Method Of Positioning Or Aligning Teeth Patents (Class 433/24)
  • Patent number: 12042351
    Abstract: A method of orthodontic treatment planning for a patient includes receiving three-dimensional intraoral surface scan data of a dentition of the patient, receiving three-dimensional volumetric scan data of the dentition of the patient, and overlaying the intraoral surface scan data and the volumetric scan data to generate an integrated patient model comprising a root of at least one tooth having a longitudinal axis. The method further includes determining, for use in planning an orthodontic treatment, a center of rotation of the at least one tooth, wherein the center of rotation is defined as a point located a predetermined distance from a base of the root to an apex of the root along the longitudinal axis of the at least one tooth in the integrated patient model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: CVSTOM Co.
    Inventor: Kjeld A. Aamodt
  • Patent number: 12036093
    Abstract: Provided herein are systems and methods for determining if a 3D tooth model requires trimming or removal of incomplete or missing data (e.g., gingiva covering a portion of a tooth such as a molar). A patient's dentition may be scanned and/or segmented. Features of the patient's teeth can be determined, including a tooth center point of at least three of the patient's teeth. The features of the patient's teeth are used to access a parametric model. A trim plane normal vector is identified for a distal tooth. Trimming of the 3D tooth model is based on the trim plane normal vector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Roman A. Roschin, Evgenii Vladimirovich Karnygin, Sergey Grebenkin, Dmitry Guskov, Dmitrii Ischeykin, Ivan Potapenko, Denis Durdin, Roman Gudchenko, Vasily Paraketsov, Mikhail Gorodilov, Alexey Vladykin, Roman Solovyev, Alexander Beliaev, Elizaveta Ulianenko, Leonid Trofimov, Anzhelika Son, Nikolay Zhirnov, Alexander Vovchenko
  • Patent number: 12036084
    Abstract: Method and system for managing multiple impressions of a patient's jaw for an orthodontic treatment are provided. The method includes scanning at least a first impression and a second impression of the same jaw for the orthodontic treatment; determining if the first jaw impression and the second jaw impression have distortion in different areas; selecting the first jaw impression or the second jaw impression as a base impression; and replacing distorted tooth data from the base impression with data for the same tooth from a non-base impression. The method also includes scanning at least a first jaw impression for the orthodontic treatment; scanning a bite impression for the orthodontic treatment; matching the scanned first jaw impression with the scanned bite impression; comparing bite information with a tooth occlusal surface; and determining if reconstruction is to be performed on the tooth occlusal surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: ALIGN TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Srinivas Kaza, Bob Grove
  • Patent number: 12029680
    Abstract: Disclosed is a dental appliance useful for treating a patient having obstructive sleep apnea or hypopnea. Also disclosed is a method of treating obstructive sleep apnea or hypopnea using such a dental appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Inventor: Dayen Peter Wang
  • Patent number: 12023217
    Abstract: Positioning 3D virtual brackets on teeth for the precise positioning of conventional brackets and wire. Various reference features may be calculated for the teeth and used to calculate a position for the virtual bracket. Reference features that may be calculated include curve of Spee, Andrew's plane, and a facial axis of the clinical crown for the teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Ka Man Cheang
  • Patent number: 12016747
    Abstract: In some embodiments, systems, apparatuses, and methods are provided herein useful to orthodontic systems. In some embodiments, an orthodontic system includes a carrier structure including a base, a plurality of groups of support structures, a plurality of orthodontic appliances associated with one of the plurality of groups of support structures, and at least one rail extending from the base, and an assembly structure including a body, a plurality of complementary pieces associated with one of the plurality of orthodontic appliances, at least one channel configured to interface with the at least one rail to allow the assembly structure to be moved from a first position to a second position with respect to the carrier structure, wherein movement of the assembly structure with respect to the carrier structure causes the plurality of complementary pieces to mate with the plurality of orthodontic appliances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: Braces On Demand, Inc.
    Inventors: Colin James Corey, Ammar Ahmed Syed, Thomas Patrick Shannon
  • Patent number: 12011332
    Abstract: Methods of forming dental tooth positioning appliances. Methods may include identifying a portion of a first digital model corresponding to a portion of the dentition for chemical treatment. Methods may also include forming a second digital model with a scaled up cavity by scaling up a size of a tooth of the first digital model. Methods may further include forming a polymeric shell including a scaled up cavity having dimensions that are proportional to a corresponding surface of the second digital model. The polymeric shell may further include one or more spacers that protrude from an inner surface of the scaled up cavity. The spacer(s) may be arranged to maintain a uniform space between the polymeric shell and the portion of the dentition identified for chemical treatment, and for holding a chemical for treating the identified portion of the dentition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2024
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Rick M. Matty, Anthony W. Morefield, Devin K. Webb
  • Patent number: 11998405
    Abstract: The invention related to a method for planning a dental structure, in which a 3D model of the structure, with at least one radially symmetrical aperture, is already provided. On the basis of the 3D model of the structure that is already provided, an axis of symmetry of the at least one radially symmetrical aperture of the structure is determined in relation to said 3D model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: DENTSPLY SIRONA INC.
    Inventors: Daniel Müllner, Clemens Gross
  • Patent number: 11992380
    Abstract: A system and method and system for providing preoperative patient intraoral scanning for diagnosis and preparation of a treatment plan utilizing the proposed system in advance of the crown surgery and intraoperative patient intraoral scanning for system assessment and verification for the method of treatment. More specifically, the proposed invention proposes a method and system of patient intraoral scanning to identify the best prefabricated crown for use for the patient and develop a plan for intraoral surface treatment for the identified prefabricated crown and automated crown inventory management.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: Alphabyte LLC
    Inventors: Andrew C. Johnson, Charles A. Davis, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11992386
    Abstract: Methods of attaching a wire to a dentition. The methods may include placing a shell on the dentition, where first cavity of the shell includes an attachment material reservoir for receiving an attachment material, and second cavity of the shell includes a wire attachment member having a slot for receiving the wire. The methods may also include placing the wire through the attachment material reservoir and through the slot of the wire attachment member to hold the wire in position with respect to a tooth within the first cavity. The methods may further include placing the attachment material within the attachment material reservoir to bond the attachment material and the wire to the tooth. Once the shell and the wire attachment member are removed from the dentition, the wire remains attached to the tooth via the attachment material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas Brandt, Rick M. Matty
  • Patent number: 11986363
    Abstract: The invention comprises an improved method and system for building a denture. The invention further comprises a technique for building teeth and a denture base in a digital space. The invention even further comprises a method for adapting a digital denture base contemporaneously with changes made to digital teeth on the same model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: Global Dental Science, LLC
    Inventor: Scott C. Keating
  • Patent number: 11991440
    Abstract: A method for treatment-based photo guidance may include receiving a treatment plan, determining the movement of a first one or more teeth based on the movement of tooth models in the treatment plan, and determining one or more photo views for capturing the movement of the first one or more teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: ALIGN TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Christopher E. Cramer, Rajiv Venkata, Leela Parvathaneni, Phillip Thomas Harris, Sravani Gurijala, Svetozar Hubenov, Sebastien Hareng, Guotu Li, Yun Gao, Chad Clayton Brown
  • Patent number: 11986370
    Abstract: Patterned dental positioning appliances including a shell including one or more cavities shaped to receive and exert repositioning forces on one or more teeth of a subject's dentition. An inner surface of at least a portion of the one or more cavities may include a raised mesh pattern arranged to contact one or more teeth within the at least a portion of the one or more cavities. The raised mesh pattern may be arranged to impart a contact force that affects one or more of a direction, a duration and a magnitude of the repositioning forces exerted on the one or more teeth. The raised mesh pattern may be is integrally formed with the shell and is made of the same polymer material as the shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Chunhua Li, Yan Chen
  • Patent number: 11980523
    Abstract: Polymeric shell appliances are provided in which the polymeric shell appliances are configured to provide one or more activation forces to facilitate tooth movement. In many embodiments, the activation forces are arranged to provide force in a direction opposite to an intended direction of tooth movement. The polymeric shell appliances may comprise one or more tooth receiving cavities, in which each of the plurality of tooth receiving cavities is shaped and arranged to provide a counter moment of each of the plurality of teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: ALIGN TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: John Morton, Mitra Derakhshan
  • Patent number: 11978547
    Abstract: The example systems, methods, and/or computer-readable media described herein help with design treatment plans for orthodontic treatments. Treatment templates expressed according to treatment domain-specific protocols may be processed to provide treatment planning software, including automated or real-time treatment planning software, that accommodates treatment preferences of a practitioner and/or patient data relevant to a treatment plan. These methods and systems may be also be useful for planning, designing and producing as series of dental appliances (e.g., aligners).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Adi Levin, Anton Lapshin, Behnam J. Foroodian, Eric P. Meyer, Konstantin Tenzin, Andrey Chekhonin, Pavel Sokolov, René M. Sterental, Jason Ramos, Evgeniy Malashkin, Anna Sivakova, Michael Flanagan
  • Patent number: 11969310
    Abstract: A physical model of at least a portion of a patient's dentition has model dental surfaces corresponding to real dental surfaces of the patient's dentition. The physical model includes one or more targets, each configured for facilitating placement of an orthodontic appliance on the model at a desired location. The targets lack mechanical stops that are outwardly protruding from the original model dental surfaces. Also provided are a method of manufacturing a physical model for use in indirect bonding procedures, a method for indirect bonding for use in an orthodontic procedure, a method for providing an indirect bonding transfer tray for use in an orthodontic procedure, and a system for providing a physical model for use in indirect bonding orthodontic procedures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: ALIGN TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventor: Avi Kopelman
  • Patent number: 11972873
    Abstract: Methods for treating a patient are provided. These methods may include receiving scan data of a patient's teeth, forming a modified image of the teeth to simulate a dental treatment, combining the modified image of the teeth with an image of the patient's face to show an image of the patient's smile as it would appear according to the dental treatment, displaying the modified image to the patient, and treating the patient according to the simulated dental treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Michelle Stone-Collonge, Eric E. Kuo, Rick M. Matty, Fabio Pettinati, Thomas Maurer, Dzmitry Sanko
  • Patent number: 11957533
    Abstract: Systems and methods of simulating, modeling, and validating orthodontic treatment are disclosed. The method may include designing an orthodontic treatment system or force system, generative a displacement field between a first position of a patient's teeth and a second position, modeling the three-dimensional force-displacement model generated by the treatment system or force system, and validating the treatment system or force system. The methods disclosed herein may be iterated to optimize the orthodontic force system or treatment system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: ALIGN TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Iman Shojaei, Reza Shirazi Aghjari
  • Patent number: 11957530
    Abstract: A distributed system includes one or more servers configured to provide computing devices access to portals hosted by the one or more servers, where the portals include a patient intake portal accessible by a first computing device located at an office of an intake dentist or orthodontist, and an approving portal accessible by a second computing device remote from the first computing device. The distributed system includes a dental aligner fabrication system including a fabrication computing device and dental aligner fabrication equipment. The patient intake portal is configured to provide a plurality of status updates to the intake dentist or orthodontist regarding a status of the patient, where the plurality of status updates include an indication that the dental aligners have been sent to the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: SDC U.S. SmilePay SPV
    Inventors: Jordan Katzman, Alex Fenkell
  • Patent number: 11957535
    Abstract: An improved preparation method uses an additional preparation tray as part of a multi-step tray alignment system which achieves orthodontic tooth movement. The preparation tray incorporates openings in the tray for the application of a bonding preparation fluid, such as an etching agent, or alternately, an etching and bonding agent, in the correct location and amount. The openings are at least the size and shape of the tooth attachments and greatly reduce the tooth surface area accessible to the clinician. This confines the bonding preparation fluid to an area equal to, or slightly larger than, the attachment contact area. The method and apparatus provide faster application, vastly reduced cleanup, less tooth enamel damage, and less chair time for the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Inventor: Carl J. Metz
  • Patent number: 11957541
    Abstract: Provided herein are systems and methods for scoring a post-treatment tooth position of a patient's teeth. A patient's dentition may be scanned and/or segmented. Raw dental features, principal component analysis (PCA) features, and/or other features may be extracted and compared to those of other teeth, such as those obtained through automated machine learning systems. A classifier can identify and/or output the post-treatment tooth position of the patient's teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Guotu Li, Christopher E. Cramer, Chad Clayton Brown, Anton Spiridonov
  • Patent number: 11961235
    Abstract: The present disclosure proposes an apparatus for determining a bone age of teeth. The apparatus according to the present disclosure may acquire a plurality of first teeth images of a plurality of teeth corresponding to a first gender and having a first bone age, generate a plurality of pre-processed images by pre-processing the plurality of first teeth images, generate a determination filter for determining a teeth shape for the first bone age of a human body having the first gender by training the neural network model using the plurality of pre-processed images, acquire a second teeth image of teeth of a human body having a second gender and gender information indicating the second gender, and determine a second bone age of the teeth corresponding to the second teeth image based on the second teeth image and the gender information by using the determination filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: BONEWISE INC.
    Inventor: Dong Kyu Jin
  • Patent number: 11950977
    Abstract: Methods for detecting and avoiding collisions of teeth during orthodontic treatment may include determining a schedule of movement for dental objects during treatment stages, calculating a respective route from an initial position toward a final position for each of the dental objects during the treatment stage, and modifying the schedule of movement with a first modification to avoid a collision or obstruction between two of the dental objects on their respective routes. The modification may include moving a first of the dental objects away from the respective route of a second of the dental objects, and moving the first dental object toward its respective final position after the second dental object has sufficiently traversed its respective route to avoid the collision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: ALIGN TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Ian Kitching, Alexander Dmitriev, Alexey Vishnevskiy
  • Patent number: 11937991
    Abstract: Aligner attachment placement devices including a frame configured to extend over at least a portion of a dental arch, an attachment support extending from a first side of the frame, an aligner attachment frangibly connected to the attachment support, a first and second registration anchor, and a retention support extending from a second side of the frame. In some cases, a gap portion of the frame between the first and second registration anchors may be configured to suspend over one or more teeth of the dental arch. The retention support may be separate from and located between the first and second registration anchors. The retention support may include an extension arm and a tooth contact portion, where at least part of the extension arm has a smaller width than the tooth contact portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Webber, Siobhan O'Leary, Jun Sato
  • Patent number: 11925525
    Abstract: Methods of representing user edits or modifications of a treatment plan for a dental apparatus (e.g., one or a series of aligners) by managing an original clinical data set and a set of modifications of the clinical data set. Also described herein are methods of displaying, condensing, storing and reconstructing collision regions between two or more teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Konstantin Yuryev, Vasily Stavenko, Andrey Verizhnikov
  • Patent number: 11918437
    Abstract: Method of enrichment of a reference model to be enriched representing a dental arch. Acquisition, under first real conditions, of a current image of the arch displaying one region. Exploration of the reference model in such a manner as to determine a first view of the reference model, in a first direction of observation the reference image exhibiting a maximum match with the current image. Determination, by comparison of the images, of a first orphan point represented on the current image and not represented on the reference image when the current image is in a first register position in which it is superposed, in the space of the reference model, with the reference image. Addition, in the reference model, of a point on a first straight line parallel to the first direction of observation and passing through the first orphan point in the first register position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: DENTAL MONITORING
    Inventors: Philippe Salah, Thomas Pellissard, Laurent Debraux
  • Patent number: 11896457
    Abstract: Orthodontic positioning devices, and related methods and systems, are disclosed for use with one or more orthodontic elastic members. The disclosed methods may comprise determining the geometries for a pair of orthodontic aligners for use as part of an orthodontic treatment plan. The geometries for the pair of orthodontic aligners may include an upper aligner with a first marking and a lower aligner with a second marking. The first marking may correspond to a position of a first hook, and the second marking may correspond to a position of a second hook. The first hook and the second hook may be configured to engage with an orthodontic elastic member so as to react a force to, for example, generate orthodontic forces on the patient's teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: ALIGN TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Eric Kuo, Artem Borovinskih, Shiva Sambu
  • Patent number: 11883255
    Abstract: In particular embodiments, method, apparatus and system for receiving digital representations of the initial parameters of a dentition; simulating a first orthodontic treatment process on the digital representations of the initial parameters, displaying a set of output results from the simulation of the first orthodontic treatment process, simulating a second orthodontic treatment process on the output results from the simulation of the first orthodontic treatment process, and displaying a set of output results from the simulation of the second orthodontic treatment process are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: ALIGN TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventor: Eric Kuo
  • Patent number: 11872102
    Abstract: A processing device receives image data of an actual condition of a patient's dental arch at a stage of an orthodontic treatment plan. The processing device compares the image data of the actual condition of the patient's dental arch to a planned condition of the patient's dental arch for the stage of the orthodontic treatment plan. The processing device determines an updated orthodontic treatment plan based on one or more differences between the actual condition of the patient's dental arch and the planned condition of the patient's dental arch determined from the comparing. The processing device generates one or more three-dimensional (3D) models for one or more new orthodontic aligners in accordance with the updated orthodontic treatment plan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Avi Kopelman, Rene M. Sterental, Igor Kvasov, Mikhail Dyachenko, Roman A. Roschin, Leonid Vyacheslavovich Grechishnikov
  • Patent number: 11864973
    Abstract: Methods and systems for manufacturing an orthodontic appliance with an object incorporated in a surface thereof comprising: acquiring a preliminary appliance 3D digital model; acquiring an object 3D digital model; obtaining a desired coupling location of the object on the orthodontic appliance; positioning the object 3D digital model onto a surface of the preliminary appliance 3D digital model based on the obtained coupling location; causing an initial predetermined degree of penetration; merging the object 3D digital model with the preliminary appliance 3D digital model to generate an appliance 3D digital model of the orthodontic appliance with the object incorporated in the surface; and storing the appliance 3D digital model in an internal memory of the electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Oxilio Ltd
    Inventors: Islam Khasanovich Raslambekov, Zelimkhan Gerikhanov, Oleksandr Khmil, Dmitrii Bubelnik
  • Patent number: 11864970
    Abstract: A system and method for determining a center of resistance of a tooth may include receiving a 3D digital representation of an initial arrangement and a final arrangement of a patient's teeth and determining a 3D treatment plan. The 3D treatment plan may include a plurality of 3D stages for rearranging the teeth from the initial arrangement toward the final arrangement. The method may also include determining, in accordance with the 3D treatment plan, an intended movement of the teeth for each of the stages and deriving, using a 3D resistance model, an applied force system for achieving the intended movement of the teeth for each of the stages. The method may also include deriving 3D geometries of oral appliances for the stages in response to the applied force system. Various other systems and methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: ALIGN TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Iman Shojaei, Reza Shirazi Aghjari, John Y. Morton, Vadim Matov, Eric Yau, Fuming Wu, Sergei Brodsky
  • Patent number: 11864969
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes methods, systems, and devices for prioritization of three dimensional dental elements. One method for prioritizing three dimensional dental elements includes receiving a virtual initial dental data set (IDDS) of teeth having spatial information regarding the positions of a number of teeth in the virtual IDDS with respect to each other for presentation of the teeth in a virtual three dimensional space to be viewed on a user interface, setting prioritization values of a number of elements of one or more of the number of teeth, and prioritizing the number of elements to be selected by a user based upon their prioritization values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric E. Kuo, Igor Kvasov, Anna Egorova, Sergey Gagarin
  • Patent number: 11833006
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for cutting and trimming dental molds and oral appliances by receiving a digital model of teeth, determining a cutting loop path and applying a drape wall to the cutting loop to generate a simplified tooth base in a dental mold having an inner arch curve and an outer arch curve. The oral appliance may be formed on the dental mold and a cutter may be applied using a sweeping motion across the inner and outer arch curves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: uLab Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Huafeng Wen
  • Patent number: 11830196
    Abstract: In one aspect, the present application provides a method for verifying a segmentation result of a 3D digital model of jaw, the method comprises: obtaining a reference position segmentation result of a 3D digital model of jaw, where the reference position result is obtained by segmenting the 3D digital model of jaw positioned at a reference position using a first segmentation method; perturbating the 3D digital model of jaw positioned at the reference position multiple times, and segmenting the 3D digital model of jaw positioned at the multiple perturbed positions using the first segmentation method, to obtain corresponding multiple perturbed position segmentation results; and determining whether the reference position segmentation result is reliable based on similarities between the reference position segmentation result and the multiple perturbed position segmentation results, where segmentation of the 3D digital model of jaw is to segment teeth from each other and from gingiva, and is to classify facets of
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: NINGBO SHENLAI MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Ke Fang
  • Patent number: 11819375
    Abstract: Described herein are methods and apparatuses to obtain an image, or a set of images, of a patient's teeth from one or more predetermined viewing angles. These methods and apparatuses may include the use an overlay comprising an outline of teeth for each predetermined viewing angle. The overlay may be used for automatically capturing, focusing and/or illuminating the teeth. Also described herein are methods and apparatuses for using a series of images of the patient's teeth including a set of predetermined views to determine if a patient is a candidate for an orthopedic procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Maurice K. Carrier, Jr., Phillip Thomas Harris, Sergey Vinnichenko, Samuel Blanco, Aleksandr Sergeevich Karsakov, Sebastien Hareng, Leon Rasovsky
  • Patent number: 11819376
    Abstract: A system for providing orthodontic treatment to a patient wherein a general dentist receives direction from a consultant orthodontist. The system includes a network configured to assign the consultant orthodontist to the general dentist. The network includes a central server with a patient database. The patient database includes a first patient's dental record of a first patient and a plurality of additional patients' historical dental records of a plurality of additional patients. The network also includes an analysis and prediction module. The analysis and prediction module is configured to access the first patient's dental record and the plurality of additional patients' historical dental records prior to initiation of treatment of the first patient to compare and contrast similar dental records of the additional patients' historical dental records to the first patient's dental records to predict timing and outcome for dental treatment of the first patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: ALTA SMILES LLC
    Inventor: Gary D. Giegerich
  • Patent number: 11793608
    Abstract: A system for correcting class III malocclusions is disclosed. The system may include a maxilla appliance having tooth receiving cavities shaped to receive teeth of the maxilla and a first coupling for receiving an elastic. The system may also include a mandibular appliance having tooth receiving cavities shaped to receive teeth of the mandible. In some embodiments, the system includes a class III corrective appliance having a first mount shaped to engage with the mandibular arch of the patient and having a second coupling shaped to receive the elastic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: ALIGN TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Mitra Derakhshan, Crystal Tjhia, Rohit Tanugula, Yaser Shanjani, Ryan Kimura, Bruce Cam, Eric Yau, Yuxiang Wang, Ken Wu, Peter Webber, Jun Sato, John Y. Morton
  • Patent number: 11772331
    Abstract: A method of producing a retention piece having a guidance package configured to provide a desired movement profile including: obtaining data descriptive of mandibular and maxillary arches, an index position of the mandibular arch at a maximum closure position, and a temporomandibular joint of a recipient; specifying an appropriate guidance package based on the desired movement profile; positioning a retention piece comprising at least a portion of the specified guidance package about virtual representations of at least one of the mandibular and maxillary arches within a virtual articulator; modeling relative movement of the virtual representations of the mandibular and maxillary arches within the virtual articulator; and generating data that can be used by a computer aided machining (CAM) process to create at least one physical retention piece comprising the specified guidance package configured to provide the desired movement profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Inventor: Kelly Lucas
  • Patent number: 11751974
    Abstract: Provided herein are orthodontic devices and methods for patients with missing or ectopic teeth. Methods and processes are provided to properly number the teeth of a patient's arch after a dental scan. Methods and processes are also provided to automatically detect missing or ectopic teeth after a dental scan. Methods of designing and manufacturing the aligner are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Roman A. Roschin, Evgenii Vladimirovich Karnygin, Sergey Grebenkin, Alexey Lazarev, Dmitry Guskov, Ivan Slepynin, Alexey Vladykin, Alexander Vovchenko, Alexander Beliaev
  • Patent number: 11744677
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides method, systems, and devices for adjusting an arch of teeth. An appliance includes a removable shell formed of a first material having a number of cavities formed therein, wherein the number of cavities are shaped to receive teeth of a patient, and an arch element extending from the removable shell in a lingual direction and across at least a portion of the arch width of the removable shell, wherein the arch element is designed to expand an arch of the teeth of the patient, wherein the arch element has a width specific to a stage of a treatment plan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan Kimura, John Morton, Richard Shaw, Chunhua Li
  • Patent number: 11737853
    Abstract: Described herein are methods and apparatuses to obtain an image, or a set of images, of a patient's teeth from one or more predetermined viewing angles. These methods and apparatuses may include the use an overlay comprising an outline of teeth for each predetermined viewing angle. The overlay may be used for automatically capturing, focusing and/or illuminating the teeth. Also described herein are methods and apparatuses for using a series of images of the patient's teeth including a set of predetermined views to determine if a patient is a candidate for an orthopedic procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Maurice K. Carrier, Jr., Phillip Thomas Harris, Sergey Vinnichenko, Samuel Blanco, Aleksandr Sergeevich Karsakov, Sebastien Hareng, Leon Rasovsky
  • Patent number: 11725447
    Abstract: A structure for assisting with opening and closing of a lower door includes a lower door having an upper end configured to be rotated open with respect to a bottom surface of a vehicle body, and a rotary unit configured to be fixed to the bottom surface of the vehicle body and configured to rotate in opposite directions to assist with opening and closing of the lower door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation
    Inventor: Ki Hyun Cho
  • Patent number: 11727160
    Abstract: A computer product for generating a digital 3D model for use in a dental component based on a digital 3D model of the dental component showing a shape of the teeth and a digital 3D representation of a pre-prepared set of teeth showing the region for which the dental component is intended, the product causing a system to generate a digital 3D combined model representing a target dental situation when the dental component is arranged at the teeth, where the instructions are configured for digitally replacing one or more teeth of the digital 3D representation of the pre-prepared set of teeth with the digital 3D model of the dental component by digitally removing the one or more teeth of the digital 3D representation of the pre-prepared set of teeth and adding the digital 3D model of the dental component to the digital 3D representation of the pre-prepared set of teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: 3Shape A/S
    Inventors: Rune Fisker, Sven Nonboe
  • Patent number: 11723791
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods of preparing a dental appliance for treating a patient having obstructive sleep apnea or hypopnea. Also included are dental appliances and their uses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Inventor: Dayen Peter Wang
  • Patent number: 11710265
    Abstract: A method for imaging expected results of a medical cosmetic treatment includes converting an input image of an anatomical feature into an input image vector. A direction vector corresponding to the medical cosmetic treatment is determined. An amplitude of the direction vector is determined. The direction vector is multiplied by the determined amplitude to obtain a product vector. The product vector is vector added to the input image vector. An output image corresponding to the expected visual appearance of the human anatomical feature is generated from the vector added product vector and input image vector. A computer program stored in a non-transitory computer readable medium causes a computer to perform the imaging method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: RealFaceValue B.V.
    Inventors: Jacques van der Meulen, Ekin Gedik, Berno Bucker
  • Patent number: 11701205
    Abstract: In a system of manufacturing an orthodontic wire, a method for manufacturing the orthodontic wire using the system, and an orthodontic wire bending machine for performing the system, the system includes a teeth data obtaining part, a simulating part, a calculating part and a wire manufacturing part. The teeth data obtaining part obtains present teeth data of a patient. The simulating part generates final teeth data. The calculating part compares a predetermined threshold to a compared value between the present teeth data of the patient and the final teeth data. The wire manufacturing part selectively manufactures a wire for an orthodontic process or a wire for a dentition maintenance process based on a compared result of the calculating part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: KOREA INSTITUTE OF MACHINERY & MATERIALS
    Inventors: Joon-Yub Song, Yong-Jin Kim, Jae-Hak Lee, Seung-Man Kim, Youn Ho Jung, Kwang Sun Choi
  • Patent number: 11684454
    Abstract: A method for moving an existing implant along a jaw bone of a person, the method including positioning an abrasive bur between adjacent roots of the at least one tooth and existing implant in the jaw bone, rotating the abrasive bur, applying the rotating bur to penetrate the gingiva tissue covering the space between the adjacent roots of the at least one tooth and implant to remove a desired amount of gingival tissue and expose the underlying jaw bone, and contacting the bone with the rotating bur to abrasively vibrate the jaw bone adjacent to at least one tooth without drilling through the cortical bone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Inventor: Elliot Davis
  • Patent number: 11684455
    Abstract: A method for performing enamel replacement on a tooth in the mouth of a person, the method including: beginning an arch reformulation therapy (ART) process, selecting a tooth for an enamel replacement process to be performed on, identifying a surface of the tooth to have a dental composite material adhered to as part of the enamel replacement process, discluding multiple teeth during the ART process including the selected tooth, preparing the identified surface of the selected tooth for adherence of a dental composite material, the preparation including application of a preparation material to the surface of the tooth, and applying the dental composite material to the prepared surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Inventor: Elliot Davis
  • Patent number: 11678955
    Abstract: A method of orthodontic treatment planning for a patient includes receiving three-dimensional intraoral surface scan data of a dentition of the patient, receiving three-dimensional volumetric scan data of the dentition of the patient, and overlaying the intraoral surface scan data and the volumetric scan data to generate an integrated patient model comprising a root of at least one tooth having a longitudinal axis. The method further includes determining, for use in planning an orthodontic treatment, a center of rotation of the at least one tooth, wherein the center of rotation is defined as a point located a predetermined distance from a base of the root to an apex of the root along the longitudinal axis of the at least one tooth in the integrated patient model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: CVSTOM Co.
    Inventor: Kjeld A. Aamodt
  • Patent number: 11666417
    Abstract: A method for analyzing a real dental situation of a patient. The method includes steps, as follows, in succession. At an updated instant, acquisition of an updated image representing a real dental scene as observed by an operator. Determination of a virtual dental scene as a function of the representation of the real dental scene on the updated image. Presentation of the virtual dental scene in transparent mode and overlaid on the real dental scene, or display of the updated image on a screen and presentation of the virtual dental scene overlaid with the representation of the real dental scene on the updated image displayed on the screen, in transparent mode or not on the representation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: DENTAL MONITORING
    Inventors: Philippe Salah, Thomas Pellissard, Guillaume Ghyselinck, Laurent Debraux