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:
May. 25, 2004
Filed:
Sep. 26, 2001
Ming-Lai Lai, Arcadia, CA (US);
Andrew W. Chen, Woodbury, MN (US);
3M Innovative Properties Company, St. Paul, MN (US);
Abstract
An effective orthodontic treatment is determined by storing an original position model of a patient's teeth. The patient's teeth are then displayed according to the original position model, and appliances are selected according to a proposed orthodontic treatment. A final position model of the patient's teeth is also stored, and the selected appliances are displayed based upon the final position model. A finite element analysis is performed based on the proposed orthodontic treatment and on a movement of the patient's teeth from the final position to the original position in order to determine stresses, strains, forces, and/or moments on the appliances and on the patient's teeth and bone. If the stresses, strains, forces, and/or moments are not optimized, a new orthodontic treatment is proposed and the process is repeated.