IP Library Granted Patent US 11,648,090
Granted Patent B2
US 11,648,090 · App. 17/858,825 · Granted May 16, 2023

Multilayer polymer sheets

Inventors: Chunhua Li (Cupertino, CA); Yan Chen (Cupertino, CA); Heinz Pudleiner (Krefeld, DE); Klaus Meyer (Dormagen, DE); Joerg Nickel (Dormagen, DE); Craig Pehlert (Lenox, MA)
Assignee: Align Technology, Inc.
A61C7/08B29C51/14B32B7/022B32B25/08B32B25/20B32B27/08B32B27/281B32B27/285B32B27/286B32B27/308B32B27/32B32B27/34B32B27/36B32B27/365B32B27/40A61C7/00A61C13/00A61C19/06A61F5/56A63B71/085B29K2067/00B29K2075/00B29K2995/007B29K2995/0026B29K2995/0077B29K2995/0082B29L2031/753B32B25/14B32B27/283B32B27/30B32B27/302B32B2250/03B32B2250/24B32B2250/40B32B2274/00B32B2307/40B32B2307/412B32B2307/50B32B2307/51B32B2307/536B32B2307/54B32B2307/546B32B2319/00B32B2323/00B32B2323/04B32B2323/10B32B2323/16B32B2333/04B32B2367/00B32B2371/00B32B2375/00B32B2377/00B32B2383/00B32B2535/00B32B2555/00Y10T428/31551Y10T428/31565Y10T428/31786
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,648,090
App. No.
17/858,825
Granted
May 16, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

Multilayer polymer sheets are provided, as well as related methods, systems, and appliances.

Claims (19)

1. A method of making a multilayer dental aligner for repositioning a patient's teeth from a first arrangement toward a second arrangement, the method comprising:

providing a multilayer sheet comprising three polymer layers, the three polymer layers comprising:

a first layer consisting of a co-polyester, the co-polyester having a flexural modulus greater than 150,000 psi, an elongation at yield of greater than 4%, a tensile modulus greater than 150,000 psi, a tensile strength at yield of 4000-6500 psi, and an elongation at break of greater than 70%; and

a second layer consisting of a thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer, the thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer having an ultimate tensile strength of greater than 5000 psi, an elongation at break of greater than 200%, and a hardness of 60A to 85D; and

a third layer;

wherein the co-polyester has an elastic modulus greater than the thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer;

providing a mold;

thermoforming the multilayer sheet over the mold to form a plurality of tooth-receiving cavities configured to receive and reposition the patient's teeth from the first arrangement toward the second arrangement; and

trimming excess material from the thermoformed multilayer sheet to form the multilayer dental aligner.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the co-polyester has a light transmission between 400 nm and 800 nm of greater than about 75%.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the third layer comprises a same or different co-polyester.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first layer is disposed adjacent to the third layer.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first layer is coextruded with or laminated to the third layer.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the multilayer sheet further comprises a fourth layer comprising a same or different thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the first layer and the third layer are disposed between the second layer and the fourth layer.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer comprises a compression set at about 70° C. of greater than 40% after 24 hours.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer comprises a light transmission between 400 nm and 800 nm of greater than about 75%.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the co-polyester has a stress relaxation at 24 hours in a wet environment of between 90-100% humidity of greater than 10%.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first layer is thicker than the second layer.

Assignments (5)
CONFIRMATORY ASSIGNMENT Recorded May 19, 2023
From: COVESTRO DEUTSCHLAND AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT; COVESTRO LLC
To: ALIGN TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 063707/0560 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 15, 2022
From: PUDLEINER, HEINZ, DR.; MEYER, KLAUS; NICKEL, JOERG
To: COVESTRO DEUTSCHLAND AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
Reel/Frame 061111/0290 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 15, 2022
From: PEHLERT, CRAIG
To: COVESTRO LLC
Reel/Frame 061111/0487 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 15, 2022
From: LI, CHUNHUA; CHEN, YAN
To: ALIGN TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 061111/0556 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 15, 2022
From: COVESTRO DEUTSCHLAND AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT; COVESTRO LLC
To: ALIGN TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 061450/0153 →
Continuity (5)
Continuation 17553590 · Dec 16, 2021
Continuation 16835101 · Mar 30, 2020
Continuation 15476655 · Mar 31, 2017
Division 13470681 · May 14, 2012
Related Publication 20220338957A1 · Oct 27, 2022
Cited By (2)
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