Virtual dental game

• US 7,001,270 B2
• Filed: 12/12/2001
• Issued: 02/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Align Technology Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Cadent Ltd (Align Technology Incorporated)
• Inventors: Taub, Eldad
• Primary Examiner(s): Thai, Xuan M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, BINH AN DUC
• Application Number:
  US10/017,194
• Publication Number:
  US 20020115482A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,532 Days
• Field of Search: 463/1, 463/7, 463/9, 463 30- 37, 463/43, 463/44, 463/46, 463/47, 700/90, 700/91, 273/317.1, 273/148.R, 273/148.B, 345/619, 345/649, 345/650, 345/653, 345/672, 345/679, 345/676, 433/68, 433/24, 433/69, 433/215, 433/216, 434262-264
• US Class Current: 463/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/655 by importing photos, e.g. of the player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/75 Enforcing rules, e.g. detecting foul play or generating lists of cheating players
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/80 Special adaptations for executing a specific game genre or game mode
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5586 for enforcing rights or rules, e.g. to prevent foul play
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/695 Imported photos, e.g. of the player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8094 Unusual game types, e.g. virtual cooking
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 23/283 for dentistry or oral hygiene G09B23/286 takes precedence

Abstract

The present invention relates to a computer game, which, when operating on a computer enables a user, via a user'"'"'s interface, to perform one or more tasks within a virtual environment, the virtual environment comprising a virtual three dimensional dental image of at least one tooth and the tasks performed by the user leading to the improvement of a certain virtual condition associated with said at least one tooth. The three dimensional dental image employed in the computer game is preferably based on or derived from a real life dental environment. The invention further relates to a storage medium for storing data representation of the above computer game and to a method of playing the computer game of the present invention using a computer.

Claims

1. For use in a computer and associated storage medium, a computer game customized for a predetermined user, in which the user, through a user interface, performs one or more tasks generated by the computer within a virtual environment, said environment comprising a virtual three-dimensional dental image of at least one tooth of the user;

wherein said one or more tasks comprise at least one of choosing and carrying out a virtual treatment to a certain virtual condition associated with said at least one tooth, determining whether the condition of the teeth is satisfactory,

wherein said condition is a disorder in or lack of structural integrity of one or more teeth, and said one or more tasks comprise improving or fixing said disorder or lack of structural integrity; and

wherein said disorder or lack of structural integrity comprises damage resulting from one or more virtual infectious agents and said one or more tasks comprise elimination of said agents.

2. A computer game according to claim 1, wherein said virtual image comprises a plurality of teeth of at least a continuous section of teeth.

3. A computer game according to claim 2, wherein said virtual image comprises substantially all teeth of at least one jaw.

4. A computer game according to claim 3, wherein said virtual image comprises substantially all teeth of both the upper and lower jaws.

5. A computer game according to claim 4, wherein the user can manipulate the mutual orientation of the two jaws.

6. A computer game according to claim 3, wherein said condition is an inappropriate relative position or orientation of at least one tooth or of a jaw;

and said one or more tasks comprise re-orientation of one or more teeth.

7. A computer game according to claim 4, wherein said condition is an inappropriate relative position or orientation of at least one tooth or of a jaw;

and said one or more tasks comprise one or more of re-orientation of one or more teeth, or changing relative position of the two jaws.

8. A computer game according to claim 6, wherein said one or more tasks are being performed by applying virtual rules, tools or components, corresponding to manner of dental, personal or orthodontic treatment of teeth or jaws.

9. A computer game according to claim 8, wherein said virtual rules comprise rules of movements of teeth or jaws corresponding to such in a real-life orthodontic treatment.

10. A computer game according to claim 8, wherein said virtual tools or components comprise virtual personal mouth hygiene tools.

11. A computer game according to claim 8, wherein said virtual tools or components are virtual orthodontic components corresponding to real-life orthodontic components.

12. A computer game according to claim 8, wherein said virtual rules permitting elimination of virtual infectious agents from the virtual teeth.

13. A computer game according to claim 7, wherein said one or more tasks are being performed by applying virtual rules, tools or components, corresponding to manner of dental, personal or orthodontic treatment of teeth or jaws.

14. A computer game according to claim 13, wherein said virtual rules comprise rules of movements of teeth or jaws corresponding to such in a real-life orthodontic treatment.

15. A computer game according to claim 13, wherein said virtual tools or components comprise virtual personal mouth hygiene tools.

16. A computer game according to claim 13, wherein said virtual tools or components are virtual orthodontic components corresponding to real-life orthodontic components.

17. A computer game according to claim 13, wherein said virtual rules permitting elimination of virtual infectious agents from the virtual teeth.

18. A computer game according to claim 1, wherein said one or more tasks are being performed by applying virtual rules, tools or components, corresponding to manner of dental, personal or orthodontic treatment of teeth or jaws.

19. A computer game according to claim 18, wherein said virtual rules comprise rules of movements of teeth or jaws corresponding to such in a real-life orthodontic treatment.

20. A computer game according to claim 18, wherein said virtual tools or components comprise virtual personal mouth hygiene tools.

21. A computer game according to claim 18, wherein said virtual tools or components are virtual orthodontic components corresponding to real-life orthodontic components.

22. A computer game according to claim 13, wherein said virtual rules permitting elimination of virtual infectious agents from the virtual teeth.

23. A computer game according to claim 1, wherein said one or more tasks are being performed by applying virtual rules, tools or components, corresponding to manner of dental, personal or orthodontic treatment of teeth or jaws.

24. A computer game according to claim 23, wherein said virtual rules comprise rules of movements of teeth or jaws corresponding to such in a real-life orthodontic treatment.

25. A computer game according to claim 23, wherein said virtual tools or components comprise virtual personal mouth hygiene tools.

26. A computer game according to claim 23, wherein said virtual tools or components are virtual orthodontic components corresponding to real-life orthodontic components.

27. A computer game according to claim 23, wherein said virtual rules permitting elimination of virtual infectious agents from the virtual teeth.