Tactile objects for orthodontics, systems and methods

• US 9,597,164 B2
• Filed: 03/12/2014
• Issued: 03/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Align Technology Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Align Technology Incorporated
• Inventors: Li, Chunhua, Chen, Jennifer, Morton, John, Moss, Jon, Kaufhardt, Clark, Cao, Heng
• Primary Examiner(s): MORAN, EDWARD JOHN
• Application Number:
  US14/206,836
• Publication Number:
  US 20140193767A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,105 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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: A61C 7/14 Brackets A61C7/28 takes precedence; Fixing brackets to teeth
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 80/00 Products made by additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49568 Orthodontic device making

Abstract

Methods, systems, and apparatus'"'"'s for improving orthodontic treatments. In an embodiment, an orthodontic system including a tactile object is provided for modulating an engagement between a tooth attachment and an orthodontic appliance.

Claims

1. A system for orthodontically positioning a patient'"'"'s tooth, the system comprising:

an attachment;

a patient removable orthodontic tooth positioning appliance having teeth receiving cavities shaped to receive and apply a resilient positioning force to the patient'"'"'s teeth, at least one of the teeth receiving cavities comprising an attachment receiving well having a cross sectional shape that conforms to a cross sectional shape of the attachment and being configured to engage with and receive therein the attachment when the orthodontic appliance is worn by the patient and a force is being applied to the attachment;

a tactile object disposed between the attachment receiving well and the attachment so as to modulate engagement between the attachment and the attachment receiving well when the orthodontic appliance is worn by the patient; and

a base disposed in the attachment receiving well, at least part of the tactile object being physically coupled to the base, and at least one of the base and the tactile object being made from a material having an elastic modulus less than an elastic modulus of a material from which the appliance is formed.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the base is made from a material having an elastic modulus less than the elastic modulus of the appliance material.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the tactile object is made from a material having an elastic modulus less than the elastic modulus of the appliance material.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the tactile object is disposed on at least a portion of the attachment.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the tactile object is disposed on at least a portion of the attachment receiving well.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the tactile object is located only on the attachment well of the appliance via the base.

7. An orthodontic positioning appliance comprising:

a patient removable orthodontic tooth positioning appliance having teeth receiving cavities shaped to receive and apply a resilient positioning force to the patient'"'"'s teeth, where at least one of the teeth receiving cavities includes an attachment receiving well shaped to engage with and apply a force to an attachment disposed on the patient'"'"'s tooth;

a tactile object coupled to the appliance and disposed proximate to the attachment receiving well so as to modulate the engagement between the attachment and the attachment receiving well and the application of force between a surface of the attachment and a surface of the attachment receiving well, when the orthodontic appliance is worn by the patient; and

a base disposed in the attachment receiving well, at least a part of the tactile object being physically coupled to the base, the elastic modulus of the material of the base is less than the elastic modulus of the material of the appliance and the elastic modulus of the material of the tactile object.

8. The orthodontic appliance of claim 7, wherein the material of the tactile object has an elastic modulus less than the material of the appliance.

9. The orthodontic appliance of claim 8, wherein the tactile object comprises a material layer covering one or more surfaces of the attachment receiving well.

10. The orthodontic appliance of claim 8, wherein the tactile object comprises an elongated body extending from a surface of the attachment receiving well via the base.

11. A method for applying a tooth positioning force to the dentition of a patient, the method comprising:

providing an attachment for disposal on at least one of the patient'"'"'s teeth;

providing a patient removable orthodontic tooth positioning appliance having teeth receiving cavities shaped to receive and apply a resilient positioning force to the patient'"'"'s teeth, where at least one of the teeth receiving cavities includes an attachment receiving well having a cross sectional shape that conforms to a cross sectional shape of the attachment and being configured to engage with and receive therein the attachment when the orthodontic appliance is worn by the patient and a force is being applied to the attachment;

providing a tactile object for disposal between the attachment receiving well and the attachment so as to modulate force application during engagement between the attachment and the attachment receiving well when the orthodontic appliance is worn by the patient; and

forming a base in the attachment receiving well, wherein at least part of the tactile object is physically coupled to the base, and at least one of the base and the tactile object being made from a material having an elastic modulus less than an elastic modulus of a material from which the appliance is formed.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the material of the tactile object comprises an elastic modulus less than the elastic modulus of the material from which the appliance is formed and the elastic modulus of the material from which the attachment is formed.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the tactile object is disposed on at least a portion of the attachment.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the tactile object is disposed on at least a portion of the attachment receiving well.

15. A method for manufacturing an orthodontic appliance, the method comprising:

generating a patient removable orthodontic tooth positioning appliance having teeth receiving cavities shaped to receive and apply a resilient positioning force to the patient'"'"'s teeth, where at least one of the teeth receiving cavities includes an attachment receiving well shaped to engage with and apply a force to an attachment disposed on the patient'"'"'s tooth;

providing a tactile object coupled to the appliance and disposed proximate to the attachment receiving well, for modulating force application during engagement between the attachment and the attachment receiving well and the application of force between a surface of the attachment and a surface of the attachment receiving well, when the orthodontic appliance is worn by the patient; and

disposing a base in the attachment receiving well, wherein at least a part of the tactile object is physically coupled to the base, the elastic modulus of the material of the base is less than the elastic modulus of the material of the appliance and the elastic modulus of the material of the tactile object.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the material of the tactile object comprises an elastic modulus less than the elastic modulus of the material from which the appliance is formed and the elastic modulus of the material from which the attachment is formed.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the tactile object is disposed on at least a portion of the attachment.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the tactile object is disposed on at least a portion of the attachment receiving well.