Eric Yu Kuo

US Patent:

6524101, Feb 25, 2003

Filed:

Jul 14, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/616830

Inventors:

Loc X. Phan - Milpitas CA
Muhammad Chishti - Sunnyvale CA
Ross J. Miller - Sunnyvale CA
H. Robert Vandenberg - San Ramon CA
Eric Kuo - San Francisco CA

Assignee:

Align Technology, Inc. - Santa Clara CA

International Classification:

A61C 300

US Classification:

433 6, 433 24

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 appliances configured to receive the teeth in a cavity and incrementally reposition individual teeth in a series of successive steps. This is accomplished by applying force to specific surfaces of the teeth through stiffness of the appliance. However, such stiffness creates limitations in ease of use, patient compliance, and overall cost in material, manufacturing labor and treatment time. To overcome these limitations, the present invention utilizes polymeric or other material appliances with portions differing in rigidity or stiffness. Alternatively, elastic moduluses may differ from one appliance to the next in a successive series to accomplish various treatment goals. Thus, the systems and methods of the present invention provide the design, production and use of such multiple stiffness positioning appliances in orthodontic treatment.

US Patent:

6572372, Jun 3, 2003

Filed:

Jul 14, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/616222

Inventors:

Loc X. Phan - Milpitas CA
Muhammad Chishti - Sunnyvale CA
Ross J. Miller - Sunnyvale CA
H. Robert Van Den Berg - San Ramon CA
Eric Kuo - San Francisco CA
Jae Hyun Ahn - San Francisco CA

Assignee:

Align Technology, Inc. - Santa Clara CA

International Classification:

A61C 700

US Classification:

433 6, 433 18

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.

US Patent:

6607382, Aug 19, 2003

Filed:

Sep 21, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/666783

Inventors:

Eric Kuo - San Francisco CA
Loc X. Phan - Milpitas CA

Assignee:

Align Technology, Inc. - Santa Clara CA

International Classification:

A61C 300

US Classification:

433 6, 433 80, 433216

Abstract:

The present invention provides devices, systems and methods for orthodontic treatment using elastic repositioning appliances while concurrently providing dental and periodontal therapies. Such therapies are traditionally provided with the use of a variety of accessories and devices which are applied when the repositioning appliance is removed from the patients mouth. The present invention eliminates the need for such removal and additional devices by incorporating these therapies into the repositioning appliance.

US Patent:

6790035, Sep 14, 2004

Filed:

Sep 28, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/967822

Inventors:

Robert E. Tricca - Danville CA
Eric Kuo - Foster City CA
Peter G. Knopp - Palo Alto CA
Craig R. Bruns - Danville CA

Assignee:

Align Technology, Inc. - Santa Clara CA

International Classification:

A61C 300

US Classification:

433 6, 433167, 264 19

Abstract:

Systems and methods are disclosed for forming a pontic in a polymeric shell dental appliance, including providing a polymeric shell dental appliance of the type which is removably placeable over a patients dentition, said shell having a concave trough which conforms to the teeth when the appliance is placed over the dentition and a location in the trough corresponding to a missing tooth; and depositing a flexible, durably affixed material in the location to form the pontic.

US Patent:

6814574, Nov 9, 2004

Filed:

Nov 6, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/289551

Inventors:

Amir Abolfathi - Menlo Park CA
Brian K. Asselin - San Jose CA
Eric Kuo - Foster City CA
Loc X. Phan - San Jose CA

Assignee:

Align Technology, Inc. - Santa Clara CA

International Classification:

A61C 300

US Classification:

433 4, 433159

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.

US Patent:

6948936, Sep 27, 2005

Filed:

Apr 24, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/424370

Inventors:

Ross J. Miller - Sunnyvale CA, US
Eric Kuo - San Francisco CA, US
Daniel E. Falvey - Tracy CA, US
Andrew H. Trosien - San Francisco CA, US

Assignee:

Align Technology, Inc. - Santa Clara CA

International Classification:

A61C009/00

US Classification:

433214, 433 71

Abstract:

The present invention provides methods and devices for determining an axis of upper and lower jaw articulation of a patient and modeling jaw movement about such an axis, particularly with the use of computerized visual images. The methods comprise providing digital data sets of tooth and bite configuration information which may be used to determine an estimated condylar axis of rotation for a patient. A number of data sets may be acquired and utilized for such estimations. Data sets may be obtained with the use of bite registers. Such registers may be formed by a number of methods and device designs of the present invention. The resulting digital data sets and axis of articulation may then be utilized to generate animated visual images of a patient's jaws in various bite configurations throughout a given rotation around the determined axis. Accuracy of such dynamic imaging, in addition to the determination of the location of the condylar axis, may increase with the number of bite configurations recorded throughout the rotation.

US Patent:

7121825, Oct 17, 2006

Filed:

Mar 12, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/799432

Inventors:

Muhammad Chishti - Washington DC, US
Loc X. Phan - Milpitas CA, US
Ross J. Miller - Sunnyvale CA, US
Eric Kuo - San Francisco CA, US

Assignee:

Align Technology, Inc. - Santa Clara CA

International Classification:

A61C 7/00

US Classification:

433 6

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 and a wire mounted on or embedded in the polymeric shell. 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 mechanisim. The removal mechanism undergoes a state change stimulated by an environmental stimulus or environmental switch.

US Patent:

7201576, Apr 10, 2007

Filed:

Apr 20, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/409306

Inventors:

Robert E. Tricca - Danville CA, US
Eric Kuo - Foster City CA, US
Peter G. Knopp - Palo Alto CA, US
Craig R. Burns - Danville CA, US

Assignee:

Align Technology, Inc. - Santa Clara CA

International Classification:

A61C 3/00

US Classification:

433 24, 433 6

Abstract:

Systems and methods are disclosed for forming a pontic in a polymeric shell dental appliance, including providing a polymeric shell dental appliance of the type which is removably placeable over a patient's dentition, said shell having a concave trough which conforms to the teeth when the appliance is placed over the dentition and a location in the trough corresponding to a missing tooth; and depositing a flexible, durably affixed material in the location to form the pontic.