Patents Assigned to Align Technology
  • System and method for facilitating automated dental measurements and diagnostics
    Publication number: 20070168152
    Abstract: In one embodiment, acquiring a digital model of a patient's teeth, automatically detecting reference data or features based on the digital model, and automatically computing dental measurements based on said reference data or features, where the dental measurements are associated with an occlusal characteristic of the patient are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2006
    Publication date: July 19, 2007
    Applicant: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Vadim Matov, Fuming Wu, Eric Kuo, Jenghuei Luong
  • Systems and methods for mass customization
    Patent number: 7245977
    Abstract: A method facilitates mass customization of an object by generating a template representing data common to the object; generating specific data to customize the object in conjunction with the template; and fabricating a customized version of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Barry A. Simkins
  • Root-based tooth moving sequencing
    Patent number: 7241142
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for repositioning the teeth of a patient by providing a digital model of each tooth of the patient; determining one or more root parameters from the digital model; and digitally moving one or more tooth models and evaluating a treatment outcome based on one or more root movement clinical constraints.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Amir Abolfathi, Andrew C. Beers
  • Method and system for providing dynamic orthodontic assessment and treatment profiles
    Publication number: 20070141527
    Abstract: Method and system for providing dynamically generated orthodontic profile and associated treatment information including receiving an orthodontic condition and one or more related treatment goal options, retrieving a predetermined set of parameters associated with the orthodontic condition and the one or more related treatment goal options, determining a weighted parameter associated with each of the one or more treatment goal options for the orthodontic condition, and generating treatment plan information for the orthodontic condition based on the determined weighted parameter are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2006
    Publication date: June 21, 2007
    Applicant: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Kuo, Michael Zakharevich, Vadim Matov
  • Method and system for providing dynamic orthodontic assessment and treatment profiles
    Publication number: 20070134613
    Abstract: Method and system for projecting a first orthodontic related image at a predetermined location within a display unit, selecting a second orthodontic related image on the display unit, and projecting the second orthodontic related image at the predetermined area within the display unit such that a difference between the first orthodontic related image and the second orthodontic related image is displayed at the predetermined area within the display unit are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2006
    Publication date: June 14, 2007
    Applicant: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Kuo, Paul Kimball, Mark Sherwood
  • Method and system for providing dynamic orthodontic assessment and treatment profiles
    Publication number: 20070129991
    Abstract: Method and system for providing dynamically generated orthodontic profile and associated treatment information is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2006
    Publication date: June 7, 2007
    Applicant: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Eric Kuo
  • Method and system for providing dynamic orthodontic assessment and treatment profiles
    Publication number: 20070128573
    Abstract: Method and system including receiving one or more parameters associated with an orthodontic condition, receiving a treatment goal information associated with the orthodontic condition, and providing a predefined template associated with the received treatment goal information, wherein the predefined template includes at least one orthodontic condition related information, are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2006
    Publication date: June 7, 2007
    Applicant: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Eric Kuo
  • Method and system for providing dynamic orthodontic assessment and treatment profiles
    Publication number: 20070128574
    Abstract: Method and system for receiving one or more dentition conditions of a patient, associating a first set of one or more treatment goals based on the one or more dentition conditions, generating a case difficulty assessment based on the one or more treatment goals, detecting a modification to the case difficulty assessment, retrieving a second set of one or more treatment goals associated with the modified case difficulty assessment, and displaying the second set of one or more treatment goals are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2006
    Publication date: June 7, 2007
    Applicant: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Kuo, Douglas Bukaty, Mitra Derakhshan, Chandra Swaminathan, Paul Kimball
  • Systems and methods for positioning teeth
    Patent number: 7220122
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method treats teeth by generating a digital arrangement of teeth; specifying a sequence of tooth movements to move the teeth to a target arrangement; and generating one or more appliances in accordance with the specified sequence of tooth movements, the appliances comprise polymeric shells having cavities and wherein the cavities of successive shells have different geometries shaped to receive and resiliently reposition teeth from one arrangement to a successive arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Zia Chishti
  • SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR POSITIONING TEETH
    Publication number: 20070092850
    Abstract: A method to create a digital model of a patient's teeth includes creating an impression of the patient's teeth; and scanning the impression using an X-ray source to generate the digital model.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2006
    Publication date: April 26, 2007
    Applicant: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Srinivas Kaza
  • Method and kits for forming pontics in polymeric shell aligners
    Patent number: 7201576
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for forming a pontic in a polymeric shell dental appliance, including providing a polymeric shell dental appliance of the type which is removably placeable over a patient's dentition, said shell having a concave trough which conforms to the teeth when the appliance is placed over the dentition and a location in the trough corresponding to a missing tooth; and depositing a flexible, durably affixed material in the location to form the pontic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert E. Tricca, Eric Kuo, Peter G. Knopp, Choi Woncheol, Craig R. Burns
  • Methods for correcting deviations in preplanned tooth rearrangements
    Patent number: 7192275
    Abstract: Orthodontic treatment is achieved using a series of successive, removable repositioning appliances, such as thin polymeric shell appliances referred to as aligners. A set of aligners is originally provided to the patient. If the patient's treatment goes off course using the original set of aligners, further aligners are designed and fabricated to move the deviant tooth arrangement back to a target tooth arrangement which was part of the original treatment program.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Ross Miller
  • Systems and methods for treatment analysis by teeth matching
    Patent number: 7156661
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for matching computer models of two sets of teeth each having corresponding matching regions includes calculating a difference for two sets of teeth shapes; finding the position of one set of teeth with respect to the other set of teeth; calculating a positional difference of the corresponding teeth based on the matching regions; and finding a corrective path to bring one set of teeth to the other set of teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Woncheol Choi, Jihua Cheng, Eric Kuo
  • Computer automated development of an orthodontic treatment plan and appliance
    Publication number: 20060286501
    Abstract: A computer is used to create a plan for repositioning an orthodontic patient's teeth. The computer receives an initial digital data set representing the patient's teeth at their initial positions and a final digital data set representing the teeth at their final positions. The computer then uses the data sets to generate treatment paths along which the teeth will move from the initial positions to the final positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2006
    Publication date: December 21, 2006
    Applicant: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Muhammad Chishti, Brian Freyburger, Kelsey Wirth, Andrew Beers, Huafeng Wen, Phillips Benton, Timothy Jones, Ross Miller
  • System and method for positioning teeth
    Patent number: 7140877
    Abstract: A method to create a digital model of a patient's teeth includes creating an impression of the patient's teeth; and scanning the impression using an X-ray source to generate the digital model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Srinivas Kaza
  • Methods for correcting tooth movements midcourse in treatment
    Publication number: 20060257814
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2006
    Publication date: November 16, 2006
    Applicant: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Muhammad Chishti, Loc Phan
  • Computer automated development of an orthodontic treatment plan and appliance
    Patent number: 7134874
    Abstract: A computer is used to create a plan for repositioning an orthodontic patient's teeth. The computer receives an initial digital data set representing the patient's teeth at their initial positions and a final digital data set representing the teeth at their final positions. The computer then uses the data sets to generate treatment paths along which the teeth will move from the initial positions to the final positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Muhammad Chishti, Brian Freyburger, Kelsey Wirth, Andrew Beers, Huafeng Wen, Phillips Alexander Benton, Timothy N. Jones, Ross J. Miller
  • Systems and methods for generating an appliance with tie points
    Patent number: 7133042
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described for integrating anatomical information from a plurality of sources of information. The system receives two or more three dimensional (3D) anatomical maps sharing a common plane specified by three or more marker points common to the two or more maps; places one or more marker points on one or more teeth; generates a digital teeth model with the marker points; and aligns the two or more 3D anatomical maps and the teeth model using the marker points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2006
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Jae H. Anh, Loc X. Phan, Sheldon Baumrind, Sean Curry, Andrew Beers
  • Attachment devices and methods for a dental appliance
    Patent number: 7125248
    Abstract: The present invention provides improved systems and methods for removably attaching a dental positioning appliance to the dental features of a patient during orthodontic treatment. These appliances function by applying force to specific surfaces of the teeth or dental features to cause directed movement. The application of force is improved by the use of one or more attachment devices which may be positioned on the teeth or dental features to provide the appropriate physical features. Specific design and location of these attachment devices may provide newly achievable and/or more effective repositioning forces, anchoring ability and appliance retention. The systems and methods of the present invention provide the design, production and use of such attachment devices with removable dental positioning appliances in orthodontic treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Loc X. Phan, Muhammad Chishti, Ross J. Miller
  • Tooth positioning appliances and systems
    Patent number: 7121825
    Abstract: 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 and a wire mounted on or embedded in the polymeric shell. 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 mechanisim. The removal mechanism undergoes a state change stimulated by an environmental stimulus or environmental switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Muhammad Chishti, Loc X. Phan, Ross J. Miller, Eric Kuo