Mold with receiving element and separable features
AssigneeAlign Technology, Inc.
InventorsRohit Tanugula, Dennis Te, Peter Webber, Shiva P. Sambu, Crystal Tjhia
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method includes determining a first shape of a main body of a mold associated with a dental arch for a patient. The method further includes determining a second shape of a separable feature of the mold. The method further includes determining a third shape and configuration of a receiving element of the main body to receive the separable feature. The method further includes outputting instructions for fabricating the separable feature and the main body that includes the receiving element for receiving the separable feature.
Claims19
A method of manufacturing, the method comprising:
- determining, by a processing device coupled to memory, a first shape of a main body of a mold associated with a dental arch for a patient, the main body corresponding to a plurality of teeth of the dental arch;
- determining, by the processing device, a second shape of a separable feature of the mold;
- determining, by the processing device, a third shape and configuration of a receiving element that comprises one or more holes formed in at least a portion of at least one of the plurality of teeth of the main body to receive the separable feature;
- causing, by the processing device, fabrication of the separable feature that comprises one or more protrusions configured to insert into the one or more holes;
- causing, by the processing device, fabrication of the main body that includes the receiving element that comprises the one or more holes for receiving the one or more protrusions of the separable feature, wherein the one or more protrusions of the separable feature insert into the main body via the one or more holes of the receiving element to cause the separable feature to extend above top surfaces of the plurality of teeth of the main body;
- and
- causing, by the processing device, fabrication of a shell over the main body and the separable feature, wherein the shell is configured to be worn in a mouth of the patient.
A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising first instructions which, when executed by a processing device, cause the processing device to perform operations comprising:
- determining a first shape of a main body of a mold associated with a dental arch for a patient, the main body corresponding to a plurality of teeth of the dental arch;
- determining a second shape of a separable feature of the mold;
- determining a third shape and configuration of a receiving element that comprises one or more holes formed in at least a portion of at least one of the plurality of teeth of the main body to receive the separable feature;
- causing fabrication of the separable feature that comprises one or more protrusions configured to insert into the one or more holes;
- causing fabrication of the main body that includes the receiving element that comprises the one or more holes for receiving the one or more protrusions of the separable feature, wherein the one or more protrusions of the separable feature insert into the main body via the one or more holes of the receiving element to cause the separable feature to extend above top surfaces of the plurality of teeth of the main body;
- and
- causing fabrication of a shell over the main body and the separable feature, wherein the shell is configured to be worn in a mouth of the patient.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.