Patents by Inventor Srinivas Kaza

Srinivas Kaza 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: 11957531
    Abstract: Orthodontic systems for monitoring treatment. The systems can include at least one orthodontic appliance that includes one or more sensors. A processor in communication with the sensor(s) is configured to receive sensor data from the sensor(s), where the sensor data corresponds to a force acting on one or more teeth. The processor is further configured to predict tooth movement based on the sensor data. The predicted tooth movement is determined by predicting how much teeth will move based on a direction and a magnitude of the force. The processor is further configured to compare the predicted tooth movement to an expected tooth movement, where the expected tooth movement is based on a treatment stage of a treatment plan. The processor is further configured to modify the treatment plan if the predicted tooth movement does not match the expected tooth movement based on the treatment stage of the treatment plan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Avi Kopelman, Zelko Relic, Srinivas Kaza
  • Patent number: 11945166
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for post-processing additively manufactured objects are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a method includes receiving a plurality of additively manufactured objects on a rotor, the plurality of additively manufactured objects having excess material thereon. The method can include removing the excess material from the plurality of additively manufactured objects by rotating the plurality of additively manufactured objects via the rotor. The method can further include applying energy to the plurality of additively manufactured objects to cure a portion of each additively manufactured object while the plurality of additively manufactured objects are on the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Viswanath Meenakshisundaram, Srinivas Kaza, Chunhua Li, Lance Robert Pickens, Shawn Stromenger, Jun Sato, Siobhan O'Leary, Peter Webber, Brett E. Kelly, Jennifer Chavez
  • Patent number: 11944514
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for improved orthodontic treatment of a patient's teeth are provided herein. In some embodiments, a method includes determining an appliance geometry for a dental appliance. The appliance geometry can include a first region representing a shell comprising a plurality of teeth receiving cavities, and a second region representing at least one integrally formed component to be integrally joined to the shell. The method can also include generating instructions including a first digital representation of the shell based on the first region, and a second digital representation of the at least one integrally formed component based on the second region. The method can further include transmitting the instructions to a fabrication system configured to additively manufacture the dental appliance by fabricating the shell based on the first digital representation, concurrently with fabricating the at least one integrally formed component based on the second digital representation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Avi Kopelman, Allen Boronkay, Peter Webber, Vadim Matov, Srinivas Kaza, Ryan Kimura, Yaser Shanjani
  • Patent number: 11883256
    Abstract: Methods of forming interproximal reduction guides are described herein. These interproximal reduction guides apparatuses may include a body that fits over the patient's dental arch and one or more guide slots formed in them configured to limit the motion of an interproximal reduction cutting tool in a defined manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Bob Grove, Srinivas Kaza
  • Publication number: 20230363704
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are disclosed for electronic devices associated with monitoring a patient's use of an intraoral dental appliance. The monitoring electronics may communicate with near-field communication (NFC) signals. An NFC booster is disclosed to improve NFC data transfer between the electronic devices that monitor patient usage and communication devices. NFC boosters may be included within dental appliance cases and/or mobile phone cases. Also described are method and apparatuses for mounting the monitoring electronics onto the dental appliance. Also described are compact sensors, e.g., capacitive sensors, that may be included as part of a monitoring electronics unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2023
    Publication date: November 16, 2023
    Inventors: Zijie ZHU, Wesly WONG, Byong-Ho PARK, Fred TING, Yaser SHANJANI, Zhichao ZHANG, Kangning SU, Hongling CHEN, Jun SATO, Srinivas KAZA, Maria LVOVA, Olga LIKHACHEVA
  • Patent number: 11730574
    Abstract: Methods and systems for post-processing molds are provided. In some embodiments, a method includes using a layer-by-layer build process on a polymeric resin to produce a plurality of aligner molds. The method can include transporting the plurality of aligner molds to a resin removal station. The method can also include applying high pressure air to the plurality of aligner molds to remove residual material from the plurality of aligner molds. The residual material can include excess polymeric resin. The method can further include collecting the excess polymeric resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Srinivas Kaza, Shiva P. Sambu, Kamesh Tata, Michael J. Doung, Long Phan
  • Publication number: 20230218372
    Abstract: Methods and systems for digitally designing a plurality of aligners are provided. In some embodiments, a method includes receiving an intraoral scan of the patient's teeth, and generating 3D dental model of the patient's teeth using the intraoral scan. The method can include identifying a movement path to move the patient's teeth from an initial arrangement toward a target arrangement through a plurality of intermediate arrangements in accordance with a treatment plan. The method can also include identifying one or more appliance features of at least one aligner, the one or more appliance features including one or more feature regions having one or more feature thicknesses. The method can further include instructing an additive manufacturing machine to directly fabricate the at least one aligner in a layer-by-layer fashion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2023
    Publication date: July 13, 2023
    Inventors: Avi Kopelman, Allen Boronkay, Peter Webber, Vadim Matov, Srinivas Kaza, Ryan Kimura, Yaser Shanjani
  • Publication number: 20230210635
    Abstract: Provided herein are curable compositions for use in a high temperature lithography-based photopolymerization process, a method of producing crosslinked polymers using said curable compositions, crosslinked polymers thus produced, and orthodontic appliances comprising the crosslinked polymers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2022
    Publication date: July 6, 2023
    Inventors: Robert LISKA, Christian GORSCHE, Gyorgy HARAKALY, Markus KURY, Jurgen STAMPFL, Peter DORFINGER, Yan CHEN, Chunhua LI, Srinivas KAZA
  • Publication number: 20230200946
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for monitoring the performance of an orthodontic appliance for repositioning a patient's teeth. An orthodontic appliance may include a plurality of teeth receiving cavities shaped to reposition the patient's teeth from an initial arrangement towards a target arrangement, and one or more sensors configured to determine tooth movement (based on position and/or orientation) and/or forces applied to the teeth. The sensor may be distributed between attachments and aligners that mate with the attachments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2023
    Publication date: June 29, 2023
    Inventors: Yaser SHANJANI, Bruce CAM, Allen R. BORONKAY, Jun SATO, John Y. MORTON, Chunhua LI, Srinivas KAZA
  • Publication number: 20230191702
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for post-processing additively manufactured objects are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a method includes receiving a plurality of additively manufactured objects on a rotor, the plurality of additively manufactured objects having excess material thereon. The method can include removing the excess material from the plurality of additively manufactured objects by rotating the plurality of additively manufactured objects via the rotor. The method can further include applying energy to the plurality of additively manufactured objects to cure a portion of each additively manufactured object while the plurality of additively manufactured objects are on the rotor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2022
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Inventors: Viswanath Meenakshisundaram, Srinivas Kaza, Chunhua Li, Lance Robert Pickens, Shawn Stromenger, Jun Sato, Siobhan O'Leary, Peter Webber, Brett E. Kelly, Jennifer Chavez
  • Publication number: 20230190416
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods, computing device readable medium, devices, and systems having a dental attachment placement structure. One dental attachment placement apparatus includes a body having an attachment placement surface that is to be placed on an attachment affixing surface of a tooth and wherein the attachment placement surface includes a portion that is shaped to allow placement of an attachment at a particular position on the affixing surface of the tooth and a portion of the body having a contour that is shaped to correspond with a contour of an alignment surface of a tooth and when the contour of the body and the corresponding contour is aligned, the attachment is located at the particular position and can be secured to the affixing surface of the tooth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2023
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Inventors: Peter WEBBER, Ryan KIMURA, Chunhua LI, Srinivas KAZA
  • Publication number: 20230137027
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for post-processing additively manufactured objects are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a method includes receiving a plurality of additively manufactured objects having excess material thereon. The method can include removing the excess material from the plurality of additively manufactured objects by rotating the plurality of additively manufactured objects. The method can also include receiving sensor data indicative of a cleaning status of the plurality of additively manufactured objects. The method can further include adjusting, based on the sensor data, an operational parameter that enhances removal of the excess material from the plurality of additively manufactured objects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2022
    Publication date: May 4, 2023
    Inventors: Viswanath Meenakshisundaram, Srinivas Kaza, Chunhua Li, Lance Robert Pickens, Shawn Stromenger, Jun Sato, Siobhan O'Leary, Peter Webber, Brett E. Kelly, Jennifer Chavez
  • Publication number: 20230133005
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for post-processing additively manufactured objects are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a system includes a plurality of containers configured to receive a plurality of additively manufactured object having excess material thereon. The system can include a rotor having a central shaft and a plurality of arms, each arm having a first end and a second end opposite the first end. The first end of each arm can be coupled to the central shaft and a second end of each arm can be coupled to a respective container of the plurality of containers. The system can also include an actuator configured to spin the rotor so as to remove the excess material from the plurality of additively manufactured objects. The system can further include at least one heat source carried on the rotor to heat the excess material to decrease a viscosity thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2022
    Publication date: May 4, 2023
    Inventors: Viswanath Meenakshisundaram, Srinivas Kaza, Chunhua Li, Lance Robert Pickens, Shawn Stromenger, Jun Sato, Siobhan O'Leary, Peter Webber, Brett E. Kelly, Jennifer Chavez
  • Publication number: 20230134234
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for post-processing additively manufactured objects are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a method includes receiving a plurality of additively manufactured objects having excess material thereon. The method can include removing the excess material from the plurality of additively manufactured objects by rotating the plurality of additively manufactured objects. The method can also include adjusting an environmental temperature while rotating the plurality of additively manufactured objects according to a dynamic temperature profile that facilitates removal of the excess material from the plurality of additively manufactured objects. The dynamic temperature profile can include (a) a first temperature configured to decrease a viscosity of the excess material, and (b) a second temperature configured to increase a stiffness of the plurality of additively manufactured objects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2022
    Publication date: May 4, 2023
    Inventors: Viswanath Meenakshisundaram, Srinivas Kaza, Chunhua Li, Lance Robert Pickens, Shawn Stromenger, Jun Sato, Siobhan O'Leary, Peter Webber, Brett E. Kelly, Jennifer Chavez
  • Publication number: 20230127004
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for improved orthodontic treatment of a patient's teeth are provided herein. In some embodiments, a method includes determining an appliance geometry for a dental appliance. The appliance geometry can include a first region representing a shell comprising a plurality of teeth receiving cavities, and a second region representing at least one integrally formed component to be integrally joined to the shell. The method can also include generating instructions including a first digital representation of the shell based on the first region, and a second digital representation of the at least one integrally formed component based on the second region. The method can further include transmitting the instructions to a fabrication system configured to additively manufacture the dental appliance by fabricating the shell based on the first digital representation, concurrently with fabricating the at least one integrally formed component based on the second digital representation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2022
    Publication date: April 27, 2023
    Inventors: Avi Kopelman, Allen Boronkay, Peter Webber, Vadim Matov, Srinivas Kaza, Ryan Kimura, Yaser Shanjani
  • Patent number: 11612455
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for monitoring the performance of an orthodontic appliance for repositioning a patient's teeth. An orthodontic appliance may include a plurality of teeth receiving cavities shaped to reposition the patient's teeth from an initial arrangement towards a target arrangement, and one or more sensors configured to determine tooth movement (based on position and/or orientation) and/or forces applied to the teeth. The sensor may be distributed between attachments and aligners that mate with the attachments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Yaser Shanjani, Bruce Cam, Allen R. Boronkay, Jun Sato, John Y. Morton, Chunhua Li, Srinivas Kaza
  • Publication number: 20230082315
    Abstract: A system and method for post-processing of polymeric items having a liquid component and a predetermined heat deflection temperature is provided. The system includes a washing station to spray water at elevated temperature and pressure on the items while maintaining the temperature of the item below the heat deflection temperature. Then using a water distillation system to separate the water from the water mixed with the liquid polymer component by evaporating the water using heating coils with surface that is not conducive to adhesion of the liquid polymer component and then condense the water vapor into liquid water. The system may further include a spin station to separate the liquid polymer component by spinning the item. The system may further include one or more processing stations to rinse the item, dry the item, cure the item, remove the item from a tray to which the item may be attached and clean trays after removing the item.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2022
    Publication date: March 16, 2023
    Inventors: Srinivas Kaza, Shiva P. Sambu, Kamesh Tata, Michael J. Doung, Long Phan
  • Patent number: 11596502
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods, computing device readable medium, devices, and systems having a dental attachment placement structure. One dental attachment placement apparatus includes a body having an attachment placement surface that is to be placed on an attachment affixing surface of a tooth and wherein the attachment placement surface includes a portion that is shaped to allow placement of an attachment at a particular position on the affixing surface of the tooth and a portion of the body having a contour that is shaped to correspond with a contour of an alignment surface of a tooth and when the contour of the body and the corresponding contour is aligned, the attachment is located at the particular position and can be secured to the affixing surface of the tooth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Webber, Ryan Kimura, Chunhua Li, Srinivas Kaza
  • Patent number: 11571278
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for improved orthodontic treatment of a patient's teeth are provided herein. A method may include determining a movement path to move one or more teeth from an initial arrangement to a target arrangement, determining an appliance geometry for an orthodontic appliance comprising a shell and one or more integrally formed components, wherein the shell comprises a plurality of teeth receiving cavities shaped to move the one or more teeth from the initial arrangement to the target arrangement, and generating instructions for direct fabrication of the orthodontic appliance, wherein the instructions are configured to cause direct fabrication of the shell using a first material and direct fabrication of the one or more integrally formed components using a second, different material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Avi Kopelman, Allen Boronkay, Peter Webber, Vadim Matov, Srinivas Kaza, Ryan Kimura, Yaser Shanjani
  • Publication number: 20230024583
    Abstract: A system and method for post-processing of polymeric items having a liquid component and a predetermined heat deflection temperature is provided. The system includes a washing station to spray water at elevated temperature and pressure on the items while maintaining the temperature of the item below the heat deflection temperature. Then using a water distillation system to separate the water from the water mixed with the liquid polymer component by evaporating the water using heating coils with surface that is not conducive to adhesion of the liquid polymer component and then condense the water vapor into liquid water. The system may further include a spin station to separate the liquid polymer component by spinning the item. The system may further include one or more processing stations to rinse the item, dry the item, cure the item, remove the item from a tray to which the item may be attached and clean trays after removing the item.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2022
    Publication date: January 26, 2023
    Inventors: Srinivas Kaza, Shiva P. Sambu, Kamesh Tata, Michael J. Doung, Long Phan