DR. ERIC KUO, DDS
Dentist at Union St, San Francisco, CA

6524101, Feb 25, 2003

Jul 14, 2000

09/616830

Loc X. Phan - Milpitas CA
Muhammad Chishti - Sunnyvale CA
Ross J. Miller - Sunnyvale CA
H. Robert Vandenberg - San Ramon CA
Eric Kuo - San Francisco CA

Align Technology, Inc. - Santa Clara CA

A61C 300

433 6, 433 24

The present invention provides improved devices, systems and methods for repositioning teeth from an initial tooth arrangement to a final tooth arrangement. Repositioning is accomplished with a system comprising a series of polymeric appliances configured to receive the teeth in a cavity and incrementally reposition individual teeth in a series of successive steps. This is accomplished by applying force to specific surfaces of the teeth through stiffness of the appliance. However, such stiffness creates limitations in ease of use, patient compliance, and overall cost in material, manufacturing labor and treatment time. To overcome these limitations, the present invention utilizes polymeric or other material appliances with portions differing in rigidity or stiffness. Alternatively, elastic moduluses may differ from one appliance to the next in a successive series to accomplish various treatment goals. Thus, the systems and methods of the present invention provide the design, production and use of such multiple stiffness positioning appliances in orthodontic treatment.

6572372, Jun 3, 2003

Jul 14, 2000

09/616222

Loc X. Phan - Milpitas CA
Muhammad Chishti - Sunnyvale CA
Ross J. Miller - Sunnyvale CA
H. Robert Van Den Berg - San Ramon CA
Eric Kuo - San Francisco CA
Jae Hyun Ahn - San Francisco CA

Align Technology, Inc. - Santa Clara CA

A61C 700

433 6, 433 18

Traditional orthodontic treatment often involves the use of basic repositioning devices, such as braces, and the use of supplementary devices, components or accessories to achieve desired end results. Such components may be mounted on fixed, non-removable devices or they may be part of a removable appliance typically worn prior to the application of the fixed devices. As with traditional treatment, it may be desired to utilize similar components when repositioning teeth with removable elastic repositioning appliances. Due to the nature of elastic appliances, such components may take a variety of forms ranging from readily available traditional accessories to specially created devices. Thus, traditional components may be mounted on or embedded in an elastic appliance, or the appliance may be formed to provide similar components. Likewise, the appliance may be modified to provide additional features for specific orthodontic treatments.

2003019, Oct 9, 2003

Apr 7, 2003

10/409409

Loc Phan - Milpitas CA, US
Muhammad Chishti - Sunnyvale CA, US
Ross Miller - Sunnyvale CA, US
H. Van Den Berg - San Ramon CA, US
Eric Kuo - San Francisco CA, US
Jae Ahn - San Francisco CA, US

ALIGN TECHNOLOGY, INC. A Delaware Corporation - Santa Clara CA

A61C003/00

433/006000, 433/019000

Traditional orthodontic treatment often involves the use of basic repositioning devices, such as braces, and the use of supplementary devices, components or accessories to achieve desired end results. Such components may be mounted on fixed, non-removable devices or they may be part of a removable appliance typically worn prior to the application of the fixed devices. As with traditional treatment, it may be desired to utilize similar components when repositioning teeth with removable elastic repositioning appliances. Due to the nature of elastic appliances, such components may take a variety of forms ranging from readily available traditional accessories to specially created devices. Thus, traditional components may be mounted on or embedded in an elastic appliance, or the appliance may be formed to provide similar components. Likewise, the appliance may be modified to provide additional features for specific orthodontic treatments.

6948936, Sep 27, 2005

Apr 24, 2003

10/424370

Ross J. Miller - Sunnyvale CA, US
Eric Kuo - San Francisco CA, US
Daniel E. Falvey - Tracy CA, US
Andrew H. Trosien - San Francisco CA, US

Align Technology, Inc. - Santa Clara CA

A61C009/00

433214, 433 71

The present invention provides methods and devices for determining an axis of upper and lower jaw articulation of a patient and modeling jaw movement about such an axis, particularly with the use of computerized visual images. The methods comprise providing digital data sets of tooth and bite configuration information which may be used to determine an estimated condylar axis of rotation for a patient. A number of data sets may be acquired and utilized for such estimations. Data sets may be obtained with the use of bite registers. Such registers may be formed by a number of methods and device designs of the present invention. The resulting digital data sets and axis of articulation may then be utilized to generate animated visual images of a patient's jaws in various bite configurations throughout a given rotation around the determined axis. Accuracy of such dynamic imaging, in addition to the determination of the location of the condylar axis, may increase with the number of bite configurations recorded throughout the rotation.

2007020, Sep 6, 2007

May 7, 2007

11/745211

Eric Kuo - San Francisco CA, US
Loc Phan - Milpitas CA, US

Align Technology, Inc. - Santa Clara CA

A61C 7/08

433006000

The present invention provides devices, systems and methods for orthodontic treatment using elastic repositioning appliances while concurrently providing dental and periodontal therapies. Such therapies are traditionally provided with the use of a variety of accessories and devices which are applied when the repositioning appliance is removed from the patient's mouth. The present invention eliminates the need for such removal and additional devices by incorporating these therapies into the repositioning appliance.

2003021, Nov 13, 2003

Apr 28, 2003

10/426157

Eric Kuo - San Francisco CA, US
Loc Phan - Milpitas CA, US

ALIGN TECHNOLOGY, INC. - Santa Clara CA

A61C003/00

433/006000, 433/215000

The present invention provides devices, systems and methods for orthodontic treatment using elastic repositioning appliances while concurrently providing dental and periodontal therapies. Such therapies are traditionally provided with the use of a variety of accessories and devices which are applied when the repositioning appliance is removed from the patient's mouth. The present invention eliminates the need for such removal and additional devices by incorporating these therapies into the repositioning appliance.

7121825, Oct 17, 2006

Mar 12, 2004

10/799432

Muhammad Chishti - Washington DC, US
Loc X. Phan - Milpitas CA, US
Ross J. Miller - Sunnyvale CA, US
Eric Kuo - San Francisco CA, US

Align Technology, Inc. - Santa Clara CA

A61C 7/00

433 6

An improved dental appliance system, and methods for using and fabricating the improved appliance, including a polymeric overlay or shell having a teeth-receiving cavity formed therein and a wire mounted on or embedded in the polymeric shell. The dental appliance having the necessary stiffness or strength to firmly secure the appliance on the teeth and provide controlled forces required for repositioning the teeth, until such time as removal of the appliance is desired. The appliance may be configured for use with a removal mechanisim. The removal mechanism undergoes a state change stimulated by an environmental stimulus or environmental switch.