Patents by Inventor Norman SU

Norman SU 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).

  • Patent number: 11974897
    Abstract: Palatal expander apparatuses for expanding a patient's palate (“palatal expanders”) and methods of making them. The apparatuses may include a pair of tooth engagement regions connected by a palatal region. A detachment region on at least one of the tooth engagement regions may be defined by one or more first vertical cut-out regions extending from a bottom of a buccal side toward an occlusal side of the tooth engagement region. The buccal side may be more flexible than the occlusal side so that the detachment region flexes when a removal force to release the palatal expander apparatus from the patient's palate is applied to the detachment region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Yaser Shanjani, Jeremy Riley, Ryan Kimura, Jun Sato, Norman Su, Jihua Cheng, Fuming Wu
  • Patent number: 11974898
    Abstract: Palatal expander apparatuses for expanding a patient's palate (“palatal expanders”) and methods of using and making them. The palatal expanders may include tooth engagement regions connected by a palatal region that is configured to apply force between the tooth engagement regions. At least a portion of the palatal region may be configured to have a clearance from the patient's mid-palatal region when the palatal expander is worn by the patient. The clearance between the palatal region and the patient's palate may decrease from the patient's mid-palatal region laterally toward the tooth engagement regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Yaser Shanjani, Jeremy Riley, Ryan Kimura, Jun Sato, Norman Su, Jihua Cheng, Fuming Wu
  • Publication number: 20230404714
    Abstract: Methods for designing and fabrication of a series of apparatuses for expanding a patient's palate (“palatal expanders”). In particular, described herein are methods and apparatuses for forming palatal expanders, including rapid palatal expanders, as well as series of palatal expanders formed as described herein and apparatuses for designing and fabricating them.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2023
    Publication date: December 21, 2023
    Inventors: Fuming WU, Ryan KIMURA, Jeremy RILEY, Yaser SHANJANI, Norman SU, Jun SATO, Bastien PESENTI, John Y. MORTON, Jihua CHENG
  • Publication number: 20230200947
    Abstract: Palatal expander apparatuses for expanding a patient's palate (“palatal expanders”) and methods of using and making them. These palatal expanders may be configured to have a variable surface smoothness on one side (e.g., the lingual-facing surface) compared to the opposite side (e.g., the palatal-facing surface). These palatal expanders may be configured to have a varying thickness in the palatal region. These palatal expanders may be adapted for ease in removal by the patient or caregiver (e.g., including a hinged region and/or detachment region, and/or including a thinner buccal side then occlusal side, etc.).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2023
    Publication date: June 29, 2023
    Inventors: Yaser SHANJANI, Jeremy RILEY, Ryan KIMURA, Jun SATO, Norman SU, Jihua CHENG, Fuming WU
  • Publication number: 20230157791
    Abstract: Methods for designing and fabrication of a series of apparatuses for expanding a patient's palate (“palatal expanders”). In particular, described herein are methods and apparatuses for forming palatal expanders, including rapid palatal expanders, as well as series of palatal expanders formed as described herein and apparatuses for designing and fabricating them.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2023
    Publication date: May 25, 2023
    Inventors: Fuming WU, Ryan KIMURA, Jeremy RILEY, Yaser SHANJANI, Norman SU, Jun SATO, Bastien PESENTI, John Y. MORTON, Jihua CHENG
  • Patent number: 11576754
    Abstract: Methods for designing and fabrication of a series of apparatuses for expanding a patient's palate (“palatal expanders”). In particular, described herein are methods and apparatuses for forming palatal expanders, including rapid palatal expanders, as well as series of palatal expanders formed as described herein and apparatuses for designing and fabricating them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Fuming Wu, Ryan Kimura, Jeremy Riley, Yaser Shanjani, Norman Su, Jun Sato, Bastien Pesenti, John Y. Morton, Jihua Cheng
  • Publication number: 20220175494
    Abstract: Palatal expander apparatuses for expanding a patient's palate (“palatal expanders”) and methods of using and making them. These palatal expanders may be configured to have a variable surface smoothness on one side (e.g., the lingual-facing surface) compared to the opposite side (e.g., the palatal-facing surface). These palatal expanders may be configured to have a varying thickness in the palatal region. These palatal expanders may be adapted for ease in removal by the patient or caregiver (e.g., including a hinged region and/or detachment region, and/or including a thinner buccal side then occlusal side, etc.).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2022
    Publication date: June 9, 2022
    Inventors: Yaser SHANJANI, Jeremy RILEY, Ryan KIMURA, Jun SATO, Norman SU, Jihua CHENG, Fuming WU
  • Patent number: 11273011
    Abstract: Palatal expander apparatuses for expanding a patient's palate (“palatal expanders”) and methods of using and making them. These palatal expanders may be configured to have a variable surface smoothness on one side (e.g., the lingual-facing surface) compared to the opposite side (e.g., the palatal-facing surface). These palatal expanders may be configured to have a varying thickness in the palatal region. These palatal expanders may be adapted for ease in removal by the patient or caregiver (e.g., including a hinged region and/or detachment region, and/or including a thinner buccal side then occlusal side, etc.).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Yaser Shanjani, Jeremy Riley, Ryan Kimura, Jun Sato, Norman Su, Jihua Cheng, Fuming Wu
  • Patent number: 10993783
    Abstract: Methods for designing and fabrication of a series of apparatuses for expanding a patient's palate (“palatal expanders”). In particular, described herein are methods and apparatuses for forming palatal expanders, including rapid palatal expanders, as well as series of palatal expanders formed as described herein and apparatuses for designing and fabricating them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Fuming Wu, Ryan Kimura, Jeremy Riley, Yaser Shanjani, Norman Su, Jun Sato, Bastien Pesenti, John Y. Morton, Jihua Cheng
  • Publication number: 20210068926
    Abstract: Methods for designing and fabrication of a series of apparatuses for expanding a patient's palate (“palatal expanders”). In particular, described herein are methods and apparatuses for forming palatal expanders, including rapid palatal expanders, as well as series of palatal expanders formed as described herein and apparatuses for designing and fabricating them.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2020
    Publication date: March 11, 2021
    Inventors: Fuming WU, Ryan KIMURA, Jeremy RILEY, Yaser SHANJANI, Norman SU, Jun SATO, Bastien PESENTI, John Y. MORTON, Jihua CHENG
  • Publication number: 20180153648
    Abstract: Palatal expander apparatuses for expanding a patient's palate (“palatal expanders”) and methods of using and making them. These palatal expanders may be configured to have a variable surface smoothness on one side (e.g., the lingual-facing surface) compared to the opposite side (e.g., the palatal-facing surface). These palatal expanders may be configured to have a varying thickness in the palatal region. These palatal expanders may be adapted for ease in removal by the patient or caregiver (e.g., including a hinged region and/or detachment region, and/or including a thinner buccal side then occlusal side, etc.).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2017
    Publication date: June 7, 2018
    Inventors: Yaser SHANJANI, Jeremy RILEY, Ryan KIMURA, Jun SATO, Norman SU, Jihua CHENG, Fuming WU
  • Publication number: 20180153649
    Abstract: Methods for designing and fabrication of a series of apparatuses for expanding a patient's palate (“palatal expanders”). In particular, described herein are methods and apparatuses for forming palatal expanders, including rapid palatal expanders, as well as series of palatal expanders formed as described herein and apparatuses for designing and fabricating them.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2017
    Publication date: June 7, 2018
    Inventors: Fuming WU, Ryan KIMURA, Jeremy RILEY, Yaser SHANJANI, Norman SU, Jun SATO, Bastien PESENTI, John Y. MORTON, Jihua CHENG