ALEXANDRIA, Va., July 15 -- United States Patent no. 12,661,210, issued on June 23, was assigned to LEONE S.P.A. (Sesto Fiorentino, Italy).
"Orthodontic expander" was invented by Gabriele Scommegna (Tavernuzze Impruneta, Italy) and Maurizio Dolfi (Florence, Italy).
According to the abstract* released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "Orthodontic expander including a left body)and a right body provided with through holes oriented along a pre-defined expansion direction, a pair of guides inserted in the holes, and elastic thrust elements preloaded and acting between the bodies to provide a thrust directed in the expansion direction in the orientation of moving away of the bodies. The guides and the bodies have respective surfaces enga...