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).
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Patent number: 10959817Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 14, 2019Date of Patent: March 30, 2021Assignee: SDC U.S. SmilePay SPVInventors: Josh Long, Christopher Yancey, Roland Harris, Chris Sorrells
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Patent number: 10964121Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 19, 2018Date of Patent: March 30, 2021Assignee: SDC U.S. SmilePay SPVInventors: Christopher Yancey, Josh Long
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Publication number: 20210090725Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 7, 2020Publication date: March 25, 2021Inventors: Jordan Katzman, Alex Fenkell, David Katzman, Christopher Yancey, Josh Chapman, Jessica Cicurel
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Publication number: 20210077233Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 30, 2020Publication date: March 18, 2021Inventors: Christopher Yancey, Jordan Katzman
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Publication number: 20210068745Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 6, 2019Publication date: March 11, 2021Inventors: Christopher Yancey, John Dargis, Alex Fenkell
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Patent number: 10925691Abstract: A method of cutting a dental aligner includes identifying a gingival line in a model representative of a user's dentition where the gingival line is an interface of a teeth portion and a gingival portion of the model, generating a plurality of points in the gingival portion of the model where each point of the plurality of points is generated at a threshold distance from the gingival line, generating a cut line that intersects at least some of the points of the plurality of points, and controlling a cutting system to cut the dental aligner along the cut line.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2019Date of Patent: February 23, 2021Assignee: SDC U.S. SmilePay SPVInventors: Christopher Yancey, Josh Long, Tony Solarek, Ian Kitching
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Publication number: 20210045855Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 14, 2019Publication date: February 18, 2021Inventors: Josh Long, Christopher Yancey, Roland Harris, Chris Sorrells
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Publication number: 20210045854Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 17, 2020Publication date: February 18, 2021Applicant: SmileDirectClub LLCInventors: Clete Culp, Jordan Katzman, Steve Cicurel, Christopher Yancey
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Patent number: 10916053Abstract: 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 system that receives one or more images of a dental arch of a user. The model generation system generates a point cloud based on the images of the dental arch of the user. The model generation system generates a 3D model of the dental arch of the user based on the point cloud. A dental aligner is manufactured based on the 3D model of the dental arch of the user. The dental aligner is specific to the user and configured to reposition one or more teeth of the user.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 2019Date of Patent: February 9, 2021Assignee: SDC U.S. SmilePay SPVInventors: Jordan Katzman, Christopher Yancey
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Publication number: 20210022832Abstract: A system for generating a desired result of an orthodontic treatment plan may include an orthodontic decision support system and a scanning system. The orthodontic decision support system generates orthodontic data that details the final desired position and orientation of the teeth of a user as part of a treatment plan for the user. The scanning system may gather orthodontic data for the user to input to the orthodontic decision support system in order to generate the final output.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 17, 2020Publication date: January 28, 2021Inventors: Christopher Yancey, Ryan Ogletree
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Publication number: 20200383758Abstract: A method for analyzing a dental impression including receiving, by a dental impression review computer system, an image of a first dental impression administered by a user of the user's teeth, analyzing, by the dental impression review computer system, the image of the first dental impression, and providing, by the dental impression review computer system, feedback to the user based on the analysis.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 8, 2019Publication date: December 10, 2020Inventors: Christopher Yancey, Duane Daniel Hunter
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Patent number: 10861250Abstract: A computing device for dental impression scan merging includes a processor configured to generate a first model and a second model including a first and second plurality of geometric faces indicative of a first and second dental arch of a user. The processor generates a first point cloud of the first model and a second point cloud of the second model. The processor aligns the first point cloud and the second point cloud. The processor merges the first and second model to generate a merged model where merging the first and second model is based on the alignment of the first point cloud and the second point cloud.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2019Date of Patent: December 8, 2020Assignee: SDC U.S. SmilePay SPVInventors: Josh Long, Andrew Wright, Christopher Yancey
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Patent number: 10861599Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 27, 2020Date of Patent: December 8, 2020Assignee: SmileDirectClub LLCInventors: Jordan Katzman, Alex Fenkell, David Katzman, Christopher Yancey, Josh Chapman, Jessica Cicurel
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Patent number: 10849723Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 11, 2019Date of Patent: December 1, 2020Assignee: SDC U.S. SmilePay SPVInventors: Christopher Yancey, Jordan Katzman
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Publication number: 20200352686Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 11, 2019Publication date: November 12, 2020Inventors: Christopher Yancey, Jordan Katzman
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Publication number: 20200316841Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 22, 2020Publication date: October 8, 2020Inventors: Clete Culp, Christopher Yancey, John Dargis, Mark French, Daniel Pfeffer, Steve Cicurel
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Publication number: 20200312446Abstract: Systems and methods for intraoral scanning include determining, by an appointment management system, a condition that dental impressions have not been received from a user within a threshold time period where the user was provided with an in-home dental impression kit, 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, 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: ApplicationFiled: June 16, 2020Publication date: October 1, 2020Applicant: SDC U.S. SmilePay SPVInventors: Jordan Katzman, Alex Fenkell, David Katzman, Christopher Yancey, Josh Chapman, Jessica Cicurel
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Publication number: 20200281689Abstract: A method of cutting a dental aligner includes identifying a gingival line in a model representative of a user's dentition where the gingival line is an interface of a teeth portion and a gingival portion of the model, generating a plurality of points in the gingival portion of the model where each point of the plurality of points is generated at a threshold distance from the gingival line, generating a cut line that intersects at least some of the points of the plurality of points, and controlling a cutting system to cut the dental aligner along the cut line.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 5, 2019Publication date: September 10, 2020Inventors: Christopher Yancey, Josh Long, Tony Solarek, Ian Kitching
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Publication number: 20200257766Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 15, 2019Publication date: August 13, 2020Applicant: SmileDirectClub LLCInventors: Josh Long, Christopher Yancey, Tony Solarek, Clete Culp
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Publication number: 20200258621Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 27, 2020Publication date: August 13, 2020Inventors: Jordan Katzman, Alex Fenkell, David Katzman, Christopher Yancey, Josh Chapman, Jessica Cicurel