Patent ID: 6402510
Filing Date: 2002-06-11
Classification: A61C

Abstract:
A arch expander for expanding the mandibular or maxillary arch of a human patient while resisting buccal molar tipping; the mandibular arch expander comprising:a first forward orthodontic bands and a second orthodontic band; a pair of rear orthodontic bands, the rear orthodontic bands being operatively connected to the first and second forward orthodontic bands; an arm extending lingually from a lingual side of the first forward orthodontic band; a expander body rotationally mounted on the arm to rotate about the arm; the body having a passage extending rearwardly from a front end of the body, the body passage being at least partially internally threaded; an expansion rod mounted to a lingual side of the second forward orthodontic band; the expansion rod being externally threaded at a rear end thereof; the threaded end of the expansion rod being threadedly received in the threaded portion of the body passage; and said body passage extending through the body from the front of the body to the back of the body; the rod having a forwardly extending bore at its backend, the bore having a generally rectangular cross-section; the arm having a complimentary rectangular cross-section extending into the rod bore.