US6685469B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System for determining final position of teeth
Assignee: Align Technology Inc
•
Filing: 2002-01-14
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Granted: 2004-02-03
•
Expires: 2022-01-14
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus and method define a fit a set of upper and lower teeth in a masticatory system of a patient by generating a computer representation of the masticatory system of the patient; and determining an occlusion from the computer representation of the masticatory system using one or more keys.
Inventors
- 👤 Muhammad Chishti
- 👤 Andrew Beers
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 20:42
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61C; A61C7/00; A61C7/002; A61C7/08; A61C9/00; A61C9/004; A61C9/0046; G; G06; G06F; G06F30/00; G06F30/20; G16; G16H; G16H50/00; G16H50/50; A61C13/00; A61C13/0003; A61C13/0004; B; B33; B33Y; B33Y50/00; B33Y80/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 59
Claim 1
Independent Claim
62 words
A method for moving teeth, said method comprising: determining an occlusion from a computer model of a patient's teeth; and generating a plurality of appliances based on the occlusion, wherein the appliances comprise polymeric shells having cavities and wherein the cavities of successive shells have different geometries shaped to receive and resiliently reposition the teeth from one arrangement to a successive arrangement.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
62 words
A method for moving teeth, said method comprising: determining an occlusion from a computer model of a patient's teeth; and generating a plurality of appliances based on the occlusion, wherein the appliances comprise polymeric shells having cavities and wherein the cavities of successive shells have different geometries shaped to receive and resiliently reposition the teeth from one arrangement to a successive arrangement.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein determining an occlusion comprises using one or more keys.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 2 , wherein one of the keys is based on a molar relationship.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 3 , further comprising occluding a first permanent molar with a second permanent molar.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 4 , wherein the first permanent molar has a disto buccal cusp with a distal surface and the second permanent molar has a mesiobuccal cusp with a mesial surface and wherein the distal surface occludes with the mesial surface.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 5 , wherein the mesiobuccal cusp occludes in a groove between mesial and middle cusps of the first permanent molar.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 4 , wherein the mesial surface closely approaches the distal surface.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 3 , wherein the teeth include canines and premolars and wherein the canines and premolars have a cusp-embrasure relationship buccally and a cusp-fossa relationship lingually.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 2 , wherein one of the keys is based on an angulation of a crown.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 9 , wherein the crown has a distal crown tip, further comprising determining a distal inclination of a gingival portion of the crown.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 10 , wherein the distal inclination is constant.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 10 , wherein the distal inclination is constant within each tooth type.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 10 , wherein the angulation is determined between a facial axis of the clinical crown (FACC) and a line perpendicular to an occlusal plane.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 13 , wherein the angulation is minimized.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 9 , wherein the angulation is positive.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 9 , wherein the angulation is negative.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 2 , wherein one of the keys is based on a crown inclination.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 17 , wherein the crown inclination represents an angle formed by a line perpendicular to an occlusal plane and the FACC.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 17 , wherein the crown inclination is negative when measured from an upper canine through an upper second premolar.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 17 , wherein the crown inclination is progressively more negative when measured from a lower canine through a lower second molar.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 17 , wherein the crown inclination between a line parallel and tangent to a facial axis of the clinical crown (FACC) at its midpoint and a line perpendicular to an occlusal plane.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 2 , wherein one of the keys is based on tooth rotation.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 22 , wherein the teeth are free of undesirable rotations.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 2 , wherein one of the keys is based on a tooth contact point.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 24 , wherein the contact point is tight C.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 24 , wherein no spaces exist between contact points.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 2 , wherein one of the keys is based on an occlusal plane.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 27 , wherein the plane ranges between flat to curves of Spee.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 28 , wherein the plane is flat.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 28 , wherein the plane follows a curve of Spee.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 30 , wherein the curve of Spee is deep.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 30 , wherein the curve of Spee is slight.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 30 , wherein the curve of Spee is reversed.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 2 , wherein one of the keys is selected from a group consisting of a molar relationship, a crown angulation, a crown inclination, teeth rotations, teeth contact points, and an occlusal plane.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 2 , further comprising optimizing a final placement of the teeth.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 35 , further comprising: identifying one or more features associated with the teeth; and generating a model of the teeth based on the identified features.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 36 , wherein at least one of the feature is identified automatically.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 37 , wherein at least one of the feature is identified by a user.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 36 , wherein the ideal model set of teeth is derived from a cast of the patient's teeth.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 36 , wherein the ideal model set of teeth is derived from a patient with a good occlusion.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 2 , wherein the computer representation is an ideal model set of teeth.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 2 , further comprising generating progress reports associated with the determined occlusion.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 42 , further comprising browsing the generated reports over a network.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 43 , wherein the network is a wide area network.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 44 , wherein the wide area network is the Internet.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 43 , wherein the network is a local area network.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 42 , wherein the progress report is viewed by a patient.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 42 , wherein the progress report is viewed by a clinician.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 2 , wherein the user manipulates the computer representation of the masticatory system.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 49 , wherein the user is a patient.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 50 , wherein the user is a clinician.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 2 , further comprising: generating a model the teeth; and adjusting teeth position in the model by following a prescription.
Claim 54
Independent Claim
19 words
The method of claims 52 , wherein the model is based on an abstract model of idealized teeth placement.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 53 , wherein the abstract model is specified by one or more arch forms.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 54 , wherein the ideal model may be specified using one or more features associated with the teeth.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 52 , wherein the teeth position is customized to the patient's teeth.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 2 , further comprising: generating a model the teeth, the model having a visual appearance; and adjusting teeth position in the model until the visual appearance of the model is satisfactory.
Claim 59
Independent Claim
19 words
The method of claims 57 , wherein the model is based on an abstract model of idealized teeth placement.
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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) | 2007-02-02 | 2007-08-04 | 2008-02-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-02-02 | 2011-08-04 | 2012-02-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2015-02-02 | 2015-08-04 | 2016-02-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |