Patents by Inventor Michael Christopher Cole

Michael Christopher Cole 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).

  • Patent number: 11106135
    Abstract: Provided herein are processes for the generation of composite polymer materials utilizing a single resin. The processes utilize diffusion between a region undergoing a polymerization reaction preferentially polymerizing one monomer component and an unreactive region. Diffusion and subsequent/concurrent polymerization results in a higher concentration of the more reactive monomer component in the reacting region and a higher concentration of the less reactive monomer components in the unreactive region. The unreactive region may be later polymerized. In embodiments, photopolymerization is used and the regions are generated by a mask or other mechanism to pattern the light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Christopher Cole
  • Publication number: 20210220087
    Abstract: An appliance comprises a passive component and an active force generating component, in which the active force generating component is configured to react to a stimulus and generate tooth movement forces. In some embodiments, the passive component is configured to deflect when placed on one or more teeth and generate tooth movement forces, which are combined with tooth movement forces of the force generating component. In some embodiments, the passive component comprises a polymer which is less reactive to the stimulus than the force generating component. The force generating component can be configured to increase force to one or more teeth at an appropriate time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2021
    Publication date: July 22, 2021
    Applicant: ALIGN TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Avi KOPELMAN, Chunhua LI, Michael Christopher COLE, Blaine CARTER, Matthew DURBAN
  • Publication number: 20210147672
    Abstract: This disclosure provides polymeric materials comprising polymer crystals, methods and resins for making the same, and objects and appliances made from said polymeric materials. Polymeric materials having polymer crystals provide favorable properties, such as enhanced durability and rigidity. This disclosure also provides polymeric materials comprising a crystalline phase comprising at least one polymer crystal, as well as an amorphous phase comprising at least one amorphous polymer. The crystalline phase can confer rigidity to the polymeric material, while the amorphous phase can confer elasticity and flexibility.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2020
    Publication date: May 20, 2021
    Inventors: Michael Christopher COLE, Jennifer Chavez
  • Publication number: 20210077225
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to ornamental indicia carrier and method of producing the same. In some embodiments, the ornamental indicia carrier comprises an ultraviolet light (“UV”) cured ink printed on a thin flexible film and combined with an adhesive layer. The ornamental indicia carrier is capable of enduring the conditions inside the mouth for an extended period of time and can be used in conjunction with a dental appliance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Publication date: March 18, 2021
    Applicant: ALIGN TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Sriram VENKATASANTHANAM, Ramin HEYDARPOUR, John Y. MORTON, Jun SATO, Michael Christopher COLE, Mehdi MOJDEH, Prashanth VANCHY, Natalia Lysaya POWERS, Sibel NARIN, Jeremy RILEY
  • Publication number: 20210078357
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to ornamental indicia carrier and method of producing the same. In some embodiments, the ornamental indicia carrier comprises an ultraviolet light (“UV”) cured ink printed on a thin flexible film and combined with an adhesive layer. The ornamental indicia carrier is capable of enduring the conditions inside the mouth for an extended period of time and can be used in conjunction with a dental appliance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Publication date: March 18, 2021
    Applicant: ALIGN TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Sriram VENKATASANTHANAM, Ramin HEYDARPOUR, John Y. MORTON, Jun SATO, Michael Christopher COLE, Mehdi MOJDEH, Prashanth VANCHY, Natalia Lysaya POWERS, Sibel NARIN, Jeremy RILEY
  • Publication number: 20210030516
    Abstract: Strategies that reduce shrinkage and ultimately warping of parts that are directly fabricated from photopolymer resins. This increases the accuracy of directly fabricated parts, which is essential for patient specific applications. Implementing these strategies can reduce the need for directly fabricated parts to have supporting structures, which can reduce pre-processing and post-processing steps and facilitate an easier route for production level scale of additive manufacturing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2020
    Publication date: February 4, 2021
    Applicant: ALIGN TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Siobhan O'LEARY, Peter WEBBER, Michael Christopher COLE
  • Publication number: 20210023857
    Abstract: Provided herein are methods of obtaining good photocured-ink adhesion to low surface energy materials. The methods have greatly improved adhesion of photocured ink on low surface energy materials, including those that are subjected to high humidity or wet environments. The methods take into account the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the materials and the onset for the glass transition temperature, including ink applied to an exposed surface of the material at an elevated temperature that is close to the Tg of the material. The ink is allowed to sit briefly or soak, such as for more than 1 second, before the ink is cured. The ink may be photocured. Furthermore, the methods do not require solvents or surface treatment, including plasma or corona treatments, to obtain good ink adhesion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2020
    Publication date: January 28, 2021
    Inventor: Michael Christopher COLE
  • Patent number: 10899146
    Abstract: Provided herein are methods of obtaining good photocured-ink adhesion to low surface energy materials. The methods have greatly improved adhesion of photocured ink on low surface energy materials, including those that are subjected to high humidity or wet environments. The methods take into account the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the materials and the onset for the glass transition temperature, including ink applied to an exposed surface of the material at an elevated temperature that is close to the Tg of the material. The ink is allowed to sit briefly or soak, such as for more than 1 second, before the ink is cured. The ink may be photocured. Furthermore, the methods do not require solvents or surface treatment, including plasma or corona treatments, to obtain good ink adhesion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: ALIGN TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventor: Michael Christopher Cole
  • Publication number: 20210011385
    Abstract: Provided herein are processes for the generation of composite polymer materials utilizing a single resin. The processes utilize diffusion between a region undergoing a polymerization reaction preferentially polymerizing one monomer component and an unreactive region. Diffusion and subsequent/concurrent polymerization results in a higher concentration of the more reactive monomer component in the reacting region and a higher concentration of the less reactive monomer components in the unreactive region. The unreactive region may be later polymerized. In embodiments, photopolymerization is used and the regions are generated by a mask or other mechanism to pattern the light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Publication date: January 14, 2021
    Inventor: Michael Christopher COLE
  • Patent number: 10788753
    Abstract: Provided herein are processes for the generation of composite polymer materials utilizing a single resin. The processes utilize diffusion between a region undergoing a polymerization reaction preferentially polymerizing one monomer component and an unreactive region. Diffusion and subsequent/concurrent polymerization results in a higher concentration of the more reactive monomer component in the reacting region and a higher concentration of the less reactive monomer components in the unreactive region. The unreactive region may be later polymerized. In embodiments, photopolymerization is used and the regions are generated by a mask or other mechanism to pattern the light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: ALIGN TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventor: Michael Christopher Cole
  • Publication number: 20200254785
    Abstract: Provided herein are methods of obtaining good photocured-ink adhesion to low surface energy materials. The methods have greatly improved adhesion of photocured ink on low surface energy materials, including those that are subjected to high humidity or wet environments. The methods take into account the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the materials and the onset for the glass transition temperature, including ink applied to an exposed surface of the material at an elevated temperature that is close to the Tg of the material. The ink is allowed to sit briefly or soak, such as for more than 1 second, before the ink is cured. The ink may be photocured. Furthermore, the methods do not require solvents or surface treatment, including plasma or corona treatments, to obtain good ink adhesion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2020
    Publication date: August 13, 2020
    Inventor: Michael Christopher COLE
  • Publication number: 20200241420
    Abstract: Provided herein are processes for the generation of composite polymer materials utilizing a single resin. The processes utilize diffusion between a region undergoing a polymerization reaction preferentially polymerizing one monomer component and an unreactive region. Diffusion and subsequent/concurrent polymerization results in a higher concentration of the more reactive monomer component in the reacting region and a higher concentration of the less reactive monomer components in the unreactive region. The unreactive region may be later polymerized. In embodiments, photopolymerization is used and the regions are generated by a mask or other mechanism to pattern the light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2020
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Inventor: Michael Christopher COLE
  • Publication number: 20200214598
    Abstract: According to the techniques herein, one or more sensors coupled to an aligner are used to sense one or more physical qualities of the aligner to determine whether the physical qualities indicate that the aligner material has relaxed and has, e.g., reduced the force systems applied to teeth and/or that the teeth movement for the stage has slowed down. The sensors may provide a signal that represents whether or not the physical qualities fall below a threshold value. A treatment plan may be modified if needed. These techniques have the potential to make treatment plans faster and more effective by speeding up some stages while making sure some, perhaps other, stages are implemented only after the teeth are near the appropriate position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2019
    Publication date: July 9, 2020
    Inventors: Huizhong Li, Andrew Jang, Michael Christopher Cole, Yuxiang Wang, Jun Sato, Allen R. Boronkay
  • Publication number: 20200171848
    Abstract: Provided herein are methods of obtaining good photocured-ink adhesion to low surface energy materials. The methods have greatly improved adhesion of photocured ink on low surface energy materials, including those that are subjected to high humidity or wet environments. The methods take into account the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the materials and the onset for the glass transition temperature, including ink applied to an exposed surface of the material at an elevated temperature that is close to the Tg of the material. The ink is allowed to sit briefly or soak, such as for more than 1 second, before the ink is cured. The ink may be photocured. Furthermore, the methods do not require solvents or surface treatment, including plasma or corona treatments, to obtain good ink adhesion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2020
    Publication date: June 4, 2020
    Inventor: Michael Christopher COLE
  • Patent number: 10668745
    Abstract: Provided herein are methods of obtaining good photocured-ink adhesion to low surface energy materials. The methods have greatly improved adhesion of photocured ink on low surface energy materials, including those that are subjected to high humidity or wet environments. The methods take into account the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the materials and the onset for the glass transition temperature, including ink applied to an exposed surface of the material at an elevated temperature that is close to the Tg of the material. The ink is allowed to sit briefly or soak, such as for more than 1 second, before the ink is cured. The ink may be photocured. Furthermore, the methods do not require solvents or surface treatment, including plasma or corona treatments, to obtain good ink adhesion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Christopher Cole
  • Publication number: 20200086553
    Abstract: A method of three-dimensional (3D) printing includes heating a photo-curable material and extruding the photo-curable material from a nozzle to form a first layer of an object according to a digital file, wherein the first layer has a first shape specified by the digital file, and wherein the first shape has a first minimum line width based on a diameter of the nozzle. The method further includes directing a light beam onto the first layer according to the digital file or an additional digital file to cure a portion of the first layer, wherein the cured portion of the first layer has a second shape, wherein the second shape may comprise features that are smaller than the first shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2019
    Publication date: March 19, 2020
    Inventors: Mehdi Mojdeh, Michael Christopher Cole, Peter Dorfinger, Shiva P. Sambu
  • Patent number: 10589545
    Abstract: Provided herein are methods of obtaining good photocured-ink adhesion to low surface energy materials. The methods have greatly improved adhesion of photocured ink on low surface energy materials, including those that are subjected to high humidity or wet environments. The methods take into account the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the materials and the onset for the glass transition temperature, including ink applied to an exposed surface of the material at an elevated temperature that is close to the Tg of the material. The ink is allowed to sit briefly or soak, such as for more than 1 second, before the ink is cured. The ink may be photocured. Furthermore, the methods do not require solvents or surface treatment, including plasma or corona treatments, to obtain good ink adhesion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Christopher Cole
  • Publication number: 20200064739
    Abstract: Provided herein are processes for the generation of composite polymer materials utilizing a single resin. The processes utilize diffusion between a region undergoing a polymerization reaction preferentially polymerizing one monomer component and an unreactive region. Diffusion and subsequent/concurrent polymerization results in a higher concentration of the more reactive monomer component in the reacting region and a higher concentration of the less reactive monomer components in the unreactive region. The unreactive region may be later polymerized. In embodiments, photopolymerization is used and the regions are generated by a mask or other mechanism to pattern the light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2019
    Publication date: February 27, 2020
    Inventor: Michael Christopher COLE
  • Patent number: 10495973
    Abstract: Provided herein are processes for the generation of composite polymer materials utilizing a single resin. The processes utilize diffusion between a region undergoing a polymerization reaction preferentially polymerizing one monomer component and an unreactive region. Diffusion and subsequent/concurrent polymerization results in a higher concentration of the more reactive monomer component in the reacting region and a higher concentration of the less reactive monomer components in the unreactive region. The unreactive region may be later polymerized. In embodiments, photopolymerization is used and the regions are generated by a mask or other mechanism to pattern the light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Christopher Cole
  • Patent number: 10471741
    Abstract: Provided herein are methods of obtaining good photocured-ink adhesion to low surface energy materials. The methods have greatly improved adhesion of photocured ink on low surface energy materials, including those that are subjected to high humidity or wet environments. The methods take into account the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the materials and the onset for the glass transition temperature, including ink applied to an exposed surface of the material at an elevated temperature that is close to the Tg of the material. The ink is allowed to sit briefly or soak, such as for more than 1 second, before the ink is cured. The ink may be photocured. Furthermore, the methods do not require solvents or surface treatment, including plasma or corona treatments, to obtain good ink adhesion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Christopher Cole