IP Library Patent Application 11542691
Patent Application
App. No. 11/542,691

Tooth movement tracking system

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US None
App. No.
11/542,691
Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for determining movement of a tooth model from a first position to a second position by identifying one or more common features on the tooth model; detecting the position of the common features on the tooth model at the first position; detecting the position of the common features on the tooth model at the second position; and determining a difference between the position of each common feature at the first and second positions.

Claims (32)

1 . A method for determining movement of a tooth model from a first position to a: second position, comprising:

identifying one or more common features on the tooth model;

detecting the position of the common features on the tooth model at the first position;

detecting the position of the common features on the tooth model at the second position; and

determining a difference between the position of each common feature at the first and second positions.

2 . The method of claim 1 , comprising:

forming the model of the tooth at the first position; and

forming the model of the tooth at the second position.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the position detecting comprises mechanically sensing the position.

4 . The method of claim 3 , comprising using handheld 3D digitizers.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the position detecting comprises chamfer matching.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the position detecting comprises sparkling.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the position detecting comprises laser marking a tooth model.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the position detecting comprises marking an FACC line.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the position detecting comprises manually measuring the difference between first and second positions.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the position detecting comprises setting up a wax model.

11 . A system for determining movement of a tooth model from a first position to a second position, comprising:

means for identifying one or more common features on the tooth model;

means for detecting the position of the common features on the tooth model at the first position;

means for detecting the position of the common features on the tooth model at the second position; and

means for determining a difference between the position of each common feature at the first and second positions.

12 . The system of claim 11 , comprising:

means for forming the model of the tooth at the first position; and

means for forming the model of the tooth at the second position.

13 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the position detecting comprises mechanically sensing the position.

14 . The system of claim 13 , comprising using handheld 3D digitizers.

15 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the position detecting means comprises chamfer matching means.

16 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the position detecting means comprises sparkling means.

17 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the position detecting means comprises means for laser marking a tooth model.

18 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the position detecting means comprises means for marking an FACC line.

19 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the position detecting means comprises means for manually measuring the difference between first and second positions.

20 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the position detecting means comprises a jig for wax model set-up.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 9, 2008
From: WEN, HUAFENG
To: ORTHOCLEAR HOLDINGS, INC.
Reel/Frame 020778/0375 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 9, 2008
From: ORTHOCLEAR HOLDINGS, INC.; ORTHOCLEAR, INC.; ORTHOCLEAR PAKISTAN PVT LTD.
To: ALIGN TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 020778/0482 →