Patents Assigned to Align Technology, Inc.
  • Patent number: 11792384
    Abstract: A method includes receiving scan data of a tooth during a first mode of operation, the scan data of the tooth having been generated by an intraoral scanner. The method includes invoking a second mode of operation and presenting, in a GUI, an image of the tooth. The method includes presenting, in the GUI, indications of a plurality of color zones of the tooth, the indications comprising, for at least one color zone of the plurality of color zones, an indication that insufficient color information has been received, wherein each color zone represents a separate region of the tooth for which an approximately uniform color is to be used. The method includes categorizing, for one or more color zones of the plurality of color zones for which sufficient color information has been received, each of the one or more color zones according to a color pallet used for dental prosthetics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Gilad Furst, Tal Verker, Ofer Saphier
  • Patent number: 11789594
    Abstract: A method for treating a subject's teeth. A target configuration for the subject's teeth is determined. Receiving features are produced on a dental base in response to the target configuration, the receiving features being configured to receive physical tooth models. The physical tooth models are assembled on the dental base to form a physical arch model. A dental aligner is produced using the physical arch model to move the subject's teeth to the target configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Huafeng Wen
  • Patent number: 11779243
    Abstract: According to the techniques herein, one or more sensors coupled to an aligner are used to sense one or more physical qualities of the aligner to determine whether the physical qualities indicate that the aligner material has relaxed and has, e.g., reduced the force systems applied to teeth and/or that the teeth movement for the stage has slowed down. The sensors may provide a signal that represents whether or not the physical qualities fall below a threshold value. A treatment plan may be modified if needed. These techniques have the potential to make treatment plans faster and more effective by speeding up some stages while making sure some, perhaps other, stages are implemented only after the teeth are near the appropriate position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Huizhong Li, Andrew Jang, Michael Christopher Cole, Yuxiang Wang, Jun Sato, Allen R. Boronkay
  • Patent number: 11779444
    Abstract: A device including a coded pattern for use in dental procedures is provided. Related methods and systems are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Avi Kopelman
  • Patent number: 11779437
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for diagnosing and generating a treatment plan for temporomandibular joint dysfunction where a polymeric shell appliance is utilized to generate one or more activation forces that facilitate tooth movement. The polymeric shell appliances may comprise one or more tooth receiving cavities, in which each of the plurality of tooth receiving cavities is shaped and arranged to provide a counter moment of each of the plurality of teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce Cam, John Y. Morton, Vadim Matov, Jun Sato
  • Patent number: 11771526
    Abstract: Systems and methods of generating an orthodontic model are disclosed. The method may include: generating an initial model of a patient dentition; generating a target model of the patient dentition; defining a plurality of caps and a plurality of links, wherein each link connects two of the plurality of caps; generating a relaxed model of a dental appliance from the plurality of caps and the plurality of links; generating a deformed model of a dental appliance from the plurality of caps and plurality of links; and determining a plurality of movements, wherein the plurality of moments transform the relaxed model to the deformed model and wherein the moments are configured to direct the patient dentition from the initial model to the target model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Vadim Matov, Sergei Brodsky, Bastien Pesenti, Yuri Syrov, Ping Tang, Manlio Fabio Valdivieso Casique, Olga Matusevich, Igor Kvasov
  • Patent number: 11766314
    Abstract: A multilayer sheet comprising first and second layers is provided. The first layer consists of a co-polyester. The second layer consists of a thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer having an elongation at break of greater than 200%, a hardness of 60A to 85D, an ultimate tensile strength of greater than about 5000 psi, and a light transmission between 400 nm and 800 nm of greater than about 75%. A mold is provided and the multilayer sheet is thermoformed over the mold to form a plurality of tooth-receiving cavities configured to receive and reposition a patient's teeth from a first arrangement toward a second arrangement. Excess material is trimmed from the thermoformed multilayer sheet to form a multilayer dental aligner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Chunhua Li, Yan Chen, Heinz Pudleiner, Klaus Meyer, Joerg Nickel, Craig Pehlert
  • Patent number: 11766313
    Abstract: A multilayer sheet comprising first, second, and third layers is provided. The first layer consists of a co-polyester having an elongation at break of greater than 70%. The second layer consists of a thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer having an elongation at break of greater than 200% and a hardness of about 60 A to about 85 D. The first layer has a hardness greater than the hardness of the second layer. A mold is provided and the multilayer sheet is thermoformed over the mold to form a plurality of tooth-receiving cavities configured to receive and position a patient's teeth from a first arrangement toward a second arrangement. Excess material is trimmed from the thermoformed multilayer sheet to form the multilayer dental aligner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Chunhua Li, Yan Chen, Heinz Pudleiner, Klaus Meyer, Joerg Nickel, Craig Pehlert
  • Patent number: 11766311
    Abstract: The present invention relates to systems and methods of developing and tracking delivery and patient progression through an orthodontic treatment plan. One method includes identifying deviations from an orthodontic treatment plan, including receiving a digital representation of an actual arrangement of a patient's teeth after an orthodontic treatment plan has begun for the patient and prior to completion of the orthodontic treatment plan. The method further includes comparing the actual arrangement to a pre-determined planned arrangement to determine if the actual arrangement substantially deviates from the planned arrangement, the comparing comprising matching teeth from a previously segmented model to a surface of an unsegmented representation of the actual arrangement; and calculating one or more positional differences between the actual and planned arrangements of at least some of the corresponding teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Ian Kitching, Rene Sterental, Eric Kuo, Maia Singer
  • Patent number: 11759291
    Abstract: Provided herein are orthodontic systems and methods for automatically segmenting a person's teeth. Systems, methods and processes are provided to properly segment the teeth of a person's teeth from an image of the person's face showing at least some of the person's teeth (e.g., dental arch). Methods and systems are provided to automatically detect dental edges after a dental scan. Also described herein are methods and systems for generating a simulated image of the person's face from the final segmentation of the person's teeth in which the segmented teeth have been moved from their original position, including a new position based on an orthodontic treatment plan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Chao Shi, Yingjie Li, Vladislav Andreevich Miryaha, Boris Aleksandrovich Vysokanov, Andrey Bushev
  • Patent number: 11759277
    Abstract: Removable barrier devices (e.g., sleeves) for covering medical scanning devices to reduce the chance of cross-contamination between patients and/or to protect the scanning devices from physical damage. The barrier device can include a cover that has an integrated window for passing optical signals between the scanning device and an external environment. The cover can include a sleeve that covers a handle portion of the scanning device to prevent contamination of the handle from a user's hand or glove. The cover and sleeve may both be formed of the same flexible material, or the cover may be rigid to maintain the window in a fixed position and the sleeve may be flexible to allow a user to activate a button or touchpad on the handle. An interface region between the cover and sleeve may provide a hermetic seal. The window may include a nanostructured antireflective material to limit internal reflections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Ariel Shalev, Eran Green, Zakhar Ginzburg, Matthew Durban, Roee Gorfinkel, Ofer Saphier, Tal Verker, Nir Makmel, Eran Ishay, Raphael Levy
  • Patent number: 11759295
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for taking, using and displaying three-dimensional (3D) volumetric models of a patient's dental arch. A 3D volumetric model may include surface (e.g., color) information as well as information on internal structure, such as near-infrared (near-IR) transparency values for internal structures including enamel and dentin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Sabina, Avi Kopelman, Eric Kuo, Gilad Elbaz, Assaf Weiss, Doron Malka, Ofer Saphier, Eliahou Franklin Nizard, Ido Tishel, Shai Ayal, Maayan Moshe
  • Patent number: 11752523
    Abstract: Methods for sorting and sequencing objects are provided. In some embodiments, a method includes receiving a plurality of objects, each object associated with an identifier including group data identifying a group to which the object belongs, and sequence data identifying a sequential position for the object within the group. The method can include determining the group data and the sequence data for each object by reading the identifier associated with the object; sorting the plurality of objects by directing each object into one of a plurality of buffer locations based on the group data for the object; and sequencing the set of objects associated with each buffer location by placing each object into a position within the corresponding set of objects based on the sequence data for the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: James Clete Culp, Stanley E. Sankaran
  • Patent number: 11751978
    Abstract: Aligners and orthodontic systems are provided. In some embodiments, an aligner includes a polymeric shell including a plurality of tooth-receiving cavities, an interior layer, and an exterior layer. The exterior layer can comprise a discontinuity formed therein. When the aligner is worn on a patient's teeth, the interior layer can interact with the discontinuity to impart one or more forces to facilitate repositioning of the patient's teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Avi Kopelman, Jeeyoung Choi
  • Patent number: 11751977
    Abstract: Embodiments are provided for digital dental modeling. One method embodiment includes receiving a three-dimensional data set including a first jaw and a second jaw of a three-dimensional digital dental model and receiving a two-dimensional data set corresponding to at least a portion of the first jaw and the second jaw. The method includes mapping two-dimensional data of the two-dimensional data set to the three-dimensional digital dental model by transforming a coordinate system of the two-dimensional data to a coordinate system of the three-dimensional data set. The method includes positioning the first jaw with respect to the second jaw based on the two-dimensional data mapped to the three-dimensional data set. The method includes using at least a portion of the two-dimensional data mapped to the three-dimensional data set as a target of movement of the first jaw with respect to the second jaw in the three-dimensional digital dental model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Anatoliy Boltunov, Yury Brailov, Fedor Chelnokov, Roman Roschin, David Mason
  • Patent number: 11751974
    Abstract: Provided herein are orthodontic devices and methods for patients with missing or ectopic teeth. Methods and processes are provided to properly number the teeth of a patient's arch after a dental scan. Methods and processes are also provided to automatically detect missing or ectopic teeth after a dental scan. Methods of designing and manufacturing the aligner are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Roman A. Roschin, Evgenii Vladimirovich Karnygin, Sergey Grebenkin, Alexey Lazarev, Dmitry Guskov, Ivan Slepynin, Alexey Vladykin, Alexander Vovchenko, Alexander Beliaev
  • Patent number: 11744681
    Abstract: In a method of generating a virtual 3D model of a dental site, scan data comprising a plurality of images of a dental site is received during an intraoral scan. An analysis of an image is performed. A representation of a reference object with known properties is identified in the image based on the analysis. A virtual 3D model of the dental site is generated based on the plurality of images. The image and/or the virtual 3D model of the dental site is modified by adding additional data about the reference object to the intraoral image and/or the virtual 3D model based on the one or more known properties of the reference object. If the image is modified, it may be modified prior to generation of the virtual 3D model, and the virtual 3D model may be generated using the modified image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Avi Kopelman, Michael Sabina
  • Patent number: 11744677
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides method, systems, and devices for adjusting an arch of teeth. An appliance includes a removable shell formed of a first material having a number of cavities formed therein, wherein the number of cavities are shaped to receive teeth of a patient, and an arch element extending from the removable shell in a lingual direction and across at least a portion of the arch width of the removable shell, wherein the arch element is designed to expand an arch of the teeth of the patient, wherein the arch element has a width specific to a stage of a treatment plan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan Kimura, John Morton, Richard Shaw, Chunhua Li
  • Patent number: 11744451
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods, computing device readable medium, devices, and systems that utilize a cheek retractor and/or a mobile device holder for case assessment and/or dental treatments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric P. Meyer, Roman A. Roschin, Tzishing Jesse Lim, Palak Mittal, Stephan Albert Alexandre Dumothier, Norman C. Su, Huameng Ivan Chu
  • Patent number: 11744682
    Abstract: A system for intraoral scanning comprises a scanner to generate image data of a dental site and a computing device. The computing device receives the image data of the dental site, the image data comprising a representation of the dental site and a representation of a reference object at the dental site. The computing device selects library data for the reference object from library data for a plurality of reference objects in a library. The computing device aligns the library data for the reference object with the image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Avi Kopelman, Michael Sabina