Patents Assigned to LIGHTFORCE ORTHODONTICS, INC.
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Publication number: 20240118675Abstract: Techniques are described for determining bracket placement based on a cost function configured to reflect desired patient outcomes. By optimizing the cost function, positional parameters may be determined that define archwire and bracket placements that best reflect the desired outcomes. The brackets may then be arranged according to the determined positional parameters, and models for additive fabrication of the brackets may be generated. As a result, bracket placements that match desired patient outcomes may be more accurately and more efficiently determined.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 2, 2023Publication date: April 11, 2024Applicant: LightForce Orthodontics, Inc.Inventor: Alexander Yarmarkovich
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Publication number: 20240108441Abstract: An orthodontic appliance includes a body portion for effecting an orthodontic treatment and a base portion affixed to the body portion. The base portion includes a surface defining a plurality of trenches. At least one trench is formed at an acute angle to a gingival surface of the base portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 22, 2023Publication date: April 4, 2024Applicant: LightForce Orthodontics, Inc.Inventors: Alfred Charles Griffin, III, Kelsey A. Fafara, Oisin Duggan, Liam McKay, Dylan Winchell
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Publication number: 20240074835Abstract: Devices and methods for orthodontic treatments are disclosed. An orthodontic treatment may include patient-specific aligners formed of a polymeric material and configured to rearrange a patient's teeth according to a treating clinician's treatment plan. In some embodiments, a portion of the aligner may be irradiated or otherwise exposed to a specific light treatment, which may serve to change the stiffness of that portion of the aligner. In this way, the aligner may have a non-uniform stiffness profile, which may serve to apply different forces to different teeth when stationed in a patient's mouth. Modifying the magnitude of forces applied to the teeth and more precisely tuning the spatial distribution of the forces may expedite the orthodontic treatment.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 22, 2023Publication date: March 7, 2024Applicant: LightForce Orthodontics, Inc.Inventor: Celestino Nobrega
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Patent number: 11899427Abstract: A method of manufacturing customized ceramic labial/lingual orthodontic brackets by digital light processing, said method comprises measuring dentition data of a profile of teeth of a patient, wherein measuring dentition data is performed using a CT scanner or intra-oral scanner, based on the dentition data, creating a three dimensional computer-assisted design (3D CAD) model of the patient's teeth using reverse engineering, and saving the 3D CAD model on a computer, designing a 3D CAD bracket structure model for a single labial or lingual bracket structure, importing the 3D CAD bracket structure model into a Digital Light Processing (DLP) machine, directly producing the bracket by layer manufacturing.Type: GrantFiled: February 15, 2023Date of Patent: February 13, 2024Assignee: LightForce Orthodontics, Inc.Inventor: Alfred Charles Griffin, III
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Patent number: 11890157Abstract: A method of manufacturing pre-formed, customized, ceramic, labial/lingual orthodontic clear aligner attachments (CCAA) by additive manufacturing (AM) may comprise measuring dentition data of a profile of teeth of a patient, based on the dentition data, creating a three dimensional computer-assisted design (3D CAD) model of the patient's teeth using reverse engineering, and saving the 3D CAD model, designing a 3D CAD structure model for one or more CCAA on various parts of each tooth, importing data related to the 3D CAD CCAA structure model into an AM machine, directly producing the CCAA in the ceramic slurry-based AM machine by layer manufacturing, enabling the provider to deliver patient-specific CCAA's by an indirect bonding method to the patient's teeth to improve the efficacy and retention of the clear aligners.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 2019Date of Patent: February 6, 2024Assignee: LightForce Orthodontics, Inc.Inventors: Alfred Charles Griffin, III, Kelsey A Fafara
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Patent number: 11872101Abstract: In an embodiment, a method of manufacturing customized ceramic labial/lingual orthodontic brackets by additive manufacturing may comprise measuring dentition data of a profile of teeth of a patient, based on the dentition data, creating a three-dimensional computer-assisted design (3D CAD) model of the patient's teeth, and saving the 3D CAD model, designing a virtual 3D CAD bracket structure model for a single labial or lingual bracket structure based upon said 3D CAD model, importing data related to the 3D CAD bracket structure model into an additive manufacturing machine, and directly producing the bracket with the additive manufacturing machine by layer manufacturing from an inorganic material including at least one of a ceramic, a polymer-derived ceramic, and a polymer-derived metal.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2018Date of Patent: January 16, 2024Assignee: LightForce Orthodontics, Inc.Inventors: Alfred Charles Griffin, III, Kelsey A. Fafara
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Publication number: 20240000547Abstract: Techniques are described for fabricating bite opening devices (BODs) that are customized to a patient's teeth and that can be accurately and strongly attached. The techniques include designing, and producing via additive fabrication, a bonding tray and a BOD that are contoured to match the patient's tooth anatomy. The BOD may be inserted into a cavity in the bonding tray, wherein the surface of the BOD and the bonding tray may match the tooth anatomy so that the tray and BOD can be guided to the proper location in the mouth, and so that the surface of the BOD matches the surface to which it will be attached. An adhesive may be applied to the surface of the BOD and cured to attach the BOD to the tooth. As a result, proper BOD placement is provided with a desired adhesion between the BOD and the tooth.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 23, 2023Publication date: January 4, 2024Applicant: LightForce Orthodontics, Inc.Inventors: Liam McKay, Dylan Winchell, Kelsey A. Fafara
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Publication number: 20230380941Abstract: The techniques described herein relate to exemplary indirect bonding trays for orthodontic appliances. An example indirect bonding tray comprises an occlusal base having an outer perimeter and defining a first impression conforming to a first occlusal tooth surface and a second impression conforming to at least a portion of a second occlusal tooth surface. The example indirect bonding tray further comprises a buccal wall defining a well to releasably engage an orthodontic appliance, the buccal wall extending outwards beyond the outer perimeter of the occlusal base, wherein: the buccal wall and the well are in a first region of the indirect bonding tray associated with the first impression, the first region is adjacent to a second region of the indirect bonding tray associated with the second impression, and an outer wall of the second region extends to the outer perimeter of the occlusal base.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 24, 2023Publication date: November 30, 2023Applicant: LightForce Orthodontics, Inc.Inventors: Samuel VanNoy, Dylan Winchell
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Publication number: 20230355356Abstract: The techniques described herein relate to exemplary pontics with archwire connections. An example appliance for spanning a mesiodistal width of a missing tooth includes a pontic portion at least partially coated with a material that is softer than tooth enamel, an archwire connection portion attached to a first side of the pontic portion, and at least one stabilizer affixed to a second side of the pontic portion, the second side opposite the first side.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 4, 2023Publication date: November 9, 2023Applicant: LightForce Orthodontics, Inc.Inventors: Oisin Duggan, Kelsey A. Fafara, Christina Bonebreak Jackson, Dylan Winchell
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Patent number: 11774943Abstract: A method of manufacturing customized ceramic labial/lingual orthodontic brackets by digital light processing, said method comprises measuring dentition data of a profile of teeth of a patient, wherein measuring dentition data is performed using a CT scanner or intra-oral scanner, based on the dentition data, creating a three dimensional computer-assisted design (3D CAD) model of the patient's teeth using reverse engineering, and saving the 3D CAD model on a computer, designing a 3D CAD bracket structure model for a single labial or lingual bracket structure, importing the 3D CAD bracket structure model into a Digital Light Processing (DLP) machine, directly producing the bracket by layer manufacturing.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2022Date of Patent: October 3, 2023Assignee: LightForce Orthodontics, Inc.Inventor: Alfred Charles Griffin, III
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Publication number: 20230195077Abstract: A method of manufacturing customized ceramic labial/lingual orthodontic brackets by digital light processing, said method comprises measuring dentition data of a profile of teeth of a patient, wherein measuring dentition data is performed using a CT scanner or intra-oral scanner, based on the dentition data, creating a three dimensional computer-assisted design (3D CAD) model of the patient's teeth using reverse engineering, and saving the 3D CAD model on a computer, designing a 3D CAD bracket structure model for a single labial or lingual bracket structure, importing the 3D CAD bracket structure model into a Digital Light Processing (DLP) machine, directly producing the bracket by layer manufacturing.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 15, 2023Publication date: June 22, 2023Applicant: LightForce Orthodontics, Inc.Inventor: Alfred Charles Griffin, III
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Publication number: 20230018617Abstract: A method of manufacturing customized ceramic labial/lingual orthodontic brackets by digital light processing, said method comprises measuring dentition data of a profile of teeth of a patient, wherein measuring dentition data is performed using a CT scanner or intra-oral scanner, based on the dentition data, creating a three dimensional computer-assisted design (3D CAD) model of the patient's teeth using reverse engineering, and saving the 3D CAD model on a computer, designing a 3D CAD bracket structure model for a single labial or lingual bracket structure, importing the 3D CAD bracket structure model into a Digital Light Processing (DLP) machine, directly producing the bracket by layer manufacturing.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 27, 2022Publication date: January 19, 2023Applicant: LightForce Orthodontics, Inc.Inventor: Alfred Charles Griffin, III
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Publication number: 20220378552Abstract: Embodiments relate to the methodology of direct manufacture of a customized labial/lingual orthodontic tube by using a ceramic slurry-based additive manufacturing (AM) technology. For example, a method of manufacturing customized ceramic labial/lingual orthodontic tubes by additive manufacturing may comprise measuring dentition data of a profile of teeth of a patient, based on the dentition data, creating a three-dimensional computer-assisted design (3D CAD) model of the patient's teeth, and saving the 3D CAD model, designing a virtual 3D CAD tube structure model for a single labial or lingual tube structure based upon said 3D CAD model, importing data related to the 3D CAD tube structure model into an additive manufacturing machine, and directly producing the tube with the additive manufacturing machine by layer manufacturing from an inorganic material including at least one of a ceramic, a polymer-derived ceramic, and a polymer-derived metal.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 27, 2022Publication date: December 1, 2022Applicant: LightForce Orthodontics Inc.Inventors: Samuel VanNoy, Dylan Winchell, Kelsey A. Fafara, Alfred Charles Griffin, III
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Publication number: 20220378551Abstract: Embodiments relate to the methodology of direct manufacture of a customized labial/lingual orthodontic tube by using a ceramic slurry-based additive manufacturing (AM) technology. For example, a method of manufacturing customized ceramic labial/lingual orthodontic tubes by additive manufacturing may comprise measuring dentition data of a profile of teeth of a patient, based on the dentition data, creating a three-dimensional computer-assisted design (3D CAD) model of the patient's teeth, and saving the 3D CAD model, designing a virtual 3D CAD tube structure model for a single labial or lingual tube structure based upon said 3D CAD model, importing data related to the 3D CAD tube structure model into an additive manufacturing machine, and directly producing the tube with the additive manufacturing machine by layer manufacturing from an inorganic material including at least one of a ceramic, a polymer-derived ceramic, and a polymer-derived metal.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 27, 2022Publication date: December 1, 2022Applicant: LightForce Orthodontics Inc.Inventors: Samuel VanNoy, Dylan Winchell, Kelsey A. Fafara, Oisin Duggan, Alfred Charles Griffin, III
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Publication number: 20220378553Abstract: Embodiments relate to the methodology of direct manufacture of a customized labial/lingual orthodontic tube by using a ceramic slurry-based additive manufacturing (AM) technology. For example, a method of manufacturing customized ceramic labial/lingual orthodontic tubes by additive manufacturing may comprise measuring dentition data of a profile of teeth of a patient, based on the dentition data, creating a three-dimensional computer-assisted design (3D CAD) model of the patient's teeth, and saving the 3D CAD model, designing a virtual 3D CAD tube structure model for a single labial or lingual tube structure based upon said 3D CAD model, importing data related to the 3D CAD tube structure model into an additive manufacturing machine, and directly producing the tube with the additive manufacturing machine by layer manufacturing from an inorganic material including at least one of a ceramic, a polymer-derived ceramic, and a polymer-derived metal.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 27, 2022Publication date: December 1, 2022Applicant: LightForce Orthodontics Inc.Inventors: Samuel VanNoy, Dylan Winchell, Kelsey A. Fafara, Oisin Duggan, Alfred Charles Griffin, III
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Patent number: 11500354Abstract: A method of manufacturing customized ceramic labial/lingual orthodontic brackets by digital light processing, said method comprises measuring dentition data of a profile of teeth of a patient, wherein measuring dentition data is performed using a CT scanner or intra-oral scanner, based on the dentition data, creating a three dimensional computer-assisted design (3D CAD) model of the patient's teeth using reverse engineering, and saving the 3D CAD model on a computer, designing a 3D CAD bracket structure model for a single labial or lingual bracket structure, importing the 3D CAD bracket structure model into a Digital Light Processing (DLP) machine, directly producing the bracket by layer manufacturing.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2020Date of Patent: November 15, 2022Assignee: LightForce Orthodontics, Inc.Inventor: Alfred Charles Griffin, III
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Patent number: 11478337Abstract: In an embodiment, a method of manufacturing customized ceramic labial/lingual orthodontic brackets by additive manufacturing may comprise measuring dentition data of a profile of teeth of a patient, based on the dentition data, creating a three dimensional computer-assisted design (3D CAD) model of the patient's teeth, and saving the 3D CAD model, designing a virtual 3D CAD bracket structure model for a single labial or lingual bracket structure based upon said 3D CAD model, importing data related to the 3D CAD bracket structure model into an additive manufacturing machine, and directly producing the bracket with the additive manufacturing machine by layer manufacturing from an inorganic material including at least one of a ceramic, a polymer-derived ceramic, and a polymer-derived metal.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2022Date of Patent: October 25, 2022Assignee: LightForce Orthodontics, Inc.Inventors: Alfred Charles Griffin, III, Kelsey A. Fafara
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Publication number: 20220304778Abstract: In an embodiment, a method of manufacturing customized ceramic labial/lingual orthodontic brackets by additive manufacturing may comprise measuring dentition data of a profile of teeth of a patient, based on the dentition data, creating a three dimensional computer-assisted design (3D CAD) model of the patient's teeth, and saving the 3D CAD model, designing a virtual 3D CAD bracket structure model for a single labial or lingual bracket structure based upon said 3D CAD model, importing data related to the 3D CAD bracket structure model into an additive manufacturing machine, and directly producing the bracket with the additive manufacturing machine by layer manufacturing from an inorganic material including at least one of a ceramic, a polymer-derived ceramic, and a polymer-derived metal.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 14, 2022Publication date: September 29, 2022Applicant: LightForce Orthodontics Inc.Inventors: Alfred Charles Griffin, III, Kelsey Petersen
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Patent number: 11413117Abstract: A method of manufacturing pre-formed, customized, ceramic, labial/lingual orthodontic clear aligner attachments (CCAA) by additive manufacturing (AM) may comprise measuring dentition data of a profile of teeth of a patient, based on the dentition data, creating a three dimensional computer-assisted design (3D CAD) model of the patient's teeth using reverse engineering, and saving the 3D CAD model, designing a 3D CAD structure model for one or more CCAA on various parts of each tooth, importing data related to the 3D CAD CCAA structure model into an AM machine, directly producing the CCAA in the ceramic slurry-based AM machine by layer manufacturing, enabling the provider to deliver patient-specific CCAA's by an indirect bonding method to the patient's teeth to improve the efficacy and retention of the clear aligners.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2020Date of Patent: August 16, 2022Assignee: LightForce Orthodontics Inc.Inventors: Alfred Charles Griffin, III, Kelsey A Fafara
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Publication number: 20220218443Abstract: In an embodiment, a method of manufacturing customized ceramic labial/lingual orthodontic brackets by additive manufacturing may comprise measuring dentition data of a profile of teeth of a patient, based on the dentition data, creating a three dimensional computer-assisted design (3D CAD) model of the patient's teeth, and saving the 3D CAD model, designing a virtual 3D CAD bracket structure model for a single labial or lingual bracket structure based upon said 3D CAD model, importing data related to the 3D CAD bracket structure model into an additive manufacturing machine, and directly producing the bracket with the additive manufacturing machine by layer manufacturing from an inorganic material including at least one of a ceramic, a polymer-derived ceramic, and a polymer-derived metal.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2022Publication date: July 14, 2022Applicant: LightForce Orthodontics, Inc.Inventors: Alfred Charles Griffin, III, Kelsey A. Fafara