Patents by Inventor Christopher Yancey

Christopher Yancey 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).

  • Publication number: 20220028162
    Abstract: A method includes receiving, by a model generation engine, an image of a dental arch of a user, executing, by the model generation engine, a machine learning model that is trained to receive the image and output a representation of the image, where in at least one iteration during training, the machine learning model determines a difference between one or more features extracted from an iteration of the representation of the image and a corresponding one or more features extracted from the image, and the method further includes outputting, by the model generation engine, an output representation of the image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2021
    Publication date: January 27, 2022
    Inventors: Jordan Katzman, Christopher Yancey
  • Publication number: 20210361396
    Abstract: A system comprising a scanning device is operable by a user to scan teeth of the user to acquire images of the teeth. The scanning device comprises a camera operable to acquire the images, a guide configured to orient the camera with respect to the teeth to facilitate acquisition of the images, and a server system configured to receive the images acquired by the scanning device and to develop a treatment plan for the user based on the received images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2021
    Publication date: November 25, 2021
    Inventors: Christopher Yancey, Jordan Katzman
  • Publication number: 20210361226
    Abstract: A monitoring system includes a communications circuit and an analysis circuit where the communications circuit is configured to receive image data of a user from a social media system, the image data comprising a plurality of images of a smile of the user undergoing an orthodontic treatment plan configured to move one or more teeth of the user. The analysis circuit is configured to determine a smile characteristic of the user based on the plurality of images. The communication circuit communicates an output comprising the smile characteristic to at least one of a user device associated with the user and an aligner fabrication computer system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2021
    Publication date: November 25, 2021
    Inventors: Christopher Yancey, John Dargis, Alex Fenkell
  • Patent number: 11182981
    Abstract: Systems and methods for generating a three-dimensional (3D) model of a user's dental arch based on two-dimensional (2D) images of dental impressions include a model training system that provides a machine learning model using training image(s) of a dental impression of a respective dental arch and a 3D training model of the respective dental arch. A model generation system receives first image(s) of a first dental impression of a user's dental arch and second image(s), which may be of the first dental impression or a second dental impression of the dental arch. The model generation system generates a first and second 3D model of the dental arch by applying the first image(s) and second image(s) to the machine learning model. A model merging system merges the first 3D model and the second 3D model to generate a merged model of the dental arch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: SDC U.S. SmilePay SPV
    Inventors: Josh Long, Jordan Katzman, Tim Wucher, John Dargis, Christopher Yancey, Andrew Wright
  • Publication number: 20210304883
    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: April 13, 2021
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Inventors: Jordan Katzman, Alex Fenkell, David Katzman, Christopher Yancey, Josh Chapman, Jessica Cicurel
  • Publication number: 20210267717
    Abstract: A method of administering the contents of a dental impression kit. The method includes sending a dental impression kit to a user, receiving one or more photos of the user's mouth, the one or more photos having been taken while the dental appliance is positioned at least partially within the user's mouth, receiving the initial dental impression created by the user by administering the initial dental assembly, and receiving the redundant dental impression created by the user by administering the redundant dental assembly. The initial dental impression and the redundant dental impression provide information necessary to manufacture a plurality of dental aligners specific to the user and being configured to reposition one or more teeth of the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2021
    Publication date: September 2, 2021
    Inventors: Jordan Katzman, Alex Fenkell, David Katzman, Christopher Yancey, Josh Chapman
  • 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
  • Patent number: 11083551
    Abstract: A system comprising a scanning device is operable by a user to scan teeth of the user to acquire images of the teeth. The scanning device comprises a camera operable to acquire the images, a guide configured to orient the camera with respect to the teeth to facilitate acquisition of the images, and a server system configured to receive the images acquired by the scanning device and to develop a treatment plan for the user based on the received images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: SDC U.S. SmilePay SPV
    Inventors: Christopher Yancey, Jordan Katzman
  • Patent number: 11083411
    Abstract: A monitoring system includes a communications circuit and an analysis circuit where the communications circuit is configured to receive an image of a user from a social media system and receive orthodontic treatment plan data associated with the user from an aligner fabrication computer system. The analysis circuit is configured to determine an actual oral condition of the user at a time when the image of the user was taken, determine an expected oral condition of the user at the time when the image of the user was taken based on the orthodontic treatment plan data, compare the actual oral condition and the expected oral condition, and generate an output based on the comparison. The communications system communications the output to at least one of the user device and the aligner fabrication computer system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: SDC U.S. SmilePay SPV
    Inventors: Christopher Yancey, John Dargis, Alex Fenkell
  • Publication number: 20210153987
    Abstract: A fixture plate includes a base having a contact face configured to support a dental model having a material formed thereon. The material includes an aligner material portion and an excess material portion. The fixture plate includes one or more channels formed in the contact face. The fixture plate includes a bore extending through the base from a bottom opening to the contact face. A portion of the bore located along the bottom opening is configured to couple with a hose of a vacuum system configured to generate a suction force at the contact face via the one or more channels. The suction force is applied to the dental model and at least part of the excess material portion to retain the dental model and the material formed thereon against the contact face.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2021
    Publication date: May 27, 2021
    Applicant: SDC U.S. SmilePay SPV
    Inventors: Josh Long, Christopher Yancey, Roland Harris, Chris Sorrells
  • Publication number: 20210158614
    Abstract: Systems and methods for generating a three-dimensional (3D) model of a user's dental arch based on two-dimensional (2D) images include a model generation engine that receives one or more images of a dental arch of a user. The model generation engine generates a point cloud based on the images of the dental arch of the user. The model generation engine generates a 3D model based on the point cloud.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2020
    Publication date: May 27, 2021
    Inventors: Jordan Katzman, Christopher Yancey
  • Publication number: 20210158607
    Abstract: Systems and methods for generating a three-dimensional (3D) model of a user's dental arch based on two-dimensional (2D) images include a model training system that receives data packets of a training set. Each data packet may include data corresponding to training images of a respective dental arch and a 3D training model of the respective dental arch. The model training system identifies, for a data packet, correlation points between the one or more training images and the 3D training model of the respective dental arch. The model training system generates a machine learning model using the correlation points for the data packets of the training set. A model generation system receives one or more images of a dental arch. The model generation system generates a 3D model of the dental arch by applying the images of the dental arch to the machine learning model.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2020
    Publication date: May 27, 2021
    Inventors: Jordan Katzman, Christopher Yancey
  • Patent number: 11007042
    Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods for marking models for dental aligner fabrication. A method for producing a physical model of teeth including a three-dimensional marking includes receiving a first digital model of teeth in an alignment position and selecting a location for marking a physical model of the teeth in the alignment position with a three-dimensional marking, the physical model to be fabricated based on the first digital model. The method also includes generating a second digital model of the teeth in the alignment position based on the first digital model, the second digital model representing the physical model and including the three-dimensional marking at the marking location, and using a three-dimensional fabrication method to fabricate the physical model including the three-dimensional marking from the second digital model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: SDC U.S. SmilePay SPV
    Inventors: Josh Long, Christopher Yancey, Tony Solarek, Daniel Pfeffer, Clete Culp
  • Publication number: 20210134450
    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: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2021
    Publication date: May 6, 2021
    Inventors: Jordan Katzman, Alex Fenkell, David Katzman, Christopher Yancey, Josh Chapman, Jessica Cicurel
  • Patent number: 10978201
    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: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: SDC U.S. SmilePay SPV
    Inventors: Jordan Katzman, Alex Fenkell, David Katzman, Christopher Yancey, Josh Chapman, Jessica Cicurel
  • Patent number: 10959817
    Abstract: A fixture plate includes a base having a contact face configured to support a dental model having a model identifier on a bottom surface. A bore extends through the base to one or more channels formed in the contact face and that extend from the bore. A viewing port extends through the base and has a transparent material inserted therein to seal the viewing port at the contact face. The viewing port and the transparent material enable the model identifier to be accessed from underneath the contact face when the dental model is on the contact face. A protrusion extends from the contact face and is configured to interface with an aperture of the dental model to retain the dental model in a specific orientation. The channels are configured to provide a suction force applied through the bore to hold the dental model against the contact face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: SDC U.S. SmilePay SPV
    Inventors: Josh Long, Christopher Yancey, Roland Harris, Chris Sorrells
  • Patent number: 10964121
    Abstract: Technologies for merging three-dimensional models of dental impressions include a computing device that generates multiple three-dimensional models that are each indicative of a dental impression of a user's dental arch. The models may be generated by scanning the dental impressions. The computing device determines whether a model is indicative of the complete anatomy of the user's arch and, if not, merges multiple models with a merge strategy to generate a merged model. The models may be merged by aligning geometry of the models, selecting geometry from one of the models using the merge strategy, and generating the merged model that includes the selected geometry. The merge strategy may include selecting from the model associated with the dental impression that includes the most detail of the user's anatomy or selecting from the model with the greatest depth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: SDC U.S. SmilePay SPV
    Inventors: Christopher Yancey, Josh Long
  • Publication number: 20210090725
    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 computing device of the user. 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. The aligners are manufactured by generating molds using a three-dimensional printer and thermoforming material over each of the molds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2020
    Publication date: March 25, 2021
    Inventors: Jordan Katzman, Alex Fenkell, David Katzman, Christopher Yancey, Josh Chapman, Jessica Cicurel
  • Publication number: 20210077233
    Abstract: A system comprising a scanning device is operable by a user to scan teeth of the user to acquire images of the teeth. The scanning device comprises a camera operable to acquire the images, a guide configured to orient the camera with respect to the teeth to facilitate acquisition of the images, and a server system configured to receive the images acquired by the scanning device and to develop a treatment plan for the user based on the received images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2020
    Publication date: March 18, 2021
    Inventors: Christopher Yancey, Jordan Katzman
  • Publication number: 20210068745
    Abstract: A monitoring system includes a communications circuit and an analysis circuit where the communications circuit is configured to receive an image of a user from a social media system and receive orthodontic treatment plan data associated with the user from an aligner fabrication computer system. The analysis circuit is configured to determine an actual oral condition of the user at a time when the image of the user was taken, determine an expected oral condition of the user at the time when the image of the user was taken based on the orthodontic treatment plan data, compare the actual oral condition and the expected oral condition, and generate an output based on the comparison. The communications system communications the output to at least one of the user device and the aligner fabrication computer system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2019
    Publication date: March 11, 2021
    Inventors: Christopher Yancey, John Dargis, Alex Fenkell