Patents Represented by Attorney James D. Christoff
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Patent number: 8147243Abstract: Bracket (1) with a pad (3) for affixing it to a tooth of a patient, with a bracket body (5) that has a slot (7) for receiving an orthodontic wire (9), and with a channel-like wire guide (11) which has wire guide surfaces (11F) for guiding the wire (9) and which is assigned a lateral insertion area (13) for insertion of the wire (9) into the wire guide (11), wherein the insertion area (13) has, in the longitudinal direction of the wire (9), a curved section (13A) through which the wire (9) can be inserted into the wire guide (11) in an elastically deformed state, such that the wire (9), on forming back to a rectilinear state, locks in the wire guide (11), and that the wire guide surfaces (11F) enclose the wire (9) in a circle shape, such that the wire (9) is held longitudinally displaceably in the wire guide (11) by the wire guide surfaces (11F) and is secured against escaping laterally from the wire guide (11).Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2007Date of Patent: April 3, 2012Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventor: Dirk Wiechmann
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Patent number: 8114327Abstract: An indirect bonding apparatus for orthodontic bonding procedures includes a tray having inner wall sections defining a channel for receiving the patient's dental arch. A number of orthodontic appliances are detachably connected to the tray along the channel, and each appliance includes a base for bonding the appliance to the tooth. The wall sections include at least one groove extending along the base of at least one appliance in order to provide a space between the wall sections and the patient's tooth structure when the tray is received on the patient's dental arch. The space hinders the flow of oral fluids such as saliva in directions toward the base in order to help ensure that the fluids do not adversely affect the strength of the resulting adhesive bond between the appliance and the tooth.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2009Date of Patent: February 14, 2012Assignee: 3M Innovation Properties CompanyInventors: David K. Cinader, Jr., James D. Cleary
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Patent number: 7726470Abstract: A packaged orthodontic assembly includes a container with a chamber and an orthodontic appliance received in the chamber. A quantity of a first orthodontic adhesive material is applied by the manufacturer to the base of the orthodontic appliance. A second orthodontic adhesive material is also received in the chamber in initially spaced relationship to the first orthodontic adhesive material. The practitioner can elect to bring the first orthodontic adhesive material into contact with the second orthodontic adhesive material when desired.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2007Date of Patent: June 1, 2010Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: David K. Cinader, Jr., Joan V. Brennan, James D. Christoff
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Patent number: 7726968Abstract: Indirect bonding trays for orthodontic treatment are made from a model of the patient's dental arch that is manufactured using digital data and rapid prototyping processes. The model includes one or more guides for orienting an orthodontic appliance in a desired position on a model tooth of the dental arch model. A holder is connected to the archwire slot of the appliance and is brought into contact with the guide in order to move the appliance to its intended position for subsequent manufacture of the indirect bonding tray.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2007Date of Patent: June 1, 2010Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Richard E. Raby, Sunghan Kim, Calvin N. Corpus, Ming-Lai Lai, David K. Cinader, Jr., James D. Cleary, Matthew D. Chaffee
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Patent number: 7556496Abstract: A method of making transfer apparatus for use in indirect bonding of orthodontic appliances includes the act of applying a spacer material over a dentition replica. The spacer material includes at least one cavity for releasably receiving an orthodontic appliance, and a base of the appliance is in contact with one of the teeth of the dentition replica. A tray is formed over the spacer material and the spacer material is then removed. Subsequently, a quantity of matrix material is directed into the space between the tray and the dentition replica in order to releasably hold the appliance for an indirect bonding procedure.Type: GrantFiled: April 4, 2005Date of Patent: July 7, 2009Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: David K. Cinader, Jr., James D. Cleary
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Patent number: 7473097Abstract: Techniques are described for using radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags to track patient-specific materials throughout the manufacturing of indirect bonding trays. A series of RFID tags may be used to track the patient-specific material starting with the taking of a patient's impression at a clinic within a dental impression tray, through the process of casting and forming the indirect bonding tray at a manufacturing facility, back into the clinic where the appliances are bonded to the patient's teeth, and eventually into storage where the left-over materials may be archived. A database may be used to capture unique identifiers for the RFID tags and other information throughout the process.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2004Date of Patent: January 6, 2009Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Richard E. Raby, James D. Cleary, Steven R. Bartingale, Russell A. Jordan
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Patent number: 7473096Abstract: An orthodontic assembly includes an appliance placement device such as an indirect bonding transfer tray or a jig. A number of orthodontic appliances such as brackets are releasably connected to the placement device. The assembly also includes a dispensing unit that is adapted to receive the placement device and apply a quantity of adhesive to the bases of the appliances simultaneously.Type: GrantFiled: June 21, 2006Date of Patent: January 6, 2009Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventor: David K. Cinader, Jr.
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Patent number: 7452205Abstract: A transfer apparatus for indirect bonding of orthodontic appliances includes a tray with a channel and a matrix material received in the channel. At least one stop member is connected to the tray and is made of a relatively rigid thermoset material. Each stop member helps to facilitate accurate positioning of the tray in the patient's oral cavity during a bonding procedure, a particular advantage when the matrix material is relatively flexible.Type: GrantFiled: April 4, 2005Date of Patent: November 18, 2008Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: David K. Cinader, Jr., James K. Mah
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Patent number: 7410357Abstract: An indirect bonding apparatus is made by initially placing spacer material over a replica of the patient's tooth structure. A tray is then formed over the spacer material and hardened. Next, the spacer material is removed from the tooth replica and orthodontic appliances are placed on the replica at desired locations. A matrix material is placed between the tray and the replica and allowed to harden. Optionally, the apparatus includes features for facilitating removal of the transfer apparatus after the bonding procedure has been completed, and features for applying firm, uniform pressure to the appliances during the bonding procedure. Other aspects of indirect bonding are also described.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2006Date of Patent: August 12, 2008Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: James D. Cleary, David K. Cinader, Oliver L. Puttler, John E. Sanker
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Patent number: 7404714Abstract: An indirect bonding apparatus is made by initially placing spacer material over a replica of the patient's tooth structure. A tray is then formed over the spacer material and hardened. Next, the spacer material is removed from the tooth replica and orthodontic appliances are placed on the replica at desired locations. A matrix material is placed between the tray and the replica and allowed to harden. Optionally, the apparatus includes features for facilitating removal of the transfer apparatus after the bonding procedure has been completed, and features for applying firm, uniform pressure to the appliances during the bonding procedure. Other aspects of indirect bonding are also described.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2006Date of Patent: July 29, 2008Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: James D. Cleary, David K. Cinader, Oliver L. Puttler, John E. Sanker
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Patent number: 7377777Abstract: An orthodontic appliance includes a latch that comprises at least one clip for retaining an archwire in an archwire slot of the appliance. The clip includes a first section, a second section opposed to the first section and a third section that interconnects the first section and the second section. The third section is adjacent the base and includes an outer edge having a convex shape in contact with a wall portion of the base. The convex shape facilitates opening the clip during insertion of an archwire into the archwire slot of the appliance.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2005Date of Patent: May 27, 2008Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Ming-Lai Lai, Ajay Myer
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Patent number: 7374420Abstract: The present invention provides multi-layer adhesives and methods that are useful for bonding orthodontic appliances to a tooth structure. The multi-layer adhesives can be precoated on an orthodontic appliance, or alternatively, they can be provided on an adhesive delivery system for transfer to an orthodontic appliance. The multi-layer adhesives and methods preferably provide a useful balance of properties for bonding orthodontic appliances to the tooth structure.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2003Date of Patent: May 20, 2008Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Joan V. Brennan, David K. Cinader, James D. Hansen, Darrell S. James
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Patent number: 7367800Abstract: An orthodontic appliance such as a bracket or buccal tube has a latch for retaining an archwire in an archwire slot. The appliance also includes built-torque in order to reduce the need for the practitioner to manually bend the archwire by twisting the archwire about its longitudinal axis during the course of treatment. The latch comprises at least one clip having certain features that significantly reduce strain during opening movements of the clip. As a result, the fatigue life of the clip is enhanced.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 2005Date of Patent: May 6, 2008Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Ming-Lai Lai, Jirina V. Pospisil
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Patent number: 7364428Abstract: An indirect bonding apparatus for orthodontic bonding procedures includes a tray having inner wall sections defining a channel for receiving the patient's dental arch. A number of orthodontic appliances are detachably connected to the tray along the channel, and each appliance includes a base for bonding the appliance to the tooth. The wall sections include at least one groove extending along the base of at least one appliance in order to provide a space between the wall sections and the patient's tooth structure when the tray is received on the patient's dental arch. The space hinders the flow of oral fluids such as saliva in directions toward the base in order to help ensure that the fluids do not adversely affect the strength of the resulting adhesive bond between the appliance and the tooth.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2006Date of Patent: April 29, 2008Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: David K. Cinader, Jr., James D. Cleary, Rajdeep S. Kalgutkar
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Movement of orthodontic objects along a virtual archwire within a three-dimensional (3D) environment
Patent number: 7354268Abstract: Techniques are described for moving an orthodontic object (e.g., an orthodontic appliance and/or its associated tooth) in response to input indicative of a desired movement of the object along a virtual archwire. The movement of objects along the archwire may be used to generate a three-dimensional (3D) representation of a patient's dental arch. The manner in which the object is to be moved along the virtual archwire may be determined automatically during creation of a treatment plan for a patient, or may be determined and input by an orthodontic practitioner as part of the creation of the treatment plan.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2004Date of Patent: April 8, 2008Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Richard E. Raby, Nicholas A. Stark -
Patent number: 7291011Abstract: A system automatically determines positions of orthodontic objects, such as teeth and/or orthodontic appliances, along an archwire within a three-dimensional (3D) environment based on a proposed orthodontic prescription. The resulting placement of the orthodontic objects in the dentition predicts a final occlusion that may result from the proposed orthodontic prescription. An orthodontic practitioner may interact with the system to enter a proposed orthodontic prescription, or the system may choose the proposed orthodontic prescription from a number of standardized prescriptions stored in a database. The system may also display a digital representation of the orthodontic objects at the determined positions. The practitioner may modify the proposed prescription and view the resulting placement of the orthodontic objects until a desired result is obtained.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2004Date of Patent: November 6, 2007Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Nicholas A. Stark, Richard E. Raby
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Patent number: 7264117Abstract: An orthodontic set-up tray includes at least two sections, and each section includes at least one receptacle for receiving an orthodontic appliance. A coupling movably connects the sections together to enable relative movement between the sections. The coupling advantageously permits the overall size of the set-up tray to be reduced or enlarged as may be desired by the practitioner. Optionally, the coupling is a releasable coupling that enables the sections to be detached from one another.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2004Date of Patent: September 4, 2007Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Gail V. Atkin, Dick Lee, Oliver L. Puttler, Joan V. Brennan, James D. Cleary
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Patent number: 7252505Abstract: An orthodontic appliance includes a latch that comprises at least one clip with a region for receiving an archwire. The clip also includes a recess for receiving a post of the appliance and for coupling the clip to remaining components of the appliance. The post includes a neck and an outermost head, and the neck and the head are constructed to reduce the extent that the clip must be opened to fit the clip over the head and onto the post during assembly of the appliance.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2004Date of Patent: August 7, 2007Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventor: Ming-Lai Lai
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Patent number: 7252506Abstract: A brace for an orthodontic patient includes a set of appliances fixed to the patient's teeth and an arch member connected to the appliances. The arch member has a series of notches presenting narrowed sections, and the narrowed sections are received in slots of corresponding appliances. As such, the sections of the arch member in regions between adjacent notches are not constrained by the shape of the slots of the appliances. Preferably, the arch member is comprised of an aesthetic polymeric material such as a stain-resistant transparent or translucent material.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2004Date of Patent: August 7, 2007Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventor: Ming-Lai Lai
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Patent number: D594558Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2008Date of Patent: June 16, 2009Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: John A. Verdouw, Barry J. Grant