US 12,376,945 B2
Orthodontic appliances with discontinuities and elastics
Avi Kopelman, Palo Alto, CA (US)
Assigned to Align Technology, Inc., San Jose, CA (US)
Filed by Align Technology, Inc., San Jose, CA (US)
Filed on Apr. 4, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/295,737.
Application 18/295,737 is a continuation of application No. 16/926,432, filed on Jul. 10, 2020, granted, now 11,648,089.
Application 16/926,432 is a continuation of application No. 14/609,970, filed on Jan. 30, 2015, granted, now 10,758,323, issued on Sep. 1, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/934,657, filed on Jan. 31, 2014.
Prior Publication US 2023/0310122 A1, Oct. 5, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A61C 7/08 (2006.01); A61C 7/14 (2006.01); A61C 7/00 (2006.01)
CPC A61C 7/08 (2013.01) [A61C 7/14 (2013.01); A61C 7/002 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An orthodontic appliance comprising:
a single unitary polymeric shell comprising a plurality of teeth-receiving cavities, wherein the polymeric shell comprises a discontinuity that is configured to deform when the orthodontic appliance is worn on a patient's teeth; and
an elastic member having a first portion directly coupled to a first location on the polymeric shell, and a second portion directly coupled to a second location on the polymeric shell, wherein when the orthodontic appliance is worn on the patient's teeth, the elastic member is configured to cause an interaction with the deformed discontinuity, the interaction eliciting a movement of one or more of the patient's teeth to change a size of an interproximal space between the patient's teeth.