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).

  • Tooth path treatment plan
    Patent number: 7435083
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed to prepare a malocclusion treatment plan by selecting a tooth treatment pattern from a library of predetermined tooth treatment patterns; and generating the malocclusion treatment plan implementing the selected tooth treatment pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Muhammad Chishti, Huafeng Wen, Woncheol Choi
  • System and methods for casting physical tooth model
    Patent number: 7435084
    Abstract: A casting chamber for casting a physical tooth model representing a patient's tooth includes a chamber body and a lid. The chamber body includes a cavity adapted to hold a negative impression of the patient's tooth and to receive a cast material, wherein the negative impression and the chamber body are registered by a registration unit. The chamber lid is configured to seal the cast material in the casting chamber to permit the casting material to solidify in the casting chamber to form a physical tooth model representing the patient's tooth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank Zhenhuan Liu, Huafeng Wen
  • Clinician review of an orthodontic treatment plan and appliance
    Publication number: 20080248443
    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: October 31, 2007
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Applicant: ALIGN TECHNOLOGY, INC
    Inventors: Muhammad Chishti, Andrew Beers, Huafeng Wen, Phillips Alexander Benton
  • Efficient data representation of teeth model
    Patent number: 7433810
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for generating a computer model of one or more teeth by receiving a digital data set of meshes representing the teeth; creating a parametric representation of the digital data set; and displaying the computer model of the teeth using the parametric representation. The model can be modified or transmitted for viewing or for fabricating dental appliances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Elena Pavloskaia, Huafeng Wen
  • Efficient data representation of teeth model
    Patent number: 7428481
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method generates a computer model of one or more teeth by receiving as input a digital data set of meshes representing the teeth; selecting a curved coordinate system with mappings to and from a 3D space; and generating a function in the curved coordinate system to represent each tooth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2008
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Sergey Nikolskiy, Elena Pavloskaia, Huafeng Wen
  • Manipulable dental model system for fabrication of a dental appliance
    Publication number: 20080206702
    Abstract: Fabricating polymeric shell appliances for moving a patient's teeth. A first tooth arrangement model is formed by placing models of individual teeth representing the patient's teeth onto a plurality of platforms of a frame approximating a shape and size of a jaw of the patient, wherein each model tooth comprises a coupling member for coupling the model tooth with a platform of the plurality of platforms. A first polymeric shell appliance is formed over the first tooth arrangement model or a copy thereof. At least a second tooth arrangement model is formed by rearranging at least some of the individual teeth relative to the frame. At least a second polymeric shell appliance is formed over the second tooth arrangement model or a copy thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2008
    Publication date: August 28, 2008
    Inventors: Len Hedge, Huafeng Wen, Srinivas Kaza
  • Computer automated development of an orthodontic treatment plan and appliance
    Publication number: 20080182220
    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: October 31, 2007
    Publication date: July 31, 2008
    Applicant: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Muhammad Chishti, Brian Freyburger, Kelsey Wirth, Andrew Beers, Huafeng Wen, Phillips Alexander Benton, Timothy N. Jones, Ross J. Miller
  • Method and apparatus for manufacturing and constructing a physical dental arch model
    Patent number: 7384266
    Abstract: A method produces a physical dental arch model based on a three-dimensional (3D) digital dental arch model. The method includes smoothening the digital dental arch model to make the digital dental arch model suitable for CNC based manufacturing, segmenting the digital dental arch model into at least two manufacturable digital components, producing manufacturable physical components using Computer Numerical Control (CNC) based manufacturing in accordance with the manufacturable digital components, and assembling the manufacturable physical components to form the physical dental arch model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Huafeng Wen
  • Efficient data representation of teeth model
    Patent number: 7373286
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method generates a computer model of one or more teeth by receiving as input a digital data set of meshes representing the teeth; selecting a curved coordinate system with mappings to and from a 3D space; and generating a function in the curved coordinate system to represent each tooth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Sergey Nikolskiy, Elena Pavloskaia, Huafeng Wen
  • Manipulable dental model system for fabrication of a dental appliance
    Patent number: 7357636
    Abstract: A dental appliance fabrication system includes a reconfigurable dental model including a frame having one or more tooth members disposed on the frame; and one or more micro-positioners each coupled to one tooth member to move the tooth in six degrees of freedom relative to the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Len Hedge, Huafeng Wen, Srinivas Kaza
  • Methods for producing non-interfering tooth models
    Patent number: 7335024
    Abstract: A method produces a physical dental arch model having at least two physical tooth models. The method includes detecting the interference between two physical tooth models. If interference is detected between the first physical tooth model and the second physical tooth model, the positions and orientations of at least one physical tooth model is modified to prevent interference between the first physical tooth model and the second physical tooth model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Huafeng Wen
  • Preventing interference between tooth models
    Patent number: 7309230
    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: December 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Huafeng Wen
  • Accurately predicting and preventing interference between tooth models
    Patent number: 7293988
    Abstract: Systems and methods for preventing interference between two physical tooth models in a physical dental arch model includes digitally representing the surfaces of each of the two physical tooth models by a mesh of points in three dimensions, interpolating the meshes of points to produce interpolated surfaces to represent the boundaries of the two physical tooth models, wherein the interpolated surfaces representing the boundaries of the two physical tooth models intersect at least at one point to form an overlapping portion. The method also includes specifying a straight line running through the overlapping portion and intersecting the two interpolated surfaces representing the boundaries of the two physical tooth models and calculating the length of the straight line in the overlapping portion to quantify the interference between the two physical tooth models.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Huafeng Wen
  • Digitization of target dental arch model
    Publication number: 20070243502
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for generating digital models of arrangements of a patient's teeth. The methods comprise acquiring a physical model of an arrangement of the patient's teeth, and generating a digital model of the arrangement from the physical model. Arrangements of the patient's teeth that may be digitally modeled by these methods include, but are not limited to, the current arrangement of the patient's teeth in the patient's mouth, a predicted or desired post-treatment arrangement of the patient's teeth, an arrangement of teeth intermediate between the current and predicted or desired post-treatment arrangement, or another arrangement of the patient's teeth that is modified compared to the current arrangement. In some variations, the digital model may be used in the fabrication of dental appliances including but not limited to dental aligners.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2006
    Publication date: October 18, 2007
    Inventor: Huafeng Wen
  • Tooth movement tracking system
    Publication number: 20070232961
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for determining movement of a tooth model from a first position to a second position by identifying one or more common features on the tooth model; detecting the position of the common features on the tooth model at the first position; detecting the position of the common features on the tooth model at the second position; and determining a difference between the position of each common feature at the first and second positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2006
    Publication date: October 4, 2007
    Inventor: Huafeng Wen
  • Subdividing a digital dentition model
    Patent number: 7247021
    Abstract: A computer or other digital circuitry is used to assist in the creation of a digital model of an individual component, such as a tooth or gum tissue, in a patient's dentition. The computer receives a data set that forms a three-dimensional (3D) representation of the patient's dentition, applies a test to the data set to identify data elements that represent portions of the individual component, and creates a digital model of the individual component based upon the identified data elements. Many implementations require the computer to identify data elements representing a 2D cross-section of the dentition lying in a 2D plane that is roughly parallel to or roughly perpendicular to the dentition's occlusal plane. The computer analyzes the 2D cross-section to identify dentition features that represent boundaries between individual dentition components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy N. Jones, Muhammad Chishti, Huafeng Wen, Gregory Bala
  • Image based dentition record digitization
    Publication number: 20070160957
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for generating a 3D model of an object using one or more cameras by: calibrating each camera; establishing a coordinate system and environment for the one or more cameras; registering one or more fiducials on the object; and capturing one or more images and constructing a 3D model from images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2006
    Publication date: July 12, 2007
    Inventor: Huafeng Wen
  • Image-based orthodontic treatment viewing system
    Publication number: 20070141534
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for visualizing changes in a three dimensional (3D) model by receiving an initial 3D model for the patient; determining a target 3D model; and generating one or more intermediate 3D models by morphing one or more of the 3D models.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2006
    Publication date: June 21, 2007
    Inventor: Huafeng Wen
  • Multi-layer casting methods and devices
    Publication number: 20070092853
    Abstract: Described herein are methods for making highly accurate layered dental models from a cast of a subject's oral cavity (e.g., the upper or lower dental arch) that avoid shrinkage or deformation. The methods may include the steps of sequentially preparing the model-forming material, applying a layer of model-forming material to a cast, and curing the layer before applying the next layer. The model-forming material may include one or more stabilizers (e.g. thermal stabilizers). Dental models having multiple layers are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2005
    Publication date: April 26, 2007
    Inventors: Frank Liu, Gang Liu, Wenjia Liang, Wahab Waqas, Huafeng Wen
  • Tooth path treatment plan
    Publication number: 20070003907
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed to prepare a malocclusion treatment plan by selecting a tooth treatment pattern from a library of predetermined tooth treatment patterns; and generating the malocclusion treatment plan implementing the selected tooth treatment pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2005
    Publication date: January 4, 2007
    Applicant: ALIGN TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Muhammad Chishti, Huafeng Wen, Woncheol Choi