IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,433,718
Granted Patent B2
US 12,433,718 · App. 17/621,155 · Granted Oct 7, 2025

Stress relaxation resistant orthodontic appliances

Inventor: Loc Phan (Santa Clara, CA)
Assignee: SMYLIO INC.
A61C7/08A61C13/34B29C51/002A61C2201/00B29C51/30B29L2031/753
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,433,718
App. No.
17/621,155
Granted
Oct 7, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

Orthodontic appliances formed from a material that includes an interpenetrating polymer network or semi-interpenetrating polymer network material to prevent or reduce stress relaxation of the material during use by a patient. Methods for forming orthodontic appliances from a material that includes from an interpenetrating polymer network or semi-interpenetrating polymer network material to prevent or reduce stress relaxation of the material during use by a patient.

Claims (9)

1. An orthodontic appliance comprising:

a shell shaped to receive and reposition teeth, wherein the shell comprises an interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) material formed from multiple cross-linked polymers,

wherein a plasticizing solvent is configured to leak out of the IPN material over 1-3 days so as to gradually strengthen and reduce flexibility of the shell of the orthodontic appliance over the 1-3 days.

2. The orthodontic appliance of claim 1 , wherein the plasticizing solvent is a biocompatible solvent.

3. A method for forming an orthodontic appliance that comprises i) a shell shaped to receive and reposition teeth, wherein the shell comprises an interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) material formed from multiple cross-linked polymers; and ii) a plasticizing solvent configured to leak out of the IPN material over 1-3 days so as to gradually strengthen and reduce flexibility of the shell of the orthodontic appliance over the 1-3 days, the method comprising:

obtaining a mold of a physical tooth model; and

thermoforming a thermoformable IPN material using the mold to form the orthodontic appliance; and

modifying the orthodontic appliance with the plasticizing solvent such that the orthodontic appliance is configured to slowly leak the plasticizing solvent out over 1-3 days to gradually strengthen and reduce flexibility of the IPN material and the orthodontic appliance over the 1-3 days.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the plasticizing solvent is a biocompatible solvent.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 21, 2025
From: PHAN, LOC
To: SMYLIO INC.
Reel/Frame 071779/0924 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 30, 2024
From: SMYLIO INC.
To: WESTERN ALLIANCE BANK
Reel/Frame 068456/0676 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62863868 · Jun 19, 2019
Related Publication 20220354622A1 · Nov 10, 2022
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