US7373286B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Efficient data representation of teeth model
Assignee: Align Technology Inc
•
Filing: 2001-06-21
•
Granted: 2008-05-13
•
Expires: 2021-06-21
Abstract
Abstract A computer-implemented method generates a computer model of one or more teeth by receiving as input a digital data set of meshes representing the teeth; selecting a curved coordinate system with mappings to and from a 3D space; and generating a function in the curved coordinate system to represent each tooth.
Inventors
- 👤 Sergey Nikolskiy
- 👤 Elena Pavloskaia
- 👤 Huafeng Wen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 20:55
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06T; G06T9/00; A; A61; A61C; A61C9/00; A61C9/004; A61C9/0046; B; B33; B33Y; B33Y50/00; B33Y80/00; G06T17/00; G16; G16H; G16H30/00; G16H30/40; G16H50/00; G16H50/50; A61C7/00; A61C7/002; A61C2007/004; G16H40/00; G16H40/60; G16H40/67
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
158 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 at a first resolution; generating a parametric representation of the teeth from the digital data set, the parametric representation comprising exposed tooth surface image data and unexposed tooth surface image data and further providing compression of the digital data set, generating the parametric representation comprising selecting a curved coordinate system with mappings to and from a 3D space; and generating a function in the curved coordinate system to represent each tooth; communicating the parametric representation from a first system to a second system over a network, and rendering at the second system a graphical representation of the teeth using the parametric representation, the rendered graphical representation having a resolution substantially equivalent to the first resolution, and wherein the rendering comprises rendering the teeth at a selected one of multiple orthodontic-specific viewing angles.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
158 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 at a first resolution; generating a parametric representation of the teeth from the digital data set, the parametric representation comprising exposed tooth surface image data and unexposed tooth surface image data and further providing compression of the digital data set, generating the parametric representation comprising selecting a curved coordinate system with mappings to and from a 3D space; and generating a function in the curved coordinate system to represent each tooth; communicating the parametric representation from a first system to a second system over a network, and rendering at the second system a graphical representation of the teeth using the parametric representation, the rendered graphical representation having a resolution substantially equivalent to the first resolution, and wherein the rendering comprises rendering the teeth at a selected one of multiple orthodontic-specific viewing angles.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising displaying the computer model of the teeth using the function and the coordinate system.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising storing a compact coordinate system description and the function in a file representing a compressed version of the digital data set.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 3 , further comprising transmitting the file to a remote computer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 4 , further comprising displaying the computer model of the teeth using the function at the remote computer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 4 , wherein the file 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
48 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the coordinate system is based on equation: V=P (φ, θ)+ R * Direction(φ, θ) where V is a corresponding point in three-dimensional (3D) space to (φ, θ, r), P and Direction are vector functions expressed in terms of φ and θ.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 9 , wherein the P and Direction functions are selected to minimize a deviation between the tooth model and a parametric surface specified by the curved coordinate system and the function.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 9 , wherein P and Direction are different for incisors and molars.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining a radius value.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 1 , 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 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 13 , further comprising modifying the selected data set in response to the instruction from the user.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 13 , further comprising allowing a human user to select a tooth in the graphical representation and, in response, displaying information about the tooth.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 13 , 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 18
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 13 , wherein rendering the graphical representation comprises downloading data to a remote computer at which a human viewer wishes to view the graphical representation.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
43 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 final positions.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising detecting teeth collision using the curved coordinate system.
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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) | 2011-05-13 | 2011-11-12 | 2012-05-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2015-05-13 | 2015-11-12 | 2016-05-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2019-05-13 | 2019-11-12 | 2020-05-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |