Creating a positive mold of a patient's dentition for use in forming an orthodontic appliance
US6210162A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 14, 1999 |
| Grant date | Apr 3, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 14, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61C13/0004
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A positive mold for use in creating an orthodontic appliance is produced by obtaining a digital dentition model, such as a 3D geometric surface model or a 3D volumetric image model, that defines the shape of an orthodontic appliance and then altering the digital dentition model to remove a portion that does not affect the shape of the orthodontic appliance. The altered digital dentition model then is used to construct a positive mold for the orthodontic appliance. Processing circuitry, such as a programmed computer, is used to obtain and alter the digital dentition model. A rapid prototyping device, such as a stereolithography machine, is commonly used to construct the positive mold.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.