Patents by Inventor Dennis Te
Dennis Te 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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Publication number: 20260000488Abstract: A method includes forming a plastic shell that has a hollow feature that includes a cavity. The method further includes inserting an object into the cavity, wherein the object is in a solid state and is preformed and shaped to fit into the cavity prior to the inserting of the object into the cavity, wherein the object provides structural strength to the plastic shell at a location of the hollow feature and does not interfere with a fit of the plastic shell onto a dental arch of a patient, the object having a shape that substantially matches a contour of the cavity prior to being inserted into the plastic shell.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 27, 2025Publication date: January 1, 2026Inventors: Bruce Cam, Crystal Tjhia, Rohit Tanugula, Dennis Te
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Publication number: 20250381711Abstract: A method is for manufacturing a shell. The method includes forming the shell over a mold. The mold includes a first portion and a second portion. One or more weakened regions of the mold are associated with the first portion and the second portion. The method further includes causing the first portion of the mold to separate from the second portion of the mold via the one or more weakened regions. The method further includes removing the first portion of the mold from the shell. The method further includes removing the second portion of the mold from the shell. The shell is configured to be worn in a mouth of a patient.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 18, 2025Publication date: December 18, 2025Inventors: Rohit Tanugula, Dennis Te, Peter Webber, Shiva P. Sambu, Crystal Tjhia
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Patent number: 12390960Abstract: A method includes determining a first shape of a main body of a mold associated with a dental arch for a patient. The method further includes determining a second shape of a separable feature of the mold. The method further includes determining a third shape and configuration of a receiving element of the main body to receive the separable feature. The method further includes outputting instructions for fabricating the separable feature and the main body that includes the receiving element for receiving the separable feature.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2020Date of Patent: August 19, 2025Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.Inventors: Rohit Tanugula, Dennis Te, Peter Webber, Shiva P. Sambu, Crystal Tjhia
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Publication number: 20250152309Abstract: The present disclosure provides method, computing device readable medium, and devices for dental appliances with repositioning jaw elements. An example of a removable dental appliance includes a shell having a number of tooth apertures configured to receive and reposition a number of teeth of a patient along one jaw of a patient, a repositioning jaw element that extends from a buccal or lingual surface of the shell, the element having a first outer surface oriented to face the tongue of the patient surface and a second outer surface oriented to face the cheek of the patient, and a reinforcement member formed along at least one of the first and second outer surfaces to provide reinforcement of the repositioning jaw element.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 16, 2025Publication date: May 15, 2025Applicant: ALIGN TECHNOLOGY, INC.Inventors: Rohit TANUGULA, Crystal TJHIA, Dennis TE
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Patent number: 12232930Abstract: A dental apparatus may include a removable orthodontic appliance having a buccal side and a lingual side and may include tooth cavities shaped to reposition one or more teeth of a patient. The dental appliance may also include a repositioning jaw element extending from the buccal or lingual side of the removable orthodontic appliance and a reinforcement member formed along at least one of a lingual side surface or a buccal side surface to reinforce the repositioning jaw element. The reinforcement member may include a channel extending in a gingival-occlusal direction across an occlusal surface of the tooth apertures of the shell. The channel may be open to an interior cavity of the repositioning jaw element.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2023Date of Patent: February 25, 2025Assignee: ALIGN TECHNOLOGY, INC.Inventors: Rohit Tanugula, Crystal Tjhia, Dennis Te
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Publication number: 20230346518Abstract: The present disclosure provides method, computing device readable medium, and devices for dental appliances with repositioning jaw elements. An example of a removable dental appliance includes a shell having a number of tooth apertures configured to receive and reposition a number of teeth of a patient along one jaw of a patient, a repositioning jaw element that extends from a buccal or lingual surface of the shell, the element having a first outer surface oriented to face the tongue of the patient surface and a second outer surface oriented to face the cheek of the patient, and a reinforcement member formed along at least one of the first and second outer surfaces to provide reinforcement of the repositioning jaw element.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 10, 2023Publication date: November 2, 2023Applicant: ALIGN TECHNOLOGY, INC.Inventors: Rohit TANUGULA, Crystal TJHIA, Dennis TE
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Patent number: 11744676Abstract: The present disclosure provides method, computing device readable medium, and devices for dental appliances with repositioning jaw elements. An example of a removable dental appliance includes a shell having a number of tooth apertures configured to receive and reposition a number of teeth of a patient along one jaw of a patient, a repositioning jaw element that extends from a buccal or lingual surface of the shell, the element having a first outer surface oriented to face the tongue of the patient surface and a second outer surface oriented to face the cheek of the patient, and a reinforcement member formed along at least one of the first and second outer surfaces to provide reinforcement of the repositioning jaw element.Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 2021Date of Patent: September 5, 2023Assignee: ALIGN TECHNOLOGY, INC.Inventors: Rohit Tanugula, Crystal Tjhia, Dennis Te
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Publication number: 20210236242Abstract: The present disclosure provides method, computing device readable medium, and devices for dental appliances with repositioning jaw elements. An example of a removable dental appliance includes a shell having a number of tooth apertures configured to receive and reposition a number of teeth of a patient along one jaw of a patient, a repositioning jaw element that extends from a buccal or lingual surface of the shell, the element having a first outer surface oriented to face the tongue of the patient surface and a second outer surface oriented to face the cheek of the patient, and a reinforcement member formed along at least one of the first and second outer surfaces to provide reinforcement of the repositioning jaw element.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 15, 2021Publication date: August 5, 2021Inventors: Rohit Tanugula, Crystal Tjhia, Dennis Te
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Publication number: 20210113304Abstract: A dental appliance includes an interior shape that substantially conforms to a dental arch of a patient, a hollow portion forming a cavity, and an object bonded to the dental appliance and inserted into the cavity. The object provides structural strength to the dental appliance at a location of the hollow portion and does not interfere with a fit of the dental appliance onto the dental arch of the patient.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 23, 2020Publication date: April 22, 2021Inventors: Bruce Cam, Crystal Tjhia, Rohit Tanugula, Dennis Te
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Patent number: 10912629Abstract: The present disclosure provides method, computing device readable medium, and devices for dental appliances with repositioning jaw elements. An example of a removable dental appliance includes a shell having a number of tooth apertures configured to receive and reposition a number of teeth of a patient along one jaw of a patient, a repositioning jaw element that extends from a buccal or lingual surface of the shell, the element having a first outer surface oriented to face the tongue of the patient surface and a second outer surface oriented to face the cheek of the patient, and a reinforcement member formed along at least one of the first and second outer surfaces to provide reinforcement of the repositioning jaw element.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2015Date of Patent: February 9, 2021Assignee: ALIGN TECHNOLOGY, INC.Inventors: Rohit Tanugula, Crystal Tjhia, Dennis Te
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Patent number: 10881487Abstract: A plastic shell such as an orthodontic aligner has an interior shape that substantially conforms to a current or future dental arch of a patient. The plastic shell includes a hollow feature comprising a cavity. The plastic shell additionally includes an object inserted into the cavity, wherein the object provides structural strength to the plastic shell at a location of the hollow feature and does not interfere with a fit of the plastic shell onto the dental arch of the patient.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2016Date of Patent: January 5, 2021Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.Inventors: Bruce Cam, Crystal Tjhia, Rohit Tanugula, Dennis Te
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Publication number: 20200331171Abstract: A method includes determining a first shape of a main body of a mold associated with a dental arch for a patient. The method further includes determining a second shape of a separable feature of the mold. The method further includes determining a third shape and configuration of a receiving element of the main body to receive the separable feature. The method further includes outputting instructions for fabricating the separable feature and the main body that includes the receiving element for receiving the separable feature.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 29, 2020Publication date: October 22, 2020Inventors: Rohit Tanugula, Dennis Te, Peter Webber, Shiva P. Sambu, Crystal Tjhia
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Patent number: 10695956Abstract: A mold includes a main body and a separable feature. One or more first weakened regions join the separable feature to the main body. The one or more first weakened regions are breakable to enable the main body to be removed from a shell independently of the separable feature after the shell is formed over the mold. The main body includes a first section and a second section that are at least partially separable at one or more second weakened regions to enable the first section to be removed from the shell independently of the second section after the shell is formed over the mold.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2018Date of Patent: June 30, 2020Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.Inventors: Rohit Tanugula, Dennis Te, Peter Webber, Shiva P. Sambu, Crystal Tjhia
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Publication number: 20180194039Abstract: A mold includes a main body and a separable feature. One or more first weakened regions join the separable feature to the main body. The one or more first weakened regions are breakable to enable the main body to be removed from a shell independently of the separable feature after the shell is formed over the mold. The main body includes a first section and a second section that are at least partially separable at one or more second weakened regions to enable the first section to be removed from the shell independently of the second section after the shell is formed over the mold.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 7, 2018Publication date: July 12, 2018Inventors: Rohit Tanugula, Dennis Te, Peter Webber, Shiva P. Sambu, Crystal Tjhia
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Patent number: 9943991Abstract: A mold comprises a main body and a separable feature. One or more weakened regions join the separable feature to the main body. The one or more weakened regions are breakable to enable the main body to be removed from a shell independently of the separable feature after the shell is formed over the mold.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2015Date of Patent: April 17, 2018Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.Inventors: Rohit Tanugula, Dennis Te, Peter Webber, Shiva P. Sambu, Crystal Tjhia
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Publication number: 20180000564Abstract: A plastic shell such as an orthodontic aligner has an interior shape that substantially conforms to a current or future dental arch of a patient. The plastic shell includes a hollow feature comprising a cavity. The plastic shell additionally includes an object inserted into the cavity, wherein the object provides structural strength to the plastic shell at a location of the hollow feature and does not interfere with a fit of the plastic shell onto the dental arch of the patient.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 30, 2016Publication date: January 4, 2018Inventors: Bruce Cam, Crystal Tjhia, Rohit Tanugula, Dennis Te
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Publication number: 20170209238Abstract: The present disclosure provides method, computing device readable medium, and devices for dental appliances with repositioning jaw elements. An example of a removable dental appliance includes a shell having a number of tooth apertures configured to receive and reposition a number of teeth of a patient along one jaw of a patient, a repositioning jaw element that extends from a buccal or lingual surface of the shell, the element having a first outer surface oriented to face the tongue of the patient surface and a second outer surface oriented to face the cheek of the patient, and a reinforcement member formed along at least one of the first and second outer surfaces to provide reinforcement of the repositioning jaw element.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 30, 2015Publication date: July 27, 2017Inventors: Rohit Tanugula, Crystal Tjhia, Dennis Te
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Publication number: 20160106521Abstract: The present disclosure provides method, computing device readable medium, and devices for dental appliances with repositioning jaw elements. An example of a removable dental appliance includes a shell having a number of tooth apertures configured to receive and reposition a number of teeth of a patient along one jaw of a patient, a repositioning jaw element that extends from a buccal or lingual surface of the shell, the element having a first outer surface oriented to face the tongue of the patient surface and a second outer surface oriented to face the cheek of the patient, and a reinforcement member formed along at least one of the first and second outer surfaces to provide reinforcement of the repositioning jaw element.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 30, 2015Publication date: April 21, 2016Inventors: Rohit Tanugula, Crystal Tjhia, Dennis Te
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Publication number: 20150336299Abstract: A mold comprises a main body and a separable feature. One or more weakened regions join the separable feature to the main body. The one or more weakened regions are breakable to enable the main body to be removed from a shell independently of the separable feature after the shell is formed over the mold.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 19, 2015Publication date: November 26, 2015Inventors: Rohit Tanugula, Dennis Te, Peter Webber, Shiva P. Sambu, Crystal Tjhia