Patent ID: 6461157
Filing Date: 2002-10-08
Classification: A61C

Abstract:
A device for applying tension to an orthodontic appliance, comprising:a tension supplying member; a first adjustment arm with an end connected to an end of the tension supplying member; a first connecting member for connecting another end of the first adjustment arm to one element of the orthodontic appliance; a second adjustment arm with an end connected to another end of the tension supplying member and including a sequence of spaced indicated positions; and a second connecting member for detachably connecting a selected one of the sequence of indicated positions of the second adjustment arm to another element of the orthodontic appliance, wherein each indicated position corresponds to application of a prescribed tension to the orthodontic appliance preset for a period of orthodontic adjustment, and the second connecting member engages the second adjustment arm at successive indicated positions of the sequence during successive periods of the orthodontic adjustment to increase the prescribed tension according to a pre-assigned schedule and wherein the sequence of indicated positions on the second adjustment arm includes a first indicated position furthest from the tension supplying end, and at least a second, a third, a fourth and a fifth indicated position extending toward the tension supplying member in that order, the spacing between the first and second indicated positions being greater than the spacing between the second and third indicated positions and the spacing between the second and third indicated positions being greater than the spacing between the third and fourth indicated positions and the spacing between third and fourth indicated positions being greater than the spacing between the fourth and fifth indicated positions.