Patents Assigned to Align Technology, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20240058102
    Abstract: A first appliance and a second appliance comprise engagement surfaces that provide mandibular relocation forces and forces to limit lateral movement of the jaw, such as opposing inclined surfaces on opposite sides of the mouth. In some embodiments, engagement surfaces between oral appliances comprise a curvature difference, which allows engagement at differing angles and positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2023
    Publication date: February 22, 2024
    Applicant: ALIGN TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: James NISHIMUTA, Jun SATO
  • Patent number: 11903788
    Abstract: A system includes an intraoral scanner that generates a plurality of intraoral images of a dental site and a computing device. The computing device generates a first surface of a first region of the dental site based on a first intraoral image and generates a second surface of a second region of the dental site based on a second intraoral image. The computing device determines relative positions of the first surface and the second surface, wherein overlap between the first region of the dental site represented in the first intraoral image and the second region of the dental site represented the second intraoral image is insufficient for registration of the second intraoral image to the first intraoral image. The computing device outputs the first surface and the second surface having the relative positions to a display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Sabina, Leon Rasovsky
  • Patent number: 11903793
    Abstract: Methods for automatically segmenting a 3D model of a patient's teeth may include scanning a patient's dentition and converting the scan data into a 3D model, including a sparse voxel representation of the 3D model. Features can be extracted from the sparse voxel representation of the 3D model and input into a machine learning model to train the machine learning model to segment the 3D model into individual dental components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher E. Cramer, Roman Gudchenko, Dmitrii Ischeykin, Vasily Paraketsov, Sergey Grebenkin, Denis Durdin, Dmitry Guskov, Nikolay Zhirnov, Mikhail Gorodilov, Ivan Potapenko, Anton Baskanov, Elizaveta Ulianenko, Alexander Vovchenko, Roman Solovyev, Aleksandr Sergeevich Karsakov, Aleksandr Anikin, Mikhail Toporkov
  • Patent number: 11903794
    Abstract: A system comprises a dental tray comprising an array of cameras, wherein each camera of the first array of cameras has a fixed position and orientation relative to one or more other camera of the array of cameras. The system further comprises a processing device to receive a plurality of images generated by the array of cameras, stitch the plurality of images together based on calibration data specifying predetermined image stitching parameters for combining the plurality of images, wherein the predetermined image stitching parameters are based on predetermined fixed relative positions and orientations of cameras from the array of cameras, and generate a three-dimensional model of a plurality of teeth based on the stitched plurality of images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Yossef Atiya, Avi Kopelman, Erez Lampert
  • Patent number: 11896461
    Abstract: An apparatus for intraoral scanning includes an elongate handheld wand that has a probe. One or more light projectors and two or more cameras are disposed within the probe. The light projectors each has a pattern generating optical element, which may use diffraction or refraction to form a light pattern. Each camera may be configured to focus between 1 mm and 30 mm from a lens that is farthest from the camera sensor. Other applications are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Ofer Saphier, Yossef Atiya, Arkady Rudnitsky, Nir Makmel, Sergei Ozerov, Tal Verker, Tal Levy
  • Patent number: 11896457
    Abstract: Orthodontic positioning devices, and related methods and systems, are disclosed for use with one or more orthodontic elastic members. The disclosed methods may comprise determining the geometries for a pair of orthodontic aligners for use as part of an orthodontic treatment plan. The geometries for the pair of orthodontic aligners may include an upper aligner with a first marking and a lower aligner with a second marking. The first marking may correspond to a position of a first hook, and the second marking may correspond to a position of a second hook. The first hook and the second hook may be configured to engage with an orthodontic elastic member so as to react a force to, for example, generate orthodontic forces on the patient's teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: ALIGN TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Eric Kuo, Artem Borovinskih, Shiva Sambu
  • Patent number: 11896456
    Abstract: Systems and methods for improved visual prosthetic and orthodontic treatment planning are provided herein. In some aspects, a method for preparing a tooth of a patient is disclosed. The method may comprise building a model of a dentition of the patient including a model of the initial shape of tooth. The method may also include determining a final prepared shape of the tooth. In some aspects, the method may also include generating a treatment plan comprising a plurality of steps to modify the initial shape of the tooth to the final prepared shape of the tooth. The method may also include rendering visualizations for the plurality of steps of the treatment plan. The visualizations may depict the removal of tooth material to modify the initial shape of the tooth to the final prepared shape of the tooth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: ALIGN TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventor: Avi Kopelman
  • Patent number: 11897181
    Abstract: A method includes identifying first geometry of a first mold associated with a first dental arch and a second geometry of a second mold associated with a second dental arch. The method further includes determining, based on the first geometry and the second geometry that the first mold and the second mold are to be used for simultaneous forming of a first dental appliance and a second dental appliance on a plate in a dental appliance manufacturing system. The method further includes causing, based on the first geometry and the second geometry, one or more portions of the dental appliance manufacturing system to be configured to form the first dental appliance and the second dental appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Luis Carlos Martínez González, Rowan Fernando Garcia Saucedo, Mario Alfonso Rito Martinez, Ismael Núñez García, René David Alfaro, Shiva P. Sambu
  • Patent number: 11890159
    Abstract: Orthodontic positioning devices, and related methods and systems, are disclosed for use with one or more orthodontic elastic members. The disclosed devices are configured to couple with an orthodontic elastic member so as to react a force from the elastic member into the appliance to, for example, generate traction forces on the patient's teeth to produce a desired occlusion. A positioning device includes a patient removable tooth positioning appliance having teeth receiving cavities shaped to receive and apply a resilient positioning force to a patient's teeth. The appliance includes a hook configured to interface with an orthodontic elastic member. The hook can be configured to be offset from a surface of a tooth when the appliance is coupled with the patient's teeth and no elastic member is coupled with the tooth. The hook can be curved so that the hook is more retentive on the aligner. The hook can be reinforced so that the reinforcement resists deformation when the elastic is in place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: ALIGN TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Eric Kuo, Artem Borovinskih, Shiva Sambu
  • Patent number: 11890160
    Abstract: Orthodontic positioning devices, and related methods and systems, are disclosed for use with one or more orthodontic elastic members. The disclosed devices may comprise a pair of orthodontic aligners for use as part of an orthodontic treatment plan. The pair of orthodontic aligners may include an upper aligner with a first integrally formed hook and a lower aligner with a second integrally formed hook. The first integrally formed hook and the second integrally formed hook may be configured to engage with an orthodontic elastic member so as to react a force to, for example, generate orthodontic forces on the patient's teeth. Each of the first integrally formed hook and the second integrally formed hook may extend buccally from the upper aligner and the lower aligner, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: ALIGN TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Eric Kuo, Artem Borovinskih, Shiva Sambu
  • Patent number: 11890158
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for automatic treatment planning, including recommendation systems, quality assurance, error prevention, text mining, text matching, and treatment planning optimization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Roman A. Roschin, Evgenii Vladimirovich Karnygin, Dmitry Kirsanov, Grigoriy Yazykov, Ilfat Sabirov, Ruslan Matvienko, Vasily Paraketsov
  • Publication number: 20240033056
    Abstract: A method for dental treatment may include generating an initial digital model of a patient's oral cavity and generating a first updated digital model of the patient's oral cavity, the first updated digital model including data representing stained locations on the patient's oral cavity. The method may also include comparing the initial digital model to the first updated digital model to identify locations of an oral problem.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2023
    Publication date: February 1, 2024
    Applicant: ALIGN TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Ofer SAPHIER, Roy FAHN, Shai FARKASH
  • Publication number: 20240033045
    Abstract: A method of treating malocclusions of teeth may include receiving a scan of a patient's teeth and generating a treatment plan to move a patient's teeth from a first position toward a second position. The treatment plan may include moving a jaw from a first position towards a second position. The treatment plan may include a series of jaw movement stages to move the jaw from the first position towards the second position. The method may include generating a digital model of an aligner having mandibular relocation structures. A location of the mandibular relocation structures may be based on a set of location constraints. The method may include fabricating a physical aligner based on the digital model of the aligner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2023
    Publication date: February 1, 2024
    Applicant: ALIGN TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Rohit TANUGULA, James NISHIMUTA, Nilesh JOSHI, Thomas JANSEN, Anna GORELOVA, Ekaterina MENSHOVA, Artem TROTSKO, Andrey PROKOPENKO, Arina YAKSHIBAEVA
  • Publication number: 20240033057
    Abstract: A method may include obtaining a first 3D model of an upper jaw of a patient using an intraoral scanner and obtaining a second 3D model of the lower jaw of the patient using the intraoral scanner. The method may also include capturing a series of 2D images of the upper and lower jaws of the patient as the patient is moves the upper jaw and lower jaw in dynamic occlusion and processing the captured series of 2D images to identify features associated with the upper jaw of the patient and the lower jaw of the patient. For each 2D image in the captured series of 2D images, the method may include identifying a relative position of the first 3D model and the second 3D model based on alignment of features in the first 3D model and second 3D model with the features identified in the 2D image to generate a series of relative positions of the first 3D model and the second 3D model.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2023
    Publication date: February 1, 2024
    Applicant: ALIGN TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Ofer SAPHIER, Avi KOPELMAN, Moti BEN DOV, Ran KATZ, Shai FARKASH, Roy FAHN, Michael CHANG, Niko Benjamin HUBER, Eric P. MEYER, Gustavo ISMAEL, Zelko RELIC, Maik GERTH
  • Patent number: 11883255
    Abstract: In particular embodiments, method, apparatus and system for receiving digital representations of the initial parameters of a dentition; simulating a first orthodontic treatment process on the digital representations of the initial parameters, displaying a set of output results from the simulation of the first orthodontic treatment process, simulating a second orthodontic treatment process on the output results from the simulation of the first orthodontic treatment process, and displaying a set of output results from the simulation of the second orthodontic treatment process are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: ALIGN TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventor: Eric Kuo
  • Patent number: 11883259
    Abstract: System for scanning a subject's teeth. Described herein are intraoral scanning apparatuses for generating a three-dimensional model of a subject's intraoral region (e.g., teeth). These apparatuses may be used for identifying and evaluating lesions, caries and cracks in the teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Gilad Elbaz, Erez Lampert, Yossef Atiya, Avi Kopelman, Ofer Saphier, Maayan Moshe, Shai Ayal, Michael Sabina, Eric Kuo, Assaf Weiss, Doron Malka, Eliahou Franklin Nizard, Ido Tishel
  • Patent number: 11884758
    Abstract: Methods for fabricating orthodontic appliances are provided. In some embodiments, a method includes providing a polymerizable composition including a first polymerizable component and a second polymerizable component. The polymerizable composition can be characterized by an initial ratio of the first polymerizable component to the second polymerizable component. The method can include fabricating a portion of the orthodontic appliance from the polymerizable composition by forming a first region of the orthodontic appliance by exposing the polymerizable composition to radiation, the first region including a first ratio of the first polymerizable component to the second polymerizable component. The method can also include forming a second region of the orthodontic appliance, the second region including a second ratio of the first polymerizable component to the second polymerizable component. The initial ratio, the first ratio, and the second ratio can be different.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Christopher Cole
  • Patent number: 11883256
    Abstract: Methods of forming interproximal reduction guides are described herein. These interproximal reduction guides apparatuses may include a body that fits over the patient's dental arch and one or more guide slots formed in them configured to limit the motion of an interproximal reduction cutting tool in a defined manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Bob Grove, Srinivas Kaza
  • Publication number: 20240024077
    Abstract: Apparatus, system, and methods for utilizing one or more computing devices to stage the movement of teeth during an alignment treatment are disclosed. The computing device receives an electronic representation of the patient's teeth in their initial position and an electronic representation of the teeth a final position for each tooth. A route each tooth will travel to reach its final position is determined, and the teeth are scheduled to move according to a movement pattern. Moreover, the schedule of movement takes into account a maximum rate of tooth movement for each tooth, the path of movement for each tooth, the distance each tooth needs to move, any needed tooth staggering, any needed round-tripping or tooth movement slowing. The invention also includes techniques for determining an optimum number of stages for the treatment based on the schedule of movement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2023
    Publication date: January 25, 2024
    Applicant: ALIGN TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Ian KITCHING, Alexander DMITRIEV, Alexey VISHNEVSKIY
  • Publication number: 20240024155
    Abstract: Improved systems, methods, and devices for treating sleep apnea are provided herein. In one aspect, an intraoral appliance for treating sleep apnea in a patient comprises an appliance shell comprising a plurality of cavities shaped to receive teeth of a jaw of the patient. The appliance shell can comprise an advancement structure arranged to interact with an opposing jaw of the patient so as to displace the lower jaw anteriorly relative to the upper jaw. The plurality of cavities can comprise cavity geometries shaped to reduce repositioning of one or more received teeth elicited by displacement of the lower jaw anteriorly relative to the upper jaw.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2023
    Publication date: January 25, 2024
    Applicant: ALIGN TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Bruce CAM, Crystal TJHIA, Chunhua LI, Vadim MATOV, John MORTON