1. A self-ligating orthodontic bracket comprising:
a base member having a base plate with a bottom side adapted to be attached to a tooth and a top side from which upper structure extends upwardly, the upper structure having first and second tie wings between which there is an arch-wire-receiving slot, the first tie wing having at least one bore radially accessible by a feed slot; and
a closing spring member having a first end which is anchored to the first tie wing and a second end which is movable between an opened position in which the slot arch-wire-receiving slot is freely accessible for the insertion of the archwire and a closed position, the closing spring member having has a torsion tab dimensioned to be introduced into the bore through the feed slot, the torsion tab being deformable by twisting at its free end into a changed shape in such a way that it cannot be removed and fall out of such bore until it is twisted back into its original shape.
2. The self-ligating orthodontic bracket of claim 1 wherein the angle by which the torsion tab can be twisted is within the range of about 5-60\xb0.
3. The self-ligating orthodontic bracket of claim 2 wherein the angle by which the torsion tab can be twisted is within the range of about 10-30\xb0.
4. The self-ligating orthodontic bracket of claim 1 comprising a pair of such bores and a pair of such torsion tabs, each insertable in a respective one of the bores.
5. The self-ligating orthodontic bracket of claim 1 wherein the torsion tab comprises a bearing such that the free end of the torsion tab can twist substantially around the axis of the bore with respect to the other end of the torsion tab.
6. The self-ligating orthodontic bracket of claim 1 wherein the bracket is designed as a passive bracket, the closing spring member having a second end with retaining elements by which the spring member secures the arch wire in the arch-wire-receiving slot.
7. The self-ligating orthodontic bracket of claim 1 wherein the bracket is designed as an active bracket, the closing spring member having a second end with retaining elements by which the spring member secures the arch wire in the arch-wire-receiving slot and simultaneously can exert torque thereon.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. An oral osmotic pharmaceutical delivery composition comprising an osmotically active drug core surrounded by a semi-permeable membrane,
wherein the osmotically active drug core comprises
A) at least one release enhancing agent selected from a group consisting of wicking agents, complexing agents, and micelle-forming agents,
and
B) treprostinil or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof having a water solubility of at least about 30 mgmL, and
wherein the semi-permeable membrane allows for the osmotic delivery of the treprostinil from the osmotically active drug core.
2. The composition of claim 1, wherein the wicking agents are selected from the group consisting of high HLB surfactants, ionic surfactants, and non-swelling hydrophilic polymers; the complexing agents are selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl pyrrolidone, cyclodextrins, and non-ionic surface active agents; and the micelle-forming agents are selected from the group consisting of poly(ethylene oxide) modified sorbitan monoesters, fatty acid sorbitan esters, sodium lauryl sulfate, and sodium docusate.
3. The composition of claim 1, wherein the at least one release enhancing agent is a micelle-forming agent.
4. The composition of claim 1, wherein the at least one release enhancing agent comprises sodium lauryl sulfate.
5. The composition of claim 1, further comprising at least one osmotic agent.
6. A method of treating pulmonary hypertension comprising administering to a human subject in need thereof a composition of claim 1.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein the treprostinil or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof is treprostinil diethanolamine.
8. An oral osmotic pharmaceutical delivery composition comprising an osmotically active drug core surrounded by a semi-permeable membrane, wherein the osmotically active drug core comprises
A) at least one release enhancing agent selected from a group consisting of wicking agents, complexing agents, and micelle-forming agents,
and
B) treprostinil or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof that demonstrates an incomplete release profile in a standard osmotic delivery system, and
wherein the semi-permeable membrane allows for the osmotic delivery of the treprostinil from the osmotically active drug core.
9. The composition of claim 8, wherein the wicking agents are selected from the group consisting of high HLB surfactants, ionic surfactants, and non-swelling hydrophilic polymers; the complexing agents are selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl pyrrolidone, cyclodextrins, and non-ionic surface active agents; and the micelle-forming agents are selected from the group consisting of poly(ethylene oxide) modified sorbitan monoesters, fatty acid sorbitan esters, sodium lauryl sulfate, and sodium docusate.
10. The composition of claim 8, wherein the at least one release enhancing agent is a micelle-forming agent.
11. The composition of claim 8, wherein the at least one release enhancing agent comprises sodium lauryl sulfate.
12. The composition of claim 8, further comprising at least one osmotic agent.
13. A method of treating pulmonary hypertension comprising administering to a human subject in need thereof a composition of claim 8.