Patents by Inventor Huafeng Wen

Huafeng Wen 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).

  • SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR FABRICATING A DENTAL TEMPLATE
    Publication number: 20160324601
    Abstract: A dental template to position an object on a patient's tooth includes digitizing the patient's tooth; adding virtual objects to predetermined locations on the digitized tooth; and fabricating the dental template to locate the object on the patient's tooth. The template can be used for etching or for positioning brackets on teeth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2016
    Publication date: November 10, 2016
    Inventors: Loc X. Phan, Peter G. Knopp, Eric E. Kuo, Amir Abolfathi, Huafeng Wen
  • Systems and methods for fabricating a dental template
    Patent number: 9433479
    Abstract: A dental template to position an object on a patient's tooth includes digitizing the patient's tooth; adding virtual objects to predetermined locations on the digitized tooth; and fabricating the dental template to locate the object on the patient's tooth. The template can be used for etching or for positioning brackets on teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: ALIGN TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Loc X. Phan, Peter G. Knopp, Eric E. Kuo, Amir Abolfathi, Huafeng Wen
  • SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR FABRICATING A DENTAL TEMPLATE
    Publication number: 20160051342
    Abstract: A dental template to position an object on a patient's tooth includes digitizing the patient's tooth; adding virtual objects to predetermined locations on the digitized tooth; and fabricating the dental template to locate the object on the patient's tooth. The template can be used for etching or for positioning brackets on teeth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2015
    Publication date: February 25, 2016
    Inventors: Loc X. Phan, Peter G. Knopp, Eric E. Kuo, Amir Abolfathi, Huafeng Wen
  • COMPUTER AUTOMATED DEVELOPMENT OF AN ORTHODONTIC TREATMENT PLAN AND APPLIANCE
    Publication number: 20150351871
    Abstract: A computer is used to create a plan for repositioning an orthodontic patient's teeth. The computer receives an initial digital data set representing the patient's teeth at their initial positions and a final digital data set representing the teeth at their final positions. The computer then uses the data sets to generate treatment paths along which the teeth will move from the initial positions to the final positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2015
    Publication date: December 10, 2015
    Inventors: Muhammad Chishti, Kelsey Wirth, Andrew Beers, Huafeng Wen, Phillips Alexander Benton, Timothy N. Jones, Ross J. Miller, Brian Freyburger
  • Systems and methods for fabricating a dental template
    Patent number: 9204942
    Abstract: A dental template to position an object on a patient's tooth includes digitizing the patient's tooth; adding virtual objects to predetermined locations on the digitized tooth; and fabricating the dental template to locate the object on the patient's tooth. The template can be used for etching or for positioning brackets on teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Loc X. Phan, Peter G. Knopp, Eric E. Kuo, Amir Abolfathi, Huafeng Wen
  • Computer automated development of an orthodontic treatment plan and appliance
    Patent number: 9161824
    Abstract: A computer is used to create a plan for repositioning an orthodontic patient's teeth. The computer receives an initial digital data set representing the patient's teeth at their initial positions and a final digital data set representing the teeth at their final positions. The computer then uses the data sets to generate treatment paths along which the teeth will move from the initial positions to the final positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Muhammad Chishti, Kelsey Wirth, Andrew Beers, Huafeng Wen, Phillips Alexander Benton, Timothy N. Jones, Ross J. Miller, Brian Freyburger
  • PREVENTING INTERFERENCE BETWEEN TOOTH MODELS
    Publication number: 20150220662
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed to prevent interference between two physical tooth models in a physical dental arch model by acquiring the coordinates of a plurality of points on the surfaces of each of the two physical tooth models and digitally representing the surfaces of each of the two physical tooth models by a mesh of points in three dimensions using the acquired coordinates. The meshes representing the surfaces of the two physical tooth models intersect at least at one point to form an overlapping portion. The method also includes calculating the depth of the overlapping portion between the two meshes to quantify the interference of the two physical tooth models.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2015
    Publication date: August 6, 2015
    Inventor: Huafeng Wen
  • Preventing interference between tooth models
    Patent number: 9011149
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed to prevent interference between two physical tooth models in a physical dental arch model by acquiring the coordinates of a plurality of points on the surfaces of each of the two physical tooth models and digitally representing the surfaces of each of the two physical tooth models by a mesh of points in three dimensions using the acquired coordinates. The meshes representing the surfaces of the two physical tooth models intersect at least at one point to form an overlapping portion. The method also includes calculating the depth of the overlapping portion between the two meshes to quantify the interference of the two physical tooth models.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Huafeng Wen
  • SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR FABRICATING A DENTAL TEMPLATE
    Publication number: 20140322662
    Abstract: A dental template to position an object on a patient's tooth includes digitizing the patient's tooth; adding virtual objects to predetermined locations on the digitized tooth; and fabricating the dental template to locate the object on the patient's tooth. The template can be used for etching or for positioning brackets on teeth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2014
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicant: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Loc X. Phan, Peter G. Knopp, Eric E. Kuo, Amir Abolfathi, Huafeng Wen
  • Method and apparatus for topology discovery
    Patent number: 8848515
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for topology discovery are disclosed. Link state information of each port of each device on a ring network is confirmed through neighbor negotiation between a first device and a neighbor device, and by broadcasting a link state information base of each device to other devices on the ring network, each device on the ring network can obtain the newest and synchronous link state information of each port on the ring network, so that each network device on the ring network implements topology discovery of the ring network where the network device is located.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Huafeng Wen, Wenhai Wang, Li Qin
  • CLINICIAN REVIEW OF AN ORTHODONTIC TREATMENT PLAN AND APPLIANCE
    Publication number: 20140288894
    Abstract: A computer is used to create a plan for repositioning an orthodontic patient's teeth. The computer receives an initial digital data set representing the patient's teeth at their initial positions and a final digital data set representing the teeth at their final positions. The computer then uses the data sets to generate treatment paths along which teeth will move from the initial positions to the final positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2014
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Inventors: Muhammad Chishti, Andrew Beers, Huafeng Wen, Phillips Alexander
  • TREATMENT OF TEETH BY ALIGNERS
    Publication number: 20140229878
    Abstract: A method for treating a subject's teeth. A target configuration for the subject's teeth is determined. Receiving features are produced on a dental base in response to the target configuration, the receiving features being configured to receive physical tooth models. The physical tooth models are assembled on the dental base to form a physical arch model. A dental aligner is produced using the physical arch model to move the subject's teeth to the target configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2014
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Huafeng WEN, Frank Zhenhuan LIU
  • Clinician review of an orthodontic treatment plan and appliance
    Patent number: 8780106
    Abstract: A computer is used to create a plan for repositioning an orthodontic patient's teeth. The computer receives an initial digital data set representing the patient's teeth at their initial positions and a final digital data set representing the teeth at their final positions. The computer then uses the data sets to generate treatment paths along which teeth will move from the initial positions to the final positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Muhammad Chishti, Andrew Beers, Huafeng Wen, Phillips Alexander Benton
  • COMPUTER AUTOMATED DEVELOPMENT OF AN ORTHODONTIC TREATMENT PLAN AND APPLIANCE
    Publication number: 20140180463
    Abstract: A computer is used to create a plan for repositioning an orthodontic patient's teeth. The computer receives an initial digital data set representing the patient's teeth at their initial positions and a final digital data set representing the teeth at their final positions. The computer then uses the data sets to generate treatment paths along which the teeth will move from the initial positions to the final positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2014
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Muhammad Chishti, Kelsey Wirth, Andrew Beers, Huafeng Wen, Phillips Alexander Benton, Timothy N. Jones, Ross J. Miller, Brian Freyburger
  • Treatment of teeth by aligners
    Patent number: 8740614
    Abstract: A method for treating a subject's teeth. A target configuration for the subject's teeth is determined. Receiving features are produced on a dental base in response to the target configuration, the receiving features being configured to receive physical tooth models. The physical tooth models are assembled on the dental base to form a physical arch model. A dental aligner is produced using the physical arch model to move the subject's teeth to the target configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc
    Inventors: Huafeng Wen, Frank Zhenhuan Liu
  • Systems and methods for fabricating a dental template
    Patent number: 8734149
    Abstract: A dental template to position an object on a patient's tooth includes digitizing the patient's tooth; adding virtual objects to predetermined locations on the digitized tooth; and fabricating the dental template to locate the object on the patient's tooth. The template can be used for etching or for positioning brackets on teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Loc X. Phan, Peter G. Knopp, Eric E. Kuo, Amir Abolfathi, Huafeng Wen
  • Computer automated development of an orthodontic treatment plan and appliance
    Patent number: 8734150
    Abstract: A computer is used to create a plan for repositioning an orthodontic patient's teeth. The computer receives an initial digital data set representing the patient's teeth at their initial positions and a final digital data set representing the teeth at their final positions. The computer then uses the data sets to generate treatment paths along which the teeth will move from the initial positions to the final positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Huafeng Wen
  • Disposable dental aligner
    Patent number: 8684729
    Abstract: A method for treating a patient's teeth includes determining an initial configuration of the patient's teeth, determining a final configuration of the patient's teeth, designing a movement path for at least one of the patient's teeth from the initial configuration to the final configuration, dividing the movement path into a plurality of successive treatment steps, each having a target configuration for the patient's teeth, and producing two or more dental aligners of substantially identical shape for at least one of the treatment steps in accordance with the target configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Huafeng Wen
  • Fabricating a base compatible with physical tooth models
    Patent number: 8636513
    Abstract: Systems and methods produce a physical base for receiving physical tooth models by receiving position information for the physical tooth models on the physical base and machining first features on a base plate in accordance with the position information to produce the physical base, wherein the first features are configured to receive the physical tooth models.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Huafeng Wen
  • Systems for designing a foot orthotic
    Patent number: 8596145
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods and systems for design of a foot orthotic, and a foot orthotic device designed in accord therewith. More specifically described is an individualized foot orthotic device to correct and/or restore the ideal alignment and/or positioning of foot structures. In the method, sequential pressure is applied to regions on a plantar foot surface, and positional information is obtained about each region. Based on the positional information, an orthotic profile is determined, for design of one or more custom, individualized foot orthotic devices for a subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Tensegrity Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: J. Kevin Miller, Neal J. Beidleman, Michael A. Boennighausen, Michael S. Latterman, Gregg E. Freebury, Sue Ann Latterman, Huafeng Wen