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:
Sep. 22, 2026
Filed:
Jul. 31, 2025
Align Technology, Inc., San Jose, CA (US);
Avi Kopelman, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Shiva Sambu, Milpitas, CA (US);
Rene M. Sterental, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Eric Kuo, San Jose, CA (US);
Mauricio De Alencar Casa, São Paulo, BR;
Align Technology, Inc., San Jose, CA (US);
Abstract
Removable polymer shell appliances. An appliance may include first and second tooth engagement regions including corresponding first and second sets of teeth receiving cavities shaped to receive a patient's teeth on respective left and right sides of the patient. The appliance may include an arch region shaped to expand a dental arch of the patient according to a stage of a treatment plan. The arch region may extend between the first and second tooth engagement regions. The arch region may include one or more raised portions extending transversely across the arch region to reinforce the arch region in a transverse direction. The arch region and the first and second tooth engagement regions may be formed of the same material. The arch region may be offset in a vertical direction to form a gap between the arch region and a patent's palate when the appliance is worn over the patient's teeth.