Patents by Inventor Steve Cicurel
Steve Cicurel 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: 11564784Abstract: A system includes an orientation determination system comprising a camera where the camera is configured to capture an image of an orientation feature of a physical dental model of a dental arch of a customer with material thermoformed thereon. The orientation determination system is configured to identify an offset of the physical dental model with respect to a fixture plate during positioning or before or after the physical dental model is positioned on the fixture plate by determining an actual orientation of the physical dental model based on the orientation feature. The system also includes a laser trimming system configured to cut the material along a trim line based on the identified offset while the fixture plate is moved about at least two axes to produce a dental aligner specific to the customer and being configured to reposition one or more teeth of the customer.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2020Date of Patent: January 31, 2023Assignee: SDC U.S. SMILEPAY SPVInventors: Clete Culp, Jordan Katzman, Steve Cicurel, Christopher Yancey
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Patent number: 11358323Abstract: A system includes a plurality of assemblies each configured to support a dental mold and a material, a heating system configured to heat the material, a forming system configured to form a chamber encompassing the dental mold and at least a portion of the heated material, and to cause the heated material to form over the dental mold, and a conveyor system configured to move the plurality of assemblies from a loading area to the heating system, from the heating system to the forming system, and from the forming system to an unloading area.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2020Date of Patent: June 14, 2022Assignee: SDC U.S. SMILEPAY SPVInventors: Clete Culp, Christopher Yancey, John Dargis, Mark French, Daniel Pfeffer, Steve Cicurel
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Publication number: 20210045854Abstract: A system includes an orientation determination system comprising a camera where the camera is configured to capture an image of an orientation feature of a physical dental model of a dental arch of a customer with material thermoformed thereon. The orientation determination system is configured to identify an offset of the physical dental model with respect to a fixture plate during positioning or before or after the physical dental model is positioned on the fixture plate by determining an actual orientation of the physical dental model based on the orientation feature. The system also includes a laser trimming system configured to cut the material along a trim line based on the identified offset while the fixture plate is moved about at least two axes to produce a dental aligner specific to the customer and being configured to reposition one or more teeth of the customer.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 17, 2020Publication date: February 18, 2021Applicant: SmileDirectClub LLCInventors: Clete Culp, Jordan Katzman, Steve Cicurel, Christopher Yancey
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Publication number: 20200316841Abstract: A system includes a plurality of assemblies each configured to support a dental mold and a material, a heating system configured to heat the material, a forming system configured to form a chamber encompassing the dental mold and at least a portion of the heated material, and to cause the heated material to form over the dental mold, and a conveyor system configured to move the plurality of assemblies from a loading area to the heating system, from the heating system to the forming system, and from the forming system to an unloading area.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 22, 2020Publication date: October 8, 2020Inventors: Clete Culp, Christopher Yancey, John Dargis, Mark French, Daniel Pfeffer, Steve Cicurel
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Patent number: 10688710Abstract: A system includes a plurality of assemblies each configured to support a dental mold and a material, a heating system configured to heat the material, a forming system configured to form a chamber encompassing the dental mold and at least a portion of the heated material, and to cause the heated material to form over the dental mold, and a conveyor system configured to move the plurality of assemblies from a loading area to the heating system, from the heating system to the forming system, and from the forming system to an unloading area.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 2019Date of Patent: June 23, 2020Assignee: SmileDirectClub LLCInventors: Clete Culp, Christopher Yancey, John Dargis, Mark French, Daniel Pfeffer, Steve Cicurel
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Publication number: 20200147856Abstract: A system includes a plurality of assemblies each configured to support a dental mold and a material, a heating system configured to heat the material, a forming system configured to form a chamber encompassing the dental mold and at least a portion of the heated material, and to cause the heated material to form over the dental mold, and a conveyor system configured to move the plurality of assemblies from a loading area to the heating system, from the heating system to the forming system, and from the forming system to an unloading area.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 29, 2019Publication date: May 14, 2020Applicant: SmileDirectClub LLCInventors: Clete Culp, Christopher Yancey, John Dargis, Mark French, Daniel Pfeffer, Steve Cicurel
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Patent number: 10624722Abstract: Systems and methods for laser trimming dental aligners include a model positioning system, an orientation determination system, and a laser trimming system. The model positioning system receives a physical dental model with a material thermoformed thereto. The dental model includes an orientation feature. The model positioning system moves the dental model to a position where the orientation feature is viewable by a camera. The camera captures an image of the orientation feature. The orientation determination system identifies an offset of the dental model by determining an actual orientation of the dental model based on the image of the orientation feature. The laser trimming system cuts the material from the dental model along a trim line while the fixture plate is moved about at least two axes relative to the laser trimming system.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 2019Date of Patent: April 21, 2020Assignee: SmileDirectClub LLCInventors: Clete Culp, Jordan Katzman, Steve Cicurel, Christopher Yancey
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Patent number: 10315353Abstract: A system includes a heating system, a forming system, a conveyor system, and a plurality of thermoforming assemblies for supporting a dental mold and a thermoforming material. The heating system includes a first heater to heat the thermoforming material when proximate the first heater, a second heater configured to heat the thermoforming material when proximate the second heater, and a temperature sensor to detect a temperature of the thermoforming material when the thermoforming material is proximate either of the first heater and the second heater. The forming system includes an actuator and a pressure system to compress the heated thermoforming material to the dental mold. The conveyor system moves the plurality of thermoforming assemblies in a stepwise movement sequence from a loading area to the heating system, from the heating system to the forming system, and from the forming system to an unloading area.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2018Date of Patent: June 11, 2019Assignee: SmileDirectClub LLCInventors: Clete Culp, Christopher Yancey, John Dargis, Mark French, Daniel Pfeffer, Steve Cicurel