US 12,144,704 B2
Energy-delivering orthodontic aligner systems
Bruce Cam, San Jose, CA (US); Yaser Shanjani, Milpitas, CA (US); and Jun Sato, San Jose, CA (US)
Assigned to Align Technology, Inc., San Jose, CA (US)
Filed by Align Technology, Inc., San Jose, CA (US)
Filed on Nov. 21, 2019, as Appl. No. 16/691,141.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/770,494, filed on Nov. 21, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2020/0155276 A1, May 21, 2020
Int. Cl. A61C 7/08 (2006.01); A61F 7/00 (2006.01); A61F 7/12 (2006.01); A61N 1/05 (2006.01); A61N 1/40 (2006.01); A61N 5/06 (2006.01)
CPC A61C 7/08 (2013.01) [A61F 7/12 (2013.01); A61N 1/0548 (2013.01); A61N 1/40 (2013.01); A61N 5/0603 (2013.01); A61N 5/0613 (2013.01); A61F 2007/0017 (2013.01); A61N 2005/0606 (2013.01); A61N 2005/063 (2013.01); A61N 2005/0662 (2013.01); A61N 2005/0667 (2013.01)] 38 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An aligner system comprising a sequence of aligners for treating a dental arch according to a treatment plan, the aligner system comprising:
a first aligner of the sequence of aligners, the first aligner comprising:
a first polymer shell comprising first teeth receiving cavities configured to fit on the dental arch having a first initial tooth arrangement according to a first stage of the treatment plan, the first teeth receiving cavities having a geometry corresponding to a first target tooth arrangement according to the first stage of the treatment plan, the first target tooth arrangement being different than the first initial tooth arrangement, wherein the first polymer shell has a shape that is customized to apply a first local force to a first region of the dental arch to move one or more first teeth of the dental arch from the first initial tooth arrangement toward the first target tooth arrangement according to the first stage of the treatment plan; and
a first controller configured to cause a first heating element to emit heat energy from a first heat output region of the first polymer shell according to a first predetermined heating profile, wherein the first heat output region is arranged to heat a first target region of the dental arch that is associated with moving the one or more first teeth of the dental arch, wherein the heat energy from the first heat output region has a first dose to interact with tissue associated with the one or more first teeth to improve an outcome of the first stage of the treatment plan; and
a second aligner of the sequence of aligners, the second aligner comprising:
a second polymer shell comprising second teeth receiving cavities configured to fit on the dental arch having a second initial tooth arrangement according to a second stage of the treatment plan, the second teeth receiving cavities having a geometry corresponding to a second target tooth arrangement according to the second stage of the treatment plan, the second target tooth arrangement being different than the second initial tooth arrangement, wherein the second polymer shell has a shape that is customized to apply a second local force to a second region of the dental arch to move one or more second teeth of the dental arch from the second initial tooth arrangement toward the second target tooth arrangement according to the second stage of the treatment plan; and
a second controller configured to cause a second heating element to emit heat energy from a second heat output region of the second polymer shell according to a second predetermined heating profile, wherein the second heat output region is arranged to heat a second target region of the dental arch that is associated with moving the one or more second teeth of the dental arch, the one or more second teeth being different from the one or more first teeth, wherein the heat energy from the second heat output region has a second dose to interact with tissue associated with the one or more second teeth to improve an outcome of the second stage of the treatment plan;
wherein the second aligner is after the first aligner in the sequence of aligners.
 
19. An orthodontic aligner system comprising a sequence of aligners for treating a dental arch according to a treatment plan, the orthodontic aligner system comprising:
a first aligner of the sequence of aligners, the first aligner comprising:
a first polymer shell comprising first teeth receiving cavities configured to fit on the dental arch having an first initial tooth arrangement, the first teeth receiving cavities having a geometry corresponding to a first target tooth arrangement according to a first stage of the treatment plan, the first target tooth arrangement being different than the first initial tooth arrangement, wherein the first polymer shell has a shape that is customized to apply a first local force to a first region of the dental arch to move one or more first teeth of the dental arch from the first initial tooth arrangement toward the first target tooth arrangement according to the first stage of the treatment plan; and
a first controller configured to cause a first heating element to emit heat energy from a first heat output region of the first polymer shell according to a first predetermined heating profile, wherein the first heat output region is arranged to heat a first target region of the dental arch for moving the one or more first teeth of the dental arch, wherein the heat energy from the first heat output region has a first dose to interact with tissue associated with the one or more first teeth to improve an outcome of the first stage of the treatment plan, and wherein the first controller is configured for feedback control of a temperature of the first heat output region; and
a second aligner of the sequence of aligners, the second aligner comprising:
a second polymer shell comprising second teeth receiving cavities configured to fit on the dental arch having a second initial tooth arrangement, the second teeth receiving cavities having a geometry corresponding to a second target tooth arrangement according to a second stage of the treatment plan, the second target tooth arrangement being different than the second initial tooth arrangement, wherein the second polymer shell has a shape that is customized to apply a second local force to a second region of the dental arch to move one or more second teeth of the dental arch from the second initial tooth arrangement toward the second target tooth arrangement according to the second stage of the treatment plan; and
a second controller configured to cause a second heating element to emit heat energy from a second heat output region of the second polymer shell according to a second predetermined heating profile, wherein the second heat output region is arranged to heat a second target region of the dental arch for moving the one or more second teeth of the dental arch, the one or more second teeth different from the one or more first teeth, wherein the heat energy from the second heat output region has a second dose to interact with tissue associated with the one or more second teeth to improve an outcome of the second stage of the treatment plan, and wherein the second controller is configured for feedback control of a temperature of the second heat output region
wherein the second aligner is after the first aligner in the sequence of aligners.
 
29. A method of orthodontically repositioning a patient's teeth using a sequence of aligners for treating the patient's teeth according to a treatment plan, the method comprising:
positioning a first aligner of the sequence of aligners on a patient's dental arch to apply a first local force to a first region of the patient's dental arch to move one or more first teeth of the patient's dental arch, wherein the first aligner comprises a first polymer shell including first teeth receiving cavities configured to fit on the patient's dental arch having an initial tooth arrangement, the first teeth receiving cavities having a geometry corresponding to a first target tooth arrangement according to a first stage of the treatment plan, the first target tooth arrangement being different than the initial tooth arrangement, and wherein the first polymer shell has a shape that is customized to apply the first local force to move the one or more first teeth of the patient's dental arch from the initial tooth arrangement toward the first target tooth arrangement according to the first stage of the treatment plan;
causing, by a first controller, a first heating element to emit heat energy from a first heat output region of the first aligner according to a first predetermined heating profile, wherein the first heat output region is arranged to heat a first target region of the patient's dental arch that is associated with moving the one or more first teeth of the patient's dental arch, wherein the heat energy applied from the first heat output region has a first dose to interact with tissue associated with the one or more first teeth to improve an outcome of the first stage of the treatment plan;
positioning a second aligner of the sequence of aligners on the patient's dental arch to apply a second local force to a second region of the patient's dental arch to move one or more second teeth of the patient's dental arch, the one or more second teeth different than the one or more first teeth wherein the second aligner comprises a second polymer shell including second teeth receiving cavities configured to fit on the patient's dental arch, the second teeth receiving cavities having a geometry corresponding to a second target tooth arrangement according to a second stage of the treatment plan, the second target tooth arrangement being different than the first target tooth arrangement, wherein the second polymer shell has a shape that is customized to apply the second local force to move the one or more second teeth of the patient's dental arch from the first target tooth arrangement toward the second target tooth arrangement according to the second stage of the treatment plan; and
causing, by a second controller, a second heating element to emit heat energy from a second heat output region of the second aligner according to a second predetermined heating profile, wherein the first heat output region is arranged to heat a second target region of the patient's dental arch that is associated with moving the one or more second teeth of the patient's dental arch, wherein the heat energy applied from the second heat output region has a second dose to interact with tissue associated with the one or more second teeth to improve an outcome of the second stage of the treatment plan;
wherein the second aligner is after the first aligner in the sequence of aligners.