Intraoral scanning apparatus
Granted: January 30, 2024
Patent Number:
11883259
System for scanning a subject's teeth. Described herein are intraoral scanning apparatuses for generating a three-dimensional model of a subject's intraoral region (e.g., teeth). These apparatuses may be used for identifying and evaluating lesions, caries and cracks in the teeth.
Methods of forming interproximal reduction templates
Granted: January 30, 2024
Patent Number:
11883256
Methods of forming interproximal reduction guides are described herein. These interproximal reduction guides apparatuses may include a body that fits over the patient's dental arch and one or more guide slots formed in them configured to limit the motion of an interproximal reduction cutting tool in a defined manner.
Method and system for dental visualization
Granted: January 30, 2024
Patent Number:
11883255
In particular embodiments, method, apparatus and system for receiving digital representations of the initial parameters of a dentition; simulating a first orthodontic treatment process on the digital representations of the initial parameters, displaying a set of output results from the simulation of the first orthodontic treatment process, simulating a second orthodontic treatment process on the output results from the simulation of the first orthodontic treatment process, and displaying…
Image-based defect detection of dental appliances
Granted: January 23, 2024
Patent Number:
11880973
Multiple techniques for detecting defects in customized dental appliances are disclosed. In one technique, processing logic obtains one or more images of a customized dental appliance, obtains a digital model associated with the customized dental appliance, and identifies an area of the one or more images that comprises a representation of the customized dental appliance. Processing logic then registers the one or more images to the digital model, compares the area of the one or more…
Dental arch width measurement tool
Granted: January 23, 2024
Patent Number:
11877906
Systems and methods for rapidly and reliably determining an arch with of a patient's dental arch. A first portion of a 3D model of a patient's dentition is identified that corresponds to a first target tooth, the first portion of the 3D model is associated with one or more attributes of the first target tooth. A second portion of the 3D model is identified that corresponds to a second target tooth opposing the first target tooth. The second portion is associated with one or more…
Updating an orthodontic treatment plan during treatment
Granted: January 16, 2024
Patent Number:
11872102
A processing device receives image data of an actual condition of a patient's dental arch at a stage of an orthodontic treatment plan. The processing device compares the image data of the actual condition of the patient's dental arch to a planned condition of the patient's dental arch for the stage of the orthodontic treatment plan. The processing device determines an updated orthodontic treatment plan based on one or more differences between the actual condition of the patient's dental…
Generating a virtual patient depiction of an orthodontic treatment
Granted: January 9, 2024
Patent Number:
11864971
Methods and systems including: receiving one or more 2D images of a patient's face including a depiction of the patient's teeth in an initial arrangement; extracting teeth contours of the patient's teeth from within the mouth region of the one or more received 2D images of the patient's face; generating, using a neural network, a 2D rendering depicting a post-treatment arrangement of the patient's teeth based on the one or more received 2D images; generating a realistic composite 2D…
Accurate method to determine center of resistance for 1D/2D/3D problems
Granted: January 9, 2024
Patent Number:
11864970
A system and method for determining a center of resistance of a tooth may include receiving a 3D digital representation of an initial arrangement and a final arrangement of a patient's teeth and determining a 3D treatment plan. The 3D treatment plan may include a plurality of 3D stages for rearranging the teeth from the initial arrangement toward the final arrangement. The method may also include determining, in accordance with the 3D treatment plan, an intended movement of the teeth for…
Prioritization of three dimensional dental elements
Granted: January 9, 2024
Patent Number:
11864969
The present disclosure includes methods, systems, and devices for prioritization of three dimensional dental elements. One method for prioritizing three dimensional dental elements includes receiving a virtual initial dental data set (IDDS) of teeth having spatial information regarding the positions of a number of teeth in the virtual IDDS with respect to each other for presentation of the teeth in a virtual three dimensional space to be viewed on a user interface, setting prioritization…
Low viscosity photo-curable resins for the direct fabrication of orthodontic appliances
Granted: December 26, 2023
Patent Number:
11851510
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,…
Laser cutting
Granted: December 26, 2023
Patent Number:
11850680
Laser cutting systems and methods are described herein. One or more systems include a laser, an optical component, a fixture for holding a support with a part positioned on the support, and a controller. The controller is configured to identify a cut path for trimming excess material from a dental appliance, determine adjustment instructions for adjusting a focal length of the laser to cut along the cut path, and trim the excess material from the dental appliance along the cut path with…
Comparative orthodontic treatment planning tool
Granted: December 26, 2023
Patent Number:
11850111
A comparative orthodontic treatment planning tool that can provide multiple treatment plan options based on a single initial tooth data set. A user can use the treatment planning tool to select a treatment plan based on factors, including cost, treatment duration, treatment complexity, and material or feature selection. Tooth arrangements at different treatment stages can be compared. In some cases, a tooth arrangement at one treatment stage can be superimposed over a tooth arrangement…
Weak covalent crosslinks in thermoset materials for increased toughness
Granted: December 19, 2023
Patent Number:
11845868
This disclosure provides polymeric materials comprising weak crosslinking covalent bonds and/or weak crosslinking units comprising a weak covalent bond. Weak covalent bonds can be used in place of hydrogen bonds present in traditional polymeric materials (e.g., polyurethanes). Advantageously, the toughness can be controlled by varying the strength of weak covalent bonds and/or by varying the number of weak covalent crosslinks. Crosslinked materials applying the weak covalent crosslinking…
Intraoral scanning device with defogging element and protective sleeve
Granted: December 12, 2023
Patent Number:
11844153
An intraoral scanning device comprises housing comprising a head configured for insertion into a patient oral cavity, the head comprising a sloped surface and an aperture for transmission of optical signals, a transparent element positioned within the aperture, wherein the transparent element is at an acute angle with respect to the sloped surface, and a defogging unit comprising a heating unit. The intraoral scanning device further comprises a protective sleeve configured to cover at…
Guidance for intraoral scanning
Granted: December 12, 2023
Patent Number:
11843222
In embodiments, a system for scanning an intraoral cavity comprises an intraoral scanner to generate intraoral scan data of the intraoral cavity and viewfinder images of the intraoral cavity, a display, and a processing unit operatively connected to the intraoral scanner and to the display. The processing unit is to: receive the intraoral scan data and the viewfinder images from the intraoral scanner; generate a three-dimensional (3D) digital model of the intraoral cavity using the…
Marker-less augmented reality system for mammoplasty pre-visualization
Granted: December 12, 2023
Patent Number:
11842437
A medical image might be generated for a patient image using a convolutional neural network trained on prior patient pre-procedure and post-procedure 2D images. A method might generate 3D models from pre-procedure 2D images and from post-procedure 2 images, and train the convolutional neural network with training images being the 3D models, to generate at least one 3D model of the present patient from the 2D image of the present patient, apply the 3D model of the present patient to the…
Durable ornamental indicia carrier
Granted: December 12, 2023
Patent Number:
11839520
The present disclosure relates to ornamental indicia carrier and method of producing the same. In some embodiments, the ornamental indicia carrier comprises an ultraviolet light (“UV”) cured ink printed on a thin flexible film and combined with an adhesive layer. The ornamental indicia carrier is capable of enduring the conditions inside the mouth for an extended period of time and can be used in conjunction with a dental appliance.
Dual aligner assembly
Granted: November 28, 2023
Patent Number:
11826219
A dual aligner assembly including a plurality of aligners, including a first aligner and a second aligner. The first aligner has a first shape corresponding to a set of target tooth positions and applies an orthodontic force against a set of target teeth. The first orthodontic force generates movement of the set of target teeth to the set of target tooth positions. The second aligner has a second shape corresponding to a combination of current tooth positions of the set of target teeth,…
Intraoral 3D scanner employing light projectors with pattern generating optical elements
Granted: November 28, 2023
Patent Number:
11826225
An apparatus for intraoral scanning comprises an elongate handheld wand comprising a probe at a distal end, one or more light projectors, and two or more cameras. Each light projector comprises at least one light source configured to generate light and a pattern generating optical element configured to generate a pattern of light when the light is transmitted through the pattern generating optical element. Each camera comprises a camera sensor and one or more lenses and is configured to…
Systems and methods including palatal expanders with anchor-receiving features
Granted: November 28, 2023
Patent Number:
11826221
A series of a palatal expanders increasing width can be used to gradually expand a patient's palate. Each palatal expander may have a palatal region flanked by teeth regions. The palatal region can have a plurality of anchor-receiving features (e.g., anchor interfaces) that allow the palatal expander to be attached to temporary anchorage device anchors that have been implanted into the patient's maxilla.
