# US 10,307,222 B2 · Orthodontic systems and methods including parametric attachments

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- Number: US 10,307,222 B2
- Document ID: US10307222B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/850,866
- Filed: 2015-09-10
- Published: 2016-03-10
- Granted: 2019-06-04
- Earliest claimed: 2008-11-20
- Assignees: Align Technology, Inc.
- Applicants: Align Technology, Inc.
- Inventors: John Morton; Vadim Matov; Heng Cao; Ryan Kimura; Jihua Cheng; Bastien Pesenti
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10307222B2

## CPC

- A61C 7/002: {Orthodontic computer assisted systems}
- A61C 7/00: Orthodontics, i.e. obtaining or maintaining the desired position of teeth, e.g. by straightening, evening, regulating, separating, or by correcting malocclusions
- A61C 7/08: Mouthpiece-type retainers {or positioners, e.g. for both the lower and upper arch (arch-shaped medicament applicators for teeth or gums A61C19/063; mouthguards for protecting the teeth of sportsmen A63B71/085)}
- A61C 7/14: Brackets (A61C7/28 takes precedence); Fixing brackets to teeth
- G06F 17/10: Complex mathematical operations {(function generation by table look-up G06F1/03; evaluation of elementary functions by calculation G06F7/544)}
- G06F 30/00: Computer-aided design [CAD]
- A61C 7/146: {Positioning or placement of brackets; Tools therefor}
- A61C: DENTISTRY; APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR ORAL OR DENTAL HYGIENE (non-driven toothbrushes A46B; {tongue scrapers A61B17/24;} preparations for dentistry A61K6/00; preparations for cleaning the teeth or mouth A61K8/00, A61Q11/00)
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)

## Abstract

Orthodontic systems and related methods are disclosed for designing and providing improved or more effective tooth moving systems for eliciting a desired tooth movement and/or repositioning teeth into a desired arrangement. Methods and orthodontic systems of the invention include tooth attachments having improved or optimized parameters selected or modified for more optimal and/or effective application of forces for a desired/selected orthodontic movement. Attachments of the present invention can be customized to a particular patient (e.g., patient-customized), a particular movement, and/or a sub-group or sub-set of patients, and configured to engage an orthodontic tooth positioning appliance worn by a patient, where engagement between the attachment and orthodontic appliance results in application of a repositioning force or series/system of forces to the tooth having the attachment and will generally elicit a tooth movement.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A computer-implemented method for designing a customized tooth movement system for eliciting a selected movement of a patient's tooth, the method executed by a physical processor of a computer, the method comprising:
determining, using instructions executed by the physical processor, a targeted force system configured to elicit the selected movement when applied to the patient's tooth;
selecting, using instructions executed by the physical processor, a digital model of a generic tooth attachment configured to engage an orthodontic shell appliance;
determining, using instructions executed by the physical processor, a first force system that would be applied to the patient's tooth by engagement of the generic tooth attachment with the orthodontic shell appliance; and
modifying, using instructions executed by the physical processor, one or more parameters of the generic tooth attachment to form a custom tooth attachment, wherein the custom tooth attachment is configured to engage the orthodontic shell appliance so as to apply a second force system to the patient's tooth, the second force system more closely corresponding to the targeted force system than the first force system.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the selected movement comprises one or more of extrusion, intrusion, rotation, translation, or tipping.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein modifying one or more parameters includes modifying one or more of geometry, shape, sizing, composition, or positioning of the generic tooth attachment.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein modifying one or more parameters includes modifying one or more of an arm vector, an arm length, a clipping plane area, a clipping plane width, or a clipping plane length of the generic tooth attachment.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more parameters of the generic tooth attachment are modified based on one or more patient-specific characteristics comprising tooth morphology, tooth orientation, tooth surface orientation, or a prescribed tooth movement path.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the targeted force system comprises a targeted range for a force or torque value to be applied to the patient's tooth.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, wherein the first force system comprises a force or torque value outside the targeted range, and the second force system comprises a force or torque value within the targeted range.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, wherein the first force system comprises a force or torque value within a portion of the targeted range, and the second force system comprises a force or torque value within a different portion of the targeted range.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising modifying, using instructions executed by the physical processor, a geometry of a portion of the orthodontic shell appliance, wherein the custom tooth attachment is configured to engage the orthodontic shell appliance at the portion so as to apply the second force system to the patient's tooth.

### Claim 10

A system for designing a customized tooth movement system for eliciting a selected movement of a patient's tooth, the system comprising:
one or more physical processors; and
memory comprising instructions that, when executed by the one or more physical processors, cause the system to:
determine a targeted force system configured to elicit the selected movement when applied to the patient's tooth;
select a digital model of a generic tooth attachment configured to engage an orthodontic shell appliance;
determine a first force system that would be applied to the patient's tooth by engagement of the generic tooth attachment with the orthodontic shell appliance; and
modify one or more parameters of the generic tooth attachment to form a custom tooth attachment, wherein the custom tooth attachment is configured to engage the orthodontic shell appliance so as to apply a second force system to the patient's tooth, the second force system more closely corresponding to the targeted force system than the first force system.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The system of claim 10, wherein the selected movement comprises one or more of extrusion, intrusion, rotation, translation, or tipping.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The system of claim 10, wherein the one or more parameters include one or more of geometry, shape, sizing, composition, or positioning of the generic tooth attachment.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The system of claim 10, wherein the one or more parameters include one or more of an arm vector, an arm length, a clipping plane area, a clipping plane width, or a clipping plane length of the generic tooth attachment.

### Claim 14 (depends on 10)

The system of claim 10, wherein the one or more parameters of the generic tooth attachment are modified based on one or more patient-specific characteristics comprising tooth morphology, tooth orientation, tooth surface orientation, or a prescribed tooth movement path.

### Claim 15 (depends on 10)

The system of claim 10, wherein the targeted force system comprises a targeted range for a force or torque value to be applied to the patient's tooth.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The system of claim 15, wherein the first force system comprises a force or torque value outside the targeted range, and the second force system comprises a force or torque value within the targeted range.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The system of claim 15, wherein the first force system comprises a force or torque value within a portion of the targeted range, and the second force system comprises a force or torque value within a different portion of the targeted range.

### Claim 18 (depends on 10)

The system of claim 10, wherein the instructions further cause the system to modify a geometry of a portion of the orthodontic shell appliance, wherein the custom tooth attachment is configured to engage the orthodontic shell appliance at the portion so as to apply the second force system to the patient's tooth.