The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 15, 2022
Filed:
Dec. 04, 2017
Align Technology, Inc., San Jose, CA (US);
Yaser Shanjani, Sunnyvale, CA (US);
Jeremy Riley, Mountain View, CA (US);
Ryan Kimura, San Jose, CA (US);
Jun Sato, San Jose, CA (US);
Norman Su, San Jose, CA (US);
Jihua Cheng, San Jose, CA (US);
Fuming Wu, Pleasanton, CA (US);
Align Technology, Inc., San Jose, CA (US);
Abstract
Palatal expander apparatuses for expanding a patient's palate ('palatal expanders') and methods of using and making them. These palatal expanders may be configured to have a variable surface smoothness on one side (e.g., the lingual-facing surface) compared to the opposite side (e.g., the palatal-facing surface). These palatal expanders may be configured to have a varying thickness in the palatal region. These palatal expanders may be adapted for ease in removal by the patient or caregiver (e.g., including a hinged region and/or detachment region, and/or including a thinner buccal side then occlusal side, etc.).