US 11,883,251 B2
Dental model holding system
Josh Long, Nashville, TN (US); Christopher Yancey, Nashville, TN (US); Roland Harris, Nashville, TN (US); and Chris Sorrells, Nashville, TN (US)
Assigned to SDC U.S. SmilePay SPV, Nashville, TN (US)
Filed by SDC U.S. SmilePay SPV, Nashville, TN (US)
Filed on Feb. 1, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/164,376.
Application 17/164,376 is a division of application No. 16/540,276, filed on Aug. 14, 2019, granted, now 10,959,817.
Prior Publication US 2021/0153987 A1, May 27, 2021
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A61C 13/12 (2006.01); A61C 7/08 (2006.01); A61C 13/34 (2006.01)
CPC A61C 13/12 (2013.01) [A61C 7/08 (2013.01); A61C 13/34 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A fixture plate comprising:
a base having a contact face configured to support a dental model having a material formed thereon, the material comprising an aligner material portion and an excess material portion;
one or more channels formed in the contact face;
a bore extending through the base from a bottom opening to the contact face, wherein a portion of the bore located along the bottom opening is configured to couple with a vacuum system configured to generate a suction force at the contact face via the one or more channels; and
a viewing port configured to enable an identifier disposed on a surface of the dental model to be accessed from below the contact face when the dental model is positioned on the contact face;
wherein the suction force is applied to the dental model and at least part of the excess material portion to retain the dental model and the material formed thereon against the contact face.