Patents by Inventor Ian D. KITCHING

Ian D. KITCHING 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).

  • Method of manufacturing orthodontic devices
    Patent number: 10258439
    Abstract: A computational device determines a representation of one or more anatomical features, and based on the determined representation of the one or more anatomical features, a three-dimensional model is oriented in a three-dimensional space in an anatomically accurate manner. Thereafter, an orthodontic device design is created using the oriented three dimensional model and an orthodontic device is manufactured based at least in part on the orthodontic device design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: Ormco Corporation
    Inventors: Ian D. Kitching, Evan Yifeng Tsai
  • Constrained optimization of orthodontic bracket placement and archwire smoothing
    Patent number: 10098709
    Abstract: A method and system for generated an optimized placement of orthodontic brackets on a set of teeth with the goal of smoothing the orthodontic archwire associated with the brackets. The optimized placement takes into account at least one constraint, such as minimum height of the brackets or minimum distance from the center of the tooth. Generating the optimized placement may take the form of iteratively re-positioned the brackets on the underlying teeth to derive the most optimal placement within the bounds of the given constraints.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: Ormco Corporation
    Inventors: Ian D. Kitching, Evan Yifeng, Pawan Deshmukh
  • Fabrication of an orthodontic aligner from a negative mold designed by a computational device
    Patent number: 10011050
    Abstract: Provided is a method in which a computational device generates a design of a negative mold of teeth. The negative mold of the teeth is fabricated from the design of the negative mold. An aligner is formed using the fabricated negative mold. Provided also is a negative mold of teeth for fabricating a positive model of the teeth for an aligner. The negative mold comprises a tooth surface, and an identity tracking entity coupled to the tooth surface to provide identification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Ormco Corporation
    Inventors: Ian D. Kitching, Hua Zhang, Tuan A. Do, Kenneth A. Phelps, Yi-Feng Tsai
  • BRACES TO ALIGNER TRANSITION IN ORTHODONTIC TREATMENT
    Publication number: 20150132707
    Abstract: Braces placed on teeth are retained, until a predetermined criteria is satisfied. A plurality of aligners are ordered while retaining the braces on the teeth, in response to the predetermined criteria being satisfied. The braces are replaced with a first aligner of the plurality of aligners.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2014
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventors: Stanley S.T. HUANG, Craig A. ANDREIKO, Ian D. KITCHING
  • FABRICATION OF AN ORTHODONTIC ALIGNER FROM A NEGATIVE MOLD DESIGNED BY A COMPUTATIONAL DEVICE
    Publication number: 20140315153
    Abstract: Provided is a method in which a computational device generates a design of a negative mold of teeth. The negative mold of the teeth is fabricated from the design of the negative mold. An aligner is formed using the fabricated negative mold. Provided also is a negative mold of teeth for fabricating a positive model of the teeth for an aligner. The negative mold comprises a tooth surface, and an identity tracking entity coupled to the tooth surface to provide identification.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Inventors: Ian D. KITCHING, Hua ZHANG, Tuan A. DO, Kenneth A. PHELPS, Yi-Feng TSAI