US 12,226,279 B2
Methods of forming appliances for arch expansion
Avi Kopelman, Palo Alto, CA (US); Allen Boronkay, San Jose, CA (US); Ryan Kimura, San Jose, CA (US); and Yaser Shanjani, Milpitas, CA (US)
Assigned to Align Technology, Inc., San Jose, CA (US)
Filed by Align Technology, Inc., San Jose, CA (US)
Filed on Feb. 10, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/167,775.
Application 18/167,775 is a continuation of application No. 15/202,452, filed on Jul. 5, 2016, granted, now 11,576,750.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/189,301, filed on Jul. 7, 2015.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/189,271, filed on Jul. 7, 2015.
Prior Publication US 2023/0190412 A1, Jun. 22, 2023
Int. Cl. A61C 7/00 (2006.01); A44C 15/00 (2006.01); A61C 7/08 (2006.01); A61C 7/10 (2006.01); A61C 13/00 (2006.01); A61C 19/06 (2006.01); B23K 26/362 (2014.01); B29C 64/386 (2017.01); B33Y 10/00 (2015.01); B33Y 30/00 (2015.01); B33Y 50/00 (2015.01); B33Y 80/00 (2015.01); B44C 1/22 (2006.01); G06Q 30/0601 (2023.01); G16H 20/40 (2018.01)
CPC A61C 7/002 (2013.01) [A44C 15/007 (2013.01); A61C 7/08 (2013.01); A61C 7/10 (2013.01); A61C 13/0019 (2013.01); A61C 19/066 (2013.01); B23K 26/362 (2013.01); B29C 64/386 (2017.08); B44C 1/227 (2013.01); B44C 1/228 (2013.01); G06Q 30/0621 (2013.01); G06Q 30/0643 (2013.01); G16H 20/40 (2018.01); A61C 13/0013 (2013.01); A61C 2201/007 (2013.01); B33Y 10/00 (2014.12); B33Y 30/00 (2014.12); B33Y 50/00 (2014.12); B33Y 80/00 (2014.12)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
14. A method of forming an appliance to expand an arch of a patient, the method comprising:
receiving scan data of teeth of the arch of the patient; and
determining a shape of the appliance to engage the teeth and expand the arch, the appliance comprising a shell and a force generating portion, the shell including teeth receiving structures configured to receive at least a portion of the teeth, the force generating portion connected with the shell and spanning a space between opposing posterior teeth of the patient and to apply an expansion force between the opposing posterior teeth of the patient,
wherein determining the shape of the appliance comprises:
determining a shape of the shell based on the shell being formed of a first polymer material having first degree of crosslinking, and
determining a shape of the force generating portion based on the force generating portion being formed of a second polymer material having second degree of crosslinking different than the first degree of crosslinking, wherein the shell and the force generating portion are made from the same prepolymer material, and
manufacturing the appliance according to direct fabrication instructions based on the determined shape of the appliance.