Vestibular electronic orthodontic appliance expediter and method

摘要

A vestibular electronic orthodontic appliance expediter constituted of a lingual sub-member and a buccal sub-member, the lingual sub-member arranged to fit a lingual contour of a gum of a patient, the buccal sub-member arranged to fit a buccal contour of a gum of the patient; a control circuitry; a power supply; a plurality of lingual electrodes, each associated with a particular tooth socket; and a plurality of buccal electrodes, each associated with a particular tooth socket. Either a first or a second type current is generated between lingual and buccal electrodes responsive to the control circuitry. Biochemical molecules involved in bone remodeling, augmented by the electric currents, may be applied to the expediter as a layer of gel containing those molecules on the expediter surface facing the gum tissue. Temperature control enhances the gel effects. pH measurement, as indicators of the cellular response to the combined treatment is further provided.

主权项

1. A vestibular electronic orthodontic appliance expediter comprising:
a lingual sub-member and a buccal sub-member, said lingual sub-member arranged to fit a lingual contour of a gum of a patient over a lingual side of an alveolar bone of the patient, said buccal sub-member arranged to fit a buccal contour of a gum of the patient over a buccal side of the alveolar bone; a control circuitry; a plurality of lingual electrodes disposed on said lingual sub-member, each of said plurality of lingual electrodes adapted to be juxtaposed with a respective one of a plurality of tooth sockets within the alveolar bone; and a plurality of buccal electrodes disposed on said buccal sub-member, each of said plurality of buccal electrodes adapted to be juxtaposed with a respective one of the plurality of tooth sockets within the alveolar bone, wherein said control circuitry is arranged to generate, via said plurality of lingual electrodes and said plurality of buccal electrodes at least one of:
a plurality of orthogonal currents, each controlled separately responsive to said control circuitry; anda plurality of parallel currents, each controlled separately responsive to said control circuitry, wherein each of said plurality of orthogonal currents is generated between a respective one of said plurality of lingual electrodes and a respective one of said plurality of buccal electrodes, said respective ones associated with the same respective tooth socket, wherein each of said plurality of parallel currents is generated between one of:
a respective one of said plurality of lingual electrodes and one of said plurality of lingual electrodes adjacent thereto; anda respective one of said plurality of buccal electrodes and one of said plurality of buccal electrodes adjacent thereto, and wherein the vestibular electronic orthodontic appliance expediter is shaped such as to be completely tissue borne.