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:
Aug. 05, 2025
Filed:
Apr. 04, 2023
Align Technology, Inc., San Jose, CA (US);
Avi Kopelman, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Align Technology, Inc., San Jose, CA (US);
Abstract
Orthodontic appliances are provided. In some embodiments, an orthodontic appliance includes a polymeric shell having a plurality of teeth-receiving cavities. The polymeric shell can include a discontinuity that is configured to deform when the orthodontic appliance is worn on a patient's teeth. The orthodontic appliance can also include an elastic member having a first portion directly coupled to a first location on the polymeric shell, and a second portion directly coupled to a second location on the polymeric shell. When the orthodontic appliance is worn on the patient's teeth, the elastic member can be configured to cause an interaction with the deformed discontinuity, the interaction eliciting a movement of one or more of the patient's teeth to change a size of an interproximal space between the patient's teeth.