US 12,465,459 B2
Direct fabrication of orthodontic appliances with elastic regions
Avi Kopelman, Palo Alto, CA (US); and Jeeyoung Choi, Sunnyvale, CA (US)
Assigned to Align Technology, Inc., San Jose, CA (US)
Filed by Align Technology, Inc., San Jose, CA (US)
Filed on Oct. 9, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/483,315.
Application 16/786,353 is a division of application No. 15/202,392, filed on Jul. 5, 2016, granted, now 10,555,792, issued on Feb. 11, 2020.
Application 18/483,315 is a continuation of application No. 16/786,353, filed on Feb. 10, 2020, granted, now 11,813,135.
Application 15/202,392 is a continuation in part of application No. 14/609,970, filed on Jan. 30, 2015, granted, now 10,758,323, issued on Sep. 1, 2020.
Application 15/202,392 is a continuation in part of application No. 14/610,027, filed on Jan. 30, 2015, granted, now 11,497,586, issued on Nov. 15, 2022.
Application 15/202,392 is a continuation in part of application No. 14/610,060, filed on Jan. 30, 2015, granted, now 11,154,382, issued on Oct. 26, 2021.
Application 15/202,392 is a continuation in part of application No. 14/610,108, filed on Jan. 30, 2015, granted, now 11,642,198, issued on May 9, 2023.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/934,657, filed on Jan. 31, 2014.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/969,023, filed on Mar. 21, 2014.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/015,170, filed on Jun. 20, 2014.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/015,217, filed on Jun. 20, 2014.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/189,269, filed on Jul. 7, 2015.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/189,272, filed on Jul. 7, 2015.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/189,279, filed on Jul. 7, 2015.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/189,284, filed on Jul. 7, 2015.
Prior Publication US 2024/0041564 A1, Feb. 8, 2024
Int. Cl. A61C 7/00 (2006.01); A61C 7/08 (2006.01); A61C 7/14 (2006.01); G06F 30/00 (2020.01)
CPC A61C 7/002 (2013.01) [A61C 7/08 (2013.01); A61C 7/14 (2013.01); G06F 30/00 (2020.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for fabricating an orthodontic appliance, the method comprising:
directly fabricating a shell using an additive manufacturing technique, wherein the shell comprises:
an interior surface comprising a plurality of tooth-receiving cavities shaped to reposition a patient's dentition from a first arrangement toward a second arrangement,
an exterior surface disposed opposite the interior surface, and
a receptacle configured to accommodate an attachment coupled to a tooth of the patient; and
directly fabricating an elastic member joined to the shell using an additive manufacturing technique, concurrently with directly fabricating the shell, wherein the elastic member spans the receptacle, and wherein the elastic member is configured to impart a force on the attachment via the receptacle to reposition the tooth.