US 11,986,371 B2
Custom tool for bonding orthodontic appliances, and methods of designing and using custom tools
James D. Hansen, White Bear Lake, MN (US); Joseph C. Dingeldein, Hudson, WI (US); and John M. Pilgrim, Woodbury, MN (US)
Assigned to 3M Innovative Properties Company
Appl. No. 17/784,240
Filed by Solventum Intellectual Properties Company, Maplewood, MN (US)
PCT Filed Dec. 16, 2020, PCT No. PCT/IB2020/062063
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jun. 10, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/130614, PCT Pub. Date Jul. 1, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/952,792, filed on Dec. 23, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2023/0042808 A1, Feb. 9, 2023
Int. Cl. A61C 7/14 (2006.01); B33Y 80/00 (2015.01)
CPC A61C 7/146 (2013.01) [B33Y 80/00 (2014.12)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A custom tool for bonding orthodontic appliances in a mouth of a patient, the custom tool comprising:
a facial body for a patient-specific, customized fit with the facial side of a plurality of teeth of the patient, wherein the facial body includes an appliance positioning portion and a first engagement portion extending away from the appliance positioning portion;
a lingual body for a patient-specific, customized fit with the lingual side of the plurality of the teeth of the patient, wherein the lingual body includes a first engagement portion;
wherein the first engagement portion of the facial body interlocks with the first engagement portion of the lingual body,
wherein the facial body includes a plurality of receptacles each aligned with a respective tooth, wherein each receptable is holding an orthodontic appliance configured for use in moving one or more teeth of the plurality of teeth from an initial position to a desired position; and
wherein the facial body and lingual body are configured to combine with the teeth of the patient to position the orthodontic appliances on the plurality of teeth.