Patent ID: 7416409

Claim:
An appliance for correcting tooth or jaw malposition, comprising: an upper arch wire shaped to be attached to teeth on an upper jaw of a user; a lower arch wire shaped to be attached to teeth on a lower jaw of the user; and a force-transfer element for mechanically connecting the upper arch wire and the lower arch wire to each other, the force-transfer element being only a single solid one-piece bar element having a first longitudinal axis and comprising: a first end comprising an angled section, the angled section having a first hole, the first hole having a second longitudinal axis which is parallel to the first longitudinal axis; a second end opposite to the first end, the second end having at least a second hole which is rotationally offset 90° relative to the first hole; and an open screw hook and a bushing, the open screw hook having an open hook and a threaded shaft attached to the hook, the bushing having a first end having an internal thread, and a second end having a flange with a ring-shaped shoulder, wherein the bushing is inserted into the second hole with the ring-shaped shoulder resting against a flat side of the force-transfer element, and wherein the open screw hook is connected to the bushing with the threaded shaft being screwed into the internal thread of the bushing and the open hook engaging a section of the lower arch wire.