Patents by Inventor Robert E. Tricca

Robert E. Tricca 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: 8703026
    Abstract: Methods of making a removable dental positioning appliance include forming a sheet of transparent crystalline polymeric material into a shell having cavities shaped to receive and reposition teeth from a first orientation to a successive orientation. The polymeric material may then be annealed at a temperature above its glass transition temperature or cured if a curable material to enhance characteristics of the polymeric material. The polymeric material may be coated with a second transparent material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph M. DeSimone, Robert E. Tricca
  • Patent number: 8439674
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for intra-oral delivery of drugs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Chunhua Li, Wenda C. Carlyle, Philippe De Smedt, Amir Abolfathi, Eric E. Kuo, Robert E. Tricca, Jennifer C. Chen, Benjamin M. Wu
  • Publication number: 20120082950
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for intra-oral delivery of drugs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Applicant: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Chunhua Li, Wenda C. Carlyle, Philippe De Smedt, Amir Abolfathi, Eric E. Kuo, Robert E. Tricca, Jennifer C. Chen, Benjamin M. Wu
  • Patent number: 8075309
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for intra-oral delivery of drugs. One method embodiment includes providing a dental device with one or more reservoirs, supplying at least one of the reservoirs with the one or more substances, and fluidly releasing the one or more substances from at least one reservoir into an oral structure at different preselected doses at different predetermined time periods and in a predetermined sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Chunhua Li, Wenda C. Carlyle, Philippe De Smedt, Amir Abolfathi, Eric E. Kuo, Robert E. Tricca, Jennifer C. Chen, Benjamin M. Wu
  • Patent number: 7947508
    Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods are disclosed for intra-orally diagnosing a body condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert E. Tricca, Benjamin M. Wu, Chunhua Li, Eric E. Kuo
  • Patent number: 7943079
    Abstract: Methods of making a removable dental positioning appliance include forming a sheet of transparent crystalline polymeric material into a shell having cavities shaped to receive and reposition teeth from a first orientation to a successive orientation. The polymeric material may then be annealed at a temperature above its glass transition temperature or cured if a curable material to enhance characteristics of the polymeric material. The polymeric material may be coated with a second transparent material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph M. DeSimone, Robert E. Tricca
  • Publication number: 20110062609
    Abstract: Methods of making a removable dental positioning appliance include forming a sheet of transparent crystalline polymeric material into a shell having cavities shaped to receive and reposition teeth from a first orientation to a successive orientation. The polymeric material may then be annealed at a temperature above its glass transition temperature or cured if a curable material to enhance characteristics of the polymeric material. The polymeric material may be coated with a second transparent material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2010
    Publication date: March 17, 2011
    Inventors: Joseph M. DeSimone, Robert E. Tricca
  • Patent number: 7878801
    Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring orthodontic treatment compliance includes an appliance adapted to be worn over one or more teeth; and a compliance indicator mounted on the appliance to indicate compliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Amir Abolfathi, Jennifer C. Chen, Chunhua Li, Robert E. Tricca, Benjamin M. Wu, Eric E. Kuo, Loc X. Phan
  • Patent number: 7824180
    Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring orthodontic treatment compliance includes an appliance adapted to be worn over one or more teeth; and a compliance indicator mounted on the appliance to indicate compliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Amir Abolfathi, Jennifer C. Chen, Chunhua Li, Robert E. Tricca, Benjamin M. Wu
  • Patent number: 7766658
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for detecting or diagnosing diseases by sampling and testing intra-oral fluids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert E. Tricca, Benjamin M. Wu, Chunhua Li, Eric Kuo
  • Publication number: 20100065976
    Abstract: Methods of making a removable dental positioning appliance include forming a sheet of transparent crystalline polymeric material into a shell having cavities shaped to receive and reposition teeth from a first orientation to a successive orientation. The polymeric material may then be annealed at a temperature above its glass transition temperature or cured if a curable material to enhance characteristics of the polymeric material. The polymeric material may be coated with a second transparent material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2009
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Inventors: Joseph M. DeSimone, Robert E. Tricca
  • Patent number: 7641828
    Abstract: Methods of making a removable dental positioning appliance include forming a sheet of transparent crystalline polymeric material into a shell having cavities shaped to receive and reposition teeth from a first orientation to a successive orientation. The polymeric material may then be annealed at a temperature above its glass transition temperature or cured if a curable material to enhance characteristics of the polymeric material. The polymeric material may be coated with a second transparent material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph M. DeSimone, Robert E. Tricca
  • Patent number: 7553157
    Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring orthodontic treatment compliance includes an appliance adapted to be worn over one or more teeth; and a compliance indicator mounted on the appliance to indicate compliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Amir Abolfathi, Jennifer C. Chen, Chunhua Li, Robert E. Tricca, Benjamin M. Wu
  • Publication number: 20090117507
    Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring orthodontic treatment compliance includes an appliance adapted to be worn over one or more teeth; and a compliance indicator mounted on the appliance to indicate compliance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2008
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Applicant: ALIGN TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Amir Abolfathi, Jennifer C. Chen, Chunhua Li, Robert E. Tricca, Benjamin M. Wu, Eric E. Kuo, Loc X. Phan
  • Publication number: 20080318178
    Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring orthodontic treatment compliance includes an appliance adapted to be worn over one or more teeth; and a compliance indicator mounted on the appliance to indicate compliance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2008
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Inventors: Amir Abolfathi, Jennifer C. Chen, Chunhua Li, Robert E. Tricca, Benjamin M. Wu
  • Publication number: 20080293007
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for intra-oral delivery of drugs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Publication date: November 27, 2008
    Inventors: Chunhua Li, Wenda C.. Carlyle, Philippe De Smedt, Amir Abolfathi, Eric E. Kuo, Robert E. Tricca, Jennifer C. Chen, Benjamin M. Wu
  • Publication number: 20080248438
    Abstract: The polymeric shell of a removable dental positioning appliance is formed from transparent polymeric materials having a tensile strength at yield of greater than 6,000 pounds per square inch (psi), an elongation at yield of greater than 4%, an elongation at break of greater than 80%, a tensile modulus greater than 200,000 psi, a flexural modulus greater than 200,000 psi, stress relaxation over time of not more than 50%, and a transmissivity of light between 400 nm and 800 nm greater than 75%.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2007
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Inventors: Joseph M. DeSimone, Robert E. Tricca
  • Publication number: 20080138767
    Abstract: A method and system for improving dental esthetics. Specifically, the method includes providing a polymeric shell dental appliance of a type that is removably placeable over a patient's dentition. The polymeric shell dental appliance comprises a concave trough which conforms to at least one tooth when placed over the patient's dentition. In addition, the method includes changing a visual appearance of a segment of the polymeric shell dental appliance. The visual appearance of the segment is changed by applying a thin film to a surface of the segment. In particular, the segment is disposed in a location corresponding to a portion of the patient's dentition that is to be esthetically improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2006
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Inventors: Eric Kuo, Robert E. Tricca
  • Publication number: 20080119698
    Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods are disclosed for intra-orally diagnosing a body condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Publication date: May 22, 2008
    Inventors: Robert E. Tricca, Benjamin M. Wu, Chunhua Li, Eric E. Kuo
  • Patent number: 7361020
    Abstract: A method to create a digital model of a patient's teeth includes taking an impression of the patient's teeth using a radiopaque dental tray; scanning the impression and the dental tray using a dental tray containing a radiopaque agent; scanning the impression and the dental tray using a radiographic source; and generating the digital model with scanned data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Amir Abolfathi, Loc X. Phan, Robert E. Tricca