire according to claim 39 wherein said at least one outer strand of said outer coil, when formed into said turns, having a predetermined radial thickness (t), said outer turns having a common internal dimension (d) no greater than two times said predetermined radial thickness (t) of said outer strands. 
     
     
       42. An orthodontic arch wire according to claim 39 wherein said outer turn is wound in a direction opposite to the winding direction of said inner coil. 
     
     
       43. An orthodontic arch wire according to claim 39 wherein said inner coil is comprised of a plurality of inner strands wound adjacent each other to form an array of interleaved turns of said strands. 
     
     
       44. An orthodontic arch wire according to claim 43 wherein said outer coil is wound from a plurality of adjacent strands coiled to form an array of interleaved turns of said outer adjacent strands. 
     
     
       45. An orthodontic arch wire according to claim 39 wherein said outer coil is wound from a plurality of adjacent strands coiled to form an array of interleaved turns of said outer adjacent strands. 
     
     
       46. An orthodontic arch wire according to claim 39 wherein said inner turns are wound with a substantially zero lumen. 
     
     
       47. An orthodontic arch wire according to claim 39 wherein said inner turns are wound about a mandrel to form a coil having a predetermined lumen extending therethrough. 
     
     
       48. An orthodontic arch wire according to claim 4 wherein said resilient mandrel comprises a plurality of wires twisted together. 
     
     
       49. An orthodontic arch wire according to claim 16 wherein said resilient mandrel comprises a plurality of wires twisted together. 
     
     
       50. An orthodontic arch wire according to claim 28 wherein said resilient mandrel comprises a plurality of wires twisted together. 
     
     
       51. An orthodontic arch wire according to claim 35 wherein said resilient mandrel comprises a plurality of wires twisted together. .Iadd. 52. An orthodontic arch wire according to claim 1 wherein the outer periphery of the tightly wound elongated coiled arch wire is substantially round. .Iaddend..Iadd. 53. An orthodontic arch wire according to claim 1 wherein the outer periphery of the tightly wound elongated coiled arch wire is substantially rectangular. .Iaddend..Iadd. 54. An orthodontic arch wire according to claim 13 wherein the outer periphery of the tightly wound elongated coiled arch wire is substantially round. .Iaddend..Iadd. 55. An orthodontic arch wire according to claim 13 wherein the outer periphery of the tightly wound elongated coiled arch wire is substantially rectangular. .Iaddend..Iadd. 56. An orthodontic arch wire according to claim 25 wherein the outer periphery of the tightly wound elongated coiled arch wire is substantially round. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 57. An orthodontic arch wire according to claim 25 wherein the outer periphery of the tightly wound elongated coiled arch wire is substantially rectangular. .Iaddend..Iadd. 58. An orthodontic arch wire according to claim 32 wherein the outer periphery of the tightly wound elongated coiled arch wire is substantially round. .Iaddend..Iadd. 59. An orthodontic arch wire according to claim 32 wherein the outer periphery of the tightly wound elongated coiled arch wire is substantially rectangular. .Iaddend..Iadd. 60. An orthodontic arch wire according to claim 39 wherein said outer coil has a substantially round outer periphery. .Iaddend.