Patents Assigned to SmileDirectClub LLC
  • Publication number: 20240037847
    Abstract: A system includes one or more hardware processors and memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more hardware processors, causes the system to access image data depicting an object including generating the image data via a camera of a mobile device of the user where the object is a portion of the user, identify a set of features, assign labels to regions of the image data based on the set of features including providing the set of features identified from each respective region of the regions as input into a model and where the model outputs a label for the respective region and where the labels comprise one or more semantic labels or classifications that correspond with the set of features, and generate a three-dimensional (3D) model of the object based on the labels assigned to the regions of the image data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2023
    Publication date: February 1, 2024
    Applicant: SmileDirectClub LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Huber, Aaron Thompson, Ricky Reusser, Dustin Dorroh, Eric Arnebäck, Garrett Spiegel
  • Patent number: 11783539
    Abstract: A 3D scanning toolkit to perform operations that include: accessing a first data stream at a client device, wherein the first data stream comprises at least image data; applying a bit mask to the first data stream, the bit mask identifying a portion of the image data; accessing a second data stream at the client device, the second data stream comprising depth data associated with the portion of the image data; generating a point cloud based on the depth data, the point cloud comprising a set of data points that define surface features of an object depicted in the first data stream; and causing display of a visualization of the point cloud upon a presentation of the first data stream at the client device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: SmileDirectClub LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Huber, Aaron Thompson, Ricky Reusser, Dustin Dorroh, Eric Arnebäck, Garrett Spiegel
  • Publication number: 20230277278
    Abstract: A system includes one or more processors configured to receive a first three-dimensional (3D) representation of a dentition where the first 3D representation includes a plurality of tooth portions each representing a crown of a tooth in the dentition, identify, for each of the plurality of tooth portions, a corresponding tooth reference model from a data source, morph each of the tooth reference models based on the corresponding tooth portion for the crown in the dentition to generate a morphed tooth representation for the teeth in the dentition, where the morphed tooth representations have a morphed tooth portion that substantially matches the corresponding tooth portion representing the crowns of the teeth in the dentition from the first 3D representation, generate a second 3D representation of the dentition including each of the morphed tooth representations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2022
    Publication date: September 7, 2023
    Applicant: SmileDirectClub LLC
    Inventors: Evgeny Gorbovskoy, Sergey Nikolskiy
  • Publication number: 20230053026
    Abstract: A system includes a processor and a non-transitory computer-readable medium containing instructions that when executed by the processor causes the processor to perform operations comprising displaying a prompt to a user of a mobile device on a display of a mobile device to capture an image representing at least a portion of a mouth of the user using a rear-facing camera of the mobile device, where the rear-facing camera is on an opposite side of the mobile device including the display. The operations further comprise controlling the rear-facing camera to enable the rear-facing camera to capture the image, receiving the image, and outputting, user feedback based on the image, where the user feedback is outputted on the display that is on the opposite side of the mobile device than the rear-facing camera.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2022
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Applicant: SmileDirectClub LLC
    Inventors: Tim Wucher, Ryan Amelon, Jordan Katzman, Aleksey Gurtovoy
  • Patent number: 11309077
    Abstract: Systems and methods directed to technological improvements in coordinated and distributed processing of intraoral scan data for fabricating clear aligners for dental realignment include an appointment management system that schedules an appointment at an intraoral scanning site and generates and causes transmission of a message to a computing device of a user. An intraoral scan that generates three-dimensional data of a mouth of the user is conducted at the intraoral scanning site using an intraoral scanner. Clear aligners that are specific to the user for repositioning the user's teeth are fabricated based on a treatment plan generated based on the three-dimensional data by thermoforming material over three-dimensional printed molds. The clear aligners are sent to the user all at once. The user receives orthodontic treatment without ever having physically seen a dentist or an orthodontist that approves the treatment plan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: SmileDirectClub LLC
    Inventors: Jordan Katzman, Alex Fenkell, David Katzman, Christopher Yancey, Josh Chapman, Jessica Cicurel
  • Patent number: 11094414
    Abstract: Systems and methods for producing aligners for repositioning one or more teeth of a user include a management system including a communications device, a processor, and memory. The management system receives a selection of a patient-intake option made by a user via a user interface displaying a first option for an intraoral scan to be taken of the user's teeth or for dental impressions to be made of the user's teeth. The management system schedules an appointment for the intraoral scan or the delivery of the impression kit to the user, and generates and causes transmission of a plurality of messages to the user. Aligners are manufactured and sent to the user based on a treatment plan generated based on the scan or the dental impressions. The treatment plan is approved by a dentist or an orthodontist without the approving dentist or orthodontist having physically seen the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: SmileDirectClub LLC
    Inventors: Jordan Katzman, Alex Fenkell, David Katzman, Christopher Yancey, Josh Chapman, Jessica Cicurel
  • Publication number: 20210045854
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2020
    Publication date: February 18, 2021
    Applicant: SmileDirectClub LLC
    Inventors: Clete Culp, Jordan Katzman, Steve Cicurel, Christopher Yancey
  • Patent number: 10861599
    Abstract: Systems and methods for producing aligners include an appointment management system that receives a request to schedule an appointment at an intraoral scanning site and schedules the appointment at the intraoral scanning site based on the request. A message is generated and caused to be transmitted to a device of the user and the message includes a confirmation confirming the scheduled appointment. An intraoral scan is conducted at the intraoral scanning site using an intraoral scanner. Aligners are sent to the user and are specific to the user for repositioning one or more teeth of the user in accordance with a treatment plan. The aligners are sent to the user without first providing the aligners to a dentist or an orthodontist such that the user receives orthodontic treatment without ever having physically seen a dentist or an orthodontist.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: SmileDirectClub LLC
    Inventors: Jordan Katzman, Alex Fenkell, David Katzman, Christopher Yancey, Josh Chapman, Jessica Cicurel
  • Publication number: 20200319617
    Abstract: A system for adjusting a cutting tool includes a cutting system having a cutting tool configured to cut material thermoformed to a dental model. The cutting system is configured to determine, based on a cut line generated for the cutting tool to cut a dental aligner from the material thermoformed onto the dental model, that the cutting tool is incapable of following the cut line. The cutting system is configured to adjust a position of the cutting tool with respect to the cut line so the cutting tool is capable of following the cut line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2019
    Publication date: October 8, 2020
    Applicant: SmileDirectClub LLC
    Inventors: Tuan Do, Ian Kitching
  • Publication number: 20200257766
    Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods for marking a dental aligner. A method for marking a dental aligner includes receiving a digital model corresponding to a dental aligner. The digital model includes a dental arch comprising a plurality of teeth. The method further includes determining whether a section of teeth on a right side or a left side of the dental arch includes flatter occlusal surfaces and selecting the section with the flatter occlusal surfaces, identifying surfaces on the teeth of the selected section that are flat relative to other surfaces on the teeth of the selected section, determining a line of best fit between the flat surfaces, and marking the dental aligner with a marking based on the line of best fit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2019
    Publication date: August 13, 2020
    Applicant: SmileDirectClub LLC
    Inventors: Josh Long, Christopher Yancey, Tony Solarek, Clete Culp
  • Patent number: 10687916
    Abstract: A method for analyzing a quality of a dental aligner includes receiving, by a processor, a digital dental aligner generated based on a fabricated dental aligner, analyzing, by the processor, the digital dental aligner to identify a quality characteristic of the fabricated dental aligner, determining, by the processor, that the quality characteristic is anomalous, and flagging, by the processor, the fabricated dental aligner indicating that the fabricated dental aligner is rejected in response to determining that the quality characteristic is anomalous.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: SmileDirectClub LLC
    Inventors: John Dargis, Josh Long
  • Patent number: 10688710
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: SmileDirectClub LLC
    Inventors: Clete Culp, Christopher Yancey, John Dargis, Mark French, Daniel Pfeffer, Steve Cicurel
  • Patent number: 10692598
    Abstract: Systems and methods for intraoral scanning include determining, by an appointment management system, a condition that a completed in-home dental impression kit has not been received from a user, generating and communicating a message to the user based on the condition where the message prompts the user to schedule an appointment at an intraoral scanning site, receiving a request to schedule an appointment at the intraoral scanning site where the intraoral scanning site has an intraoral scanner configured to conduct an intraoral scan of a mouth of the user, scheduling the appointment based on the request, and conducting the intraoral scan using the intraoral scanner at the intraoral scanning site where the intraoral scan generates three-dimensional data of the mouth of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: SmileDirectClub LLC
    Inventors: Jordan Katzman, Alex Fenkell, David Katzman, Christopher Yancey, Josh Chapman, Jessica Cicurel
  • Patent number: 10660734
    Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods for packaging dental aligners. A container for dental aligners includes a top compartment, a bottom compartment, and a plurality of individually packaged dental aligners separably connected in a strip. The bottom compartment is configured to receive the plurality of individually packaged dental aligners. The bottom compartment further includes a slot through which an individually packaged dental aligner can be pulled and separated from the strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: SmileDirectClub LLC
    Inventors: Josh Chapman, Brittany Lacey
  • Publication number: 20200147856
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2019
    Publication date: May 14, 2020
    Applicant: SmileDirectClub LLC
    Inventors: Clete Culp, Christopher Yancey, John Dargis, Mark French, Daniel Pfeffer, Steve Cicurel
  • Patent number: 10636522
    Abstract: Systems and methods for arranging an intraoral scanning at a selected location. A user can request an appointment at a selected intraoral scanning site from a plurality of intraoral scanning sites. In requesting the appointment at the intraoral scanning site, the user can provide various information for reserving the appointment. The user can make the request online (e.g., via an internet scheduling website associated with the intraoral scanning site). The request can also include a selected time for the appointment. The schedule for the selected intraoral scanning site can be analyzed to determine that the selected time for the appointment is available. When the appointment is scheduled for the user, one or more automatically generated messages can be communicated to the customer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: SmileDirectClub LLC
    Inventors: Jordan Katzman, Alex Fenkell, David Katzman, Christopher Yancey, Josh Chapman, Jessica Cicurel
  • Patent number: 10624722
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: SmileDirectClub LLC
    Inventors: Clete Culp, Jordan Katzman, Steve Cicurel, Christopher Yancey
  • Publication number: 20200066400
    Abstract: Systems and methods include determining, by an appointment management system, a condition that an appointment to conduct an intraoral scan at an intraoral scanning site has been missed by a user, automatically generating a message to the user indicating that an at-home dental impression kit can be sent to the user based on determining that the appointment has been missed, and transmitting the automatically generated message to a communications device associated with the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2019
    Publication date: February 27, 2020
    Applicant: SmileDirectClub LLC
    Inventors: Jordan Katzman, Alex Fenkell, David Katzman, Christopher Yancey, Josh Chapman, Jessica Cicurel
  • Patent number: 10482192
    Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods for marking a dental aligner. A method for marking a dental aligner includes receiving a digital model corresponding to a dental aligner. The digital model includes a dental arch comprising a plurality of teeth. The method further includes determining whether a section of teeth on a right side or a left side of the dental arch includes flatter occlusal surfaces and selecting the section with the flatter occlusal surfaces, identifying surfaces on the teeth of the selected section that are flat relative to other surfaces on the teeth of the selected section, determining a line of best fit between the flat surfaces, and marking the dental aligner with a marking based on the line of best fit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: SmileDirectClub LLC
    Inventors: Josh Long, Christopher Yancey, Tony Solarek, Clete Culp
  • Patent number: 10466676
    Abstract: A system for adjusting a cutting tool includes a cutting system that includes a cutting tool that includes a tip configured to cut material thermoformed to a dental model. The cutting system is configured to determine, based on a cut line generated for the cutting tool to cut a dental aligner from material thermoformed onto a dental mold, a target tool vector defined by an angle of a tip of the cutting tool with respect to a surface of the dental model at the cut line, compare the target tool vector to a constraint of the cutting tool, and adjust a position of the tip of the cutting tool with respect to the cut line to compensate for the target tool vector being outside the constraint of the cutting tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: SmileDirectClub LLC
    Inventors: Tuan Do, Ian Kitching