Patent Publication Number: US-2011053111-A1

Title: Separator apparatus

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This is a Continuation-In-Part Application of co-pending application U.S. Ser. No. 12/082,374 filed Apr. 10, 2008. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable 
     INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC 
     Not Applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to dental tools. More particularly the invention concerns a separator apparatus for separating pairs of adjacent teeth of a patient to facilitate the later placement of an anchor molar band between the teeth. 
     2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98 
     Orthodontic practitioners have long used generally torus-shaped, elastomeric ring modules to move patient&#39;s teeth away from each other in order to enable the placement of metal bands around molar teeth. Typically, these elastomeric rings are positioned between the patient&#39;s teeth using a pliers-like device that functions to suitably stretch the ring and force it between the teeth and the gum line. When the ring is properly in position, the pliers like device is removed and the ring is allowed to recover its original shape and thickness. 
     One of the major problems concerning the use of these prior art elastomeric ring modules resides in the fact that, since the separation process takes place over several days time, occasionally these modules are gone or appear to be gone when patients return to the practitioner. This results because the prior art ring modules are typically constructed from plastics that are not well-suited for long-term in vivo applications. In the past, this problem has sometimes been addressed by the introduction of radio-opaque materials into the plastics from which the modules are made so that if the module appears to be missing the practitioner can use radiography to produce an image of the suspect area in the mouth and then use a surgical process to recover the module if it is still in place. 
     Exemplary of one form of prior art ring shaped separator module is the module described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,988,887 issued to Hanson et al. The Hanson et al. invention features an orthodontic separator that can be used to separate a pair of adjacent teeth in a patient&#39;s mouth. The invention also features a method for separating adjacent teeth using the separator. The separator is dimensioned such that it can be inserted between adjacent teeth and is characterized in that when inserted between adjacent teeth in the oral environment, it exhibits an increase in compressive force. The Hanson et al. orthodontic separator can be designed to expand isotropically or anisotropically. It can also continue to expand over time, exerting a compressive force on the adjacent teeth despite the widening gap between the teeth and decay, resulting from relaxation of the separator. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     By way of summary, the present invention concerns a novel separator apparatus for separating a pair of adjacent teeth of a patient to facilitate the later placement of a molar band between the teeth. In one form of the invention, the apparatus comprises a separator unit and a cooperating separating mechanism for manipulating the separator unit. The separator unit comprises a length of separator material having a first coiled end portion, a second coiled end portion and an intermediate portion; the first and second coiled end portions being movable from a first at rest position to a second, spaced apart partially uncoiled position. The separator mechanism, which functions to move the first and second coiled end portions of the separator unit from the first position to the second position, comprises a gripping portion, a first outwardly extending arm connected to the gripping portion, the first arm being releasably engagable with the first coiled end portion of the separator unit and a second arm pivotally connected to the first arm for movement between first and second positions, the second arm being releasably engagable with the second coiled end portion of the separator unit. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a separator apparatus that includes a separator unit of novel design for separating pairs of adjacent teeth of a patient to facilitate the later placement of an anchor molar band between the teeth. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a separator unit of the aforementioned character that is considerably easier to install and remove than conventional prior art separators. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a novel separator unit that is comfortable when in place within the patient&#39;s mouth and one that does not interfere with the patient&#39;s bite. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a separator unit of the class described that is reliable in use, exhibits relatively long life and one that does not tear, wear, or otherwise fail under the pressure of the patient&#39;s bite. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a separator unit of the character described that is hygienic, durable in use and one that does not deteriorate in the patient&#39;s mouth as a function of time. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a separator apparatus of the type described in the preceding paragraphs that includes a novel mechanism for installing the separator unit within the patient&#39;s mouth that is easy to manipulate and one that can be used effectively for the expeditious placement and removal of separator units within the patient&#39;s mouth with minimal patient discomfort. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide an installation mechanism of the character described in the preceding paragraph that is of simple construction and one that does not require special skills to operate. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide an installation mechanism of the class described that is of compact design and one that can be easily used with minimal patient discomfort even with patients having very small mouths, such as children. 
     The foregoing, as well as other objectives are realized by the apparatus described in the paragraphs that follow. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a generally perspective, exploded view of one form of the separator apparatus of the invention for separating adjacent teeth. 
         FIG. 2  is a generally perspective, fragmentary view of the foreword portion of the apparatus of  FIG. 1  illustrating the connector arms of the apparatus in a spaced apart configuration. 
         FIG. 3  is a generally perspective view of one form of the separator unit of the invention in an at rest configuration. 
         FIG. 4  is a generally perspective view, similar to  FIG. 3 , but showing the coils of the separator unit in a spaced apart configuration. 
         FIG. 5  is a generally perspective view of an alternate form of separator unit of the invention in an at rest configuration. 
         FIG. 6  is a generally perspective view, similar to  FIG. 5 , but showing the coils of the alternate form of separator unit in a spaced apart configuration. 
         FIG. 7  is an enlarged, fragmentary top plan view of the separator mechanism of the separator apparatus shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 8  is an enlarged, fragmentary bottom plan view of the separator mechanism of the separator apparatus illustrated in  FIG. 1 , showing in dotted lines movement of the lower arm into a second position. 
         FIG. 8A  is an exploded view of the separator mechanism, partly in cross-section, taken along lines  8 A- 8 A of  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 9  is a generally perspective diagrammatic view illustrating the operation of the separator apparatus shown in  FIG. 1  in position to position one of the separator units between two adjacent teeth. 
         FIG. 10  is an enlarged, top plan view illustrating the appearance of the separator unit after it has been positioned between two adjacent teeth. 
         FIG. 11  is a generally perspective, fragmentary view of the end portions of the connector arms of the separator mechanism of the invention shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 12  is a generally perspective, fragmentary view of the end portions of the connector arms of an alternate form of the separator mechanism of the invention. 
         FIG. 13  is a generally perspective, fragmentary view of the end portions of the connector arms of still another form of the separator mechanism of the invention. 
         FIG. 14  is a generally perspective view of yet another form of the separator mechanism of the separator apparatus of the invention for separating adjacent teeth. 
         FIG. 15  is a generally perspective, exploded view of still another form of the separator mechanism of the separator apparatus of the invention for separating adjacent teeth illustrating the use of a bite down pad affixed to the end portions of the connector arms of the separator mechanism. 
         FIG. 16  is a generally perspective view of yet another embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to the drawings and particularly to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , one form of the separator apparatus of the invention for separating the adjacent teeth of a patient is there shown and generally identified by the numeral  20 . Apparatus  20  here comprises two cooperating components, namely a separator unit  22  and a coil separator mechanism  24 . As best seen in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , separator unit  22  comprises a length of separator material  26  having a first spirally coiled end portion  26   a , having an inner coil  27   a  defining an elongated, generally cylindrical, axially extending opening  28 , an outer coil  27   b  and a plurality of generally circular shaped intermediate coils  27   c . Separator unit  22  also comprises a second spirally coiled end portion  26   b  having an inner coil  29   a  defining an elongated generally cylindrically shaped axially extending opening  30 , an outer coil  29   b  and a plurality of generally circular shaped intermediate coils  29   c . First spirally coiled end portion  26   b  is movable from the first coiled position shown in  FIG. 3  to the second uncoiled position shown in  FIG. 4 . Similarly, second coiled end portion  26   b  is movable from the first coiled position shown in  FIG. 3  to the second uncoiled position shown in  FIG. 4 . 
     In the form of the separator unit shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the separator material  26  comprises a pre-stressed stainless steel strip that exerts a restraining force that resists the uncoiling of the first and second end portions  26   a  and  26   b . Separator material  26  has a thickness “T” ( FIG. 2 ) and a width “W” ( FIG. 4 ). Width “W” is at least about 4 to 8 times the thickness “T”. Preferably, thickness “T” is between about 0.30 inches and about 0.60 inches. 
     In the alternate form of the separator unit  32  shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6  of the drawings, the separator material, there identified by the numeral  34 , comprises a commercially available, semi rigid latex rubber. Like separator material  26 , separator material  34  tends to return to its coiled condition after being uncoiled. Separator material  34  has a thickness “T” and a width “W” ( FIG. 6 ). Width “W” is at least about 4 to 8 times the thickness “T”. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , separator material  34  has a first spirally coiled end portion  34   a  having an inner coil  35  defining an elongated, generally cylindrical opening  36 , an outer coil  35   b  and a plurality of intermediate coils  35   c . Separator unit  32  also comprises a second end portion  34   b  having an inner coil  37   a  defining an elongated, generally cylindrical opening  38 , an outer coil  37   b  and a plurality of intermediate coils  37   c . First spirally coiled end portion  34   a  is movable from the first coiled position shown in  FIG. 5  to the second uncoiled position shown in  FIG. 6 . Similarly, second coiled end portion  34   b  is movable from the first coiled position shown in  FIG. 5  to the second uncoiled position shown in  FIG. 6 . 
     Considering once again the important separator mechanism  24 , in the present form of the invention, this novel mechanism functions to selectively act upon separator units  22  and  32  in a manner to move the first coiled end portions thereof from their first position to their second position to cause the first coiled end portions to uncoil and for moving the second coiled end portions thereof from their first position to their second position to cause their second coiled end portion to uncoil. 
     As best seen in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  7 ,  8  and  8 A, coil separator mechanism  24  here comprises a generally tubular shaped gripping portion  40 , a first smaller diameter arm  42  connected to gripping portion  40  and extending there from and a second smaller diameter arm  44  that is pivotally connected to arm  42  for movement between the first position shown in  FIG. 1  and the second position shown in  FIG. 2 . As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , first arm  42  is provided with a downwardly extending, cylindrically shaped first connector pin  45  that is so constructed and arranged to be inserted into and extend substantially the length of opening  28  ( FIG. 2 ). Similarly, second arm  44  is provided with a downwardly extending cylindrically shaped second connector pin  48  that is so constructed and arranged to be inserted into and extend substantially the length of opening  30  ( FIG. 2 ). More particularly, first connector pin  45  is removably receivable within and extends substantially the length of the second axially extending opening  30  of the second coiled end portion of the separator material of said separator unit. 
     As seen in  FIG. 2  of the drawings first and second arms  42  and  44  include generally planar end portions and  51  and  53  that extend from the outer extremities  42   a  and  44   a  of the first and second arms. Planar end portions  51  and  53  include transverse ridges “R” that are adapted to be engaged by the teeth of the patient to impart a downward force on the arms to uniformly urge the separator material between the adjacent teeth of the patient. To facilitate the insertion of the connector pins  45  and  48  into openings  28  and  30  respectively, pins  45  and  48  extend perpendicular from the lower surface of planar end portions  51  and  53  (see  FIGS. 1 and 8 ). 
     In order to controllably rotate second arm  44  relative to first arm  42 , a control mechanism, generally designated by the numeral  54 , is provided. Referring particularly to  FIG. 8A  of the drawings, it is to be noted that first arm  42  has a first bore  56  there through and second arm  44  has a second bore  58  there through. For a purpose presently to be described, second bore  58  has an internal shoulder  58   a.    
     In the present form of the invention, control mechanism  54  comprises an internally threaded shaft  60  that is rotatably receivable within first bore  56 . Connected proximate the outboard end of shaft  60  is a knurled, finger engaging knob  62  for gripping by the fingers of the practitioner to impart rotation to the internally threaded shaft  60 . Also forming a part of the control mechanism  54  is an externally threaded screw  64  and a lock washer  66  that is received over threaded screw  64  in the manner indicated in  FIG. 8A . Externally threaded screw  64  is receivable within the second bore  58  of said second arm  44  and is threadably received within internally threaded shaft  60 . With this construction, upon rotation of the internally threaded shaft  60  within bore  56 , lock washer  66  will move into locking engagement with internal shoulder  58   a  so that continued rotation of threaded shaft  60  will cause movement of second arm  54  from the first position shown in  FIG. 1  of the drawings to the second position shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     A finger  44   a , which protrudes from the lower portion of arm  44 , is receivable within a slot  42   a  of arm  42  and functions to limit the extent of rotation of second arm  42 . 
     In using the apparatus of the form of the invention shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  of the drawings and in accordance with one form of the method of the invention, with the first and second arms in the position shown in  FIG. 1  and with the separator unit in the at rest configuration shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , pins  45  and  48  are completely inserted within the length of the openings  28  and  30  respectively of the separator unit  22  (see  FIG. 9 ). This done, as illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 9 , rotation of finger engaging knob  62  will move second arm  44  from the closed position shown in  FIG. 1  to the open position shown in  FIG. 2  and in so doing will move the separator unit  22  from the rest of the configuration into the uncoiled configuration shown in  FIGS. 2 and 4  of the drawings. 
     With the separator unit in the uncoiled configuration shown in  FIGS. 2 and 9 , the central portion  26   c  of the separator unit can be quickly and easily positioned between the adjacent teeth of a selected pair of teeth T- 1  and T- 2  (see  FIGS. 9 and 10 ). With the central portion  26   c  of the separator unit in this position, as the patient bites down on the flats  51  and  53  provided proximate the ends of the first and second arms, the central portion of the separator unit will be uniformly urged downwardly between the patient&#39;s teeth in the manner shown in  FIG. 10 , thereby separating the teeth by a distance equal to the width “W” of the separator material. In order to effectively separate the teeth, the separator material  26  must be of a width “W” that approximates the height of a human tooth, namely a width of between about 0.350 inches and about 0.375 inches. 
     With the separator unit positioned in the manner shown in  FIG. 10 , an upward force exerted on the first and second arms of the separator mechanism will allow the pins  45  and  48  to be removed from the openings  28  and  30  formed in the separator unit  22 . Upon removal of the pins, the end portions  26   a  and  26   b  of the separator unit will tend to return to their coiled position and, in the manner shown in  FIG. 10  of the drawings, move into engagement with the teeth T- 1  and T- 2  in a manner to secure the separator unit  22  in position within the patient&#39;s mouth and uniformly separate teeth T- 1  and T- 2  by the required distance. 
     Turning now to  FIGS. 11 ,  12  and  13  of the drawings,  FIG. 11  shows the embodiment of the invention discussed in the preceding paragraphs wherein the generally planar end portions of the arms  42  and  44  are generally co-planar and, as shown in  FIG. 1 , reside in a generally horizontal plane. This embodiment of the invention is ideally suited for straight-on insertion of the separator unit between the patient&#39;s teeth. 
       FIG. 12  of the drawings illustrates an alternate embodiment of the invention, generally designated by the numeral  70 . The construction and operation of this embodiment is similar in many respects to that of the earlier described embodiment of the invention and like numerals are used in  FIG. 12  to identify like components. The primary difference between this latest embodiment of the invention and the earlier described embodiments resides in the fact that the generally planar end of portions  72   a  and  74   a  of the device arms  72  and  74  reside in a downwardly angled plane and are rotated to the left with respect to the longitudinal axis  72 -L and  74 -L of the arms  72  and  74 . This embodiment of the invention is ideally suited for accessing the left posterior area of the patient&#39;s mouth. With the end portions of the arms angled in the manner shown in  FIG. 12  of the drawings, the end portions do not present a visual obstruction to emplacement of the separator units in this portion of the patient&#39;s mouth and, at the same time, make it easier to emplace the separator units between the adjacent teeth of the patient in this portion of the patient&#39;s mouth. 
       FIG. 13  of the drawings illustrates still another form of the invention, which is there generally designated by the numeral  76 . The construction and operation of this latest embodiment is also similar in many respects to that of the earlier described embodiment of the invention shown in  FIGS. 1 through 10  and like numerals are used in  FIG. 13  to identify like components. The primary difference between this latest embodiment of the invention and the earlier described embodiments resides in the fact that the generally planar end of portions  78   a  and  80   a  of the device arms  78  and  80  reside in a downwardly angled plane and are rotated to the right with respect to the longitudinal axis  78 -L and  80 -L of the arms  78  and  80 . This latest embodiment of the invention is ideally suited for accessing the right posterior area of the patient&#39;s mouth. With the end portions of the arms angled in the manner shown in  FIG. 13  of the drawings, the end portions do not present a visual obstruction to emplacement of the separator units in this right posterior portion of the patient&#39;s mouth and at the same time make it easier to emplace the separator units between the adjacent teeth of the patient in this portion of the patient&#39;s mouth. 
     Referring next to  FIG. 14  of the drawings, another form of coil separator mechanism of the invention is there illustrated and generally identified by the numeral  82 . This latest form of coil separator mechanism, which is used to manipulate separator units of the character illustrated in  FIGS. 3 through 6  of the drawings, is somewhat similar in construction and operation to the coil separator mechanism shown in  FIGS. 1 through 10  of the drawings. Coil separator mechanism  82  here comprises a pliers-like mechanism having first and second pivotally interconnected, curved gripping portions  84  and  86 . Connected to gripping portions  84  is an outwardly extending first arm  88  having an end portion  88   a . Connected to gripping portion  86  is an outwardly extending second arm  90  having an end portion  90   a . First arm  88  is provided with a downwardly extending first connector pin  93  that is releasably engagable with the first coiled end portion  26   a  of the separator material  26 . Similarly, second arm  90  which is pivotally connected to first arm  88  by a pivot pin  90   a , is provided with a downwardly extending second connector pin  95  that is releasably engagable with the second coiled end portion  26   b  of the separator material  26 . More particularly, first connector pin  93  is removably receivable within the first axially extending opening  28  of the first coiled end portion of said separator material of the separator unit, while connector pin  95  is removably receivable within the second axially extending opening  30  of the second coiled end portion of the separator material of said separator unit. 
     As indicated in the drawings, arm  90  is a movable between the first position shown in  FIG. 14  and a second closed position. In this latest form of the invention, biasing means shown here as a coil spring  98 , which is disposed between gripping portions  84  and  86 , functions to continuously urge the arms toward their open position. 
     In using the apparatus of the form of the invention shown in  FIG. 14  of the drawings, with the first and second arms  88  and  90  of the coil separation mechanism in a partially closed position and with the separator unit in the at rest configuration shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , pins  93  and  95  can be inserted into openings  28  and  30  of the separator unit  22 . This done, by exerting a pressure on the gripping portions  84  and  86  against the urging of spring  98 , the first and second end portions of the arms, along with pins  93  and  95 , will be moved from the partially closed position to a fully open position shown in  FIG. 2  and in so doing will move the separator unit  22  from the rest of the configuration into the uncoiled configuration shown in  FIG. 4  of the drawings. With the separator unit in the uncoiled figuration, the central portion  26   c  of the separator unit can be quickly and easily positioned between the adjacent teeth of a selected pair of teeth. 
     With the separator unit thusly positioned, an upward force exerted on the first and second arms will allow the pins  93  and  95  to be removed from the openings  28  and  30  formed in the separator unit  22 . Upon removal of the pins, the ends  26   a  and  26   b  of the separator unit will tend to return to their coiled position and, as before, move into engagement with the teeth in a manner to secure the separator unit  22  in position within the patient&#39;s mouth. 
     Referring to  FIG. 15  of the drawings, yet another form of coil separator mechanism of the invention is there illustrated and generally identified by the numeral  102 . This latest form of coil separator mechanism, which is also used to manipulate separator units of the character illustrated in  FIGS. 3 through 6  of the drawings, is quite similar in construction and operation to the coil separator mechanism shown in  FIG. 14  and like numerals are used in  FIG. 15  to identify like components. The primary difference between the embodiment of the invention shown in  FIG. 15  and that shown in  FIG. 14  resides in the fact that a bite down pad  104  is connected to, and spans the end portions  88   a  and  90   a  of, first and second arms  88  and  90 . With this construction, with the separator material initially introduced between the adjacent teeth of the patient in a manner previously described, the patient can be instructed to bite down on the bite down pad  104  and in so doing urge the separator material downwardly between the teeth. The pins  93  and  95  can then be removed from the separator unit in the manner previously described so as to allow the separator unit to return toward its at rest position with the end coils of the unit in engagement with the teeth of the patient in a manner shown in  FIG. 10  of the drawings. 
     Referring to  FIG. 16  of the drawings, still another form of coil separator mechanism of the invention is there illustrated and generally identified by the numeral  106 . This latest form of coil separator mechanism, which is also used to manipulate separator units of the character illustrated in  FIGS. 3 through 6  of the drawings, is quite similar in construction and operation to the coil separator mechanism shown in  FIG. 14  and like numerals are used in  FIG. 16  to identify like components. The primary differences between the embodiment of the invention shown in  FIG. 16  and that shown in  FIG. 14  reside in the provision of a differently acting spring and the fact that the first and second arms  108  and  110  of the separator mechanism are pivotally interconnected in a slightly different manner. More particularly, second arm  110  includes a pair of spaced apart connector members  112  within which a connector protuberance  114  formed on arm  108  is closely received. A pivot pin  116  extends through members  112  and protuberance  114  and functions to pivotally interconnect arms  108  and  110 . While in this latest form of the invention, a coil spring  118  is disposed between arms  108  and  110  and functions to bias the arms toward the closed position shown in  FIG. 16  of the drawings. 
     As in the earlier described embodiments, first arm  108  includes a gripping portion  108   a  and is provided with a downwardly extending first connector pin  93  that is releasably engagable with the first coiled end portion  26   a  of the separator material  26 . Similarly, second arm  110  includes a gripping portion  110   a  and is provided with a downwardly extending second connector pin  95  that is releasably engagable with the second coiled end portion  26   b  of the separator material  26 . More particularly, first connector pin  93  is removably receivable within the first axially extending opening  28  of the first coiled end portion of said separator material of the separator unit, while connector pin  95  is removably receivable within the second axially extending opening  30  of the second coiled end portion of the separator material of said separator unit. 
     In using the apparatus of the form of the invention shown in  FIG. 16  of the drawings, with the first and second arms  108  and  110  of the coil separation mechanism in the closed position shown in  FIG. 16  and with the separator unit in the at rest configuration shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , pins  93  and  95  can be inserted into openings  28  and  30  of the separator unit  22  by exerting a force against gripping portions  108   a  and  110   a  against the urging of spring  118  tending to separate pins  93  and  95  a distance approximately equal to the distance between the openings. This done, pins  93  and  95  can be inserted into the openings  28  and  30  in a manner previously described. Then, by exerting a further pressure on the gripping portions  108   a  and  110   a  against the urging of spring  118 , the end portions of the arms, along with pins  93  and  95 , will be moved to a more fully open position and in so doing will move the separator unit  22  from the rest of the configuration into the uncoiled configuration shown in  FIG. 4  of the drawings. With the separator unit in the uncoiled figuration, the central portion  26   c  of the separator unit can be quickly and easily positioned between the adjacent teeth of a selected pair of teeth. 
     With the separator unit thusly positioned, an upward force exerted on the first and second arms will allow the pins  93  and  95  to be removed from the openings  28  and  30  formed in the separator unit  22 . Upon removal of the pins, the ends  26   a  and  26   b  of the separator unit will tend to return to their coiled position and, as before, move into engagement with the teeth in a manner to secure the separator unit  22  in position within the patient&#39;s mouth. 
     Having now described the invention in detail in accordance with the requirements of the patent statutes, those skilled in this art will have no difficulty in making changes and modifications in the individual parts or their relative assembly in order to meet specific requirements or conditions. Such changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention, as set forth in the following claims.