US7040896B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Systems and methods for removing gingiva from computer tooth models
Assignee: Align Technology Inc
•
Filing: 2002-02-28
•
Granted: 2006-05-09
•
Expires: 2022-02-28
Abstract
Abstract A computer-implemented method separates gingiva from a model of a tooth by defining a cutting surface along the gingiva; and applying the cutting surface to the tooth to separate the gingiva from the tooth.
Inventors
- 👤 Elena Pavlovskaia
- 👤 Venkata S. Sarva
- 👤 Carmen Cheang
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 20:53
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61C; A61C7/00; A61C7/002; A61C5/00; A61C5/70; A61C5/77; A61C9/00; A61C2007/004; A61C9/004; A61C9/0046; B; B33; B33Y; B33Y80/00; G; G16; G16H; G16H20/00; G16H20/40
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
72 words
A computer-implemented method for separating a tooth from adjacent structure, comprising: identifying a line between the tooth and the adjacent structure; defining a closed cutting surface that passes through the line between the tooth and the adjacent structure and that creates an approximate shape of a root of the tooth; and applying the cutting surface between the tooth and the structure to separate the tooth from the structure in a single cut.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
72 words
A computer-implemented method for separating a tooth from adjacent structure, comprising: identifying a line between the tooth and the adjacent structure; defining a closed cutting surface that passes through the line between the tooth and the adjacent structure and that creates an approximate shape of a root of the tooth; and applying the cutting surface between the tooth and the structure to separate the tooth from the structure in a single cut.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the cutting surface is curved.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the cutting surface is expressed as a function.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the cutting surface is expressed as a spline function and a quadratic function.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the cutting surface is expressed as a spline function and a parabolic function.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the cutting surface is interactively adjusted.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 4 , wherein the interactive adjustment of the cutting surface modifies a function defining the cutting surface.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 4 , further comprising interactively highlighting the separated portion.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 8 , further comprising interactively highlighting the border of the separated portion.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the cutting surface is defined by specifying a basis for the tooth.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the structure is a gingiva, further comprising finding a line between a tooth surface and the gingiva and applying the cutting surface to said line.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 11 , further comprising finding a high curvature location on the tooth surface.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 11 , further comprising fitting a spline to the line.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the cutting surface further comprises a plurality of surfaces.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 14 , wherein the root of the tooth is modeled as a parabolic surface below a gingival line.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 14 , further comprising defining an enclosing surface to enclose the crown of the tooth.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 14 , further comprising: displaying the surface specified with a plurality of nodes; adjusting one or more nodes to modify the surface; and applying the surface to separate the gingiva from the tooth.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 17 , further comprising providing a handle to adjust each orientation of the cutting shape.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 17 , wherein adjusting one or more nodes further comprises moving one or more nodes.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 17 , wherein the cutting surface is formed using a function in a cylindrical coordinate system.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
77 words
A system for separating a tooth from adjacent structure, comprising: means for identifying a line between the tooth and the adjacent structure; means for defining a closed cutting surface that passes through the line between the tooth and the adjacent structure and that creates an approximate shape of a root of the tooth; and means for applying the cutting surface between the tooth and the structure to separate the tooth from the structure in a single cut.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
77 words
A system for separating a tooth from adjacent structure, comprising: means for identifying a line between the tooth and the adjacent structure; means for defining a closed cutting surface that passes through the line between the tooth and the adjacent structure and that creates an approximate shape of a root of the tooth; and means for applying the cutting surface between the tooth and the structure to separate the tooth from the structure in a single cut.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
109 words
A computer program, residing on a tangible storage medium, for use in separating a computer model of a tooth from a computer model of a dental structure, the program comprising executable instructions operable to cause a computer to: identify a line between the tooth and the structure; define a closed cutting surface that passes through the line between the tooth and the structure and that creates an approximate shape of a root of the tooth; and apply the cutting surface between the tooth and the structure to separate the tooth from the structure in a single cut, wherein applying the cutting surface includes reconstructing a root of the tooth.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
109 words
A computer program, residing on a tangible storage medium, for use in separating a computer model of a tooth from a computer model of a dental structure, the program comprising executable instructions operable to cause a computer to: identify a line between the tooth and the structure; define a closed cutting surface that passes through the line between the tooth and the structure and that creates an approximate shape of a root of the tooth; and apply the cutting surface between the tooth and the structure to separate the tooth from the structure in a single cut, wherein applying the cutting surface includes reconstructing a root of the tooth.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
104 words
A computer program, residing on a tangible storage medium, for use in separating a computer model of a tooth from a computer model of a dental structure, the program comprising executable instructions operable to cause a computer to: identify a line between the tooth and the structure; define a closed cutting surface that passes through the line between the tooth and the structure and that creates an approximate shape of a root of the tooth; and apply the cutting surface between the computer model of the tooth and the computer model of the dental structure to separate the computer model in a single cut.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
104 words
A computer program, residing on a tangible storage medium, for use in separating a computer model of a tooth from a computer model of a dental structure, the program comprising executable instructions operable to cause a computer to: identify a line between the tooth and the structure; define a closed cutting surface that passes through the line between the tooth and the structure and that creates an approximate shape of a root of the tooth; and apply the cutting surface between the computer model of the tooth and the computer model of the dental structure to separate the computer model in a single cut.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
136 words
A computer, comprising: a processor; a data storage device coupled to the processor, the data storage device containing code for use in separating a computer model of a tooth from a computer model of an adjacent dental structure, the program comprising executable instructions operable to cause a computer to: identify a line between the tooth and the structure; define a closed cutting surface that passes through the line between the tooth and the structure, wherein the cutting surface is expressed as a spline function and a quadratic function and wherein the cutting surface further comprises a plurality of surfaces and wherein the root of the tooth is modeled as a parabolic surface below a gingival line; and apply the cutting surface to the tooth to separate the tooth from the dental structure in a single cut.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
136 words
A computer, comprising: a processor; a data storage device coupled to the processor, the data storage device containing code for use in separating a computer model of a tooth from a computer model of an adjacent dental structure, the program comprising executable instructions operable to cause a computer to: identify a line between the tooth and the structure; define a closed cutting surface that passes through the line between the tooth and the structure, wherein the cutting surface is expressed as a spline function and a quadratic function and wherein the cutting surface further comprises a plurality of surfaces and wherein the root of the tooth is modeled as a parabolic surface below a gingival line; and apply the cutting surface to the tooth to separate the tooth from the dental structure in a single cut.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 24 , further comprising instructions to define an enclosing surface to enclose the crown of the tooth.
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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) | 2009-05-08 | 2009-11-07 | 2010-05-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2013-05-08 | 2013-11-07 | 2014-05-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2017-05-08 | 2017-11-07 | 2018-05-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |