Patents Assigned to Align Technology, Inc.
  • Patent number: 10610106
    Abstract: A processing device receives a first virtual 3D model and a second virtual 3D model, each comprising one or more teeth of a patient. The processing device compares the first virtual 3D model to the second virtual 3D model and determines, as a result of the comparing, a difference between the first virtual 3D model and the second virtual 3D model at a dental site comprising a tooth of the one or more teeth. The processing device determines whether the difference comprises a first type of change to the tooth that is indicative of tooth wear or a second type of change to the tooth that is indicative of tooth movement associated with orthodontic treatment. Responsive to determining that the first difference comprises the first type of change to the first tooth, the processing device generates a first indicator of the tooth wear for the tooth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Avi Kopelman, Michael Sabina, Adi Levin, Mikhail Minchenkov, Maria Anufrienko
  • Patent number: 10610107
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for preparation of orthodontics and prosthodontics. A method may include scanning a patient's teeth to form first 3D data of the patient's teeth including a removable element that obscures part of the dental surfaces of the patient's teeth and non-obscured tooth surfaces, removing the removable element form the patient's teeth so that the removable element no longer obscures the part of the dental surfaces of the patient's teeth, and scanning the previously obscured part of the dental surfaces of the patent's teeth and the non-obscured tooth surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Avi Kopelman
  • Patent number: 10610332
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides computing device implemented methods, computing device readable media, and systems for adjustment of tooth position in a virtual dental model. Virtual dental modeling can include detecting space and/or collision between posterior teeth of an upper jaw and posterior teeth of a lower jaw in a virtual dental model that has been set in a preliminary target position. An energy function can be defined including the space and/or collision, tooth root movement, and align points. Weights can be assigned for each variable in the energy function. A position of the posterior teeth of the upper jaw and the posterior teeth of the lower jaw can be adjusted in six degrees of freedom to minimize the energy function. The detection, definition, assignment, and adjustment can be repeated until the energy function converges. The weights can be adjusted to reduce the space and/or collision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Fuming Wu, Vadim Matov, Artem Borovinskih, Rene M. Sterental, Pavel Agapov, Anton Spiridonov, Anatoliy Boltunov
  • Patent number: 10613515
    Abstract: The example systems, methods, and/or computer-readable media described herein help with design of highly accurate models of un-erupted or partially erupted teeth and help fabricate of aligners for un-erupted or partially erupted teeth. Automated agents that use machine learning models to parametrically represent three-dimensional (3d) virtual representations of teeth as 3D descriptors in a 3D descriptor space are provided herein. In some implementations, the automated agents described herein provide instructions to fabricate aligners for at least partially un-erupted teeth using representative 3D descriptor(s) of a tooth type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Eric Cramer, Jeeyoung Choi
  • Patent number: 10606911
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for generating a model of a subject's teeth. Described herein are intraoral scanning methods and apparatuses for generating a three-dimensional model of a subject's intraoral region (e.g., teeth) including both surface features and internal features. These methods and apparatuses may be used for identifying and evaluating lesions, caries and cracks in the teeth. Any of these methods and apparatuses may use minimum scattering coefficients and/or segmentation to form a volumetric model of the teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Gilad Elbaz, Erez Lampert, Yossef Atiya, Avi Kopelman, Ofer Saphier, Maayan Moshe, Shai Ayal
  • Patent number: 10603136
    Abstract: A method includes receiving first intraoral scan data of an intraoral site, the first intraoral scan data having been generated at a first time, receiving second intraoral scan data of the intraoral site, the second intraoral scan data having been generated at a second time that is later than the first time, and analyzing the second intraoral scan data of the intraoral site relative to the first intraoral scan data of the intraoral site. The method further includes identifying an area of interest (AOI) based on the analyzing and removing data for the AOI from at least one of the first intraoral scan data, the second intraoral scan data, or a three-dimensional (3D) model of the intraoral site generated from the first intraoral scan data and the second intraoral scan data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Avi Kopelman, Michael Sabina
  • Patent number: 10599227
    Abstract: A method includes: displaying to a display a first indication of a first segment of a patient's oral cavity to be scanned; receiving a first user input via a hand held intraoral scanning device; causing the hand held intraoral scanning device to enter a scan mode; receiving one or more intraoral scans of the first segment; generating a three-dimensional (3D) model of the first segment based on the one or more intraoral scans; displaying to the display the 3D model of the first segment; receiving a second user input via the intraoral scanning device after receiving the one or more intraoral scans of the first segment; and displaying to the display an overlay including a first element corresponding to third user input for navigating to a next segment and a second element corresponding to fourth user input for navigating to a previous segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Sabina, Leon Rasovsky
  • Patent number: 10600160
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides computing device implemented methods, computing device readable media, and systems for motion compensation in a three dimensional scan. Motion compensation can include receiving three-dimensional (3D) scans of a dentition, estimating a motion trajectory from one scan to another, and calculating a corrected scan by compensating for the motion trajectory. Estimating the motion trajectory can include one or more of: registering a scan to another scan and determining whether an amount of movement between the scans is within a registration threshold; determining an optical flow based on local motion between consecutive two-dimensional (2D) images taken during the scan, estimating and improving a motion trajectory of a point in the scan using the optical flow; and estimating an amount of motion of a 3D scanner during the scan as a rigid body transformation based on input from a position tracking device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Adi Levin
  • Patent number: 10595966
    Abstract: Described herein are methods and apparatuses to obtain an image, or a set of images, of a patient's teeth from one or more predetermined viewing angles. These methods and apparatuses may include the use an overlay comprising an outline of teeth for each predetermined viewing angle. The overlay may be used for automatically capturing, focusing and/or illuminating the teeth. Also described herein are methods and apparatuses for using a series of images of the patient's teeth including a set of predetermined views to determine if a patient is a candidate for an orthopedic procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Maurice K. Carrier, Jr., Phillip Thomas Harris, Sergey Vinnichenko, Samuel Blanco, Aleksandr Sergeevich Karsakov, Sebastien Hareng, Leon Rasovsky
  • Patent number: 10595965
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes computing device related, systems, and methods for IPR planning as described herein. One method includes identifying a first tooth and a second tooth in a digital dental model with an overlap in a target final position in a treatment plan and identifying a reference line on each of the first tooth and the second tooth; revising the treatment plan wherein a position of each of the first tooth and the second tooth is determined in which the reference line of each of the first tooth and the second tooth are aligned and the first tooth and second tooth are not overlapping; and prescribing IPR based on the determined position of each of the first tooth and the second tooth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Rahul Khardekar, Artem Borovinskih, Rene M. Sterental, Giovanny Garro, Jason Ramos, Mitra Derakhshan, Sergey Kurchatov, Igor Kvasov
  • Patent number: 10588515
    Abstract: An apparatus for dental confocal imaging comprises an illumination module for generating an array of light beams, an optics system for confocal focusing of the array of light beams and a probe head with a light-guiding part having an entrance face and an exit face. The illumination module, the optics system and the probe head are arranged such that the array of light beams from the illumination module passes through the optics system, enters the light-guiding part via the entrance face and exits the light-guiding part via the exit face. The optics system is configured such that, after having passed through the optics system, the outermost marginal rays of the outermost light beams with respect to the optical axis of the optics system are parallel or divergent to the optical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Yossef Atiya, Tal Verker, Nir Makmel
  • Patent number: 10589545
    Abstract: Provided herein are methods of obtaining good photocured-ink adhesion to low surface energy materials. The methods have greatly improved adhesion of photocured ink on low surface energy materials, including those that are subjected to high humidity or wet environments. The methods take into account the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the materials and the onset for the glass transition temperature, including ink applied to an exposed surface of the material at an elevated temperature that is close to the Tg of the material. The ink is allowed to sit briefly or soak, such as for more than 1 second, before the ink is cured. The ink may be photocured. Furthermore, the methods do not require solvents or surface treatment, including plasma or corona treatments, to obtain good ink adhesion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Christopher Cole
  • Patent number: 10585958
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for generating a model of a subject's teeth. Described herein are intraoral scanning methods and apparatuses for generating a three-dimensional model of a subject's intraoral region (e.g., teeth) including both surface features and internal features. These methods and apparatuses may be used for identifying and evaluating lesions, caries and cracks in the teeth. Any of these methods and apparatuses may use minimum scattering coefficients and/or segmentation to form a volumetric model of the teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Gilad Elbaz, Erez Lampert, Yossef Atiya, Avi Kopelman, Ofer Saphier, Maayan Moshe, Shai Ayal
  • Publication number: 20200071006
    Abstract: A system for packaging mass-customized items includes a computer system including a database containing item identification information unique to each item; (2) outer container identification apparatus that applies the item identification information received from the database to each outer container in a plurality of outer containers; (3) inner pack identification apparatus that applies the item identification information received from the database to each inner pack in a plurality of inner packs; and (4) inner pack filling apparatus that fills each inner pack with a specific item matched to that inner pack by the item identification information received from the database. Each item is associated with its unique item identification information and is inserted into an inner pack with matching item identification information, and each outer container is presented for loading with one or more inner packs matched to that outer container by the item identification information received from the database.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2019
    Publication date: March 5, 2020
    Applicant: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Stanley E. Sankaran, Eric Kuo, Kevin M. Conlon, Josh Van Riper
  • Patent number: 10568722
    Abstract: A 3D virtual model of an intra oral cavity in which at least a part of a finish line of a preparation is obscured is manipulated in virtual space by means of a computer or the like to create, recreate or reconstruct finish line data and other geometrical corresponding to the obscured part. Trimmed virtual models, and trimmed physical models, can then be created utilizing data thus created. The virtual models and/or the physical models may be used in the design and manufacture of copings or of prostheses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Avi Kopelman, Eldad Taub
  • Patent number: 10561476
    Abstract: Methods and systems for generating a three-dimensional occlusogram are disclosed. One method includes determining a virtual three dimensional (3D) mesh model object of at least one tooth of a patient and displaying the determined virtual 3D mesh model object of at least one tooth of a patient wherein the 3D mesh model object includes a plurality of data sets associated with a set of occlusal information for the at least one tooth of the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Vadim Matov, Jihua Cheng, Fuming Wu, Kenji Tan
  • Patent number: 10548700
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods, devices, and systems that utilize dental appliance etch templates prior to or during dental treatment. One dental appliance etch template includes a removable shell having one or more cavities formed therein, where the one or more cavities are shaped to receive teeth of a patient, and the shell includes a well, the well including a wafer, where the wafer includes etch material to etch a tooth of the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Lawrence Fernie
  • Patent number: 10543064
    Abstract: Methods, devices, systems, and series of appliances are provided for dental implant positioning. One method for positioning an implant with dental treatment includes determining an implant location based on a virtual model of an optimized dental occlusion, moving one or more teeth using a first number of a series of dental appliances, from a first orientation to a second orientation, the second orientation exposing the implant location, placing an implant at the exposed implant location using a landmark included in at least one of the series of dental appliances, repositioning one or more teeth using a second number of the series of dental appliances, from the second orientation to a successive orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Eric E. Kuo
  • Patent number: 10537406
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides method, computing device readable medium, and devices for dental appliances with repositioning jaw elements. An example of a method can include identifying a misaligned jaw of a patient from a virtual image of the patient's jaw, providing a treatment plan for the patient including a virtual model of a dental appliance having a first shell and a second shell configured to reposition at least one tooth of the patient, and adjusting the position of the repositioning jaw elements on the first shell and the second shell to comply with a number of constraints. The virtual model of the dental appliance including repositioning jaw elements on the first shell and the second shell configured to move a position of the misaligned jaw of the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Ken Wu, Eric E. Kuo, Mitra Derakhshan, Crystal Tjhia, Eric Yau, Allen R. Boronkay, Chunhua Li, Gleb Krivovyaz
  • Patent number: 10537405
    Abstract: A method includes to receive, via a computing device, data representing a plurality of teeth, identify data indicating which of the plurality of teeth are unerupted or erupting, predict at least one characteristic of a tooth of the unerupted or erupting teeth after they have fully erupted using one or more tooth eruption prediction factors, generate new data representing the unerupted or erupting teeth in multiple states of eruption based upon the predicted at least one characteristic of the fully erupted teeth, and generate a series of incremental tooth arrangements with the new data to define a proposed orthodontic treatment based on the new data representing the unerupted or erupting teeth in multiple states of eruption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeeyoung Choi, Chunhua Li, John Morton, Bastien Pesenti, Vadim Matov, Alexander Beliaev, Petr Ushanov, Roman A. Roschin