US 12,324,722 B2
Multilayer dental appliances and related methods and systems
Chunhua Li, Cupertino, CA (US); Yan Chen, Cupertino, CA (US); Heinz Pudleiner, Krefeld (DE); Klaus Meyer, Dormagen (DE); Joerg Nickel, Dormagen (DE); and Craig Pehlert, Lenox, MA (US)
Assigned to ALIGN TECHNOLOGY, INC., San Jose, CA (US)
Filed by Align Technology, Inc., San Jose, CA (US)
Filed on Jul. 3, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/763,934.
Application 15/476,655 is a division of application No. 13/470,681, filed on May 14, 2012, granted, now 9,655,691, issued on May 23, 2017.
Application 18/763,934 is a continuation of application No. 17/510,276, filed on Oct. 25, 2021, granted, now 12,076,209.
Application 17/510,276 is a continuation of application No. 17/214,487, filed on Mar. 26, 2021, granted, now 11,154,384, issued on Oct. 26, 2021.
Application 17/214,487 is a continuation of application No. 15/476,655, filed on Mar. 31, 2017, granted, now 10,973,613, issued on Apr. 13, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2024/0350231 A1, Oct. 24, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A61C 7/08 (2006.01); A61C 7/00 (2006.01); A61C 13/00 (2006.01); A63B 71/08 (2006.01); B29C 51/14 (2006.01); B29K 67/00 (2006.01); B29K 75/00 (2006.01); B32B 7/022 (2019.01); B32B 25/08 (2006.01); B32B 25/20 (2006.01); B32B 27/08 (2006.01); B32B 27/28 (2006.01); B32B 27/30 (2006.01); B32B 27/32 (2006.01); B32B 27/34 (2006.01); B32B 27/36 (2006.01); B32B 27/40 (2006.01); A61C 19/06 (2006.01); A61F 5/56 (2006.01); B29L 31/00 (2006.01); B32B 25/14 (2006.01)
CPC A61C 7/08 (2013.01) [B29C 51/14 (2013.01); B32B 7/022 (2019.01); B32B 25/08 (2013.01); B32B 25/20 (2013.01); B32B 27/08 (2013.01); B32B 27/281 (2013.01); B32B 27/285 (2013.01); B32B 27/286 (2013.01); B32B 27/308 (2013.01); B32B 27/32 (2013.01); B32B 27/34 (2013.01); B32B 27/36 (2013.01); B32B 27/365 (2013.01); B32B 27/40 (2013.01); A61C 7/00 (2013.01); A61C 13/00 (2013.01); A61C 19/06 (2013.01); A61F 5/56 (2013.01); A63B 71/085 (2013.01); B29K 2067/00 (2013.01); B29K 2075/00 (2013.01); B29K 2995/0026 (2013.01); B29K 2995/007 (2013.01); B29K 2995/0077 (2013.01); B29K 2995/0082 (2013.01); B29L 2031/753 (2013.01); B32B 25/14 (2013.01); B32B 27/283 (2013.01); B32B 27/30 (2013.01); B32B 27/302 (2013.01); B32B 2250/03 (2013.01); B32B 2250/24 (2013.01); B32B 2250/40 (2013.01); B32B 2274/00 (2013.01); B32B 2307/40 (2013.01); B32B 2307/412 (2013.01); B32B 2307/50 (2013.01); B32B 2307/51 (2013.01); B32B 2307/536 (2013.01); B32B 2307/54 (2013.01); B32B 2307/546 (2013.01); B32B 2319/00 (2013.01); B32B 2323/00 (2013.01); B32B 2323/04 (2013.01); B32B 2323/10 (2013.01); B32B 2323/16 (2013.01); B32B 2333/04 (2013.01); B32B 2367/00 (2013.01); B32B 2371/00 (2013.01); B32B 2375/00 (2013.01); B32B 2377/00 (2013.01); B32B 2383/00 (2013.01); B32B 2535/00 (2013.01); B32B 2555/00 (2013.01); Y10T 428/31551 (2015.04); Y10T 428/31565 (2015.04); Y10T 428/31786 (2015.04)] 8 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A multilayer dental appliance for repositioning a patient's teeth from a first arrangement toward
a second arrangement, the dental appliance comprising:
a plurality of tooth-receiving cavities shaped to receive and resiliently reposition the patient's teeth from the first arrangement toward the second arrangement;
an exterior layer, wherein the exterior layer defines an exterior surface of the multilayer dental appliance,
wherein the exterior layer comprises at least a first layer and a second layer,
wherein the first layer and the second layer comprise different polymeric materials, and
wherein one of the first layer and the second layer comprises a co-polyester with a flexural modulus of greater than about 150,000 psi;
a tooth-contact layer, wherein the tooth-contact layer is configured to contact the patient's teeth,
wherein the tooth-contact layer comprises at least a third layer and a fourth layer,
wherein the third layer and the fourth layer comprise different polymeric materials, and
wherein one of the third layer and the fourth layer comprises a co-polyester with a flexural modulus of greater than about 150,000 psi;
an inner layer, wherein the inner layer is disposed between the exterior layer and the tooth-contact layer, wherein the inner layer comprises a co-polyester; and
wherein the multilayer dental appliance has a thickness of about 600 μm to about 1000 μm.