Patent ID: 8585399

Claim:
An orthodontic appliance for cooperating with an archwire, the appliance comprising: a base extending the length of the appliance; and at least one archwire tube connected to said base, the at least one archwire tube comprising: (i) a first aperture, (ii) a second aperture, and (iii) a passageway having a length between said first and second apertures, wherein the passageway is adapted for receiving the archwire; wherein the passageway comprises interior sides; wherein the interior sides comprise a gingival side, an occlusal side, a lingual side and a buccal side; wherein the buccal side comprises a friction reducing feature and wherein at least one of the group consisting of the gingival side, the occlusal side and the lingual side comprises a friction reducing feature; wherein a first of the friction reducing features comprises a projection extending substantially the length of said passageway and extending into said passageway; wherein the first of the friction reducing features reduces contact of the archwire with a first predetermined portion of the passageway; wherein a second of the friction reducing features comprises a plurality of separate projections residing along the length of said passageway, projecting into said passageway and spaced apart from each other along the length of said passageway; wherein the second of the friction reducing features reduces contact of the archwire with a second predetermined portion of the passageway; and a pair of receptacles each having a tool receiving surface inset from an exterior surface of the appliance, at least one receptacle of said pair of receptacles located on an occlusal side of a longitudinally-oriented centerline of said appliance, and another receptacle of said pair of receptacles located on a gingival side of the longitudinally oriented centerline.