DUAL EXPANDING PALATAL DISTRACTOR

摘要

An orthodontic distractor includes two rods connected to rotatable head members. The two rods are couplable to one or more of upper teeth or palatal bones of a patient. The rotatable head members have threaded holes and pairs of the rotatable head members have opposite hand threads. The screw system also includes two twin screws that have threaded ends of opposite hand threads. Each of the two twin screws is engaged to threads of a pair of the rotatable head members. Rotation of one of the twin screws causes the pair of rotatable head members and the ends of the rods to either move together or move apart. The two twin screws are independently rotatable to cause independent expansion or contraction of different portions of the screw system.

主权项

1. An orthodontic distractor capable of expansion or constriction to adjust the position of one or more of a patient's upper teeth, jaws, oral cavity and airway, the distractor comprising:
a screw assembly, comprising:
a first rod and a second rod, each of the first and second rods having a first end and a second end, wherein each of the first and second rods is couplable to one or more of upper teeth and palatal bones of a patient;a plurality of rotatable head members, each of which comprises a threaded hole, wherein the plurality of rotatable head members comprises a first rotatable head member connected to the first end of the first rod, a second rotatable head member connected to the first end of the second rod, a third rotatable head member connected to the second end of the first rod, and a fourth rotatable head member connected to the second end of the second rod, wherein the threaded holes of the first and second rotatable head members are of opposite hand, and wherein the threaded holes of the third and fourth rotatable head members are of opposite hand;a first twin screw having threaded ends of opposite hand, wherein the threaded ends of the first twin screw are configured to engage the threaded holes of the first and second rotatable head members such that rotation of the first twin screw causes the first and second rotatable head members and the first ends of the first and second rods to either move together or move apart; anda second twin screw having threaded ends of opposite hand, wherein the threaded ends of the second twin screw are configured to engage the threaded holes of the third and fourth rotatable head members such that rotation of the second twin screw causes the third and fourth rotatable head members and the second ends of the first and second rods to either move together or move apart; and a first coupling assembly configured to couple the first rod to one or more of upper teeth and palatal bones of a patient.