Patents by Inventor Muhammad Chishti
Muhammad Chishti has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 6685470Abstract: A computer obtains a digital model of a patient's dentition, including a dental model representing the patient's teeth at a set of initial positions and a gingival model representing gum tissue surrounding the teeth. The computer then derives from the digital model an expected deformation of the gum tissue as the teeth move from the initial positions to another set of positions.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2002Date of Patent: February 3, 2004Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.Inventors: Muhammad Chishti, Huafeng Wen, Elena Pavlovskaia, Ka Man Cheang
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Patent number: 6682346Abstract: Methods and corresponding apparatus for segmenting an orthodontic treatment path into clinically appropriate substeps for repositioning the teeth of a patient include providing a digital finite element model of the shape and material of each of a sequence of appliances to be applied to a patient; providing a digital finite element model of the teeth and related mouth tissue of the patient; computing the actual effect of the appliances on the teeth by analyzing the finite elements models computationally; and evaluating the effect against clinical constraints. The appliances can be braces, polymeric shells, or other forms of orthodontic appliance.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2002Date of Patent: January 27, 2004Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.Inventors: Muhammad Chishti, Elena I. Pavlovskaia, Gregory P. Bala, Brian Freyburger
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Publication number: 20030219691Abstract: The present invention provides methods and systems of repositioning teeth for use in orthodontic treatment, with particular applicability to removable elastic repositioning appliances. Such appliances may be challenged by traditional tooth movements which intrude the crown of the tooth or present tooth positions which reduce available points of purchase. These challenges may be overcome with a series of tooth movements in which a tooth is translated in a “root-first” position. The movements may take advantage of the inherent characteristics of elastic repositioning appliances in translating a tooth from a first position to a desired position along a gingival plane.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 1, 2003Publication date: November 27, 2003Applicant: ALIGN TECHNOLOGY, INCInventors: Loc X. Phan, Muhammad Chishti
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Publication number: 20030190576Abstract: Traditional orthodontic treatment often involves the use of basic repositioning devices, such as braces, and the use of supplementary devices, components or accessories to achieve desired end results. Such components may be mounted on fixed, non-removable devices or they may be part of a removable appliance typically worn prior to the application of the fixed devices. As with traditional treatment, it may be desired to utilize similar components when repositioning teeth with removable elastic repositioning appliances. Due to the nature of elastic appliances, such components may take a variety of forms ranging from readily available traditional accessories to specially created devices. Thus, traditional components may be mounted on or embedded in an elastic appliance, or the appliance may be formed to provide similar components. Likewise, the appliance may be modified to provide additional features for specific orthodontic treatments.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 7, 2003Publication date: October 9, 2003Applicant: ALIGN TECHNOLOGY, INC. A Delaware CorporationInventors: Loc X. Phan, Muhammad Chishti, Ross J. Miller, H. Robert Van Den Berg, Eric Kuo, Jae Hyun Ahn
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Patent number: 6629840Abstract: A system for repositioning teeth comprises a plurality of individual appliances. The appliances are configured to be placed successively on the patient's teeth and to incrementally reposition the teeth from an initial tooth arrangement, through a plurality of intermediate tooth arrangements, and to a final tooth arrangement. The system of appliances is usually configured at the outset of treatment so that the patient may progress through treatment without the need to have the treating professional perform each successive step in the procedure.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2001Date of Patent: October 7, 2003Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.Inventors: Muhammad Chishti, Kelsey Wirth
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Publication number: 20030186184Abstract: An improved dental appliance system, and methods for using and fabricating the improved appliance, including a polymeric overlay or shell having a teeth-receiving cavity formed therein. The dental appliance having the necessary stiffness or strength to firmly secure the appliance on the teeth and provide controlled forces required for repositioning the teeth, until such time as removal of the appliance is desired. The appliance may be configured for use with a removal mechanism. The removal mechanism provides for selective release of the appliance from the teeth as the removal mechanism undergoes a state change stimulated by an environmental stimulus or environmental switch.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2002Publication date: October 2, 2003Applicant: ALIGN TECHNOLOGY, INC.Inventors: Muhammad Chishti, Loc X. Phan
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Patent number: 6626666Abstract: A system for repositioning teeth comprises a plurality of individual appliances. The appliances are configured to be placed successively on the patient's teeth and to incrementally reposition the teeth from an initial tooth arrangement, through a plurality of intermediate tooth arrangements, and to a final tooth arrangement. The system of appliances is usually configured at the outset of treatment so that the patient may progress through treatment without the need to have the treating professional perform each successive step in the procedure.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2001Date of Patent: September 30, 2003Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.Inventors: Muhammad Chishti, Apostolos Lerios, Brian Freyburger, Kelsey Wirth, Richard Ridgley
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Patent number: 6602070Abstract: Computer-implemented systems and methods implement a dental treatment plan by specifying tooth movement patterns using a two-dimensional array; and generating treatment paths to move the teeth in accordance with the specified pattern.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2001Date of Patent: August 5, 2003Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.Inventors: Ross J. Miller, Muhammad Chishti, Huafeng Wen
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Patent number: 6582227Abstract: The present invention provides methods and systems of repositioning teeth for use in orthodontic treatment, with particular applicability to removable elastic repositioning appliances. Such appliances may be challenged by traditional tooth movements which intrude the crown of the tooth or present tooth positions which reduce available points of purchase. These challenges may be overcome with a series of tooth movements in which a tooth is translated in a “root-first” position. The movements may take advantage of the inherent characteristics of elastic repositioning appliances in translating a tooth from a first position to a desired position along a gingival plane.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2001Date of Patent: June 24, 2003Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.Inventors: Loc X. Phan, Muhammad Chishti
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Patent number: 6572372Abstract: Traditional orthodontic treatment often involves the use of basic repositioning devices, such as braces, and the use of supplementary devices, components or accessories to achieve desired end results. Such components may be mounted on fixed, non-removable devices or they may be part of a removable appliance typically worn prior to the application of the fixed devices. As with traditional treatment, it may be desired to utilize similar components when repositioning teeth with removable elastic repositioning appliances. Due to the nature of elastic appliances, such components may take a variety of forms ranging from readily available traditional accessories to specially created devices. Thus, traditional components may be mounted on or embedded in an elastic appliance, or the appliance may be formed to provide similar components. Likewise, the appliance may be modified to provide additional features for specific orthodontic treatments.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2000Date of Patent: June 3, 2003Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.Inventors: Loc X. Phan, Muhammad Chishti, Ross J. Miller, H. Robert Van Den Berg, Eric Kuo, Jae Hyun Ahn
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Patent number: 6554611Abstract: A system for repositioning teeth comprises a plurality of individual appliances. The appliances are configured to be placed successively on the patient's teeth and to incrementally reposition the teeth from an initial tooth arrangement, through a plurality of intermediate tooth arrangements, and to a final tooth arrangement. The system of appliances is usually configured at the outset of treatment so that the patient may progress through treatment without the need to have the treating professional perform each successive step in the procedure.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 2002Date of Patent: April 29, 2003Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.Inventors: Muhammad Chishti, Apostolos Lerios, Brian Freyburger, Kelsey Wirth, Richard Ridgley
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Publication number: 20030049584Abstract: Appliances are made using a dental mold representing a patient's dental configuration. In particular, thermoformable plastic positioning appliances which fit over the patient's teeth may be formed over a three-dimensional mold of the patient's dentition. An apparatus and methods which employ a manipulable or reconfigurable mold to model patient dentition and gingiva at each stage of treatment. The apparatus and methods are particularly useful for performing midcourse corrections during orthodontic procedures using a plurality of such appliances in sequence.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 24, 2002Publication date: March 13, 2003Applicant: Align Technology, Inc.Inventors: Muhammad Chishti, Loc X. Phan
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Publication number: 20030039941Abstract: A computer obtains a digital model of a patient's dentition, including a dental model representing the patient's teeth at a set of initial positions and a gingival model representing gum tissue surrounding the teeth. The computer then derives from the digital model an expected deformation of the gum tissue as the teeth move from the initial positions to another set of positions.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 24, 2002Publication date: February 27, 2003Applicant: Align Technology, Inc.Inventors: Muhammad Chishti, Huafeng Wen, Elena Pavlovskaia, Ka Man Cheang
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Publication number: 20030039389Abstract: A programmed computer is used to create a digital model of an individual component of a patient's dentition. The computer obtains a 3D digital mode of the patient's dentition, identifies points in the dentition model that lie on an inter-proximal margin between adjacent teeth in the patient's dentition, and uses the identified points to create a cutting surface that separates portions of the dentition model representing the adjacent teeth.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 15, 2002Publication date: February 27, 2003Applicant: ALIGN TECHNOLOGY, INC.Inventors: Timothy N. Jones, Muhammad Chishti, Huafeng Wen, Gregory P. Bala
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Patent number: 6524101Abstract: The present invention provides improved devices, systems and methods for repositioning teeth from an initial tooth arrangement to a final tooth arrangement. Repositioning is accomplished with a system comprising a series of polymeric appliances configured to receive the teeth in a cavity and incrementally reposition individual teeth in a series of successive steps. This is accomplished by applying force to specific surfaces of the teeth through stiffness of the appliance. However, such stiffness creates limitations in ease of use, patient compliance, and overall cost in material, manufacturing labor and treatment time. To overcome these limitations, the present invention utilizes polymeric or other material appliances with portions differing in rigidity or stiffness. Alternatively, elastic moduluses may differ from one appliance to the next in a successive series to accomplish various treatment goals.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2000Date of Patent: February 25, 2003Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.Inventors: Loc X. Phan, Muhammad Chishti, Ross J. Miller, H. Robert Vandenberg, Eric Kuo
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Patent number: 6514074Abstract: A computer obtains a digital model of a patient's dentition, including a dental model representing the patient's teeth at a set of initial positions and a gingival model representing gum tissue surrounding the teeth. The computer then derives from the digital model an expected deformation of the gum tissue as the teeth move from the initial positions to another set of positions.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 1999Date of Patent: February 4, 2003Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.Inventors: Muhammad Chishti, Huafeng Wen, Elena Pavlovskaia, Ka Man Cheang
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Publication number: 20030003416Abstract: Methods and corresponding apparatus for segmenting an orthodontic treatment path into clinically appropriate substeps for repositioning the teeth of a patient include providing a digital finite element model of the shape and material of each of a sequence of appliances to be applied to a patient; providing a digital finite element model of the teeth and related mouth tissue of the patient; computing the actual effect of the appliances on the teeth by analyzing the finite elements models computationally; and evaluating the effect against clinical constraints. The appliances can be braces, polymeric shells, or other forms of orthodontic appliance.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 26, 2002Publication date: January 2, 2003Applicant: ALIGN TECHNOLOGY, INC.Inventors: Muhammad Chishti, Elena I. Pavlovskaia, Gregory P. Bala, Brian Freyburger
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Patent number: 6499997Abstract: The present invention provides a manipulable or reconfigurable dental model system and methods for its use to model a series of tooth configurations corresponding to sequential tooth movements during an orthodontic treatment. When a patient undergoes orthodontic treatment, teeth and bite configurations are realigned in a series of stages. Each stage represents a new pattern or dental configuration that will eventually lead to a proper final positioning of the entire dentition. Progress from the initial configuration, through the intermediate stages and finally to the final configuration may be accomplished using any one or a combination of different dental appliances. Of particular interest to the present invention, many of these appliances may be made using a dental mold representing the patient's dental configuration. In particular, thermoformable plastic positioning appliances which fit over the patient's teeth may be formed over a three-dimensional mold of the patient's dentition.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2002Date of Patent: December 31, 2002Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.Inventors: Muhammad Chishti, Loc X. Phan
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Publication number: 20020192617Abstract: Traditional orthodontic treatment often involves the use of basic repositioning devices, such as braces, and the use of supplementary devices, components or accessories to achieve desired end results. Such components may be mounted on fixed, non-removable devices or they may be part of a removable appliance typically worn prior to the application of the fixed devices. As with traditional treatment, it may be desired to utilize similar components when repositioning teeth with removable elastic repositioning appliances. Due to the nature of elastic appliances, such components may take a variety of forms ranging from readily available traditional accessories to specially created devices. Thus, traditional components may be mounted on or embedded in an elastic appliance, or the appliance may be formed to provide similar components. Likewise, the appliance may be modified to provide additional features for specific orthodontic treatments.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 2, 2002Publication date: December 19, 2002Applicant: ALIGN TECHNOLOGY, INC.Inventors: Loc X. Phan, Muhammad Chishti, Ross J. Miller, H. Robert Van Den Berg, Eric Kuo, Jae Hyun Ahn, Robert E. Tricca, Trang Duong
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Publication number: 20020187451Abstract: The present invention provides improved devices, systems and methods for repositioning teeth from an initial tooth arrangement to a final tooth arrangement. Repositioning is accomplished with a system comprising a series of polymeric shell appliances configured to receive the teeth and incrementally reposition individual teeth in a series of successive steps. The individual appliances may be formed from layers having different stiffnesses (elastic moduluses), and the stiffnesses of successive appliances may be different, or both.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 26, 2002Publication date: December 12, 2002Applicant: Align Technology, Inc.Inventors: Loc X. Phan, Muhammad Chishti, Ross J. Miller, H. Robert Vandenberg, Eric Kuo