Abstract:
A flush cutter of wires located on a patient&#39;s teeth has at least one pivotably carried cutting edge. An outer surface of the edge can be positioned adjacent to a surface from which the wire protrudes. An elastic insert or clamp, for griping cut wire ends, is carried adjacent to the edge. The insert has first and second spaced apart ends. A rigid surface is located to pivot toward the edge. The elastic clamp extends, in part, to the inner surface of the edge. As the cutting edge moves toward the rigid surface to cut the wire, the elastic clamp grips the cutoff wire end for removal. The rigid surface can be formed as a second cutting edge that moves toward the one cutting edge.

Description:
[0001]    The benefit of a Jan. 4, 2002 filing date for Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/345,387 is hereby claimed. 
     
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The invention pertains to dental instruments. More particularly, the invention pertains to wire cutters usable by orthodontists.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    In the process of adjusting location or spacing of teeth for a patient, an orthodontist will attach brackets to the respective teeth. One or more wires can be installed between brackets to enable the orthodontist to move one or more selected teeth with forces applied via the wire or wires. The ends of the wires, extending from brackets, need to be trimmed flush with the adjacent bracket(s) for patient comfort. The cut wire ends are then removed from the patient&#39;s mouth.  
           [0004]    A known cutter employs a rubber O-ring for the purpose of gripping cut off pieces of wire. The known cutter however has limitations. When the wire length, that extends from the distal end of the bracket, dimensionally falls between the width of the cutting blades and the contact point of the O-ring, the wire can be cut, but may not be held with a desired level of certainty.  
           [0005]    [0005]FIGS. 1, 2 illustrate the known cutter  10 . The cutter  10  has first and second flush cutting edges  12   a, b.  An elastomeric O-ring  14  is carried by an extension  16   a  from cutter  12   a.  An extension  16   b  moves toward O-ring  14  as wire W is being cut. O-Ring  14  clamps cut end region W- 1  against extension  16   b  for removal provided cut end W- 1  is long enough to extend therebetween. If W- 1  is too short, it will be cut but not gripped by ring  14 .  
           [0006]    There continues to be a need for orthodontic wire cutters which can reliably grip short wire ends that have been cut. Preferably, such cutters will be cost effective to manufacture and be usable at least as long as known cutters can be used.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]    [0007]FIG. 1 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a known wire cutter;  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the prior art cutter of FIG. 1;  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 3 is a top plan view of an orthodontic cutter in accordance with the invention;  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the cutter of FIG. 3;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 5 is an end view of the cutter of FIG. 3;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 6 illustrates exemplary wired molars with a protruding wire end to be cut with the cutter of FIG. 3;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary side view of the cutter of FIG. 3;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 8 is an enlarged, partial side view of the detector of FIG. 3;  
         [0015]    FIGS.  9 A-C are various views of an alternate form of deformable insert;  
         [0016]    FIGS.  10 A- 10 F are various views of a cutter usable with the insert of FIGS. 9A, B;  
         [0017]    FIGS.  11 A-D are various views of yet another deformable insert;  
         [0018]    FIGS.  12 A-E are various views of a cutter usable with the insert of FIGS.  11 A-D;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 13 is an isometric view of yet another elastomer insert;  
         [0020]    FIGS.  14 A- 14 E illustrate various views of a flush cutter which is usable with the insert of FIG. 13;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 15 is an isometric view of an alternate form of an elastomeric insert; and  
         [0022]    FIGS.  16 A- 16 E are various views of a flush cutter with which the elastomeric insert of FIG. 15 can be used. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS  
       [0023]    While embodiments of this invention can take many different forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown in the drawings and will be described herein in detail with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiment illustrated.  
         [0024]    A flush cut and hold orthodontic cutter cuts orthodontic wire. When it cuts these wires, the cut portion of the wire is held within the jaws of the cutter.  
         [0025]    The subject cutter incorporates an elastomeric, for example silicone, deformable element installed in one side of the cutter&#39;s blades. This element acts as a wire clamping device that allows the cutter&#39;s blades to be in contact with the distal surface of an orthodontic bracket during the cutting operation.  
         [0026]    The elastomeric element is soft and pliable so that it can receive and clamp a full range of orthodontic wires reliably. The clamping portion of the element is preferably rectangular in shape so that it can grip virtually any length of wire extending from the orthodontic bracket providing it is slightly longer than the width of the cutter&#39;s blades, for example about 0.011″ thick. The wire is cut flush with distal surface of the bracket usually placed on the first or second molars of an orthodontic patient.  
         [0027]    FIGS.  2 - 8  illustrate details of a cutter  30  which embodies the invention. The cutter  30  can flush cut a wire end, adjacent to an orthodontic bracket, and grip the short, cut off wire end.  
         [0028]    The cutter  30  in a disclosed embodiment, can be positioned flush against a bracket installed on a person&#39;s molar, for example. The wire end will be nipped off adjacent to the bracket by pivotably attached flush cutting edges. The cut ends will be clamped and held by an elastomeric, silicon, insert against an opposing flat surface of the cutter  30 .  
         [0029]    The insert is retained with a press-fit in an internal recess having two sides and a closed end which joins the sides. The insert can have a variety of cross sections compatible with the shape of the recess in accordance with the spirit and scope of the invention.  
         [0030]    An end clamping region of the insert extends toward, and is preferably adjacent to the cutting edge. As the cutting edge rotates toward the wire, the end clamping region comes into contact with the wire end being cut. As the wire end is being cut from the remainder of the wire, the end clamping region, adjacent to the cutting edge, forces it against an opposing surface. The cut end is clamped between the end clamping region and the opposing surface and can be removed from the patient&#39;s mount.  
         [0031]    The end clamping region can exhibit, for example, a rectangular or triangular cross section without limitation. Other cross sections come within the spirit and scope of the invention.  
         [0032]    FIGS.  3 - 5  are various views of cutter  30 . Cutter  30  has manually operable handles  32   a,b  which are rotatably attached at pivot  34 . Jaws  42   a,b  extend from respective handles  32   a,b  and rotate toward one another as the handles  32   a,b  are clamped together.  
         [0033]    One of the jaws, such as  42   b  carries a flush cutting edge or blade  44 . An interior slot  46  is formed in the jaw  42   b  adjacent to the edge  44 . An elastomeric member  48 , described above, is retained within the slot  46 .  
         [0034]    The slot  46  is formed with two facing sides  46   a,b  and a closed end  46   c.  The elastomeric member  48 , which could be formed of any medical grade elastomer, such as silicon, has first and second generally elongated sides  48   a,b  an elongated, exposed end clamping region or surface  48   c  and an elongated body length  48   d.    
         [0035]    The surface  48   c  can be generally rectangular. Alternately, it can be triangular. Other cross sections come within the spirit and scope of the invention. The elongated dimension  48   d  is at least co-extensive with an elongated dimension of the cutting edge  44 .  
         [0036]    The sides  48   a, b  of insert  48  have circular curved intersecting regions that join respective linear regions. The shape of the cross section facilitates removably retaining the insert  48  in the internal slot  46 . Other cross sections, triangular or rectangular come within the spirit and scope of the invention.  
         [0037]    The other jaw  42   a  carries a flat rigid surface  50  which extends from the edge  44  distally from pivot  34 . The surface  50  also extends across end clamping surface  48   c  of the insert  48 .  
         [0038]    As the handles  32   a,b  are squeezed together, the edge  44 , carried on jaw  42   b  and the rigid surface  50 , carried on jaw  42   a  are clamped together to cut a wire, such as wire WA, located therebetween. At the same time, end surface  48   c  of the elastomeric member  48  is forced against a cut end section WA- 1  of wire WA clamping same against the surface  50 . The cut end of wire WA will be clamped and held between the deformable end surface  48   c  and rigid surface  50 .  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 6 illustrates one mode of use of cutter  30 . As illustrated in FIG. 6, a bracket B 1  has been attached to a patient&#39;s second molar M 2 , the rear-most molar. A Wire WB extends between at least brackets B 1 , 2 . An end WC of the wire WB protrudes from the distal end of bracket B 1 .  
         [0040]    For patient comfort, it is desirable to cut off and remove the end WC. The cutting edge  44  of cutter  30  can be positioned against distal surface B 1   a  of bracket B 1 . The end WC can then be cut flush against the surface B 1   a.    
         [0041]    As the edge  44  cuts through the wire WB, end WC is forced by deformable end region  48   c  against surface  50 . The deformability of the element  48  permits it to readily clamp against and retain cut wire ends of different diameters.  
         [0042]    So long as the handles  32   a,b  are being squeezed together, the end WC will be retained by the cutter  30  so long as enough of it protrudes from bracket B 1  to be cut by the edge  44 . The presence of the elongated dimension of surface  48   c  adjacent to the cutting edge  44  makes it possible to grip any wire end WC protruding from cutting edge  44  toward the adjacent edge of surface  48   c.    
         [0043]    The insert  48  can be removed and replaced without any tools. The elastomeric material is not a limitation of the invention. The material can be formed into a molded or extruded insert. Preferably the elastomeric material will be bio-compatible and sterilizable, for example by autoclaving.  
         [0044]    FIGS.  9 A-C illustrate details of an alternate form of extruded insert  48 ′. The insert  48 ′ has a curved section  48   a ′ joined by two linear surfaces  48   b ′- 1 ,- 2 . A planar clamping region  48   c ′ is connected by another curved surface  48   e ′ to the planar surface  48   b ′- 2 . The insert  48 ′ has an elongated dimension  48   d ′, best seen in FIG. 9B.  
         [0045]    [0045]FIG. 9C illustrates an elastomeric extrusion  52  which has a cross section as in FIGS. 9A,B. elastomeric inserts having a length  48   d ′ can be cut off of the extrusion  52  as needed.  
         [0046]    FIGS.  10 A- 10 F illustrate various views of an alternate cutter  60  which can utilize the insert  48 ′. Handles  62   a,b  carry integrally formed jaws  62   a - 1 ,  b - 1  which in turn carry opposed cutting edges  64   a,b.  The insert  48 ′ is removably carried in an internal slot  46 ′ which has a cross section of a shape to receive and hold surfaces  48   a′, b ′- 1  and  b ′- 2 , best seen in FIG. 10E. As the insert  48 ′ is forced into the slot  46 ′ it deforms slightly and returns to its nondeformed shape when fully inserted into the slot  46 ′. The cutter  60  can be used as described above in connection with the cutter  30 .  
         [0047]    FIGS.  11 A-D illustrate details of a molded insert  68 . The insert  68  has an elongated central body  68   a  which has a partly curved portion  68   b.    
         [0048]    The partly curved portion  60   b  is bounded by first and second planar, manually grippable protrusions  68   c - 1 - 2 . Running axially along the curved portion  68   b  is a first planar section  68   d  which in turn joins a second planar surface or section  68   e.  The planar section  68   e  provides a deformable wire clamping surface against which a cut wire end is clamped for purposes of removing same from the mouth of the patient. The clamping surface  68   e  is integrally formed and is in contact with a circular surface  68   f  which in turn folds back to the curved body portion  68   b.    
         [0049]    The insert  68  can be stretched for installation into an appropriate internal recess in cutters  70 , best seen in FIG. 12 a.    
         [0050]    The molded insert  68  could, as those of skill in the art will understand, be formed with variations on the shape disclosed in FIGS.  11 A-E without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. It will be understood that the exact angular arrangements of various surfaces of the insert  68  are not limitations of the present invention.  
         [0051]    The cutter  70 , illustrated in FIGS.  12 A- 12 E, incorporates first and second handles  72   a, b  pivotablly attached at axis  70   a.  Each of the handles carries a respective jaw or extension element  72   a - 1 ,  b - 1 . The jaws  72   a - 1 ,  b - 1  include first and second opposed flush cutting edges  74   a, b.  Flush cutting edge  74   b  is positioned adjacent to the insert  68 , bust seen in FIG. 12A. The insert  68  is carried in an internal slot or channel  76  which extends through jaw  72   b - 1 . The slot or channel  76  is formed with first and second sides  76   a  and  76   b  which are joined by closed end  76   c.  The substantially flat clamping surface  68   e  closes against an offset planar surface  72   a - 2  in jaw  72   a - 1 .  
         [0052]    As the handle  72   a - b  are clamped together, the cutting edges  74   a, b  cut off the distal end wire, such as wire end WC, illustrated in FIG. 6, while at the same time, the clamping surface  68   e  is forcing the cut wire end against rigid planar surface  72   a - 2  to clamp same to the cutters  70  for control and removal. As illustrated in FIG. 12A, the process of squeezing the handle  72   a, b  together brings the two cutting edges  74   a, b  as well as the flat elastomeric clamping surface  68   e  and the opposed rigid surface  72   a - 2  together abutting one another in the absence of any wire therebetween. Thus, the surface  68   e  has an elongated edge which is co-extensive with the cutting edges  74   a, b  for purposes of clamping the cut off wire end.  
         [0053]    The length of the molded insert  68 , as best seen in FIG. 12B, is such that the end tab  68   c   1 ,  c - 2  extend on opposite sides of the respective jaws  72   a - 1 ,  b - 1  for installation and removal.  
         [0054]    It will also be understood that the jaw elements  72   b - 1  could be formed with recesses to receive the gripping tabs  68   c - 1 ,  c - 2  such that those tabs could be recessed against the jaw  72   b - 1 .  
         [0055]    [0055]FIG. 13 illustrates another form of an elastomeric insert  78  which is formed with a substantially triangular cross section having sides  78   a, b  joined by end  78   c.  The insert  70   c  also includes a surface  78   d  which extends from side  78   b  to a substantially planar elongated clamping surface  78   e.  The surface  78   e  is in turn joined by a surface  78   f  which curves back to the side  78   a.  The insert  78  can be formed as an extrusion which is in turn cut to an appropriate length for insertion into cutters  80 , best seen in FIGS. 14A and 14D. The insert  78  is removably received in an internal slot  86 , best seen in FIG. 14C, of the cutter  80 . The substantially triangular cross section of the insert  78 , formed of sides  78   a, b  and end  78   c  extends along the length of the slot  86  and removably retains the insert  78  therein.  
         [0056]    [0056]FIG. 15 illustrates the configuration of yet another elastomeric insert  88  usable with cutters  90 , best seen in FIGS. 16A and 16B. The insert  88  is formed with an elongated circular end portion  88   a  to which is joined a planar side  88   b  which in turn meets planar clamping surface  88   c.  Surface  88   d  joins clamping surface  88   c  and folds back to the curved body portion  88   a.  A blocking protrusion  88   e  is formed on the insert  88  and is slidably received in a locking slot therefore, best seen in FIGS. 16B and E to retain insert  88  in cutters  90 . Thus, the cutter  90  incorporates an internal slot or recess  96  for receipt of the body portion  88   a  of the insert  88  and a second slot  96   a,  best seen in FIG. 16B for receipt of protrusion  88   e  when the insert  88  is slid into position in the slot  96 .  
         [0057]    Alternate exemplary elastomeric materials for the various described inserts include ethylene propylene, ethylene propylene diene monomer, fluroelastomer, thermoplastic rubber, and flurosilicone without limitation. Preferably, hardness of the elastomeric inserts will fall in a range of 20-90 Shore A.  
         [0058]    It will also be understood that users will be able to replace the respective elastomeric inserts when worn or otherwise in need of replacement. Such replacements can be installed without tools.  
         [0059]    From the foregoing, it will be observed that numerous variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is to be understood that no limitation with respect to the specific apparatus illustrated herein is intended or should be inferred. It is, of course, intended to cover by the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the scope of the claims.