# US 12,213,851 B2 · Methods and systems for forming dental attachment formation apparatuses > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,213,851 B2 - Document ID: US12213851B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/154,782 - Filed: 2023-01-13 - Published: 2023-05-18 - Granted: 2025-02-04 - Earliest claimed: 2015-11-12 - Assignees: Align Technology, Inc. - Applicants: Align Technology, Inc. - Inventors: Peter Webber - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12213851B2 ## CPC - A61C 19/003: {Apparatus for curing resins by radiation} - A61C 7/002: {Orthodontic computer assisted systems} - 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) ## Abstract Methods and systems for forming dental attachment formation apparatuses. Methods may include creating a virtual dental attachment formation apparatus including a body having a surface shaped to conform to contours of a virtual model of a patient's dentition, a well in the body that is shaped to receive a dental attachment, and a light path directed through the body to the well. A physical dental attachment formation apparatus may be manufactured based on the virtual dental attachment formation apparatus. At least a portion of the body of the physical dental attachment formation apparatus may be made of a light transmissive material. The physical dental attachment formation apparatus may include an opaque portion arranged to keep light from illuminating another portion of the body other than the well. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of forming a dental attachment formation apparatus, the method comprising: receiving a virtual model of a patient's dentition prior to an orthodontic treatment or at an intermediate stage of the orthodontic treatment; creating a virtual dental attachment formation apparatus based on the virtual model of the patient's dentition, wherein the virtual dental attachment formation apparatus includes: a body having a surface shaped to conform to contours of the virtual model of the patient's dentition; a well in the body, wherein the well is shaped to receive a dental attachment; and a light path directed through the body to the well; manufacturing, via rapid prototyping or direct fabrication, a physical dental attachment formation apparatus based on the virtual dental attachment formation apparatus, the physical dental attachment formation apparatus including a body, well, and light path corresponding to the body, well, and light path of the virtual dental attachment formation apparatus, at least a portion of the body of the physical dental attachment formation apparatus being made of a light transmissive material, wherein the physical dental attachment formation apparatus further comprises an opaque portion arranged to keep light from illuminating another portion of the body other than the well; and coupling a light source to the body of the physical dental attachment formation apparatus so that light from the light source is directed towards the well of the physical dental attachment formation apparatus through the light path of the physical dental attachment formation apparatus. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising curing an attachment material for the dental attachment within the well of the physical dental attachment formation apparatus using light from the light source. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the virtual model is in a computer-aided design (CAD) format. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein manufacturing the physical dental attachment formation apparatus further comprises arranging one terminus of the light path at a fitting attachment region of the physical dental attachment formation apparatus, the fitting attachment region configured to direct light into the light path. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the well of each of the virtual and physical dental attachment formation apparatuses is a first well configured to receive a first dental attachment, wherein each of the virtual and physical dental attachment formation apparatuses includes a second well shaped to receive a second dental attachment. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein the light path of each of the virtual and physical dental attachment formation apparatuses is a first light path, wherein each of the virtual and physical dental attachment formation apparatuses further comprises a second light path defining a second path through the body to the second well. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein the opaque portion of the physical dental attachment formation apparatus is arranged to keep light from illuminating the second well of the physical dental attachment formation apparatus when the light is passed through the first light path of the physical dental attachment formation apparatus. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein manufacturing the physical dental attachment formation apparatus further comprises filling the well with a dental attachment material. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein filling the well with the dental attachment material comprises using direct fabrication. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein creating the virtual dental attachment formation apparatus includes calculating a volume of the well based on an amount and/or type of attachment material used to fill the well. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the virtual model of the patient's dentition includes an identification of a placement position and/or orientation of the dental attachment on the patient's dentition. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein creating the virtual dental attachment formation apparatus comprises virtually testing a shape, location, orientation and/or type of the dental attachment. ### Claim 13 A system for forming a dental attachment formation apparatus, the system comprising: one or more processors; and memory operationally coupled to the one or more processors, the memory configured to store computer-program instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, perform a computer-implemented method comprising: receiving a virtual model of a patient's dentition prior to an orthodontic treatment or at an intermediate stage of the orthodontic treatment; creating a virtual dental attachment formation apparatus based on the virtual model the patient's dentition, wherein the virtual dental attachment formation apparatus comprises: a body having a surface shaped to conform to contours of the virtual model of the patient's dentition, a well in the body, wherein the well is shaped to receive a dental attachment, and a light path directed through the body to the well; and manufacturing, via rapid prototyping or direct fabrication, a physical dental attachment formation apparatus based on the virtual dental attachment formation apparatus, the physical dental attachment formation apparatus including a body, well, and light path corresponding to the body, well, and light path of the virtual dental attachment formation apparatus, at least a portion of the body of the physical dental attachment formation apparatus being made of a light transmissive material, wherein the physical dental attachment formation apparatus further comprises an opaque portion arranged to keep light from illuminating another portion of the body other than the well. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein one terminus of the light path of the physical dental attachment formation apparatus is arranged at a fitting attachment region of the body of the physical dental attachment formation apparatus, the fitting attachment region configured to direct light into the light path of the body of the physical dental attachment formation apparatus. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein manufacturing the physical dental attachment formation apparatus comprises forming the opaque portion using an opaque material. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein manufacturing the physical dental attachment formation apparatus further comprises filling the well with a dental attachment material. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the well of the physical dental attachment formation apparatus is a first well configured to form a first dental attachment, the method further comprising forming a second well in the body of the dental attachment formation apparatus, the second well shaped to form a second dental attachment. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein manufacturing the physical dental attachment formation apparatus includes directly fabricating the dental attachment formation apparatus from computer instructions based on the virtual dental attachment formation apparatus.