# US 9,433,477 B2 · Automatic placement of precision cuts > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,433,477 B2 - Document ID: US9433477B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/148,453 - Filed: 2014-01-06 - Published: 2014-05-01 - Granted: 2016-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2011-10-10 - Assignees: Align Technology, Inc. - Applicants: Align Technology, Inc. - Inventors: Artem Borovinskih; Anton Terekhov; Rene Sterental; Mikhail Minchenkov; Ivan Pavlov - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9433477B2 ## CPC - A61C 7/002: {Orthodontic computer assisted systems} - A61C 7/08: Mouthpiece-type retainers {or positioners, e.g. for both the lower and upper arch (arch-shaped medicament applicators for teeth or gums A61C19/063; mouthguards for protecting the teeth of sportsmen A63B71/085)} - A61C 7/36: Devices acting between upper and lower teeth - A61C 19/05: for determining occlusion - A61C 2007/004: {Automatic construction of a set of axes for a tooth or a plurality of teeth} - B33Y 80/00: Products made by additive manufacturing - 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) - B33Y: ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING, i.e. MANUFACTURING OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL [3D] OBJECTS BY ADDITIVE DEPOSITION, ADDITIVE AGGLOMERATION OR ADDITIVE LAYERING, e.g. BY 3D PRINTING, STEREOLITHOGRAPHY OR SELECTIVE LASER SINTERING ## Abstract An orthodontic positioning device and methods for making an orthodontic positioning device including a first patient removable orthodontic tooth positioning appliance having teeth receiving cavities shaped to receive and apply a resilient positioning force to a patient's teeth provided in one of an upper jaw and a lower jaw. The first appliance includes a hook configured to receive an orthodontic elastic band. The orthodontic positioning device also includes a second patient removable orthodontic tooth positioning appliance having teeth receiving cavities shaped to receive and apply a resilient positioning force to a patient's teeth provided in the other of the upper jaw and the lower jaw. The second appliance includes a cutout operable to expose an orthodontic elastic band receiving member. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A computer-implemented method of trimming an orthodontic positioning appliance having teeth receiving cavities, the method comprising: receiving material including a portion having the shape of an orthodontic positioning appliance having teeth receiving cavities; receiving a digital representation of trimming instructions, the trimming instructions including an elastic band receiving member cutout line or a hook cutout line, wherein the elastic band receiving member cutout line or the hook cutout line defines a gingival-facing surface of the orthodontic positioning appliance; and cutting the material along the elastic band receiving member cutout line or the hook cutout line with a cutting element. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein cutting the material includes: arranging the material over a mold shaped to receive the orthodontic positioning appliance; applying a cutting element along a direction normal to a buccal surface or a labial surface of the teeth receiving cavities; and retracting the cutting element from the mold if the cutting element contacts a surface of the mold. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the trimming instructions include the elastic band receiving member cutout line and wherein the elastic band receiving member cutout line is shaped to accommodate an elastic band receiving member disposed on a tooth. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein the elastic band receiving member comprises an orthodontic button or a temporary anchorage device. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein the elastic band receiving member cutout line is shaped to avoid interference with the elastic band receiving member. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein the elastic band receiving member cutout line is positioned so as to define a distance between an edge of the elastic band receiving member and a portion of the elastic band receiving member cutout line. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein the elastic band receiving member cutout line is shaped to conform to at least a portion of the elastic band receiving member. ### Claim 8 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein the elastic band receiving member cutout line comprises a curved shape. ### Claim 9 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein the elastic band receiving member cutout line protrudes into the gingival-facing surface of the orthodontic positioning appliance a distance at least halfway between a gingival line and an occlusal surface of a tooth when the orthodontic positioning appliance is worn on a patient's teeth. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the trimming instructions include the hook cutout line and wherein the hook cutout line is shaped to define a hook in the orthodontic positioning appliance. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the hook is shaped to receive an elastic band. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the hook is shaped to follow a contour of a patient's teeth. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the hook is shaped to reduce contact or interference with tissue on an inner surface of the patient's mouth. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the hook cutout line is shaped to extend towards an elastic band receiving member disposed on a tooth when the orthodontic positioning appliance is worn on a patient's teeth. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the elastic band receiving member or the hook cutout line is disposed over a facial surface of a tooth when the orthodontic positioning appliance is worn on a patient's teeth. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the material comprises a polymer material. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the portion of the material having the shape of the orthodontic positioning appliance is fabricated by thermal forming. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the portion of the material having the shape of the orthodontic positioning appliance is fabricated by direct fabrication. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the orthodontic positioning appliance is shaped to treat a Class I type malocclusion, a Class II type malocclusion, or a Class III type malocclusion. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the teeth receiving cavities are shaped to reposition a patient's teeth from an initial tooth arrangement towards a target tooth arrangement.