# US 11,992,383 B2 · System for force measurement upon orthodontic appliances > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,992,383 B2 - Document ID: US11992383B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/658,183 - Filed: 2022-04-06 - Published: 2022-12-29 - Granted: 2024-05-28 - Earliest claimed: 2021-06-23 - Assignees: uLab Systems, Inc. - Applicants: uLab Systems, Inc. - Inventors: Henry Cao - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11992383B2 ## CPC - A61C 7/002: {Orthodontic computer assisted systems} - A61C 7/146: {Positioning or placement of brackets; Tools therefor} - A61C 7/20: Arch wires (A61C7/28 takes precedence) - A61C 9/0053: {Optical means or methods, e.g. scanning the teeth by a laser or light beam} - A61C 13/081: {Making teeth by casting or moulding} - A61C 19/04: Measuring instruments specially adapted for dentistry ({A61C5/44 takes precedence; testing vitality of teeth A61B5/0534;} radiation diagnosis specially adapted for dentistry A61B6/51) - G01L 5/0038: {applying a pushing force} - G01L 5/0042: {applying a torque} - A61C 2007/004: {Automatic construction of a set of axes for a tooth or a plurality of teeth} - 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) - G01L: MEASURING FORCE, STRESS, TORQUE, WORK, MECHANICAL POWER, MECHANICAL EFFICIENCY, OR FLUID PRESSURE (weighing G01G) ## Abstract Systems for force measurement upon orthodontic appliances are described. Generally, a system for measuring a force or moment imparted by an orthodontic appliance may comprise a dentition mold having one or more target teeth each formed upon a fixture and which is movable independently of the dentition mold, a measurement sensor coupled to the fixture, and a processor in communication with the measurement sensor. An orthodontic appliance may be configured for placement upon the dentition mold where the orthodontic appliance imparts a force or moment upon the one or more target teeth such that the force or moment is transmitted to the measurement sensor via the fixture for measurement of the force or moment. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for measuring a force or moment imparted by an orthodontic appliance, comprising: a dentition mold having one or more target teeth each formed upon a fixture and which is movable independently of the dentition mold, wherein the dentition mold is formed based upon a scanned dentition of a patient; a measurement sensor coupled to the fixture; a processor in communication with the measurement sensor; and an orthodontic appliance configured for placement upon the dentition mold where the orthodontic appliance imparts a force or moment upon the one or more target teeth such that the force or moment is transmitted to the measurement sensor via the fixture for measurement of the force or moment, wherein the processor is configured to transform the force or moment data from a sensor coordinate system to a second coordinate system and display the force or moment data which has been transformed upon a digital model of the one or more target teeth of the scanned dentition. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the dentition mold comprises a plurality of target teeth each formed upon the fixture and which are each movable independently. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the measurement sensor is configured to measure a force along one or more axes and a moment about the one or more axes. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the orthodontic appliance comprises an aligner configured for placement upon the one or more target teeth. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the orthodontic appliance comprises a plurality of brackets and an archwire. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 further comprising a computer having a resident orthodontic treatment planning software in communication with the processor for receiving force or moment data detected via the measurement sensor. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the second coordinate system comprises a crown coordinate system or resistance coordinate system. ### Claim 8 A method of measuring a force or moment imparted by an orthodontic appliance, comprising: scanning a dentition mold having one or more target teeth and a fixture; receiving a force or moment imparted by an orthodontic appliance placed upon the dentition mold having the one or more target teeth each formed upon the fixture and which is movable independently of the dentition mold; measuring the force or moment via a measurement sensor coupled to the fixture to compile force or moment data; receiving the force or moment data via a processor in communication with the measurement sensor; transforming the force or moment data from a sensor coordinate system to a second coordinate system; and displaying the force or moment data which has been transformed upon a digital model of the one or more target teeth of the scanned dentition mold. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8 wherein measuring the force or moment comprises measuring the force along one or more axes and the moment about the one or more axes. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8 wherein the orthodontic appliance comprises an aligner configured for placement upon the one or more target teeth. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8 wherein the orthodontic appliance comprises a plurality of brackets and an archwire. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8 wherein receiving the force or moment data comprises receiving the force or moment data via a computer having a resident orthodontic treatment planning software in communication with the processor. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8 wherein the second coordinate system comprises a crown coordinate system or resistance coordinate system. ### Claim 14 A method of measuring a force or moment imparted by an orthodontic appliance, comprising: fabricating a dentition mold having one or more target teeth each formed upon a fixture and which is movable independently of the dentition mold; assembling an orthodontic appliance and the dentition mold having the one or more target teeth upon a platform of a measurement instrument; scanning the dentition mold having and the one or more target teeth to form a digital model assembly; fabricating an orthodontic appliance based on the digital model assembly; positioning the orthodontic appliance upon the one or more target teeth so as to measure the force or moment imparted by the orthodontic appliance to compile force or moment data; causing the force or moment data to transform from a first coordinate system to a second coordinate system; and displaying the force or moment data which has been transformed upon a digital model of the one or more target teeth of the scanned dentition mold. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14 wherein transforming the force or moment data comprises transforming the force or moment data from a sensor coordinate system to the second coordinate system. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15 wherein the second coordinate system comprises a crown coordinate system or resistance coordinate system.