Patent · US Active

Multilayer dental appliances and related methods and systems

US9655691B2 · kind B2 · utility

129Cited by

156References

31Claims

0Family size

Assignee

Align Technology, Inc. · US

Inventors

Chunhua Li · Cupertino, US
Yan Chen · Cupertino, US
Heinz Pudleiner · Krefeld, DE
Klaus Meyer · Dormagen, DE
Joerg Nickel · Dormagen, DE
Craig Pehlert · Lenox, US

Key dates

Filing date	May 14, 2012
Grant date	May 23, 2017
Priority date	—
Expiry date	Dec 20, 2032

Classification

Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
CPC primaryY10T428/31786
WIPO fieldSurface technology, coating
WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

A dental appliance for positioning a patient's teeth includes a removable orthodontic tooth positioning appliance having teeth receiving cavities shaped to directly receive at least some of the patient's teeth and apply a resilient positioning force to the patient's teeth. The appliance includes a hard polymer layer having a hard polymer layer elastic modulus disposed between a first soft polymer layer having a first soft polymer layer elastic modulus and a second soft polymer layer having a second soft polymer layer elastic modulus. The hard polymer layer elastic modulus is greater than each of the first soft polymer layer elastic modulus and the second soft polymer layer elastic modulus. At least one of the first soft polymer layer and the second soft polymer layer has a flexural modulus of greater than about 35,000 psi.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.