Back to results
US 12,558,193 B2Granted
Methods for fabricating layered appliances
AssigneeAlign Technology, Inc.
InventorsAvi Kopelman, Jeeyoung Choi
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods for fabricating layered appliances are provided. In some embodiments, a method includes generating a digital model of a polymeric shell including a plurality of tooth-receiving cavities shaped to receive and reposition a patient's teeth from a first arrangement toward a second arrangement. The polymeric shell can include an interior layer having a first stiffness, and an exterior layer having a second stiffness greater than the first stiffness. The exterior layer can include a discontinuity formed therein. The method can further include transmitting the digital model to a fabrication system configured to fabricate the polymeric shell based on the digital model.
Claims29
A method comprising:
- determining a treatment plan for a patient's teeth, the treatment plan comprising repositioning the patient's teeth from a first arrangement toward a second arrangement;
- generating a digital model of a polymeric shell, wherein the polymeric shell comprises:
- a plurality of tooth-receiving cavities shaped to receive the patient's teeth and reposition the patient's teeth from the first arrangement toward the second arrangement,
- an interior layer comprising a first stiffness, and
- an exterior layer comprising a second stiffness greater than the first stiffness, wherein the exterior layer comprises a discontinuity formed therein, and the discontinuity comprises a cut,
- wherein, when the polymeric shell is worn on the patient's teeth, the cut is stretched by placement of the polymeric shell on the patient's teeth, the interior layer interacts with the cut by resisting the stretching, and the interaction between the interior layer and the cut imparts one or more forces to facilitate repositioning of the patient's teeth from the first arrangement toward the second arrangement;
- transmitting the digital model to a fabrication system, wherein the fabrication system is configured to fabricate the polymeric shell based on the digital model;
- and
- fabricating the polymeric shell based on the digital model.
6 more elements
A method comprising:
- determining a treatment plan for a patient's teeth, the treatment plan comprising repositioning the patient's teeth from a first arrangement toward a second arrangement;
- generating a digital model of an aligner configured to receive the patient's teeth and reposition the patient's teeth from the first arrangement toward the second arrangement, the aligner comprising:
- a plurality of tooth-receiving cavities,
- an interior layer comprising a first stiffness, and
- an exterior layer comprising a second stiffness greater than the first stiffness, wherein the exterior layer comprises an opening formed therein,
- wherein, when the aligner is worn on the patient's teeth, the opening is stretched by placement of the aligner on the patient's teeth, the interior layer resists the stretching of the opening, and the resistance imparts a force to facilitate repositioning of the patient's teeth from the first arrangement toward the second arrangement;
- transmitting the digital model to a fabrication system, wherein the fabrication system is configured to fabricate the aligner based on the digital model;
- and
- fabricating the aligner based on the digital model.
6 more elements
A method comprising:
- determining a treatment plan for a patient's teeth, the treatment plan comprising repositioning the patient's teeth from a first arrangement toward a second arrangement;
- generating a digital model of an aligner configured to receive the patient's teeth and reposition the patient's teeth from the first arrangement toward the second arrangement, the aligner comprising:
- a plurality of tooth-receiving cavities,
- an interior layer comprising a first stiffness,
- an exterior layer comprising a second stiffness greater than the first stiffness, and
- a deformable opening formed in the exterior layer and positioned over the interior layer such that the interior layer resists stretching of the deformable opening, wherein the resistance of the interior layer to the stretching of the deformable opening imparts a force to facilitate repositioning of the patient's teeth from the first arrangement toward the second arrangement;
- and
- fabricating, via a fabrication system, the aligner based on the digital model.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.