Patents Examined by Edward Moran
  • Tooth-positioning appliance, systems and methods of producing and using the same
    Patent number: 11065085
    Abstract: Tooth-positioning appliances and apparatuses, components, methods, and techniques for producing and using tooth-positioning appliances are provided. An example tooth-positioning appliance for adjusting the position of teeth of a patient includes a tooth-clasping arrangement shaped to secure the orthodontic appliance to at least one tooth and a flexible arrangement connected to the tooth-clasping arrangement. The flexible arrangement is less rigid than the tooth-clasping arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: Archform Inc.
    Inventors: Martin G. Martz, Andrew S. Martz
  • Method and apparatus for improving osseointegration, functional load, and overall strength of intraosseous implants
    Patent number: 11058521
    Abstract: The present invention enables modification of an intraosseous implant device that is not only biologically non-inert, but can stimulate bone and vascular growth; decrease localized inflammation; and fight local infections. The method of the present invention provides a fiber with any of the following modifications: (1) Nanofiber with PDGF, (2) Nanofiber with PDGF+BMP2, and (3) Nanofiber with BMP2 and Ag. Nanofiber can be modified with other growth factors that have been shown to improve bone growth and maturation—BMP and PDGF being the most common. Nanofiber can be applied on the surface of the implant in several ways. First, a spiral micro-notching can be applied on the implant in the same direction as the threads with the nanofibers embedded into the notches. Second, the entire surface of the implant may be coated with a mesh of nanofibers. Third, it can be a combination of both embedding and notching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL OKLAHOMA
    Inventors: Vagan Tapaltsyan, Morshed Khandaker, Shahram Riahinezhad, Rami Mohanad Mahdi Alkhaleeli, Niyaf Nidhal Kadhem Alkadhem
  • Orthodontic appliance with snap fitted, non-sliding archwire
    Patent number: 11058520
    Abstract: An orthodontic appliance may include an archwire and multiple orthodontic brackets. The archwire may fit within a human mouth and contain multiple male connectors. Each orthodontic bracket may have a configuration that facilitates attaching the orthodontic bracket to a single tooth. Each orthodontic bracket may allow one of the male connectors to be locked into the orthodontic bracket with a snapping action. The male connector may be unable to slide with respect to the orthodontic bracket after being locked in the orthodontic bracket. A manual unlocking action may allow the male connector to disengage from the orthodontic bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: University of Southern California
    Inventors: Behrokh Khoshnevis, Hongsheng Tong, Yong Chen, Philong John Pham, Robert Lee
  • Direct fabrication of aligners with interproximal force coupling
    Patent number: 11045282
    Abstract: Polymeric shell appliances are provided in which the polymeric shell appliances are configured to provide one or more activation forces to facilitate tooth movement. In many embodiments, the appliances comprise interproximal engagement structures to provide activation forces to interproximal tooth surfaces. In many embodiments, the activation forces are arranged to provide a plurality of forces, including a force in a direction opposite to an intended direction of 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: July 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Avi Kopelman, John Morton
  • Oral care cleaning system utilizing entrained fluid
    Patent number: 11045294
    Abstract: The present invention provides for oral care systems comprising: an appliance comprising a first and second plurality of nozzles, the appliance configured to be held in the mouth of a user with the first and second plurality of nozzles in fluid communication with one or more surfaces of the user's oral cavity; a source of gas; a source of liquid; and a fluid controller for directing entrained fluid to the appliance. Also provided are methods of cleaning, or otherwise providing benefits to, one or more surfaces of the oral cavity using a system of the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Dorward, Tara Fourre, Justin McDonough, Davide Miksa, Jin Seo, Deepak Sharma
  • Oral care refill head and oral care kit including the same
    Patent number: 11033096
    Abstract: An oral care refill head and an oral care kit comprising the same. The oral care refill head may include a sleeve portion, a head portion, and an elastomeric prophy cup. The sleeve portion may have an inner surface that defines an internal cavity for receiving a portion of a stem of an oral care implement handle therein so that the oral care refill head can be repetitively attached to and detached from the oral care implement handle. The elastomeric prophy cup may comprise an outer surface that forms at least a portion of a peripheral side surface of the head portion. The elastomeric prophy cup may be formed by injection molding an elastomeric material onto a support portion of the head portion. The oral care refill head may be packaged together with a store of an anti-sensitivity oral care material to form a kit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Colgate-Palmolive Company
    Inventors: Brian Bloch, Takahide Okai, John Gatzemeyer
  • Dental treatment devices comprising silicone-like elastomeric material
    Patent number: 11033374
    Abstract: Non-customized dental treatment trays used to provide a desired treatment are formed from elastomeric silicone or silicone-like material. They may be molded from a two-part liquid silicone composition or a silicone-like TPE material (e.g., preferably SEBS and/or VERSAflex™ thermoplastic elastomer). The dental treatment trays possess high adaptability, flexibility, softness, and elastic elongation while also exhibiting resiliency in order to readily conform to the ridges, depressions and contours of a person's teeth during use. The trays possess a greater ability to adhere to a person's teeth compared to non-elastomeric thermoplastic materials. Due to their high adaptability and conformability, the non-customized dental trays behave like a semi-custom dental tray when placed over conformed to a person's teeth, particularly when used in combination with a sticky, viscous treatment composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: ULTRADENT PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventors: Paul E. Lewis, Scot N. Andersen, Dan E. Fischer
  • Intraoral suctioning device for intraoral negative pressure wound treatment and method for manufacturing the intraoral suctioning device
    Patent number: 11033373
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an intraoral suctioning device for intraoral negative pressure wound treatment and a method for manufacturing the same. In order to permanently maintain the negative pressure in a wound with a view to an improved wound treatment and regeneration process, the intraoral suctioning device for the intraoral negative pressure wound treatment as disclosed can include a dental splint, an elastic membrane sealing an aperture formed in the dental splint so as to define a sealed wound treatment area on the inside of the dental splint, and a suctioning channel system for evacuating the wound treatment area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: MEDIZINISCHE UNIVERSITÄT INNSBRUCK
    Inventors: Johannes Laimer, Emanuel Bruckmoser
  • Stabilized, water-jet slurry apparatus and method
    Patent number: 11026765
    Abstract: A method for removing dental material is disclosed. The method may include suspending, by a hydrated polymeric material, a quantity of abrasive media. The hydrated polymeric material and suspended abrasive media may then be pressurized. Accordingly, an abrasive stream may be formed by expelling, under pressure, the hydrated polymeric material and suspended abrasive media from a nozzle. The abrasive stream may be precisely applied to a tooth to abrade the enamel or dentin thereof as a drilling instrumentality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: H2O Tech, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy D. Nelson, Daren N. Heaton
  • Dental appliance reinforcement
    Patent number: 11026768
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses for dental appliance reinforcement are provided. One dental appliance includes a number of tooth apertures for the placement of teeth therein wherein the number of tooth apertures include an interior surface and an exterior surface, and a reinforcement rib positioned along the exterior surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Jon F. Moss, Lou Marzano, Eric E. Kuo, Kelsey D. Wirth
  • Apparatus for achieving molar distalization
    Patent number: 11007038
    Abstract: A dental apparatus for achieving molar distalization, comprising a bracket for mounting on opposing molar teeth of a dental arch, and a dental arch wire. One end of the arch wire passes through one of a first bracket and the other end of the arch wire passes through the other of a second bracket. A worm gear adjustably fixes the position of each end of the arch wire within the bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Inventor: Yoav Hameiri
  • Dental curing light having unibody design that acts as a heat sink
    Patent number: 11007043
    Abstract: A dental curing light includes a device body that efficiently conducts heat away from the light emitting diode portion of the curing light. The device body includes a proximal gripping end and a distal head end. The device body is formed from a thermally conductive body material. Excellent heat conduction away from the LED dies is achieved using a thermally conductive layer disposed over the device body. The thermally conductive layer serves as a conduit to quickly conduct heat away from the LED dies for dissipation within the material of the device body. In this manner, the material of the device body serves as a highly efficient heat dissipater. The surface area coupling the thermally conductive layer to the device body is sufficiently large that a majority (e g, substantially all) of heat being conducted by the thermally conductive layer is transferred to the device body during operation of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Ultradent Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Dee Jessop, Jared Sheetz, Neil T. Jessop
  • Treatment plan specific bite adjustment structures
    Patent number: 10980616
    Abstract: A series of appliances including a first shell and a second shell can be designed to incrementally implement a treatment plan. The first and second shells can have cavities designed to receive teeth of a jaw. A first number of bite adjustment structures can be formed of a same material as the first shell and extend from the first cavities and be designed to interface with teeth of a second jaw. The first number of bite adjustment structures can have a first shape and location. A second number of bite adjustment structures can be formed of a same material as the second shell and extend from the second cavities and be designed to interface with teeth of the second jaw. The second number of bite adjustment structures can have a second shape and location, different than the first shape and location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: ALIGN TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Rohit Tanugula, John Morton, Chunhua Li, Bastien Pesenti, Jihua Cheng, Jeeyoung Choi
  • Direct fabrication of aligners for palate expansion and other applications
    Patent number: 10959810
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for producing appliances for expansion of the palate of a patient are provided. A palate expanding orthodontic appliance comprises a teeth engagement portion comprising a plurality of teeth engagement structures and a force generating portion coupled to the teeth engagement portion and configured to apply force to cause the patient's palate to expand. The orthodontic appliances can be designed according to the specifications provided herein and manufactured using direct fabrication methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: ALIGN TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Chunhua Li, Avi Kopelman, Srinivas Kaza, Ryan Kimura, Yaser Shanjani
  • Apparatus and method for the weaving or interweaving of elongate members to form braids or plaits
    Patent number: 10959501
    Abstract: The present invention provides apparatus and a method for use in weaving elongate members together and most typically elongate members in the form of hair attached to the head of a person or a toy doll. The elongate members are provided in groups and the groups pass through passages in a weaving mechanism and along guide tubes which are located to the opposing side of the weaving mechanism from the item to which at least some of the elongate members are attached. Typically, relative movement of the weaving mechanism along the elongate members and the operation of the weaving mechanism cause the weave, such as in the form of plaiting, braiding or cornrowing to be formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Fuse London Ltd
    Inventor: Brian Whitehead
  • System and method of dental implant and interface to abutment for restoration
    Patent number: 10952826
    Abstract: A dental assembly for vertical attachment of an implant to a dental abutment for restorative dental procedures is disclosed. The implant includes a cylindrical body having an interior bore formed between a distal end and a proximal end. An abutment interface is formed on the proximal end of the cylindrical body. The interface includes a radial annular interior surface and a flat annular stop surface circumferentially bordering the interior bore. The assembly also includes an abutment including a stem and a post coupled to the stem. An interior bore is formed through the stem and the post. The abutment includes an interface section between the post and the stem. The interface section may include an annular radially curved exterior surface proximate to the post. The radially curved exterior surface and the circular flat surface interfaces with the abutment interface of the dental implant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Biomet 3I, LLC
    Inventors: John J. Bellanca, Dan P Rogers, Stephen M. Herrington, Ross W Towse, Ralph E Goodman, Zachary B. Suttin, Isabel Scalise, Michael Bobby
  • Combined orthodontic movement of teeth with temporomandibular joint therapy
    Patent number: 10952821
    Abstract: Systems, devices and methods are disclosed for concurrently treating temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMD) and orthodontically moving teeth. The devices can have an orthodontic aligner and a TMD treatment device. The devices can be configured to concurrently reposition a mandible and orthodontically move one or more teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: uLab Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael I. Falkel
  • Prosthodontic tool and method for placing and fitting crowns and inlays
    Patent number: 10945809
    Abstract: A device for preparing, fitting, and placing periodontal prosthodontics having a finger covering and an attached bilayered adhesive patch, wherein the bilayered adhesive patch comprises two separable layers joined by a weak adhesive and one external side of the bilayered adhesive patch is attached by a strong adhesive to the finger covering while the other external side of the bilayered adhesive patch has a layer of pressure sensitive adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Inventor: Mike Zacher
  • Orthodontic bracket
    Patent number: 10945815
    Abstract: An orthodontic bracket includes a platform base having a posterior facing surface and is matingly and releasably positioned adjacent to an anterior facing surface of a patient's tooth. The patient's tooth is subject to a multiple step orthodontic treatment regimen. The platform base remains affixed to the patient's tooth throughout the multiple step orthodontic treatment regimen selected by the treating clinician.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Premier Orthodontics Designs, LLLP
    Inventors: Paul L. Damon, Dwight H. Damon
  • Healing abutment and method for producing a design of a healing abutment
    Patent number: 10949575
    Abstract: A system that includes a gingiva former, a final abutment, and a final implant replacement. The gingiva former includes connecting geometry for attachment to an implant, a customized edge, a tapered bottom portion, and a tapered top portion that includes a circumferential surface. The customized edge and the tapered bottom portion have respective shapes that correspond to a 3D data set of a region of the final abutment that includes and is below an edge of the final abutment. The circumferential surface and a longitudinal axis of the connecting geometry form an angle of inclination. The customized edge of the gingiva former either (i) corresponds to a gingival line of the final implant replacement or (ii) is at a distance from the gingival line of the final implant replacement such that the gingival line of the final implant replacement is above the edge of the gingiva former.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Sirona Dental Systems GMBH
    Inventor: Sascha Schneider