Patent ID: 11937991
Assignee: ALIGN TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Field: Medical technology (Instruments)
Classification: CPC A | IPC A

Claim 30:
31. An aligner system comprising:
an attachment placement device comprising:
a frame configured to extend over at least a portion of a dental arch;
a plurality of attachment supports, wherein each attachment support is configured to extend over a buccal surface of the dental arch when the frame is worn over the dental arch;
a plurality of aligner attachments, wherein each aligner attachment is frangibly connected to one of the attachment supports of the plurality of attachment supports;
a plurality of registration anchors extending from the frame, wherein adjacent registration anchors of the plurality of registration anchors are separated by a gap portion of the frame that is configured to suspend over one or more teeth of the dental arch such that a space is between the gap portion and the one or more teeth when the attachment placement device is placed on the dental arch, wherein the plurality of registration anchors is configured to hold the aligner attachment against a tooth surface at a predetermined position when the frame is worn over the dental arch; and
a plurality of retention supports extending from the frame, wherein the plurality of retention supports is configured to maintain the frame over the dental arch when the frame is worn over the dental arch, wherein each of the plurality of retention supports is separate from and located between adjacent registration anchors of the plurality of registration anchors, wherein each of the retention supports includes an extension arm and a tooth contact portion, wherein the tooth contact portion is shaped to contact one or more teeth of the dental arch, and the extension arm couples the tooth contact portion to the frame, wherein at least part of the extension arm has a smaller width than the tooth contact portion; and

an aligner shaped to interact with a surface of the aligner attachment and to impart forces on the dental arch in accordance with a treatment plan when the aligner attachment is attached to the tooth surface.