Patents by Inventor Jennifer C. Chen

Jennifer C. Chen 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: 20230285120
    Abstract: A dental appliance includes a first segment comprising a first plurality of tooth receiving cavities shaped to receive and to impart a first distalization force in a distal direction on a first part of a patient dentition on a first jaw. The dental appliance further includes a second segment comprising a second plurality of tooth receiving cavities shaped to receive and to impart a second distalization force in the distal direction on a second part of the patient dentition. The dental appliance further includes a connector shaped to span a plurality of anterior teeth of the patient dentition and to leave open a labial side of the plurality of anterior teeth. The connector operates to decrease transmission of one or more forces between the first segment and the second segment to limit transmission of at least one of the first distalization force or the second distalization force to the plurality of anterior teeth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2023
    Publication date: September 14, 2023
    Inventors: Peter Webber, Jennifer C. Chen, Yan Chen
  • Patent number: 11690698
    Abstract: An orthodontic aligner includes a first plastic segment having a first shape that fits over a first portion of a dental arch of a patient, a second plastic segment having a second shape that fits over a second portion of the dental arch of the patient, and a connector that joins the first plastic segment to the second plastic segment. The connector is configured to be disposed along a lingual side of one or more additional teeth of the patient without exerting a clinically significant force on the one or more additional teeth. The connector spans a gap between the first plastic segment and the second plastic segment, the gap corresponding to the one or more additional teeth that are not to receive the clinically significant force. The connector includes a flexible material that will perform at least one of flex, move or change shape responsive to applied forces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Webber, Jennifer C. Chen, Yan Chen
  • Patent number: 11559374
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes method, system, apparatus, and indicator embodiments. One apparatus includes an appliance for placement over one or more teeth and a release agent receptacle including an outer portion provided on appliance surface, an inner portion provided within the outer portion, and one or more apertures formed in the outer portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Jennifer C. Chen, Li-Hung Su, Chunhua Li
  • Publication number: 20210259811
    Abstract: An orthodontic aligner includes a first plastic segment having a first shape that fits over a first portion of a dental arch of a patient, a second plastic segment having a second shape that fits over a second portion of the dental arch of the patient, and a connector that joins the first plastic segment to the second plastic segment. The connector is configured to be disposed along a lingual side of one or more additional teeth of the patient without exerting a clinically significant force on the one or more additional teeth. The connector spans a gap between the first plastic segment and the second plastic segment, the gap corresponding to the one or more additional teeth that are not to receive the clinically significant force. The connector includes a flexible material that will perform at least one of flex, move or change shape responsive to applied forces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2021
    Publication date: August 26, 2021
    Inventors: Peter Webber, Jennifer C. Chen, Yan Chen
  • Publication number: 20210161622
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods, computing device readable medium, devices, and systems having a dental appliance binding structure. One method can include to create a treatment plan based on a virtual model of a jaw of a patient, wherein the treatment plan includes use of a dental appliance having a first surface that defines a plurality of cavities shaped to receive a plurality of teeth, modify the virtual model of the jaw in a first configuration to include a virtual binding structure on a second surface, the platform shaped to receive a specialized feature that provides one or more force characteristics, select a particular specialized feature as an attachment to the dental appliance, and adjust the virtual model of the jaw from a first configuration to a second configuration, based at least in part on a modeled force provided by the virtual binding structure and the particular specialized feature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2021
    Publication date: June 3, 2021
    Inventors: Peter WEBBER, Jennifer C. CHEN, Yan CHEN, Bastien PESENTI, Crystal TJHIA
  • Patent number: 11000351
    Abstract: A method includes forming a plastic orthodontic aligner having a plurality of cavities shaped to receive at least portions of a plurality of teeth of a patient. A first segment of the plastic orthodontic aligner corresponds to a first subset of the plurality of cavities for moving a first subset of the plurality of teeth of the patient. A second segment of the plastic orthodontic aligner corresponds to a second subset of the plurality of cavities. The method further includes removing a first portion of the plastic orthodontic aligner between the first and second segments of the plastic orthodontic aligner to form a connector to minimize force transmission between the first and second segments. The connector is configured to be disposed along one or more additional teeth to span a gap between the first and second segments without exerting a clinically significant force on the one or more additional teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Webber, Jennifer C. Chen, Yan Chen
  • Patent number: 10973612
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods, computing device readable medium, devices, and systems having a dental appliance binding structure. One method can include to create a treatment plan based on a virtual model of a jaw of a patient, wherein the treatment plan includes use of a dental appliance having a first surface that defines a plurality of cavities shaped to receive a plurality of teeth, modify the virtual model of the jaw in a first configuration to include a virtual binding structure on a second surface, the platform shaped to receive a specialized feature that provides one or more force characteristics, select a particular specialized feature as an attachment to the dental appliance, and adjust the virtual model of the jaw from a first configuration to a second configuration, based at least in part on a modeled force provided by the virtual binding structure and the particular specialized feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Webber, Jennifer C. Chen, Yan Chen, Bastien Pesenti, Crystal Tjhia
  • Publication number: 20190231483
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes method, system, apparatus, and indicator embodiments. One apparatus includes an appliance for placement over one or more teeth and a release agent receptacle including an outer portion provided on appliance surface, an inner portion provided within the outer portion, and one or more apertures formed in the outer portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2018
    Publication date: August 1, 2019
    Inventors: Jennifer C. Chen, Li-Hung Su, Chunhua Li
  • Publication number: 20190090983
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods, computing device readable medium, devices, and systems having a dental appliance binding structure. One method can include to create a treatment plan based on a virtual model of a jaw of a patient, wherein the treatment plan includes use of a dental appliance having a first surface that defines a plurality of cavities shaped to receive a plurality of teeth, modify the virtual model of the jaw in a first configuration to include a virtual binding structure on a second surface, the platform shaped to receive a specialized feature that provides one or more force characteristics, select a particular specialized feature as an attachment to the dental appliance, and adjust the virtual model of the jaw from a first configuration to a second configuration, based at least in part on a modeled force provided by the virtual binding structure and the particular specialized feature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2018
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Inventors: Peter Webber, Jennifer C. Chen, Yan Chen, Bastien Pesenti, Crystal Tjhia
  • Patent number: 10213277
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods, computing device readable medium, devices, and systems having a dental appliance binding structure. One method can include to create a treatment plan based on a virtual model of a jaw of a patient, wherein the treatment plan includes use of a dental appliance having a first surface that defines a plurality of cavities shaped to receive a plurality of teeth, modify the virtual model of the jaw in a first configuration to include a virtual binding structure on a second surface, the platform shaped to receive a specialized feature that provides one or more force characteristics, select a particular specialized feature as an attachment to the dental appliance, and adjust the virtual model of the jaw from a first configuration to a second configuration, based at least in part on a modeled force provided by the virtual binding structure and the particular specialized feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Webber, Jennifer C. Chen, Yan Chen, Bastien Pesenti, Crystal Tjhia
  • Publication number: 20190038383
    Abstract: A method includes forming a plastic orthodontic aligner having a plurality of cavities shaped to receive at least portions of a plurality of teeth of a patient. A first segment of the plastic orthodontic aligner corresponds to a first subset of the plurality of cavities for moving a first subset of the plurality of teeth of the patient. A second segment of the plastic orthodontic aligner corresponds to a second subset of the plurality of cavities. The method further includes removing a first portion of the plastic orthodontic aligner between the first and second segments of the plastic orthodontic aligner to form a connector to minimize force transmission between the first and second segments. The connector is configured to be disposed along one or more additional teeth to span a gap between the first and second segments without exerting a clinically significant force on the one or more additional teeth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2018
    Publication date: February 7, 2019
    Inventors: Peter Webber, Jennifer C. Chen, Yan Chen
  • Patent number: 10154889
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes method, system, apparatus, and indicator embodiments. One apparatus includes an appliance for placement over one or more teeth and a release agent receptacle including an outer portion provided on appliance surface, an inner portion provided within the outer portion, and one or more apertures formed in the outer portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Jennifer C. Chen, Li-Hung Su, Chunhua Li
  • Patent number: 10111730
    Abstract: A segmented orthodontic aligner includes at least a first segment and a second segment. Each segment is shaped to fit over a set of teeth of a patient. The segmented aligner further includes a connector that joins the first segment to the second segment. The connector isolates the transmission of force between the first segment and the second segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Webber, Jennifer C. Chen, Yan Chen
  • Patent number: 9730769
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes method, system, apparatus, and indicator embodiments. One apparatus includes an appliance for placement over one or more teeth and a release agent receptacle including an outer portion provided on appliance surface, an inner portion provided within the outer portion, and one or more apertures formed in the outer portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Jennifer C. Chen, Li-Hung Su, Chunhua Li
  • Publication number: 20170135793
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods, computing device readable medium, devices, and systems having a dental attachment formation structures. One dental appliance includes a body having a first surface shaped to abut an exterior surface of a tooth and a well portion of the first surface shaped to form an attachment that is to be attached to the exterior surface of the tooth, a release layer formed over a surface of the well to allow the attachment to be removed from the well, and an attachment material that is used to form the attachment positioned within the well.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2015
    Publication date: May 18, 2017
    Inventors: Peter Webber, Yan Chen, Jihua Cheng, Bastien Pesenti, Chunhua Li, Jennifer C. Chen
  • Publication number: 20160361139
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods, computing device readable medium, devices, and systems having a dental appliance binding structure. One method can include to create a treatment plan based on a virtual model of a jaw of a patient, wherein the treatment plan includes use of a dental appliance having a first surface that defines a plurality of cavities shaped to receive a plurality of teeth, modify the virtual model of the jaw in a first configuration to include a virtual binding structure on a second surface, the platform shaped to receive a specialized feature that provides one or more force characteristics, select a particular specialized feature as an attachment to the dental appliance, and adjust the virtual model of the jaw from a first configuration to a second configuration, based at least in part on a modeled force provided by the virtual binding structure and the particular specialized feature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2015
    Publication date: December 15, 2016
    Inventors: Peter Webber, Jennifer C. Chen, Yan Chen, Bastien Pesenti, Crystal Tjhia
  • Publication number: 20160128803
    Abstract: A segmented orthodontic aligner includes at least a first segment and a second segment. Each segment is shaped to fit over a set of teeth of a patient. The segmented aligner further includes a connector that joins the first segment to the second segment. The connector isolates the transmission of force between the first segment and the second segment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2014
    Publication date: May 12, 2016
    Inventors: Peter Webber, Jennifer C. Chen, Yan Chen
  • Publication number: 20160008097
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes method, system, apparatus, and indicator embodiments. One apparatus includes an appliance for placement over one or more teeth and a release agent receptacle including an outer portion provided on appliance surface, an inner portion provided within the outer portion, and one or more apertures formed in the outer portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2015
    Publication date: January 14, 2016
    Inventors: Jennifer C. Chen, Li-Hung Su, Chunhua Li
  • Publication number: 20150093713
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes method, system, apparatus, and indicator embodiments. One apparatus includes an appliance for placement over one or more teeth and a release agent receptacle including an outer portion provided on appliance surface, an inner portion provided within the outer portion, and one or more apertures formed in the outer portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2014
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventors: Jennifer C. Chen, Li-Hung Su, Chunhua Li
  • Patent number: 8899976
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes method, system, apparatus, and indicator embodiments. One apparatus includes an appliance for placement over one or more teeth and a release agent receptacle including an outer portion provided on appliance surface, an inner portion provided within the outer portion, and one or more apertures formed in the outer portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Jennifer C. Chen, Li-Hung Su, Chunhua Li