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US 7,245,977 B1Granted
Systems and methods for mass customization
AssigneeAlign Technology, Inc.
InventorBarry A. Simkins
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method facilitates mass customization of an object by generating a template representing data common to the object; generating specific data to customize the object in conjunction with the template; and fabricating a customized version of the object.
Claims25
A method for facilitating mass customization of an object, the object comprising a dental appliance, the method comprising:
- generating a template representing data common to a plurality of different dental appliances, the template comprising a source spline;
- generating specific data to customize an appliance in conjunction with the template, the specific data comprising a target spline;
- wherein the source spline and the target spline define at least one tool path;
- and
- directing at least one tool along the at least one tool path to fabricate a customized version of the appliance.
2 more elements
A method for fabricating a customized object, the method comprising:
- receiving a digital representation of a target path;
- generating a mathematically smoothed version of the target path;
- applying the smoothed target path to generate a secondary target path;
- generating a streamlined tool path, based on the secondary target path;
- and
- directing a tool along the tool path to fabricate the customized object, the customized object comprising a customized dental appliance having cavities shaped to receive and resiliently reposition a patient's teeth.
3 more elements
A method for facilitating mass customization of an object, the object comprising an article of manufacture, the method comprising:
- generating a template representing data common to a plurality of different objects, the template comprising a source spline;
- extracting the common data from a calculation process used in object fabrication;
- generating specific data to customize the object in conjunction with the template, the specific data comprising a target spline;
- wherein the source spline and the target spline define at least one tool path;
- and
- directing at least one tool along the at least one tool path to fabricate a customized version of the object.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.