# US 11,992,998 B2 · Method for fabricating shell-shaped dental appliance > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,992,998 B2 - Document ID: US11992998B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/474,047 - Filed: 2021-09-13 - Published: 2023-03-16 - Granted: 2024-05-28 - Earliest claimed: 2021-09-13 - Assignees: Artechx Technologies, LLC. - Applicants: Artechx Technologies, LLC. - Inventors: Jun Jia - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11992998B2 ## CPC - B29C 64/112: using individual droplets, e.g. from jetting heads - 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)} - B29C 64/30: Auxiliary operations or equipment - B29C 64/386: Data acquisition or data processing for additive manufacturing - B29C 64/40: Structures for supporting 3D objects during manufacture and intended to be sacrificed after completion thereof - B33Y 10/00: Processes of additive manufacturing - B33Y 30/00: Apparatus for additive manufacturing; Details thereof or accessories therefor - B33Y 40/20: Post-treatment, e.g. curing, coating or polishing - B33Y 50/00: Data acquisition or data processing for additive manufacturing - B33Y 80/00: Products made by additive manufacturing - B29L 2031/753: {Medical equipment; Accessories therefor (bloodbags, medical bags B29L2031/7148; artificial eyes B29L2011/0008)} - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) - 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) - B33Y: ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING, i.e. MANUFACTURING OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL [3D] OBJECTS BY ADDITIVE DEPOSITION, ADDITIVE AGGLOMERATION OR ADDITIVE LAYERING, e.g. BY 3D PRINTING, STEREOLITHOGRAPHY OR SELECTIVE LASER SINTERING - B29L: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES ## Abstract In one aspect, the present application provides a method for fabricating shell-shaped dental appliance, comprising: generating a first 3D digital model representing an assembly of a support and a shell-shaped dental appliance, where the support has a first surface that conforms to and clings to a second surface of the shell-shaped dental appliance; and using the first 3D digital model to control a device to discharge successive drops of at least one fluid phase and solidifiable appliance material and successive drops of at least one fluid phase and solidifiable support material to form the assembly slice by slice along a first direction. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for fabricating shell-shaped dental appliance, comprising: generating a first 3D digital model representing an assembly of a support and a shell-shaped dental appliance, where the support has a first surface that conforms to and clings to a second surface of the shell-shaped dental appliance; using the first 3D digital model to control a device to discharge successive drops of at least one fluid phase and solidifiable appliance material for forming the shell-shaped dental appliance, and successive drops of at least one fluid phase and solidifiable support material for forming the support; and forming the assembly including both the shell-shaped dental appliance and the support together slice by slice along a first direction, wherein the shell-shaped dental appliance is a tooth repositioner for repositioning teeth of a patient from a first tooth arrangement to a second tooth arrangement which is different from the first tooth arrangement, and wherein the tooth repositioner is a one piece shell which forms a cavity for receiving the teeth, and the first 3D digital model is generated based on a 3D digital model represent the second tooth arrangement. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: removing the support from the assembly to obtain the shell-shaped dental appliance. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the at least one support material is soluble in a solvent, and the support is removed by washing the assembly in the solvent. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first surface is a continuous surface. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein the second surface is an inner surface of the shell-shaped dental appliance. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the assembly is formed on a substrate, the bottom of the assembly is attached to the substrate, the first direction is from the bottom to the top of the assembly. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein an undercut of the shell-shaped dental appliance is covered by the support in the first 3D digital model. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the shell-shaped dental appliance is fully covered by the support in the first 3D digital model. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein each of the at least one fluid phase appliance material is introduced into a buffer chamber in which a pressure is generated on the fluid phase appliance material, and the drops of the appliance material are discharged by an outlet opening in fluid connection with the buffer chamber by opening and closing the outlet opening repeatedly. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein each fluid phase appliance material is formed by melting the appliance material in solid state by heating. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the shell-shaped dental appliance includes multiple layers of drops of the at least one appliance material along thickness direction. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the shell-shaped dental appliance includes two layers along thickness direction, one of the two layers is constructed of drops of a first appliance material, and the other of the two layers is constructed of drops of a second appliance material, which is different from the first appliance material. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the shell-shaped dental appliance includes one layer along thickness direction, the layer includes two parts each of which is constructed of drops of a different appliance material. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the drops of the at least one appliance material are discharged along dental arch. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein diameter of the drops of the at least one fluid phase appliance material is within the range from 0.05˜0.15 mm. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the shell-shaped dental appliance and the support are formed slice by slice along the first direction simultaneously. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the step of forming the assembly including both the shell-shaped dental appliance and the support together slice by slice along the first direction comprises: forming a first slice by discharging successive drops of the at least one fluid phase and solidifiable appliance material for forming the shell-shaped dental appliance, and successive drops of the at least one fluid phase and solidifiable support material for forming the support, such that the first slice includes a part of the shell-shaped dental appliance and a part of the support; and forming a second slice along the first direction after forming the first slice.