A man, a gadget, a legacy

The year was 1995. At the San Francisco airport hall, we awaited the flight to Los Angeles, USA, where we would attend another American congress. At halfway point, a group of orthodontists was talking to a gray-haired gentleman. Sited, he demonstrated how to build an appliance he had created — a Lego-like appliance. His smooth and rather weak voice was indeed persevering. The gray-haired gentleman was Carlos Martins Coelho Filho. I have to confess that, the first time we met, his human figure and smooth voice commanded my admiration more than the appliance , the MPA III, 1 did. A few years later, the MPA IV entered the orthodontic field 2 at the same time I established a closer relationship with Prof. Carlos Coelho. A delightful human being who emanated a dazzling light, infinitely amplified by the fact that it originated from a modest, humble and unquestionably intelligent man. As time went by, we became friends. Born in São Luís, Maranhão (Brazil), Carlos received his Master's degree in Orthodontics from the Piracicaba Dental School (UNICAMP). Before that, he used to be an electronics technician. He also increased his income by giving English lessons. He once told me that, as soon as he was approved by the Masters course, he called professor Muller de Araújo, former head of the program, feeling sorry for having difficulties to attend it on the date set for the beginning of the course. The hurdle was financial. He needed time to sell his small electronics workshop and his old Beetle. He never expected to be approved, given the fierce competition and his own personal difficulties. To his great surprise, Prof. Araújo not only accepted his postponed arrival , but also highlighted his qualities and told him it was his own wish, Prof. Araújo's, to count with the presence of that student, given the sacrifice he would make to take the course. Carlos told me this story a few times and I never interrupted him, as his eyes sparkled with the memories of such a dear professor. Perfume of gratitude. He also told me about his first contact with a dental spot welder. It was an imported equipment that belonged to one of his professors. At that time, the device was rather uncommon in Brazil, but the dream of any orthodontist. Carlos applied his knowledge about electronics to create a copy of the welding machine based on …