Patents by Inventor Timothy N. Jones

Timothy N. Jones 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: 7063532
    Abstract: A computer or other digital circuitry is used to assist in the creation of a digital model of an individual component, such as a tooth or gum tissue, in a patient's dentition. The computer receives a data set that forms a three-dimensional (3D) representation of the patient's dentition, applies a test to the data set to identify data elements that represent portions of the individual component, and creates a digital model of the individual component based upon the identified data elements. Many implementations require the computer to identify data elements representing a 2D cross-section of the dentition lying in a 2D plane that is roughly parallel to or roughly perpendicular to the dentition's occlusal plane. The computer analyzes the 2D cross-section to identify dentition features that represent boundaries between individual dentition components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy N. Jones, Muhammad Chishti, Huafeng Wen, Gregory P. Bala
  • Publication number: 20040175671
    Abstract: A computer or other digital circuitry is used to assist in the creation of a digital model of an individual component, such as a tooth or gum tissue, in a patient's dentition. The computer receives a data set that forms a three-dimensional (3D) representation of the patient's dentition, applies a test to the data set to identify data elements that represent portions of the individual component, and creates a digital model of the individual component based upon the identified data elements. Many implementations require the computer to identify data elements representing a 2D cross-section of the dentition lying in a 2D plane that is roughly parallel to or roughly perpendicular to the dentition's occlusal plane. The computer analyzes the 2D cross-section to identify dentition features that represent boundaries between individual dentition components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2004
    Publication date: September 9, 2004
    Applicant: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy N. Jones, Muhammad Chishti, Huafeng Wen, Gregory P. Bala
  • Publication number: 20040110110
    Abstract: A computer is used to create a plan for repositioning an orthodontic patient's teeth. The computer receives an initial digital data set representing the patient's teeth at their initial positions and a final digital data set representing the teeth at their final positions. The computer then uses the data sets to generate treatment paths along which the teeth will move from the initial positions to the final positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2003
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Applicant: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Muhammad Chishti, Brian Freyburger, Kelsey Wirth, Andrew Beers, Huafeng Wen, Phillips Alexander Benton, Timothy N. Jones, Ross J. Miller
  • Publication number: 20030079047
    Abstract: An integrator, a plurality of adapters corresponding to a plurality of applications, and a proxy are employed to cooperatively provision the applications as a composite application. In one embodiment, the integrator selectively invokes the appropriate adaptors, which in turn, invoke the proxy. Provision is switched from one application to another by the adaptor of a former application invoking the integrator, which in turn, invokes another application, via its adaptor. Each of the integrator and adaptors may through the proxy, modify a provisioned portion of one the applications. Selected ones of the integrator and adaptors may also have operations performed while the proxy is in a pre-proxy and/or a post-proxy state, thereby facilitating the cooperative provisioning of the applications. Further, modifications to facilitate subsequent requests to be redirected back to the integrator are distributed, and performed on the composite application consuming clients.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2002
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Inventors: Sean M. Fitts, Matthew T. Fryer, Keith R. Hertzer, Timothy N. Jones, Martha G. Lyman
  • Publication number: 20030039389
    Abstract: A programmed computer is used to create a digital model of an individual component of a patient's dentition. The computer obtains a 3D digital mode of the patient's dentition, identifies points in the dentition model that lie on an inter-proximal margin between adjacent teeth in the patient's dentition, and uses the identified points to create a cutting surface that separates portions of the dentition model representing the adjacent teeth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2002
    Publication date: February 27, 2003
    Applicant: ALIGN TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Timothy N. Jones, Muhammad Chishti, Huafeng Wen, Gregory P. Bala
  • Publication number: 20020102009
    Abstract: A programmed computer is used to create a digital model of an individual component of a patient's dentition. The computer obtains a 3D digital model of the patient's dentition, identifies points in the dentition model that lie on an inter-proximal margin between adjacent teeth in the patient's dentition, and uses the identified points to create a cutting surface that separates portions of the dentition model representing the adjacent teeth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2002
    Publication date: August 1, 2002
    Applicant: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy N. Jones, Muhammad Chishti, Huafeng Wen, Gregory P. Bala
  • Patent number: 6409504
    Abstract: A programmed computer is used to create a digital model of an individual component of a patient's dentition. The computer obtains a 3D digital model of the patient's dentition, identifies points in the dentition model that lie on an inter-proximal margin between adjacent teeth in the patient's dentition, and uses the identified points to create a cutting surface that separates portions of the dentition model representing the adjacent teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy N. Jones, Muhammad Chishti, Huafeng Wen, Gregory P. Bala
  • Publication number: 20020037489
    Abstract: A programmed computer is used to create a digital model of an individual component of a patient's dentition. The computer obtains a 3D digital model of the patient's dentition, identifies points in the dentition model that lie on an inter-proximal margin between adjacent teeth in the patient's dentition, and uses the identified points to create a cutting surface that separates portions of the dentition model representing the adjacent teeth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 1999
    Publication date: March 28, 2002
    Inventors: TIMOTHY N. JONES, MUHAMMAD CHISHTI, HUAFENG WEN, GREGORY P. BALA