US 11,884,758 B2
Methods for fabricating appliances from polymerizable compositions
Michael Christopher Cole, Longmont, CO (US)
Assigned to Align Technology, Inc., San Jose, CA (US)
Filed by Align Technology, Inc., San Jose, CA (US)
Filed on Jul. 22, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/871,632.
Application 17/871,632 is a continuation of application No. 17/034,869, filed on Sep. 28, 2020, granted, now 11,434,316.
Application 17/034,869 is a continuation of application No. 16/667,556, filed on Oct. 29, 2019, granted, now 10,788,753, issued on Sep. 29, 2020.
Application 16/667,556 is a continuation of application No. 16/024,555, filed on Jun. 29, 2018, granted, now 10,495,973, issued on Dec. 3, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/527,749, filed on Jun. 30, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2023/0002529 A1, Jan. 5, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A61C 7/08 (2006.01); C08F 2/46 (2006.01); C08F 2/50 (2006.01); C08G 61/04 (2006.01); C08F 220/18 (2006.01); B33Y 80/00 (2015.01); B33Y 70/00 (2020.01); B33Y 10/00 (2015.01); C08F 218/04 (2006.01); C08F 2/44 (2006.01); C08F 2/48 (2006.01); B29C 64/106 (2017.01); C08F 220/14 (2006.01); G03F 7/029 (2006.01); G03F 7/20 (2006.01); B33Y 70/10 (2020.01); B29K 105/00 (2006.01)
CPC C08F 220/1804 (2020.02) [A61C 7/08 (2013.01); B29C 64/106 (2017.08); B33Y 10/00 (2014.12); B33Y 70/00 (2014.12); B33Y 80/00 (2014.12); C08F 2/44 (2013.01); C08F 2/48 (2013.01); C08F 218/04 (2013.01); C08F 220/14 (2013.01); C08F 220/1811 (2020.02); G03F 7/029 (2013.01); G03F 7/2002 (2013.01); G03F 7/2004 (2013.01); B29K 2105/0002 (2013.01); B33Y 70/10 (2020.01); C08F 2800/20 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
 
1. A method for fabricating an orthodontic appliance configured to reposition a patient's teeth, the method comprising:
providing a polymerizable composition, the polymerizable composition including a first polymerizable component and a second polymerizable component, the polymerizable composition characterized by an initial ratio of the first polymerizable component to the second polymerizable component; and
fabricating a portion of the orthodontic appliance from the polymerizable composition by:
forming a first region of the orthodontic appliance by exposing the polymerizable composition to radiation, wherein the first region includes a first ratio of the first polymerizable component to the second polymerizable component, the first ratio being different from the initial ratio, and
forming a second region of the orthodontic appliance, wherein the second region includes a second ratio of the first polymerizable component to the second polymerizable component, the second ratio being different from the initial ratio and the first ratio.