Method, system and model for indirect bonding

• US 9,597,165 B2
• Filed: 12/11/2014
• Issued: 03/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Align Technology Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Align Technology Incorporated
• Inventors: Kopelman, Avi
• Primary Examiner(s): Wieland, Robert N
• Application Number:
  US14/567,111
• Publication Number:
  US 20150093714A1
• Time in Patent Office: 831 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 7/002 Orthodontic computer assisted systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 7/146 Positioning or placement of brackets; Tools therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 64/393 for controlling or regulating additive manufacturing processes
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/753 Medical equipment; Accessories therefor bloodbags, medical bags B29L2031/7148; artificial eyes B29L2011/0008
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 10/00 Processes of additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 50/02 for controlling or regulating additive manufacturing processes
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 80/00 Products made by additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 17/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4099 Surface or curve machining, making 3D objects, e.g. desktop manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4145 characterised by using same processor to execute programmable controller and numerical controller function [CNC] and PC controlled NC [PCNC]
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/45167 Dentist, dental manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/49023 3-D printing, layer of powder, add drops of binder in layer, new powder

Abstract

A physical model of at least a portion of a patient'"'"'s dentition has model dental surfaces corresponding to real dental surfaces of the patient'"'"'s dentition. The physical model includes one or more targets, each configured for facilitating placement of an orthodontic appliance on the model at a desired location. The targets lack mechanical stops that are outwardly protruding from the original model dental surfaces. Also provided are a method of manufacturing a physical model for use in indirect bonding procedures, a method for indirect bonding for use in an orthodontic procedure, a method for providing an indirect bonding transfer tray for use in an orthodontic procedure, and a system for providing a physical model for use in indirect bonding orthodontic procedures.

Claims

1. A dental model for facilitating placement of an orthodontic appliance at a desired location, the model comprising:

a positive physical model of at least a portion of a patient'"'"'s dentition, the positive physical model comprising at least one target, the at least one target comprising a recessed mechanical stop shaped to receive at least a portion of the orthodontic appliance and constrain movement thereof without a need for an adhesive in order to facilitate the placement of the orthodontic appliance at the desired location on the positive physical model.

2. The dental model of claim 1, wherein the positive physical model comprises a model dental surface corresponding to a real dental surface of the patient'"'"'s dentition.

3. The dental model of claim 2, wherein the recessed mechanical stop projects into the model dental surface.

4. The dental model of claim 1, wherein the recessed mechanical stop is shaped to receive a perimeter edge of the orthodontic appliance.

5. The dental model of claim 1, wherein the recessed mechanical stop comprises at least one recess edge to which at least one perimeter edge of the orthodontic appliance is abutted to constrain the movement of the orthodontic appliance.

6. The dental model of claim 1, wherein the at least one target further comprises one or more markings providing visual targeting information to facilitate the placement of the orthodontic appliance at the desired location on the positive physical model.

7. A method for manufacturing a dental model for facilitating placement of an orthodontic appliance at a desired location, the method comprising:

forming a positive physical model of at least a portion of the patient'"'"'s dentition; and

forming at least one target in the positive physical model, the at least one target comprising a recessed mechanical stop shaped to receive at least a portion of the orthodontic appliance and constrain movement thereof without a need for an adhesive in order to facilitate the placement of the orthodontic appliance at the desired location on the positive physical model.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising positioning the orthodontic appliance at the desired location on the positive physical model using the at least one target.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

positioning a transfer tray over the positive physical model so as to embed the orthodontic appliance into the transfer tray;

removing the transfer tray and the orthodontic appliance embedded therewithin from the positive physical model; and

positioning the transfer tray over the patient'"'"'s dentition so as to transfer the orthodontic appliance to the patient'"'"'s dentition at a desired location corresponding to the desired location on the positive physical model.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the orthodontic appliance comprises a buffer layer and the recessed mechanical stop is shaped to receive the buffer layer.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the orthodontic appliance comprises an appliance base and the buffer layer is removably attached to the appliance base.

12. A system for manufacturing a dental model for facilitating placement of an orthodontic appliance at a desired location, the system comprising:

a computer controlled manufacturing center configured to,

form a positive physical model of at least a portion of the patient'"'"'s dentition, and

form at least one target in the positive physical model, the at least one target comprising a recessed mechanical stop shaped to receive at least a portion of the orthodontic appliance and constrain movement thereof without a need for an adhesive in order to facilitate the placement of the orthodontic appliance at the desired location on the positive physical model.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the computer controlled manufacturing center is configured to form the positive physical model and the at least one target in the positive physical model using at least one of a CNC machining process or a rapid prototyping process.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the computer controlled manufacturing center is configured to form the at least one target in the positive physical model concurrently while forming the positive physical model.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the computer controlled manufacturing center is configured to form the at least one target in the positive physical model after forming the positive physical model.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the computer controlled manufacturing center is configured to form the positive physical model and the at least one target in the positive physical model based on one or more virtual models of the positive physical model and the at least one target.