Computer automated development of an orthodontic treatment plan and appliance

• US 20080182220A1
• Filed: 10/31/2007
• Published: 07/31/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Align Technology Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Align Technology Incorporated
• Inventors: Miller, Ross J., Wirth, Kelsey, Jones, Timothy N., Freyburger, Brian, Chishti, Muhammad, Benton, Phillips Alexander, Wen, Huafeng, Beers, Andrew
• Granted Patent: US 8,496,474 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 433/24
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 2007/004 Automatic construction of a set of axes for a tooth or a plurality of teeth
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 7/00 Orthodontics, i.e. obtaining or maintaining the desired position of teeth, e.g. by straightening, evening, regulating, separating, or by correcting malocclusions
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 7/002 Orthodontic computer assisted systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 7/08 Mouthpiece-type retainers or positioners, e.g. for both the lower and upper arch arch-shaped medicament applicators for teeth or gums A61C19/063; mouthguards for protecting the teeth of sportsmen A63B71/085
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/386 Data acquisition or data processing for additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2009/00 Layered products
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/7536 Artificial teeth
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 10/00 Processes of additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 30/00 Apparatus for additive manufacturing; Details thereof or accessories therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 50/00 Data acquisition or data processing for additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 80/00 Products made by additive manufacturing

Abstract

A computer is used to create a plan for repositioning an orthodontic patient'"'"'s teeth. The computer receives an initial digital data set representing the patient'"'"'s teeth at their initial positions and a final digital data set representing the teeth at their final positions. The computer then uses the data sets to generate treatment paths along which the teeth will move from the initial positions to the final positions.

Claims

1. (canceled)

2. A system for repositioning a patient'"'"'s teeth, the system comprising a computer coupled to a server, the computer comprising a processor and a computer readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed, cause the computer to:

generate a treatment plan using an initial digital data set representing the patient'"'"'s teeth at an initial position, the treatment plan comprising a first set of intermediate positions toward which the teeth will move while moving from the initial position toward a final position;

generate data for fabricating a first plurality of successive appliances having teeth receiving cavities and wherein the cavities of successive appliances have different geometries shaped to receive and reposition teeth from the initial position toward the final position, wherein the first plurality of successive appliances is generated at a stage of treatment prior to the patient wearing any appliance of the first plurality to reposition the teeth;

receive information regarding the progress of the patient'"'"'s teeth following administering the first plurality of appliances to the patient; and

generate data for fabricating a second plurality of successive appliances having teeth receiving cavities shaped to further progressively reposition the teeth.

3. The system of claim 3, wherein the initial data set comprises data obtained by scanning the patient'"'"'s teeth or a physical model thereof.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the received information regarding the progress of the patient'"'"'s teeth comprises information indicating that the patient'"'"'s teeth have not progressed as planned.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the received information regarding the progress of the patient'"'"'s teeth comprises a digital image of the patient'"'"'s teeth after treatment has begun.

6. The system of claim 3, wherein the received information regarding the progress of the patient'"'"'s teeth comprises information obtained by clinical evaluation of the patient.

7. The system of claim 3, wherein the data for fabricating the second plurality is generated based on a revised treatment plan to bring the patient'"'"'s treatment back on course according to the initial treatment plan.

8. The system of claim 3, wherein data for fabricating the first or second plurality of successive appliances comprises positive tooth models of successive stages of treatment.

9. The system of claim 3, wherein data for fabricating the first or second plurality of successive appliances comprises data readable by a rapid prototyping machine.

11. The system of claim 8, the computer readable medium further comprising instructions to generate data for fabricating a second plurality of successive appliances having teeth receiving cavities shaped based on the second set of intermediate teeth positions of the revised treatment plan.

10. A system for repositioning a patient'"'"'s teeth, the system comprising a computer coupled to a server, the computer comprising a processor and a computer readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed, cause the computer to:

generate a treatment plan using an initial digital data set representing the patient'"'"'s teeth at an initial position, the treatment plan comprising a first set of intermediate positions toward which the teeth will move while moving from the initial position toward a final position;

generate data for fabricating a first plurality of successive appliances having teeth receiving cavities and wherein the cavities of successive appliances have different geometries shaped to receive and reposition teeth from the initial position toward the final position, wherein the first plurality of successive appliances is generated at a stage of treatment prior to the patient wearing any appliance of the first plurality to reposition the teeth;

receive information regarding the progress of the patient'"'"'s teeth following administering the first plurality of appliances to the patient; and

generate a revised treatment plan comprising a second set of intermediate positions toward which the teeth will move while moving toward a final position.