公开(公告)号：US20210220087A1

公开(公告)日：2021-07-22

申请号：US17248355

申请日：2021-01-21

Applicant: ALIGN TECHNOLOGY, INC.

Inventor： Avi KOPELMAN ,  Chunhua LI ,  Michael Christopher COLE ,  Blaine CARTER ,  Matthew DURBAN

IPC: A61C7/08 ,  B33Y80/00 ,  B33Y50/02

Abstract: An appliance comprises a passive component and an active force generating component, in which the active force generating component is configured to react to a stimulus and generate tooth movement forces. In some embodiments, the passive component is configured to deflect when placed on one or more teeth and generate tooth movement forces, which are combined with tooth movement forces of the force generating component. In some embodiments, the passive component comprises a polymer which is less reactive to the stimulus than the force generating component. The force generating component can be configured to increase force to one or more teeth at an appropriate time.

公开(公告)号：US20210023857A1

公开(公告)日：2021-01-28

申请号：US17066963

申请日：2020-10-09

Applicant: Align Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Michael Christopher COLE

IPC: B41J11/00 ,  B41M5/00 ,  A61C7/08 ,  B41J3/407 ,  C09D11/101 ,  C09D11/322

Abstract: Provided herein are methods of obtaining good photocured-ink adhesion to low surface energy materials. The methods have greatly improved adhesion of photocured ink on low surface energy materials, including those that are subjected to high humidity or wet environments. The methods take into account the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the materials and the onset for the glass transition temperature, including ink applied to an exposed surface of the material at an elevated temperature that is close to the Tg of the material. The ink is allowed to sit briefly or soak, such as for more than 1 second, before the ink is cured. The ink may be photocured. Furthermore, the methods do not require solvents or surface treatment, including plasma or corona treatments, to obtain good ink adhesion.

公开(公告)号：US20200241420A1

公开(公告)日：2020-07-30

申请号：US16849282

申请日：2020-04-15

Applicant: Align Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Michael Christopher COLE

IPC: G03F7/20 ,  B33Y80/00 ,  C08F220/14 ,  C08F2/48 ,  C08F222/14 ,  B33Y70/00 ,  C08F2/44 ,  G03F7/029 ,  B29C64/106 ,  A61C7/08 ,  C08F220/18 ,  B33Y10/00 ,  C08F218/04 ,  B29K105/00

Abstract: Provided herein are processes for the generation of composite polymer materials utilizing a single resin. The processes utilize diffusion between a region undergoing a polymerization reaction preferentially polymerizing one monomer component and an unreactive region. Diffusion and subsequent/concurrent polymerization results in a higher concentration of the more reactive monomer component in the reacting region and a higher concentration of the less reactive monomer components in the unreactive region. The unreactive region may be later polymerized. In embodiments, photopolymerization is used and the regions are generated by a mask or other mechanism to pattern the light.

公开(公告)号：US20200064739A1

公开(公告)日：2020-02-27

申请号：US16667556

申请日：2019-10-29

Applicant: Align Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Michael Christopher COLE

IPC: G03F7/20 ,  C08F220/18 ,  C08F218/04 ,  C08F2/44 ,  C08F2/48 ,  B33Y80/00 ,  B33Y70/00 ,  B33Y10/00 ,  B29C64/106 ,  A61C7/08 ,  C08F220/14 ,  C08F222/14 ,  G03F7/029

Abstract: Provided herein are processes for the generation of composite polymer materials utilizing a single resin. The processes utilize diffusion between a region undergoing a polymerization reaction preferentially polymerizing one monomer component and an unreactive region. Diffusion and subsequent/concurrent polymerization results in a higher concentration of the more reactive monomer component in the reacting region and a higher concentration of the less reactive monomer components in the unreactive region. The unreactive region may be later polymerized. In embodiments, photopolymerization is used and the regions are generated by a mask or other mechanism to pattern the light.

公开(公告)号：US20190009576A1

公开(公告)日：2019-01-10

申请号：US15945224

申请日：2018-04-04

Applicant: Align Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Michael Christopher COLE

IPC: B41J11/00 ,  B41M5/00

CPC classification number: B41J11/002 ,  A61C7/08 ,  B41J3/407 ,  B41J3/4073 ,  B41M5/0011 ,  B41M5/0017 ,  B41M5/0047 ,  B41M5/0064 ,  B41M7/0081 ,  B41M7/009 ,  C09D11/101 ,  C09D11/322

Abstract: Provided herein are methods of obtaining good photocured-ink adhesion to low surface energy materials. The methods have greatly improved adhesion of photocured ink on low surface energy materials, including those that are subjected to high humidity or wet environments. The methods take into account the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the materials and the onset for the glass transition temperature, including ink applied to an exposed surface of the material at an elevated temperature that is close to the Tg of the material. The ink is allowed to sit briefly or soak, such as for more than 1 second, before the ink is cured. The ink may be photocured. Furthermore, the methods do not require solvents or surface treatment, including plasma or corona treatments, to obtain good ink adhesion.

公开(公告)号：US20250034305A1

公开(公告)日：2025-01-30

申请号：US18779695

申请日：2024-07-22

Applicant: Align Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Umesh Upendra CHOUDHARY ,  Jessica Kalay SU ,  Michael Christopher COLE ,  Jennifer Marie CHAVEZ

IPC: C08F220/12 ,  A61C7/00 ,  B33Y70/00 ,  B33Y80/00 ,  C08F2/50 ,  C08F220/30

Abstract: Provided herein are curable compositions for use in a high temperature lithography-based photopolymerization process, and telechelic block polymers and methods of using such polymers in curable compositions to produce medical devices such as orthodontic appliances comprising the polymeric compositions comprising the telechelic block polymers.

公开(公告)号：US20240218085A1

公开(公告)日：2024-07-04

申请号：US18529570

申请日：2023-12-05

Applicant: Align Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Blaine CARTER ,  Jennifer CHAVEZ ,  Lance Robert PICKENS ,  Michael Christopher COLE ,  Peter DORFINGER ,  Yan CHEN

IPC: C08F2/50 ,  A61L27/14 ,  A61L27/16 ,  C08F20/34 ,  C08K5/14

CPC classification number: C08F2/50 ,  A61L27/14 ,  A61L27/16 ,  C08F20/34 ,  C08K5/14

Abstract: This disclosure provides low-viscosity resins for producing polymers with properties suitable for use in various mechanical appliances, such as orthodontic appliances (e.g., aligners). The low-viscosity resins may be photo-curable and can be used with direct fabrication methods and equipment. In various embodiments, the polymeric materials produced from the low-viscosity resins described herein have high toughness while remaining resistant to stress relaxation. Low-viscosity, photo-curable resins described herein have reduced hydrogen bonding in comparison to traditional materials (e.g., materials having high urethane content) used in orthodontic appliances.

公开(公告)号：US20230404434A1

公开(公告)日：2023-12-21

申请号：US18458890

申请日：2023-08-30

Applicant: Align Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Huizhong LI ,  Andrew JANG ,  Michael Christopher COLE ,  Yuxiang WANG ,  Jun SATO ,  Allen R. BORONKAY

IPC: A61B5/11 ,  A61C7/08 ,  A61C7/00 ,  G01B7/16 ,  A61B5/00

CPC classification number: A61B5/1111 ,  A61C7/08 ,  A61C7/002 ,  G01B7/18 ,  G01B7/22 ,  A61B5/0022 ,  A61B2562/0261

Abstract: According to the techniques herein, one or more sensors coupled to an aligner are used to sense one or more physical qualities of the aligner to determine whether the physical qualities indicate that the aligner material has relaxed and has, e.g., reduced the force systems applied to teeth and/or that the teeth movement for the stage has slowed down. The sensors may provide a signal that represents whether or not the physical qualities fall below a threshold value. A treatment plan may be modified if needed. These techniques have the potential to make treatment plans faster and more effective by speeding up some stages while making sure some, perhaps other, stages are implemented only after the teeth are near the appropriate position.

公开(公告)号：US20220332128A1

公开(公告)日：2022-10-20

申请号：US17855599

申请日：2022-06-30

Applicant: Align Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Michael Christopher COLE

IPC: B41J11/00 ,  B41M5/00 ,  A61C7/08 ,  B41J3/407 ,  C09D11/101 ,  C09D11/322 ,  B41J2/01

Abstract: Provided herein are methods of obtaining good photocured-ink adhesion to low surface energy materials. The methods have greatly improved adhesion of photocured ink on low surface energy materials, including those that are subjected to high humidity or wet environments. The methods take into account the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the materials and the onset for the glass transition temperature, including ink applied to an exposed surface of the material at an elevated temperature that is close to the Tg of the material. The ink is allowed to sit briefly or soak, such as for more than 1 second, before the ink is cured. The ink may be photocured. Furthermore, the methods do not require solvents or surface treatment, including plasma or corona treatments, to obtain good ink adhesion.

公开(公告)号：US20220162362A1

公开(公告)日：2022-05-26

申请号：US17462884

申请日：2021-08-31

Applicant: Align Technology, Inc.

Inventor： Peter DORFINGER ,  Michael Christopher COLE

IPC: C08F220/30 ,  A61C7/08 ,  B29C64/153 ,  B33Y10/00 ,  B33Y70/00 ,  B33Y80/00

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods, systems, devices, and kits for creating composite materials from a single resin, the composite materials having multiple continuous phases. The disclosure includes a process to three-dimensionally print objects (e.g., orthodontic appliances) with composite properties. In some aspects, the composite properties are formed from a single formulation with components that, when processed, have hard and soft continuous phases. In some aspects, the composite properties are formed by separately processing the hard phase components and the soft phase components. In some aspects, the composite materials and devices are three-dimensionally printed using the processed material.