Computer automated development of an orthodontic treatment plan and appliance
AssigneeAlign Technology, Inc.
InventorsMuhammad Chishti, Kelsey Wirth, Andrew Beers, Huafeng Wen, Phillips Alexander Benton, Timothy N. Jones, Ross J. Miller, Brian Freyburger
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A computer is used to create a plan for repositioning an orthodontic patient's teeth. The computer receives an initial digital data set representing the patient's teeth at their initial positions and a final digital data set representing the teeth at their final positions. The computer then uses the data sets to generate treatment paths along which the teeth will move from the initial positions to the final positions.
Claims20
A fabrication system for producing orthodontic appliances configured to reposition a patient's teeth, the system comprising:
- one or more processors;
- a tangible computer readable medium operatively coupled with the one or more processors and storing non-transitory instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the system to:
- receive an initial digital data set representing the teeth at an initial arrangement, and
- generate a treatment plan comprising a plurality of three-dimensional digital data sets defining a series of arrangements for the teeth including one or more intermediate arrangements toward which the teeth will move while moving from an initial arrangement toward a final arrangement;
- a mold producing machine configured to produce a series of positive tooth model molds corresponding to the series of arrangements for the teeth;
- and
- a molding machine configured to at least partially form each of a series of orthodontic appliances configured to move the teeth from the initial arrangement toward the final arrangement by forming a dental appliance material over a respective one of the positive tooth model molds,
- wherein the system is configured to produce the series of orthodontic appliances at a stage of treatment prior to the patient wearing any appliance of the series of orthodontic appliances so as to reposition the teeth.
A system for producing orthodontic appliances configured to reposition a patient's teeth, the system comprising:
- one or more processors;
- and
- a tangible computer readable medium operatively coupled with the one or more processors and storing non-transitory instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the system to:
- receive an initial digital data set representing the teeth at an initial arrangement, and
- generate a treatment plan comprising a plurality of three-dimensional digital data sets defining a series of arrangements for the teeth including one or more intermediate arrangements toward which the teeth will move while moving from an initial arrangement toward a final arrangement;
- and
- transmit data, which is based on the three-dimensional digital data sets, to a mold producing machine configured to produce a series of positive tooth model molds corresponding to the series of arrangements for the teeth;
- the series of positive tooth model molds being configured for use with a molding machine configured to at least partially form each of a series of orthodontic appliances configured to move the teeth from the initial arrangement toward the final arrangement by forming a dental appliance material over a respective one of the positive tooth model molds,
- wherein the system is configured to produce the series of orthodontic appliances at a stage of treatment prior to the patient wearing any appliance of the series of orthodontic appliances so as to reposition the teeth.
A method for fabricating orthodontic appliances configured to reposition a patient's teeth, the method comprising:
- receiving data defining a series of arrangements for the teeth including one or more intermediate arrangements toward which the teeth will move while moving from an initial arrangement toward a final arrangement;
- using a mold producing machine to fabricate a series of positive tooth model molds corresponding to the series of arrangements for the teeth;
- and
- producing a series of orthodontic appliances by forming a dental appliance material over each of the positive tooth model molds,
- wherein the orthodontic appliances are produced at a stage of treatment prior to the patient wearing any appliance of the series of orthodontic appliances so as to reposition the teeth.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.