Patents by Inventor Bob Grove

Bob Grove has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11957532
    Abstract: Creating a digital tooth model of a patient's tooth using interproximal information is provided. Interproximal information is received that represents a space between adjacent physical teeth of the patient. A digital teeth model of a set of physical teeth of the patient that includes the adjacent physical teeth is received. One or more digital tooth models is created that more accurately depicts one or more of the physical teeth than the corresponding digital teeth included in the digital teeth model based on the interproximal information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: ALIGN TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Bob Grove, Eric Kuo
  • Patent number: 11883256
    Abstract: Methods of forming interproximal reduction guides are described herein. These interproximal reduction guides apparatuses may include a body that fits over the patient's dental arch and one or more guide slots formed in them configured to limit the motion of an interproximal reduction cutting tool in a defined manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Bob Grove, Srinivas Kaza
  • Publication number: 20230190410
    Abstract: Creating a digital tooth model of a patient’s tooth using interproximal information is provided. Interproximal information is received that represents a space between adjacent physical teeth of the patient. A digital teeth model of a set of physical teeth of the patient that includes the adjacent physical teeth is received. One or more digital tooth models is created that more accurately depicts one or more of the physical teeth than the corresponding digital teeth included in the digital teeth model based on the interproximal information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2022
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Inventors: Bob GROVE, Eric KUO
  • Publication number: 20230172692
    Abstract: Releasable and removable palatal expander apparatuses for expanding a patient's palate (“palatal expanders”) and methods of using and making them. These releasable palatal expanders are adapted for ease in removal by the patient or caregiver, and may include a breach region configured to predictably bend or break when a pulling force is applied. The palatal expander apparatuses described herein may include one or more locks for locking the palatal expander onto the patient's teeth. The lock(s) may be unlocked to release the palatal expander from the teeth. A lock may include a control for manually unlocking the lock. Unlocking the locks may allow the palatal expander to automatically disengage from the patient's teeth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2023
    Publication date: June 8, 2023
    Inventors: Avi KOPELMAN, Ryan KIMURA, Yaser SHANJANI, Jeremy RILEY, Jun SATO, Bob GROVE, Reza SHIRAZI AGHJARI
  • Patent number: 11564777
    Abstract: Releasable and removable palatal expander apparatuses for expanding a patient's palate (“palatal expanders”) and methods of using and making them. These releasable palatal expanders are adapted for ease in removal by the patient or caregiver, and may include a breach region configured to predictably bend or break when a pulling force is applied. The palatal expander apparatuses described herein may include one or more locks for locking the palatal expander onto the patient's teeth. The lock(s) may be unlocked to release the palatal expander from the teeth. A lock may include a control for manually unlocking the lock. Unlocking the locks may allow the palatal expander to automatically disengage from the patient's teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Avi Kopelman, Ryan Kimura, Yaser Shanjani, Jeremy Riley, Jun Sato, Bob Grove, Reza Shirazi Aghjari
  • Patent number: 11534266
    Abstract: Creating a digital tooth model of a patient's tooth using interproximal information is provided. Interproximal information is received that represents a space between adjacent physical teeth of the patient. A digital teeth model of a set of physical teeth of the patient that includes the adjacent physical teeth is received. One or more digital tooth models is created that more accurately depicts one or more of the physical teeth than the corresponding digital teeth included in the digital teeth model based on the interproximal information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Bob Grove, Eric Kuo
  • Publication number: 20210267718
    Abstract: Method and system for managing multiple impressions of a patient's jaw for an orthodontic treatment are provided. The method includes scanning at least a first impression and a second impression of the same jaw for the orthodontic treatment; determining if the first jaw impression and the second jaw impression have distortion in different areas; selecting the first jaw impression or the second jaw impression as a base impression; and replacing distorted tooth data from the base impression with data for the same tooth from a non-base impression. The method also includes scanning at least a first jaw impression for the orthodontic treatment; scanning a bite impression for the orthodontic treatment; matching the scanned first jaw impression with the scanned bite impression; comparing bite information with a tooth occlusal surface; and determining if reconstruction is to be performed on the tooth occlusal surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2021
    Publication date: September 2, 2021
    Applicant: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Srinivas Kaza, Bob Grove
  • Patent number: 11007037
    Abstract: Method and system for managing multiple impressions of a patient's jaw for an orthodontic treatment are provided. The method includes scanning at least a first impression and a second impression of the same jaw for the orthodontic treatment; determining if the first jaw impression and the second jaw impression have distortion in different areas; selecting the first jaw impression or the second jaw impression as a base impression; and replacing distorted tooth data from the base impression with data for the same tooth from a non-base impression. The method also includes scanning at least a first jaw impression for the orthodontic treatment; scanning a bite impression for the orthodontic treatment; matching the scanned first jaw impression with the scanned bite impression; comparing bite information with a tooth occlusal surface; and determining if reconstruction is to be performed on the tooth occlusal surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Srinivas Kaza, Bob Grove
  • Publication number: 20210022834
    Abstract: Interproximal reduction guides apparatuses and methods of making and using them are described herein. These interproximal reduction guides apparatuses may include a body that fits over the patient's dental arch and one or more guide slots formed in them configured to limit the motion of an interproximal reduction cutting tool in a defined manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2020
    Publication date: January 28, 2021
    Inventors: Bob GROVE, Srinivas KAZA
  • Patent number: 10813720
    Abstract: Interproximal reduction guides apparatuses and methods of making and using them are described herein. These interproximal reduction guides apparatuses may include a body that fits over the patient's dental arch and one or more guide slots formed in them configured to limit the motion of an interproximal reduction cutting tool in a defined manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Bob Grove, Srinivas Kaza
  • Publication number: 20200297459
    Abstract: Creating a digital tooth model of a patient's tooth using interproximal information is provided. Interproximal information is received that represents a space between adjacent physical teeth of the patient. A digital teeth model of a set of physical teeth of the patient that includes the adjacent physical teeth is received. One or more digital tooth models is created that more accurately depicts one or more of the physical teeth than the corresponding digital teeth included in the digital teeth model based on the interproximal information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2020
    Publication date: September 24, 2020
    Inventors: Bob Grove, Eric Kuo
  • Publication number: 20200214803
    Abstract: Method and system for managing multiple impressions of a patient's jaw for an orthodontic treatment are provided. The method includes scanning at least a first impression and a second impression of the same jaw for the orthodontic treatment; determining if the first jaw impression and the second jaw impression have distortion in different areas; selecting the first jaw impression or the second jaw impression as a base impression; and replacing distorted tooth data from the base impression with data for the same tooth from a non-base impression. The method also includes scanning at least a first jaw impression for the orthodontic treatment; scanning a bite impression for the orthodontic treatment; matching the scanned first jaw impression with the scanned bite impression; comparing bite information with a tooth occlusal surface; and determining if reconstruction is to be performed on the tooth occlusal surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2020
    Publication date: July 9, 2020
    Applicant: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Srinivas Kaza, Bob Grove
  • Patent number: 10646307
    Abstract: Method and system for managing multiple impressions of a patient's jaw for an orthodontic treatment is provided. The method includes scanning at least a first impression and a second impression of same jaw for the orthodontic treatment; determining if the first jaw impression and the second jaw impression have distortion in different areas; selecting the first jaw impression or the second jaw impression as a base impression; and replacing a distorted tooth data from the base impression with data for the same tooth from a non-base impression. The method also includes scanning at least a first jaw impression for the orthodontic treatment; scanning a bite impression for the orthodontic treatment; matching the scanned first jaw impression with the scanned bite impression; comparing bite information with a tooth occlusal surface; and determining if reconstruction is to be performed on the tooth occlusal surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Srinivas Kaza, Bob Grove
  • Patent number: 10617489
    Abstract: Creating a digital tooth model of a patient's tooth using interproximal information is provided. Interproximal information is received that represents a space between adjacent physical teeth of the patient. A digital teeth model of a set of physical teeth of the patient that includes the adjacent physical teeth is received. One or more digital tooth models is created that more accurately depicts one or more of the physical teeth than the corresponding digital teeth included in the digital teeth model based on the interproximal information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Bob Grove, Eric Kuo
  • Publication number: 20190388188
    Abstract: Method and system for managing multiple impressions of a patient's jaw for an orthodontic treatment is provided. The method includes scanning at least a first impression and a second impression of same jaw for the orthodontic treatment; determining if the first jaw impression and the second jaw impression have distortion in different areas; selecting the first jaw impression or the second jaw impression as a base impression; and replacing a distorted tooth data from the base impression with data for the same tooth from a non-base impression. The method also includes scanning at least a first jaw impression for the orthodontic treatment; scanning a bite impression for the orthodontic treatment; matching the scanned first jaw impression with the scanned bite impression; comparing bite information with a tooth occlusal surface; and determining if reconstruction is to be performed on the tooth occlusal surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2019
    Publication date: December 26, 2019
    Applicant: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Srinivas Kaza, Bob Grove
  • Publication number: 20190314119
    Abstract: Releasable and removable palatal expander apparatuses for expanding a patient's palate (“palatal expanders”) and methods of using and making them. These releasable palatal expanders are adapted for ease in removal by the patient or caregiver, and may include a breach region configured to predictably bend or break when a pulling force is applied. The palatal expander apparatuses described herein may include one or more locks for locking the palatal expander onto the patient's teeth. The lock(s) may be unlocked to release the palatal expander from the teeth. A lock may include a control for manually unlocking the lock. Unlocking the locks may allow the palatal expander to automatically disengage from the patient's teeth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2019
    Publication date: October 17, 2019
    Inventors: Avi KOPELMAN, Ryan KIMURA, Yaser SHANJANI, Jeremy RILEY, Jun SATO, Bob GROVE, Reza SHIRAZI AGHJARI
  • Patent number: 10405947
    Abstract: Method and system for managing multiple impressions of a patient's jaw for an orthodontic treatment is provided. The method includes scanning at least a first impression and a second impression of same jaw for the orthodontic treatment; determining if the first jaw impression and the second jaw impression have distortion in different areas; selecting the first jaw impression or the second jaw impression as a base impression; and replacing a distorted tooth data from the base impression with data for the same tooth from a non-base impression. The method also includes scanning at least a first jaw impression for the orthodontic treatment; scanning a bite impression for the orthodontic treatment; matching the scanned first jaw impression with the scanned bite impression; comparing bite information with a tooth occlusal surface; and determining if reconstruction is to be performed on the tooth occlusal surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Srinivas Kaza, Bob Grove
  • Publication number: 20190269483
    Abstract: Method and system for managing multiple impressions of a patient's jaw for an orthodontic treatment is provided. The method includes scanning at least a first impression and a second impression of same jaw for the orthodontic treatment; determining if the first jaw impression and the second jaw impression have distortion in different areas; selecting the first jaw impression or the second jaw impression as a base impression; and replacing a distorted tooth data from the base impression with data for the same tooth from a non-base impression. The method also includes scanning at least a first jaw impression for the orthodontic treatment; scanning a bite impression for the orthodontic treatment; matching the scanned first jaw impression with the scanned bite impression; comparing bite information with a tooth occlusal surface; and determining if reconstruction is to be performed on the tooth occlusal surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2019
    Publication date: September 5, 2019
    Applicant: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Srinivas Kaza, Bob Grove
  • Patent number: 10335252
    Abstract: Method and system for managing multiple impressions of a patient's jaw for an orthodontic treatment is provided. The method includes scanning at least a first impression and a second impression of same jaw for the orthodontic treatment; determining if the first jaw impression and the second jaw impression have distortion in different areas; selecting the first jaw impression or the second jaw impression as a base impression; and replacing a distorted tooth data from the base impression with data for the same tooth from a non-base impression. The method also includes scanning at least a first jaw impression for the orthodontic treatment; scanning a bite impression for the orthodontic treatment; matching the scanned first jaw impression with the scanned bite impression; comparing bite information with a tooth occlusal surface; and determining if reconstruction is to be performed on the tooth occlusal surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Srinivas Kaza, Bob Grove
  • Publication number: 20190105130
    Abstract: Interproximal reduction guides apparatuses and methods of making and using them are described herein. These interproximal reduction guides apparatuses may include a body that fits over the patient's dental arch and one or more guide slots formed in them configured to limit the motion of an interproximal reduction cutting tool in a defined manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2017
    Publication date: April 11, 2019
    Inventors: Bob GROVE, Srinivas KAZA