Patents by Inventor Eric Yau

Eric Yau 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: 20240108437
    Abstract: A system and method for determining a center of resistance of a tooth may include receiving a 3D digital representation of an initial arrangement and a final arrangement of a patient's teeth and determining a 3D treatment plan. The 3D treatment plan may include a plurality of 3D stages for rearranging the teeth from the initial arrangement toward the final arrangement. The method may also include determining, in accordance with the 3D treatment plan, an intended movement of the teeth for each of the stages and deriving, using a 3D resistance model, an applied force system for achieving the intended movement of the teeth for each of the stages. The method may also include deriving 3D geometries of oral appliances for the stages in response to the applied force system. Various other systems and methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2023
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Applicant: ALIGN TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Iman SHOJAEI, Reza SHIRAZI AGHJARI, John Y. MORTON, Vadim MATOV, Eric YAU, Fuming WU, Sergei BRODSKY
  • Patent number: 11864970
    Abstract: A system and method for determining a center of resistance of a tooth may include receiving a 3D digital representation of an initial arrangement and a final arrangement of a patient's teeth and determining a 3D treatment plan. The 3D treatment plan may include a plurality of 3D stages for rearranging the teeth from the initial arrangement toward the final arrangement. The method may also include determining, in accordance with the 3D treatment plan, an intended movement of the teeth for each of the stages and deriving, using a 3D resistance model, an applied force system for achieving the intended movement of the teeth for each of the stages. The method may also include deriving 3D geometries of oral appliances for the stages in response to the applied force system. Various other systems and methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: ALIGN TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Iman Shojaei, Reza Shirazi Aghjari, John Y. Morton, Vadim Matov, Eric Yau, Fuming Wu, Sergei Brodsky
  • Publication number: 20230346520
    Abstract: A system for correcting class III malocclusions is disclosed. The system may include a maxilla appliance having tooth receiving cavities shaped to receive teeth of the maxilla and a first coupling for receiving an elastic. The system may also include a mandibular appliance having tooth receiving cavities shaped to receive teeth of the mandible. In some embodiments, the system includes a class III corrective appliance having a first mount shaped to engage with the mandibular arch of the patient and having a second coupling shaped to receive the elastic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2023
    Publication date: November 2, 2023
    Applicant: ALIGN TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Mitra DERAKHSHAN, Crystal TJHIA, Rohit TANUGULA, Yaser SHANJANI, Ryan KIMURA, Bruce CAM, Eric YAU, Yuxiang WANG, Ken WU, Peter WEBBER, Jun SATO, John Y. MORTON
  • Patent number: 11793608
    Abstract: A system for correcting class III malocclusions is disclosed. The system may include a maxilla appliance having tooth receiving cavities shaped to receive teeth of the maxilla and a first coupling for receiving an elastic. The system may also include a mandibular appliance having tooth receiving cavities shaped to receive teeth of the mandible. In some embodiments, the system includes a class III corrective appliance having a first mount shaped to engage with the mandibular arch of the patient and having a second coupling shaped to receive the elastic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: ALIGN TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Mitra Derakhshan, Crystal Tjhia, Rohit Tanugula, Yaser Shanjani, Ryan Kimura, Bruce Cam, Eric Yau, Yuxiang Wang, Ken Wu, Peter Webber, Jun Sato, John Y. Morton
  • Patent number: 11737857
    Abstract: A system for correcting class III malocclusions is disclosed. The system may include a maxilla appliance having tooth receiving cavities shaped to receive teeth of the maxilla and a first coupling for receiving an elastic. The system may also include a mandibular appliance having tooth receiving cavities shaped to receive teeth of the mandible. In some embodiments, the system includes a class III corrective appliance having a first mount shaped to engage with the mandibular arch of the patient and having a second coupling shaped to receive the elastic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: ALIGN TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Mitra Derakhshan, Crystal Tjhia, Rohit Tanugula, Yaser Shanjani, Ryan Kimura, Bruce Cam, Eric Yau, Yuxiang Wang, Ken Wu, Peter Webber, Jun Sato, John Y. Morton
  • Publication number: 20230263599
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides method, computing device readable medium, and devices for dental appliances with repositioning jaw elements. An example of a method can include identifying a misaligned jaw of a patient from a virtual image of the patient’s jaw, providing a treatment plan for the patient including a virtual model of a dental appliance having a first shell and a second shell configured to reposition at least one tooth of the parent, and adjusting the position of the repositioning jaw elements on the first shell and the second shell to comply with a number of constraints.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2023
    Publication date: August 24, 2023
    Applicant: ALIGN TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Ken WU, Eric E. KUO, Mitra DERAKHSHAN, Crystal TJHIA, Eric YAU, Allen R. BORONKAY, Chunhua LI, Gleb KRIVOVYAZ
  • Publication number: 20230240810
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods, computing device readable medium, and devices for dental appliances with repositioning jaw elements. An example of a method can include moving at least one tooth with a dental appliance having a first shell configured to receive a plurality of teeth of a patient's upper dentition and separating an upper dentition of a patient from a lower dentition of the patient utilizing the dental appliance. The dental appliance may interface a first surface of a first repositioning jaw element of the first shell with a second surface of a second repositioning jaw element of a second shell of the dental appliance. The dental appliance separates occlusal surfaces of the plurality of teeth of the patient's upper dentition from occlusal surfaces of the plurality of teeth of the patient's lower dentition as the patient moves to a fully engaged sagittal jaw position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2023
    Publication date: August 3, 2023
    Applicant: ALIGN TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Ken WU, Eric E. KUO, Mitra DERAKHSHAN, Crystal TJHIA, Eric YAU, Allen R. BORONKAY, Chunhua LI
  • Publication number: 20230210637
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for customized retainers to prevent relapse. In particular, described herein are customized retainers, and methods and apparatuses for making customized retainers that specifically reenforce and prevent movement of one or more teeth having a higher likelihood of relapse following completion of an orthodontic treatment plan.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2022
    Publication date: July 6, 2023
    Inventors: Ken WU, Huizhong LI, Mitra DERAKHSHAN, Zhou YU, James NISHIMUTA, Yuxiang WANG, Xi CAI, Rohit TANUGULA, Jeeyoung CHOI, Eric YAU, Jun SATO, John Y. MORTON
  • Publication number: 20230190411
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses (including software) for optimizing dental treatment plans, including for optimizing the treatment plans using dental aligners. These methods and apparatuses may optimize a treatment plan by estimating a difference between a target set of tooth position and a predicted set of tooth positions using the treatment plan using a prediction network trained to use multiple translational and rotational directions for individual teeth as well as reaction forces on the individual teeth based on adjacent teeth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2022
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Inventors: Yi-Lin CHIU, Yuxiang WANG, Luyao CAI, Jun SATO, Iman SHOJAEI, Manlio Fabio VALDIVIESO CASIQUE, Minghao DAI, Xi CAI, Jeeyoung CHOI, Eric YAU
  • Patent number: 11660167
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides method, computing device readable medium, and devices for dental appliances with repositioning jaw elements. An example of a method can include identifying a misaligned jaw of a patient from a virtual image of the patient's jaw, and providing a treatment plan for the patient including a virtual model of a dental appliance having a first shell and a second shell configured to reposition at least one tooth of the patient. The virtual model of the dental appliance including repositioning jaw elements on the first shell and the second shell configured to move a position of the misaligned jaw of the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: ALIGN TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Ken Wu, Eric E. Kuo, Mitra Derakhshan, Crystal Tjhia, Eric Yau, Allen R. Boronkay, Chunhua Li
  • Publication number: 20230131801
    Abstract: A series of appliances including a first appliance and a second appliance. The first appliance can be configured to receive at least one tooth of a first jaw and have a first number of bite adjustment structures extending from the lingual surface of the first appliance. The first number of bite adjustment structures can have a first shape and location specific to a first stage of the treatment plan. The second appliance can be configured to receive at least one tooth of the second jaw, have a second number of bite adjustment structures extending from the second appliance and be designed to make contact with the first number of bite adjustment structures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2022
    Publication date: April 27, 2023
    Inventors: Huizhong LI, Crystal TJHIA, Eric YAU, Rohit TANUGULA, Jun SATO
  • Patent number: 11633261
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides method, computing device readable medium, and devices for dental appliances with repositioning jaw elements. An example of a method can include identifying a misaligned jaw of a patient from a virtual image of the patient's jaw, providing a treatment plan for the patient including a virtual model of a dental appliance having a first shell and a second shell configured to reposition at least one tooth of the patient, and adjusting the position of the repositioning jaw elements on the first shell and the second shell to comply with a number of constraints. The virtual model of the dental appliance including repositioning jaw elements on the first shell and the second shell configured to move a position of the misaligned jaw of the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: ALIGN TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Ken Wu, Eric E. Kuo, Mitra Derakhshan, Crystal Tjhia, Eric Yau, Allen R. Boronkay, Chunhua Li, Gleb Krivovyaz
  • Publication number: 20230089755
    Abstract: A support is coupled to an appliance to decrease warpage. The support may comprise a plurality of extensions coupled to the appliance to decrease warpage. The extensions can be coupled to the appliance at one or more of many locations, such as on an occlusal surface, a wall, an edge or an interior of the appliance. In some embodiments, the extensions are coupled to walls of the appliance such as a buccal wall and a lingual wall, and the extensions can be coupled to the walls of the appliance near edges of the walls, such as a gingivally facing edges of the walls that are oriented toward the gingiva when the appliance is worn.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2022
    Publication date: March 23, 2023
    Applicant: ALIGN TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Jennifer CHAVEZ, Peter WEBBER, Zhou (Jonelle) YU, Tzishing Jesse LIM, Luyao CAI, Eric YAU
  • Patent number: 11534277
    Abstract: A support is coupled to an appliance to decrease warpage. The support may comprise a plurality of extensions coupled to the appliance to decrease warpage. The extensions can be coupled to the appliance at one or more of many locations, such as on an occlusal surface, a wall, an edge or an interior of the appliance. In some embodiments, the extensions are coupled to walls of the appliance such as a buccal wall and a lingual wall, and the extensions can be coupled to the walls of the appliance near edges of the walls, such as gingivally facing edges of the walls that are oriented toward the gingiva when the appliance is worn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Jennifer Chavez, Peter Webber, Zhou (Jonelle) Yu, Tzishing Jesse Lim, Luyao Cai, Eric Yau
  • Patent number: 11534268
    Abstract: A series of appliances including a first appliance and a second appliance. The first appliance can be configured to receive at least one tooth of a first jaw and have a first number of bite adjustment structures extending from the lingual surface of the first appliance. The first number of bite adjustment structures can have a first shape and location specific to a first stage of the treatment plan. The second appliance can be configured to receive at least one tooth of the second jaw, have a second number of bite adjustment structures extending from the second appliance and be designed to make contact with the first number of bite adjustment structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Huizhong Li, Crystal Tjhia, Eric Yau, Rohit Tanugula, Jun Sato
  • Publication number: 20220313393
    Abstract: Dental appliances having modified gingival edge profiles for optimizing orthodontic tooth movement. In some cases, at least a portion of the gingival edge is lengthened to extend past the gumline of the patient, thereby directing forces closer to a center of resistance of one or more teeth. In some cases, at least a portion of the gingival edge is shortened with respect to the gumline of the patient, thereby directing forces farther from a center of resistance of one or more teeth. The change in the force system of the dental appliance due to the gingival edge modification can be tailored and tuned for specific tooth movements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2022
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Inventors: Tzishing Jesse LIM, Fuming WU, Eric YAU, Bastien PESENTI, Jun SATO
  • Publication number: 20220142740
    Abstract: A system and method for determining a center of resistance of a tooth may include receiving a 3D digital representation of an initial arrangement and a final arrangement of a patient's teeth and determining a 3D treatment plan. The 3D treatment plan may include a plurality of 3D stages for rearranging the teeth from the initial arrangement toward the final arrangement. The method may also include determining, in accordance with the 3D treatment plan, an intended movement of the teeth for each of the stages and deriving, using a 3D resistance model, an applied force system for achieving the intended movement of the teeth for each of the stages. The method may also include deriving 3D geometries of oral appliances for the stages in response to the applied force system. Various other systems and methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2021
    Publication date: May 12, 2022
    Applicant: ALIGN TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Iman SHOJAEI, Reza SHIRAZI AGHJARI, John Y. MORTON, Vadim MATOV, Eric YAU, Fuming WU, Sergei BRODSKY
  • Publication number: 20220071743
    Abstract: A system for correcting class III malocclusions is disclosed. The system may include a maxilla appliance having tooth receiving cavities shaped to receive teeth of the maxilla and a first coupling for receiving an elastic. The system may also include a mandibular appliance having tooth receiving cavities shaped to receive teeth of the mandible. In some embodiments, the system includes a class III corrective appliance having a first mount shaped to engage with the mandibular arch of the patient and having a second coupling shaped to receive the elastic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2021
    Publication date: March 10, 2022
    Inventors: Mitra DERAKHSHAN, Crystal TJHIA, Rohit TANUGULA, Yaser SHANJANI, Ryan KIMURA, Bruce CAM, Eric YAU, Yuxiang WANG, Ken WU, Peter WEBBER, Jun SATO, John Y. MORTON
  • Publication number: 20200306017
    Abstract: A support is coupled to an appliance to decrease warpage. The support may comprise a plurality of extensions coupled to the appliance to decrease warpage. The extensions can be coupled to the appliance at one or more of many locations, such as on an occlusal surface, a wall, an edge or an interior of the appliance. In some embodiments, the extensions are coupled to walls of the appliance such as a buccal wall and a lingual wall, and the extensions can be coupled to the walls of the appliance near edges of the walls, such as a gingivally facing edges of the walls that are oriented toward the gingiva when the appliance is worn.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2020
    Publication date: October 1, 2020
    Applicant: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Jennifer CHAVEZ, Peter WEBBER, Zhou (Jonelle) YU, Tzishing Jesse LIM, Luyao CAI, Eric YAU
  • Publication number: 20200146778
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides method, computing device readable medium, and devices for dental appliances with repositioning jaw elements. An example of a method can include identifying a misaligned jaw of a patient from a virtual image of the patient's jaw, providing a treatment plan for the patient including a virtual model of a dental appliance having a first shell and a second shell configured to reposition at least one tooth of the patient, and adjusting the position of the repositioning jaw elements on the first shell and the second shell to comply with a number of constraints. The virtual model of the dental appliance including repositioning jaw elements on the first shell and the second shell configured to move a position of the misaligned jaw of the patient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2020
    Publication date: May 14, 2020
    Inventors: Ken Wu, Eric E. Kuo, Mitra Derakhshan, Crystal Tjhia, Eric Yau, Allen R. Boronkay, Chunhua Li, Gleb Krivovyaz