Align Technology, Inc.

Huntsman Petrochemical Corporation

Jennifer Chavez

Peter Webber

Lance Robert Pickens

Chunhua Li

Srinivas Kaza

Jun Sato

Siobhan O'leary

Viswanath Meenakshisundaram

Brett E Kelly

Shawn Stromenger

Michael Christopher Cole

Peter Dorfinger

Yan Chen

Eric Yau

Tzishing Jesse Lim

Luyao Cai

Blaine Carter

Zhou (Jonelle) Yu

Robert Allison Grigsby

Umesh Upendra Choudhary

Jingjun Zhou

Jessica Kalay Su

Zhou Yu

Eugene P Wiltz

This disclosure provides low-viscosity resins for producing polymers with properties suitable for use in various mechanical appliances, such as orthodontic appliances (e.g., aligners). The low-viscosity resins may be photo-curable and can be used with direct fabrication methods and equipment. In various embodiments, the polymeric materials produced from the low-viscosity resins described herein have high toughness while remaining resistant to stress relaxation. Low-viscosity, photo-curable resins described herein have reduced hydrogen bonding in comparison to traditional materials (e.g., materials having high urethane content) used in orthodontic appliances.

Low viscosity photo-curable resins for the direct fabrication of orthodontic appliances

Systems for post-processing additively manufactured objects are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a system includes a rotor configured to support a plurality of additively manufactured objects having excess material thereon, an actuator configured to spin the rotor so as to remove the excess material from the plurality of additively manufactured objects, and an energy source configured to apply energy to the plurality of additively manufactured objects to selectively alter a material property of a portion of each of the plurality of additively manufactured objects.

Systems for post-processing additively manufactured objects

Methods of forming dental apparatuses, such as palatal expanders. Methods may include photopolymerizing a palatal region and left and right tooth engagement regions of a palatal expander. Junction regions coupling the palatal region and left and right tooth engagement regions may be formed using different combinations of first and second photo-curable materials in a layer-by-layer fashion such that each layer has a different ratio of first and second polymer materials. This can provide gradual material transitions and a robust bond between the palatal region and each of the left and right tooth engagement regions.

Modular fabrication of dental apparatuses

Systems, methods, and devices for post-processing additively manufactured objects are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a system includes a plurality of containers configured to receive a plurality of additively manufactured object having excess material thereon. The system can include a rotor having a central shaft and a plurality of arms, each arm having a first end and a second end opposite the first end. The first end of each arm can be coupled to the central shaft and a second end of each arm can be coupled to a respective container of the plurality of containers. The system can also include an actuator configured to spin the rotor so as to remove the excess material from the plurality of additively manufactured objects. The system can further include at least one heat source carried on the rotor to heat the excess material to decrease a viscosity thereof.

Systems, methods, and devices for post-processing additively manufactured objects are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a method includes receiving a plurality of additively manufactured objects having excess material thereon. The method can include removing the excess material from the plurality of additively manufactured objects by rotating the plurality of additively manufactured objects. The method can also include adjusting an environmental temperature while rotating the plurality of additively manufactured objects according to a dynamic temperature profile that facilitates removal of the excess material from the plurality of additively manufactured objects. The dynamic temperature profile can include (a) a first temperature configured to decrease a viscosity of the excess material, and (b) a second temperature configured to increase a stiffness of the plurality of additively manufactured objects.

Systems and methods for post-processing additively manufactured objects

Systems, methods, and devices for post-processing additively manufactured objects are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a method includes receiving a plurality of additively manufactured objects having excess material thereon. The method can include removing the excess material from the plurality of additively manufactured objects by rotating the plurality of additively manufactured objects. The method can also include receiving sensor data indicative of a cleaning status of the plurality of additively manufactured objects. The method can further include adjusting, based on the sensor data, an operational parameter that enhances removal of the excess material from the plurality of additively manufactured objects.

Methods for post-processing additively manufactured objects with sensor feedback

This disclosure provides polymeric materials comprising polymer crystals, methods and resins for making the same, and objects and appliances made from said polymeric materials. Polymeric materials having polymer crystals provide favorable properties, such as enhanced durability and rigidity. This disclosure also provides polymeric materials comprising a crystalline phase comprising at least one polymer crystal, as well as an amorphous phase comprising at least one amorphous polymer. The crystalline phase can confer rigidity to the polymeric material, while the amorphous phase can confer elasticity and flexibility.

Crystallizable resins

Provided herein are curable compositions for use in a high temperature lithography-based photopolymerization process, and telechelic block polymers and methods of using such polymers in curable compositions to produce medical devices such as orthodontic appliances comprising the polymeric compositions comprising the telechelic block polymers.

Photopolymerizable block polymers and methods of producing and using the same

A support is coupled to an appliance to decrease warpage. The support may comprise a plurality of extensions coupled to the appliance to decrease warpage. The extensions can be coupled to the appliance at one or more of many locations, such as on an occlusal surface, a wall, an edge or an interior of the appliance. In some embodiments, the extensions are coupled to walls of the appliance such as a buccal wall and a lingual wall, and the extensions can be coupled to the walls of the appliance near edges of the walls, such as a gingivally facing edges of the walls that are oriented toward the gingiva when the appliance is worn.

Various structured supports for 3D printed aligners/mouth pieces

Systems, methods, and devices for post-processing additively manufactured objects are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a method includes receiving a plurality of additively manufactured objects on a rotor, the plurality of additively manufactured objects having excess material thereon. The method can include removing the excess material from the plurality of additively manufactured objects by rotating the plurality of additively manufactured objects via the rotor. The method can further include applying energy to the plurality of additively manufactured objects to cure a portion of each additively manufactured object while the plurality of additively manufactured objects are on the rotor.

Methods for cleaning and post-curing additively manufactured objects

A support is coupled to an appliance to decrease warpage. The support may comprise a plurality of extensions coupled to the appliance to decrease warpage. The extensions can be coupled to the appliance at one or more of many locations, such as on an occlusal surface, a wall, an edge or an interior of the appliance. In some embodiments, the extensions are coupled to walls of the appliance such as a buccal wall and a lingual wall, and the extensions can be coupled to the walls of the appliance near edges of the walls, such as gingivally facing edges of the walls that are oriented toward the gingiva when the appliance is worn.

Growing community of inventors

Fremont, CA, United States of America

Jennifer Chavez