US 12,465,461 B2
Methods of forming wire attachment dental appliances
Douglas Brandt, San Pablo (CR); and Rick M. Matty, Scotts Valley, CA (US)
Assigned to Align Technology, Inc., San Jose, CA (US)
Filed by Align Technology, Inc., San Jose, CA (US)
Filed on Apr. 17, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/638,667.
Application 18/638,667 is a division of application No. 17/444,790, filed on Aug. 10, 2021, granted, now 11,992,386.
Application 17/444,790 is a division of application No. 16/235,490, filed on Dec. 28, 2018, granted, now 11,083,545, issued on Aug. 10, 2021.
Application 16/235,490 is a continuation of application No. 15/063,062, filed on Mar. 7, 2016, granted, now 10,172,693, issued on Jan. 8, 2019.
Application 15/063,062 is a continuation of application No. 13/658,482, filed on Oct. 23, 2012, granted, now 9,277,972, issued on Mar. 8, 2016.
Application 13/658,482 is a continuation of application No. 12/407,072, filed on Mar. 19, 2009, granted, now 8,292,617, issued on Oct. 23, 2012.
Prior Publication US 2024/0261065 A1, Aug. 8, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A61C 7/20 (2006.01); A61C 5/00 (2017.01); A61C 7/00 (2006.01); A61C 7/08 (2006.01); A61C 7/12 (2006.01); A61C 7/14 (2006.01); B21F 1/00 (2006.01); B33Y 80/00 (2015.01)
CPC A61C 7/20 (2013.01) [A61C 5/007 (2013.01); A61C 7/002 (2013.01); A61C 7/08 (2013.01); A61C 7/12 (2013.01); A61C 7/146 (2013.01); B21F 1/00 (2013.01); B33Y 80/00 (2014.12); Y10T 29/49568 (2015.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of forming a wire attachment appliance, the method comprising:
forming a shell having a plurality of cavities, the shell having an attachment material reservoir within a first cavity of the plurality of cavities, wherein the attachment material reservoir is positioned such that, when the wire attachment appliance is positioned on a dental arch, an attachment material provided within the attachment material reservoir is arranged to contact a surface of a particular tooth for attaching a wire to the particular tooth;
forming two wire attachment members on an interior surface of two second cavities of the plurality of cavities, wherein the two wire attachment members are separate from and attached to the shell wherein the first cavity is between the two second cavities along the dental arch; and
after forming the shell and the two wire attachment members in the two second cavities, coupling the wire with the two wire attachment members such that the wire runs across, and is positioned within, the first cavity.