US6463344B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Efficient data representation of teeth model
Assignee: Align Technology Inc
•
Filing: 2000-02-17
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Granted: 2002-10-08
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Expires: 2020-02-17
Abstract
Abstract A computer-implemented method for generating a computer model of one or more teeth by receiving a digital data set of meshes representing the teeth; creating a parametric representation of the digital data set; and displaying the computer model of the teeth using the parametric representation. The model can be modified or transmitted for viewing or for fabricating dental appliances.
Inventors
- 👤 Elena Pavloskaia
- 👤 Huafeng Wen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 20:53
CPC Classifications
G; G16; G16H; G16H50/00; G16H50/50; B; B33; B33Y; B33Y50/00; B33Y80/00; A; A61; A61C; A61C7/00; A61C7/002; A61C2007/004; A61C9/00; A61C9/004; A61C9/0046; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49567
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 54
Claim 1
Independent Claim
60 words
A computer-implemented method for generating a computer model of one or more teeth, comprising: receiving as input a digital data set of meshes representing the teeth; creating a parametric representation of a surface of the teeth from the digital data set, the parametric representation comprising a parametric surface; and displaying the computer model of the teeth using the parametric representation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
60 words
A computer-implemented method for generating a computer model of one or more teeth, comprising: receiving as input a digital data set of meshes representing the teeth; creating a parametric representation of a surface of the teeth from the digital data set, the parametric representation comprising a parametric surface; and displaying the computer model of the teeth using the parametric representation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the parametric representation is a compressed version of the digital data set.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising storing the parametric representation in a file.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising transmitting the parametric representation to a remote computer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 4 , further comprising displaying the parametric representation on the remote computer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 4 , wherein the parametric representation is transmitted over a network.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 6 , wherein the network is a wide area network.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 6 , wherein the network is the Internet.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein creating a parametric representation further comprises generating a curve network.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 9 , further comprising fitting the curve network to the digital data set.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving the digital data set comprises receiving data obtained by scanning a physical model of the teeth.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising scanning a physical model of the teeth with a destructive scanning system.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 12 , further comprising scanning the physical model with a laser scanning system before scanning the model with the destructive scanning system.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 13 , further comprising scanning physical models of a patient's upper and lower teeth in occlusion with the laser scanning system before scanning with the destructive scanning system.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the digital data set includes volume image data of the teeth and the method includes converting the volume image data into a 3D geometric model of the tooth surfaces.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising creating inside and outside meshes by determining an intersection between a tooth mesh and a cutter mesh.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 16 , further comprising joining the inside and outside meshes to create a closed surface for each of the individual teeth.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising rendering a three-dimensional (3D) graphical representation of the individual teeth.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 18 , further comprising receiving an instruction from a human user to modify the graphical representation of the teeth and modifying the graphical representation in response to the instruction.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 18 , further comprising modifying the elected data set in response to the instruction from the user.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
90 words
A computer-implemented method for generating a computer model of one or more teeth, comprising: receiving as input a digital data set of meshes representing the teeth; creating a parametric representation of a surface of the teeth from the digital data set, the parametric representation comprising a parametric surface; displaying the computer model of the teeth using the parametric representation; rendering a three-dimensional (3D) graphical representation of the individual teeth; and allowing a human user to select a tooth in the graphical representation and, in response, displaying information about the tooth.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
90 words
A computer-implemented method for generating a computer model of one or more teeth, comprising: receiving as input a digital data set of meshes representing the teeth; creating a parametric representation of a surface of the teeth from the digital data set, the parametric representation comprising a parametric surface; displaying the computer model of the teeth using the parametric representation; rendering a three-dimensional (3D) graphical representation of the individual teeth; and allowing a human user to select a tooth in the graphical representation and, in response, displaying information about the tooth.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 21 wherein rendering the graphical representation comprises rendering the teeth at a selected one of multiple viewing orthodontic-specific viewing angles.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 21 , further comprising providing a user interface through which a human user can provide text-based comments after viewing the graphical representation of the teeth.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 21 , wherein rendering the graphical representation comprises downloading data to a remote computer at which a human user wishes to view the graphical representation.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 21 , further comprising receiving an input signal from a 3D gyroscopic input device controlled by a human user and using the input signal to alter an orientation of the teeth in the graphical representation.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising delivering data representing positions of the teeth at selected points along treatment paths to an appliance fabrication system for use in fabricating at least one orthodontic appliance structured to move the teeth toward a final position for the teeth.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising storing the data set a 3D geometric model representing visible surfaces of the corresponding tooth.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 27 , further comprising modifying each 3D model to include hidden surfaces of the corresponding tooth.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
108 words
A computer-implemented method for use in determining final positions for an orthodontic patient's teeth, the method comprising: receiving a digital data set representing the teeth at recommended final positions; representing the digital data set of the teeth in a compressed form with a parametric surface; transmitting the compressed form to a remote computer; rendering a three-dimensional (3D) graphical representation of the teeth at the remote computer; receiving an instruction to reposition one of the teeth in response to a user's manipulation of the tooth in the graphical representation, and in response to the instruction, modifying the digital data set to represent the teeth at the user-selected final positions.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
108 words
A computer-implemented method for use in determining final positions for an orthodontic patient's teeth, the method comprising: receiving a digital data set representing the teeth at recommended final positions; representing the digital data set of the teeth in a compressed form with a parametric surface; transmitting the compressed form to a remote computer; rendering a three-dimensional (3D) graphical representation of the teeth at the remote computer; receiving an instruction to reposition one of the teeth in response to a user's manipulation of the tooth in the graphical representation, and in response to the instruction, modifying the digital data set to represent the teeth at the user-selected final positions.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
54 words
A computer-implemented method for generating a computer model of one or more teeth, comprising: receiving a digital data set representing the teeth; generating a parametric surface with a curve network representative of a surface of the teeth from the digital data set; and displaying the computer model of the teeth using the curve network.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
54 words
A computer-implemented method for generating a computer model of one or more teeth, comprising: receiving a digital data set representing the teeth; generating a parametric surface with a curve network representative of a surface of the teeth from the digital data set; and displaying the computer model of the teeth using the curve network.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
51 words
A computer-implemented method for generating a computer model of one or more teeth, comprising: receiving as input a digital data set; selecting a set of s ample points from the digital data set; generating tangent values for the sample points to define a curve; and determining a length of the curve.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
51 words
A computer-implemented method for generating a computer model of one or more teeth, comprising: receiving as input a digital data set; selecting a set of s ample points from the digital data set; generating tangent values for the sample points to define a curve; and determining a length of the curve.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 31 further comprising creating a parametric representation of the digital data set.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 32 further comprising displaying the computer model of the teeth using the parametric representation.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 33 wherein the digital data set comprises meshes representing the teeth.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
50 words
A computer-implemented method for generating a computer model of one or more teeth, comprising: receiving as input a digital data set; selecting a set of sample points from the digital data set; generating normal values from the sample points to define a curve; and determining a length of the curve.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
50 words
A computer-implemented method for generating a computer model of one or more teeth, comprising: receiving as input a digital data set; selecting a set of sample points from the digital data set; generating normal values from the sample points to define a curve; and determining a length of the curve.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 35 further comprising creating a parametric representation of the digital data set.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 36 further comprising displaying the computer model of the teeth using the parametric representation.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 37 wherein the digital data set comprises meshes representing the teeth.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
67 words
A computer-implemented method for generating a computer model of one or more teeth, comprising: receiving as input a digital data set representing the teeth; obtaining a location for a sample data point; obtaining a normal for the sample point; generating a (u, v) representation for the sample point; building a curve network from the (u, v) representation; and fitting the curve network to the digital data set.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
67 words
A computer-implemented method for generating a computer model of one or more teeth, comprising: receiving as input a digital data set representing the teeth; obtaining a location for a sample data point; obtaining a normal for the sample point; generating a (u, v) representation for the sample point; building a curve network from the (u, v) representation; and fitting the curve network to the digital data set.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 39 further comprising creating a parametric representation of the digital data set.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 40 further comprising displaying the computer model of the teeth using the parametric representation.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 41 wherein the parametric representation comprises the (u, v) representation.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
64 words
A computer-implemented method for generating a computer model of one or more teeth, comprising: receiving as input a digital data set; obtaining a location for a sample data point; obtaining a tangent for the sample point; generating a (u, v) representation for the sample point; building a curve network from the (u, v) representation; and fitting the curve network to the digital data set.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
64 words
A computer-implemented method for generating a computer model of one or more teeth, comprising: receiving as input a digital data set; obtaining a location for a sample data point; obtaining a tangent for the sample point; generating a (u, v) representation for the sample point; building a curve network from the (u, v) representation; and fitting the curve network to the digital data set.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 43 further comprising creating a parametric representation of the digital data set.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 44 further comprising displaying the computer model of the teeth using the parametric representation.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 45 wherein the parametric representation comprises the (u, v) representation.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-10-07 | 2006-04-08 | 2006-10-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-10-07 | 2010-04-08 | 2010-10-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-10-07 | 2014-04-08 | 2014-10-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |