Ross A Miller

US Patent:

6454565, Sep 24, 2002

Filed:

Jun 4, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/874724

Inventors:

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

Assignee:

Align Technology, Inc. - Santa Clara CA

International Classification:

A61C 300

US Classification:

433 6

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.

US Patent:

6488499, Dec 3, 2002

Filed:

Apr 25, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/843247

Inventors:

Ross Miller - Sunnyvale CA

Assignee:

Align Technology, Inc. - Santa Clara CA

International Classification:

A61C 300

US Classification:

433 24

Abstract:

Orthodontic treatment is achieved using a series of successive, removable repositioning appliances, such as thin polymeric shell appliances referred to as aligners. A set of aligners is originally provided to the patient. If the patients treatment goes off course using the original set of aligners, further aligners are designed and fabricated to move the deviant tooth arrangement back to a target tooth arrangement which was part of the original treatment program.

US Patent:

6497574, Dec 24, 2002

Filed:

Sep 8, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/658340

Inventors:

Ross J. Miller - Sunnyvale CA

Assignee:

Align Technology, Inc. - Santa Clara CA

International Classification:

A61C 1100

US Classification:

433213, 433 24

Abstract:

The present invention provides improved devices, systems and methods for producing dental molds, each having portions representing a patients oral soft tissue and a desired tooth configuration. These molds are designed for use in the fabrication of appliances used in orthodontic treatment, particularly, elastic repositioning appliances. However, they may also be used in the fabrication of traditional appliances, such as retainers and positioners, used, for example in the final or finishing stages of an otherwise conventional treatment. The dental molds are comprised of a mold or relief of the patients soft tissue, such as a palate, facial gingival tissue and/or lingual gingival tissue, and a separate or separable mold or relief of the patients dental arch having teeth in a desired tooth configuration. Since, the tooth configuration will change as a patient progresses through orthodontic treatment, the relief of the dental arch will be fabricated separately from the relief of the oral soft tissue. Typically, the dental arch relief will be fabricated using rapid prototyping methods.

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:

6582229, Jun 24, 2003

Filed:

Apr 25, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/843244

Inventors:

Ross J. Miller - Sunnyvale CA
Eric Kuo - Foster City CA
Daniel E. Falvey - Castro Valley CA
Andrew H. Trosien - San Francisco CA

Assignee:

Align Technology, Inc. - Santa Clara CA

International Classification:

A61C 1100

US Classification:

433213, 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 patients 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:

6602070, Aug 5, 2003

Filed:

Apr 25, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/843246

Inventors:

Ross J. Miller - Sunnyvale CA
Muhammad Chishti - Sunnyvale CA
Huafeng Wen - Redwood Shores CA

Assignee:

Align Technology, Inc. - Santa Clara CA

International Classification:

A61C 300

US Classification:

433 24, 433213

Abstract:

Computer-implemented systems and methods implement a dental treatment plan by specifying tooth movement patterns using a two-dimensional array; and generating treatment paths to move the teeth in accordance with the specified pattern.

US Patent:

6705863, Mar 16, 2004

Filed:

Oct 29, 2001

Appl. No.:

10/040269

Inventors:

Loc X. Phan - Milpitas CA
Muhammad Z. Chishti - Sunnyvale CA
Ross J. Miller - Sunnyvale CA

Assignee:

Align Technology, Inc. - Santa Clara CA

International Classification:

A61L 1300

US Classification:

433 24, 433 6

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.