# US 9,433,479 B2 · Systems and methods for fabricating a dental template > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,433,479 B2 - Document ID: US9433479B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/931,681 - Filed: 2015-11-03 - Published: 2016-02-25 - Granted: 2016-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2003-02-26 - Assignees: Align Technology, Inc. - Applicants: Align Technology, Inc. - Inventors: Loc X. Phan; Peter G. Knopp; Eric E. Kuo; Amir Abolfathi; Huafeng Wen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9433479B2 ## CPC - A61C 7/146: {Positioning or placement of brackets; Tools therefor} - A61C 7/002: {Orthodontic computer assisted systems} - A61C 13/0004: {Computer-assisted sizing or machining of dental prostheses} - B33Y 50/02: for controlling or regulating additive manufacturing processes - B33Y 80/00: Products made by additive manufacturing - B29C 64/135: the energy source being concentrated, e.g. scanning lasers or focused light sources - B29L 2031/753: {Medical equipment; Accessories therefor (bloodbags, medical bags B29L2031/7148; artificial eyes B29L2011/0008)} - Y10T 29/49568: Orthodontic device making - 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 - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) - B29L: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A dental template to position an object on a patient's tooth includes digitizing the patient's tooth; adding virtual objects to predetermined locations on the digitized tooth; and fabricating the dental template to locate the object on the patient's tooth. The template can be used for etching or for positioning brackets on teeth. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for fabricating a template for positioning orthodontic objects on a patient's teeth, the system comprising: one or more processors; and memory comprising program code that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the system to: receive a digital teeth model representing a patient's teeth; display one or more virtual orthodontic objects placed at respective locations and orientations on the digital teeth model; determine a geometry for a template adapted for placement over the patient's teeth and comprising one or more openings defining one or more object support edges, wherein the one or more object support edges are shaped to receive and position one or more orthodontic objects at respective locations and orientations on the patient's teeth corresponding to the respective locations and orientations of the one or more virtual orthodontic objects on the digital teeth model, and wherein the one or more openings each comprise a cut-out open to a gingival side of the template; and output fabrication data for fabricating the template having the determined geometry. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the fabrication data is configured for direct fabrication of the template using a rapid prototyping method. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the rapid prototyping method comprises fused deposition modeling, 3D printing, or stereolithography. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the fabrication data is configured for indirect fabrication of the template using thermoforming over a mold. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more orthodontic objects comprise one or more fixed orthodontic appliances to be placed on the patient's teeth. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more openings are each shaped to receive an orthodontic object base. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the template comprises a plurality of teeth receiving cavities shaped based on the digital teeth model. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the template comprises a plurality of movable template segments linked together. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising the template fabricated with the determined geometry. ### Claim 10 A method for fabricating a template for positioning orthodontic objects on a patient's teeth, the method comprising: receiving, with aid of a processor, a digital teeth model representing a patient's teeth; displaying, with aid of the processor, one or more virtual orthodontic objects placed at respective locations and orientations on the digital teeth model; determining, with aid of the processor, a geometry for a template adapted for placement over the patient's teeth and comprising one or more openings defining one or more object support edges, wherein the one or more object support edges are shaped to receive and position one or more orthodontic objects at respective locations and orientations on the patient's teeth corresponding to the respective locations and orientations of the one or more virtual orthodontic objects on the digital teeth model, and wherein the one or more openings each comprise a cut-out open to a gingival side of the template; and outputting, with aid of the processor, fabrication data for fabricating the template having the determined geometry. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the fabrication data is configured for direct fabrication of the template using a rapid prototyping method. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the rapid prototyping method comprises fused deposition modeling, 3D printing, or stereolithography. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the fabrication data is configured for indirect fabrication of the template using thermoforming over a mold. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the one or more orthodontic objects comprise one or more fixed orthodontic appliances to be placed on the patient's teeth. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the one or more openings are each shaped to receive an orthodontic object base. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the template comprises a plurality of teeth receiving cavities shaped based on the digital teeth model. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the template comprises a plurality of movable template segments linked together.