公开(公告)号：US20020051951A1

公开(公告)日：2002-05-02

申请号：US09757385

申请日：2001-01-08

Applicant: ALIGN TECHNOLOGY, INC.

Inventor： Muhammad Chishti ,  Loc X. Phan

IPC: A61C003/00

CPC classification number: A61C7/00 ,  A61C7/002 ,  A61C7/08 ,  A61C13/0004 ,  A61C2201/007

Abstract: An improved dental appliance system, and methods for using and fabricating the improved appliance, including a polymeric overlay or shell having a teeth-receiving cavity formed therein. The dental appliance having the necessary stiffness or strength to firmly secure the appliance on the teeth and provide controlled forces required for repositioning the teeth, until such time as removal of the appliance is desired. The appliance may be configured for use with a removal mechanism. The removal mechanism provides for selective release of the appliance from the teeth as the removal mechanism undergoes a state change stimulated by an environmental stimulus or environmental switch.

公开(公告)号：US20040209218A1

公开(公告)日：2004-10-21

申请号：US10799432

申请日：2004-03-12

Applicant: Align Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Muhammad Chishti ,  Loc X. Phan ,  Ross J. Miller ,  Eric Kuo

IPC: A61C003/00

CPC classification number: A61C7/00 ,  A61C7/08 ,  A61C7/36 ,  A61C13/0004

Abstract: An improved dental appliance system, and methods for using and fabricating the improved appliance, including a polymeric overlay or shell having a teeth-receiving cavity formed therein. The dental appliance having the necessary stiffness or strength to firmly secure the appliance on the teeth and provide controlled forces required for repositioning the teeth, until such time as removal of the appliance is desired. The appliance may be configured for use with a removal mechanism. The removal mechanism provides for selective release of the appliance from the teeth as the removal mechanism undergoes a state change stimulated by an environmental stimulus or environmental switch.

公开(公告)号：US20040086823A1

公开(公告)日：2004-05-06

申请号：US10289551

申请日：2002-11-06

Applicant: ALIGN TECHNOLOGY, INC.

Inventor： Amir Abolfathi ,  Brian K. Asselin ,  Eric Kuo ,  Loc X. Phan

IPC: A61C003/00 ,  A61C003/14

CPC classification number: A61C7/04

Abstract: Pliers for forming and removing bumps for the dental appliance without heating are disclosed. The eraser pliers for erasing a bump on an appliance include a first elongated member having a first jaw portion at one end and a handle portion at the other end, the jaw portion having flat surface mounted at a distal end of the first jaw portion; and a second elongated member joined to the first elongated member, the second elongated member having a second jaw portion at one end and a second handle portion at the other end, the second jaw portion having a second flat surface mounted at a distal end of the second jaw portion, the first and second flat surfaces adapted to engage and flatten the bump. The pliers for making the bumps include a first elongated member having a first jaw portion at one end and a handle portion at the other end, the jaw portion having a projection mounted at a distal end of the first jaw portion; and a second elongated member joined to the first elongated member, the second elongated member having a second jaw portion at one end and a second handle portion at the other end, the second jaw portion adapted to receive the projection to create the bump in the dental appliance without heating.

Abstract translation: 公开了用于在没有加热的情况下形成和去除牙科用具的凸块的钳子。 用于擦除器具上的突起的橡皮钳包括：第一细长构件，其在一端具有第一钳口部分，在另一端具有手柄部分，钳口部分具有安装在第一钳口部分的远端的平坦表面; 以及第二细长构件，其连接到所述第一细长构件，所述第二细长构件在一端具有第二钳口部分和在另一端具有第二手柄部分，所述第二钳口部分具有安装在所述第二细长构件的远端处的第二平坦表面 第二钳口部分，第一和第二平坦表面适于接合和平坦化凸块。 用于制造凸块的钳子包括第一细长构件，其在一端具有第一钳口部分和在另一端具有手柄部分，所述钳口部分具有安装在第一钳口部分的远端处的突出部; 以及连接到所述第一细长构件的第二细长构件，所述第二细长构件在一端具有第二钳口部分和在另一端具有第二手柄部分，所述第二钳口部分适于接收所述突起以在牙齿中产生凸起 家用电器不加热。

公开(公告)号：US20020192617A1

公开(公告)日：2002-12-19

申请号：US10139153

申请日：2002-05-02

Applicant: ALIGN TECHNOLOGY, INC.

Inventor： Loc X. Phan ,  Muhammad Chishti ,  Ross J. Miller ,  H. Robert Van Den Berg ,  Eric Kuo ,  Jae Hyun Ahn ,  Robert E. Tricca ,  Trang Duong

IPC: A61C003/00

CPC classification number: A61C7/08 ,  A61C7/00 ,  A61C7/36 ,  A61C19/003

Abstract: Traditional orthodontic treatment often involves the use of basic repositioning devices, such as braces, and the use of supplementary devices, components or accessories to achieve desired end results. Such components may be mounted on fixed, non-removable devices or they may be part of a removable appliance typically worn prior to the application of the fixed devices. As with traditional treatment, it may be desired to utilize similar components when repositioning teeth with removable elastic repositioning appliances. Due to the nature of elastic appliances, such components may take a variety of forms ranging from readily available traditional accessories to specially created devices. Thus, traditional components may be mounted on or embedded in an elastic appliance, or the appliance may be formed to provide similar components. Likewise, the appliance may be modified to provide additional features for specific orthodontic treatments.

Abstract translation: 传统的正畸治疗通常涉及使用诸如支架之类的基本重新定位装置，以及使用辅助装置，部件或附件来实现期望的最终结果。 这些组件可以安装在固定的不可移动设备上，或者它们可以是通常在施加固定设备之前佩戴的可移除设备的一部分。 与传统治疗一样，当用可移除的弹性重新定位装置重新定位牙齿时，可能需要使用相似的部件。 由于弹性电器的性质，这些组件可以采用各种形式，从容易获得的传统配件到特殊创建的设备。 因此，传统部件可以安装在或嵌入弹性器具中，或者可以将器具形成为提供相似的部件。 同样，可以对器具进行修改以提供特定正畸治疗的附加特征。

公开(公告)号：US20020187451A1

公开(公告)日：2002-12-12

申请号：US10206873

申请日：2002-07-26

Applicant: Align Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Loc X. Phan ,  Muhammad Chishti ,  Ross J. Miller ,  H. Robert Vandenberg ,  Eric Kuo

IPC: A61C003/00

CPC classification number: B29C51/002 ,  A61C7/00 ,  A61C7/002 ,  A61C7/08 ,  A61C7/36 ,  A61C19/00 ,  B29C47/025 ,  B29K2105/256 ,  B29K2995/0082 ,  B29L2009/00 ,  B29L2031/753

Abstract: The present invention provides improved devices, systems and methods for repositioning teeth from an initial tooth arrangement to a final tooth arrangement. Repositioning is accomplished with a system comprising a series of polymeric shell appliances configured to receive the teeth and incrementally reposition individual teeth in a series of successive steps. The individual appliances may be formed from layers having different stiffnesses (elastic moduluses), and the stiffnesses of successive appliances may be different, or both.

Abstract translation: 本发明提供了用于将牙齿从初始牙齿布置重新定位到最终牙齿布置的改进的装置，系统和方法。 重新定位是通过包括一系列聚合物壳装置的系统完成的，其被配置为接收牙齿并在一系列连续的步骤中递增地重新定位各个牙齿。 各个器具可以由具有不同刚度（弹性模量）的层形成，并且连续器具的刚度可以不同，或者两者都是不同的。

公开(公告)号：US20020106604A1

公开(公告)日：2002-08-08

申请号：US10040269

申请日：2001-10-29

Applicant: Align Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Loc X. Phan ,  Muhammad Z. Chishti ,  Ross J. Miller

IPC: A61C003/00

CPC classification number: A61C7/00 ,  A61C7/002 ,  A61C7/08 ,  A61C9/00 ,  A61C9/0046 ,  A61C13/0004 ,  B33Y80/00

Abstract: The present invention provides improved systems and methods for removably attaching a dental positioning appliance to the dental features of a patient during orthodontic treatment. These appliances function by applying force to specific surfaces of the teeth or dental features to cause directed movement. The application of force is improved by the use of one or more attachment devices which may be positioned on the teeth or dental features to provide the appropriate physical features. Specific design and location of these attachment devices may provide newly achievable and/or more effective repositioning forces, anchoring ability and appliance retention. The systems and methods of the present invention provide the design, production and use of such attachment devices with removable dental positioning appliances in orthodontic treatment.

Abstract translation: 本发明提供了用于在正畸治疗期间将牙科定位器具可移除地附接到患者的牙齿特征的改进的系统和方法。 这些器具通过对牙齿的特定表面或牙齿特征施加力来引起定向运动。 通过使用可以定位在牙齿或牙齿特征上的一个或多个附接装置来提供力的施加以提供适当的物理特征。 这些附接装置的具体设计和位置可以提供新的可实现和/或更有效的重新定位力，锚固能力和器具保持力。 本发明的系统和方法提供了在正畸治疗中这种具有可移除的牙科定位器具的附接装置的设计，生产和使用。

公开(公告)号：US20020094503A1

公开(公告)日：2002-07-18

申请号：US10087126

申请日：2002-02-28

Applicant: Align Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Muhammad Chishti ,  Loc X. Phan

IPC: A61C019/00

CPC classification number: A61C11/08 ,  A61C7/00 ,  A61C7/08 ,  A61C9/002 ,  A61C9/0053 ,  A61C11/00 ,  A61C11/084 ,  B33Y80/00

Abstract: The present invention provides a manipulable or reconfigurable dental model system and methods for its use to model a series of tooth configurations corresponding to sequential tooth movements during an orthodontic treatment. When a patient undergoes orthodontic treatment, teeth and bite configurations are realigned in a series of stages. Each stage represents a new pattern or dental configuration that will eventually lead to a proper final positioning of the entire dentition. Progress from the initial configuration, through the intermediate stages and finally to the final configuration may be accomplished using any one or a combination of different dental appliances. Of particular interest to the present invention, many of these appliances may be made using a dental mold representing the patient's dental configuration. In particular, thermoformable plastic positioning appliances which fit over the patient's teeth may be formed over a three-dimensional mold of the patient's dentition. When successive appliances are used throughout treatment to reposition the teeth from initial to final configuration, a new mold has typically been produced to fabricate the appliance for each stage. The present invention provides an apparatus and methods which employ a manipulable or reconfigurable mold to model patient dentition and gingiva at each stage of treatment.

Abstract translation: 本发明提供了可操纵或可重新配置的牙齿模型系统及其用于在正牙治疗期间对应于顺序牙齿移动的一系列牙齿构造的建模方法。 当患者进行正畸治疗时，牙齿和咬合配置在一系列阶段重新对齐。 每个阶段代表一种新的模式或牙齿配置，最终将导致整个牙列的适当的最终定位。 可以使用任何一种或不同牙科器具的组合从初始构型，中间阶段和最后到最终构型的进展。 对于本发明特别感兴趣的是，许多这些器具可以使用表示患者牙科构造的牙科模具来制造。 特别地，可以在患者牙齿的三维模具上形成适合患者牙齿的热成型塑料定位器具。 当在整个治疗期间使用连续的器具以将牙齿从初始配置重新定位到最终配置时，通常已经生产出新的模具来制造每个阶段的器具。 本发明提供一种在每个治疗阶段使用可操纵或可重构模具来模拟患者牙列和牙龈的装置和方法。