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:
Apr. 08, 2008
Filed:
Oct. 06, 2004
Movement of orthodontic objects along a virtual archwire within a three-dimensional (3d) environment
Richard E. Raby, North St. Paul, MN (US);
Nicholas A. Stark, Cottage Grove, MN (US);
Richard E. Raby, North St. Paul, MN (US);
Nicholas A. Stark, Cottage Grove, MN (US);
3M Innovative Properties Company, St. Paul, MN (US);
Abstract
Techniques are described for moving an orthodontic object (e.g., an orthodontic appliance and/or its associated tooth) in response to input indicative of a desired movement of the object along a virtual archwire. The movement of objects along the archwire may be used to generate a three-dimensional (3D) representation of a patient's dental arch. The manner in which the object is to be moved along the virtual archwire may be determined automatically during creation of a treatment plan for a patient, or may be determined and input by an orthodontic practitioner as part of the creation of the treatment plan.