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:
Jun. 20, 2006
Filed:
Mar. 08, 1999
Timothy N. Jones, Mountain View, CA (US);
Muhammad Chishti, Washington, DC (US);
Huafeng Wen, Redwood Shores, CA (US);
Gregory P. Bala, San Jose, CA (US);
Timothy N. Jones, Mountain View, CA (US);
Muhammad Chishti, Washington, DC (US);
Huafeng Wen, Redwood Shores, CA (US);
Gregory P. Bala, San Jose, CA (US);
Align Technology, Inc., Sunnyvale, CA (US);
Abstract
A computer or other digital circuitry is used to assist in the creation of a digital model of an individual component, such as a tooth or gum tissue, in a patient's dentition. The computer receives a data set that forms a three-dimensional (3D) representation of the patient's dentition, applies a test to the data set to identify data elements that represent portions of the individual component, and creates a digital model of the individual component based upon the identified data elements. Many implementations require the computer to identify data elements representing a 2D cross-section of the dentition lying in a 2D plane that is roughly parallel to or roughly perpendicular to the dentition's occlusal plane. The computer analyzes the 2D cross-section to identify dentition features that represent boundaries between individual dentition components.