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).

  • Patent number: 10925691
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: SDC U.S. SmilePay SPV
    Inventors: Christopher Yancey, Josh Long, Tony Solarek, Ian Kitching
  • Publication number: 20210045855
    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: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2019
    Publication date: February 18, 2021
    Inventors: Josh Long, Christopher Yancey, Roland Harris, Chris Sorrells
  • 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: 10916053
    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 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: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: SDC U.S. SmilePay SPV
    Inventors: Jordan Katzman, Christopher Yancey
  • Publication number: 20210022832
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2020
    Publication date: January 28, 2021
    Inventors: Christopher Yancey, Ryan Ogletree
  • Publication number: 20200383758
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2019
    Publication date: December 10, 2020
    Inventors: Christopher Yancey, Duane Daniel Hunter
  • Patent number: 10861250
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: SDC U.S. SmilePay SPV
    Inventors: Josh Long, Andrew Wright, 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
  • Patent number: 10849723
    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: December 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: SDC U.S. SmilePay SPV
    Inventors: Christopher Yancey, Jordan Katzman
  • Publication number: 20200352686
    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: December 11, 2019
    Publication date: November 12, 2020
    Inventors: Christopher Yancey, Jordan Katzman
  • Publication number: 20200316841
    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: June 22, 2020
    Publication date: October 8, 2020
    Inventors: Clete Culp, Christopher Yancey, John Dargis, Mark French, Daniel Pfeffer, Steve Cicurel
  • Publication number: 20200312446
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2020
    Publication date: October 1, 2020
    Applicant: SDC U.S. SmilePay SPV
    Inventors: Jordan Katzman, Alex Fenkell, David Katzman, Christopher Yancey, Josh Chapman, Jessica Cicurel
  • Publication number: 20200281689
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2019
    Publication date: September 10, 2020
    Inventors: Christopher Yancey, Josh Long, Tony Solarek, Ian Kitching
  • Publication number: 20200258621
    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: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2020
    Publication date: August 13, 2020
    Inventors: Jordan Katzman, Alex Fenkell, David Katzman, Christopher Yancey, Josh Chapman, Jessica Cicurel
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20200246119
    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: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2019
    Publication date: August 6, 2020
    Inventors: Josh Long, Christopher Yancey, Tony Solarek, Daniel Pfeffer, Clete Culp
  • 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: 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
  • 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