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: 10624722
    Abstract: Systems and methods for laser trimming dental aligners include a model positioning system, an orientation determination system, and a laser trimming system. The model positioning system receives a physical dental model with a material thermoformed thereto. The dental model includes an orientation feature. The model positioning system moves the dental model to a position where the orientation feature is viewable by a camera. The camera captures an image of the orientation feature. The orientation determination system identifies an offset of the dental model by determining an actual orientation of the dental model based on the image of the orientation feature. The laser trimming system cuts the material from the dental model along a trim line while the fixture plate is moved about at least two axes relative to the laser trimming system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: SmileDirectClub LLC
    Inventors: Clete Culp, Jordan Katzman, Steve Cicurel, Christopher Yancey
  • Publication number: 20200066400
    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: November 1, 2019
    Publication date: February 27, 2020
    Applicant: SmileDirectClub LLC
    Inventors: Jordan Katzman, Alex Fenkell, David Katzman, Christopher Yancey, Josh Chapman, Jessica Cicurel
  • Publication number: 20190378344
    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: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2019
    Publication date: December 12, 2019
    Inventors: Josh Long, Andrew Wright, Christopher Yancey
  • Patent number: 10482192
    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: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: SmileDirectClub LLC
    Inventors: Josh Long, Christopher Yancey, Tony Solarek, Clete Culp
  • Patent number: 10468133
    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 based on the condition that indicates that an at-home impression kit will be sent to the user, sending the automatically generated message to the user, sending the at-home impression kit to the user, receiving the at-home impression kit from the user, and producing, at a fabrication site, a plurality of aligners based on the received at-home impression kit where the plurality of aligners are specific to the user and are configured to reposition one or more teeth of the user in accordance with a treatment plan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: SmileDirectClub LLC
    Inventors: Jordan Katzman, Alex Fenkell, David Katzman, Christopher Yancey, Josh Chapman, Jessica Cicurel
  • Patent number: 10410435
    Abstract: A computing device for dental impression scan merging includes a model manager configured to generate a first three-dimensional model and a second three-dimensional model, and a merge manager configured to merge the first model and the second model. Each model includes a respective plurality of geometric faces indicative of a respective dental impression of a dental arch of a user. Merging the first model and the second model includes aligning the first model and the second model, removing a geometric face of the first model, selecting a geometry of the second model corresponding with the removed geometric face of the first model, and generating a merged model that includes the selected geometry and the geometric faces corresponding to the selected geometry. The merged model is used to manufacture a dental aligner specific to the dental arch of the user and configured to reposition one or more teeth of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: SmileDirectClub LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Yancey, Josh Long
  • Publication number: 20190247159
    Abstract: A method includes sending a dental impression kit to a user including dental trays of different sizes including a first set of dental trays having a first size and a second set of dental trays having a second size, a base putty, and a catalyst putty, where the base putty and the catalyst putty are mixable to form a putty mixture for creating dental impressions. The method includes receiving dental impressions created using the first set of dental trays, the first set of dental trays having been selected by the user based on a fit of a first dental tray of the first set on a dental arch of the user relative to a fit of a second dental tray of the second set, and manufacturing a plurality of dental aligners specific to the user and being configured to reposition one or more teeth of the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2019
    Publication date: August 15, 2019
    Applicant: SmileDirectClub LLC
    Inventors: Jordan Katzman, Alex Fenkell, David Katzman, Christopher Yancey, Josh Chapman
  • Publication number: 20190252066
    Abstract: Systems and methods include a mobile intraoral scanning system including a vehicle and an intraoral scanner where the vehicle is configured to travel from a first location to a second location and where the intraoral scanner is located on the vehicle and configured to generate three-dimensional data based on an intraoral scan of a mouth of a user. A fabrication system is configured to manufacture a plurality of aligners based on the three-dimensional data where the plurality of aligners are specific to the user and are configured to reposition one or more teeth of the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2019
    Publication date: August 15, 2019
    Applicant: SmileDirectClub LLC
    Inventors: Jordan Katzman, Alex Fenkell, David Katzman, Christopher Yancey, Josh Chapman, Jessica Cicurel
  • Publication number: 20190247160
    Abstract: A method includes sending a dental impression kit to a user, the dental impression kit including a dental tray, a base putty, and a catalyst putty, where the base putty and the catalyst putty are mixable to form a putty mixture for creating dental impressions. The method further includes receiving an image provided by the user of an initial dental impression created by the user in the putty mixture, and communicating with the user based on the image of the initial dental impression. The method further includes receiving a redundant dental impression created by the user after the communication with the user, and manufacturing, based on the redundant dental impression, a plurality of dental aligners specific to the user and being configured to reposition one or more teeth of the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2019
    Publication date: August 15, 2019
    Applicant: SmileDirectClub LLC
    Inventors: Jordan Katzman, Alex Fenkell, David Katzman, Christopher Yancey, Josh Chapman
  • Publication number: 20190252065
    Abstract: Systems and methods for conducting intraoral scans of a mouth of a user include conducting, using an intraoral scanner at an intraoral scanning site, an intraoral scan of a mouth of a user based on determining that one or more teeth of the user are not being repositioned according to an initial treatment plan designed to reposition the one or more teeth of the user using a first plurality of aligners. The intraoral scan generates three-dimensional data of the mouth of the user. A corrective treatment plan is generated by a treatment plan computing system based on the three-dimensional data. A second plurality of aligners are produced at a fabrication site based on the corrective treatment plan. The second plurality of aligners are specific to the user and configured to reposition the teeth of the user according to the corrective treatment plan.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2019
    Publication date: August 15, 2019
    Applicant: SmileDirectClub LLC
    Inventors: Jordan Katzman, Alex Fenkell, David Katzman, Christopher Yancey, Josh Chapman, Jessica Cicurel
  • Publication number: 20190252067
    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: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2019
    Publication date: August 15, 2019
    Applicant: SmileDirectClub LLC
    Inventors: Jordan Katzman, Alex Fenkell, David Katzman, Christopher Yancey, Josh Chapman, Jessica Cicurel
  • Publication number: 20190247158
    Abstract: A method of administering a dental impression kit includes receiving, from a user, a first set of dental impressions of an upper dental arch and a lower dental arch of the user and identifying, based on the first set of dental impressions, one or more defects in at least one dental impression of the first set of dental impressions. The method includes sending a dental impression kit to the user and receiving a second set of dental impressions, the second set of dental impressions replacing the at least one dental impression having the one or more defects. The method includes manufacturing dental aligners specific to the user and being configured to reposition one or more teeth of the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2019
    Publication date: August 15, 2019
    Applicant: SmileDirectClub LLC
    Inventors: Jordan Katzman, Alex Fenkell, David Katzman, Christopher Yancey, Josh Chapman
  • Publication number: 20190252068
    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 based on the condition that indicates that an at-home impression kit will be sent to the user, sending the automatically generated message to the user, sending the at-home impression kit to the user, receiving the at-home impression kit from the user, and producing, at a fabrication site, a plurality of aligners based on the received at-home impression kit where the plurality of aligners are specific to the user and are configured to reposition one or more teeth of the user in accordance with a treatment plan.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2019
    Publication date: August 15, 2019
    Applicant: SmileDirectClub LLC
    Inventors: Jordan Katzman, Alex Fenkell, David Katzman, Christopher Yancey, Josh Chapman, Jessica Cicurel
  • Patent number: 10315353
    Abstract: A system includes a heating system, a forming system, a conveyor system, and a plurality of thermoforming assemblies for supporting a dental mold and a thermoforming material. The heating system includes a first heater to heat the thermoforming material when proximate the first heater, a second heater configured to heat the thermoforming material when proximate the second heater, and a temperature sensor to detect a temperature of the thermoforming material when the thermoforming material is proximate either of the first heater and the second heater. The forming system includes an actuator and a pressure system to compress the heated thermoforming material to the dental mold. The conveyor system moves the plurality of thermoforming assemblies in a stepwise movement sequence 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: November 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: SmileDirectClub LLC
    Inventors: Clete Culp, Christopher Yancey, John Dargis, Mark French, Daniel Pfeffer, Steve Cicurel
  • Publication number: 20190164352
    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: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2018
    Publication date: May 30, 2019
    Applicant: SmileDirectClub LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Yancey, Josh Long
  • Publication number: 20190164353
    Abstract: A computing device for dental impression scan merging includes a model manager configured to generate a first three-dimensional model and a second three-dimensional model, and a merge manager configured to merge the first model and the second model. Each model includes a respective plurality of geometric faces indicative of a respective dental impression of a dental arch of a user. Merging the first model and the second model includes aligning the first model and the second model, removing a geometric face of the first model, selecting a geometry of the second model corresponding with the removed geometric face of the first model, and generating a merged model that includes the selected geometry and the geometric faces corresponding to the selected geometry. The merged model is used to manufacture a dental aligner specific to the dental arch of the user and configured to reposition one or more teeth of the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2019
    Publication date: May 30, 2019
    Inventors: Christopher Yancey, Josh Long
  • Publication number: 20190013098
    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: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2018
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Inventors: Jordan Katzman, Alex Fenkell, David Katzman, Christopher Yancey, Josh Chapman, Jessica Cicurel
  • Publication number: 20180368943
    Abstract: Systems and methods of remote orthodontic treatment include receiving a plurality of images from a customer where the plurality of images represent teeth of the customer, receiving a first approval from a staff computing device where the first approval is indicative of a staff user approving the plurality of images for assessment by a dental professional, receiving a second approval from a provider computing device where the second approval is indicative of the provider approving a fitness of the customer for treatment, generating, in response to receiving the second approval, a treatment plan including a series of steps to reposition at least one tooth of the teeth of the customer, and manufacturing one or more aligners based at least in part on the treatment plan where the aligners are specific to the customer and are configured to reposition the at least one tooth of the teeth of the customer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2018
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Applicant: SmileDirectClub LLC
    Inventors: Jordan Katzman, Alex Fenkell, David Katzman, Christopher Yancey, Josh Chapman
  • Publication number: 20180368941
    Abstract: A system for remote orthodontic treatment and assessment includes an application server to receive multiple images that represent the teeth of a user and receive an approval from a staff device that indicates a person has approved the images for assessment by a provider. The application server is further receive another approval from a provider device that indicates that the provider has assessed fitness of the user for treatment. The application server may receive the images from a user device. The application server may receive an approval from the provider device that indicates that a treatment plan is approved. In response to receiving the approval of the treatment plan, the application server optimizes 3D models of the treatment plan and provides a visualization of the 3D models to a user device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2017
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Inventors: Jordan Katzman, Alex Fenkell, David Katzman, Christopher Yancey, Josh Chapman
  • Publication number: 20180368953
    Abstract: A method of administering the contents of a dental impression kit includes receiving a dental impression kit including a container containing an initial dental assembly, a redundant dental assembly, a return request, and putty provided in a sufficient amount to be positioned in the dental trays for creating dental impressions, where the return request specifies a predetermined time frame for returning the dental impressions to an entity associated with the manufacture of dental aligners. The method further includes administering the dental assemblies to create the dental impressions, and returning the dental impressions according to the return request, where the dental impressions provide information necessary to manufacture a plurality of dental aligners specific to a user and being configured to reposition one or more teeth of the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2018
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Inventors: Jordan Katzman, Alex Fenkell, David Katzman, Christopher Yancey, Josh Chapman