Patent ID: 8439672
Filing Date: 2013-05-14
Classification: A61B,A61C,B33Y

Abstract:
1. A method of determining a geometry of an orthodontic appliance for moving a tooth from an initial position to a target position, comprising: establishing the initial position of the tooth by representing the tooth with digital data; determining the target position of the tooth in a treatment plan comprising manipulating the digital data representing the tooth; determining, using a computer, a sweep geometry cavity and an associated movement vector for moving the tooth from the initial position to the target position, the sweep geometry cavity being configured to accommodate the union of all positions of the tooth between the initial position and the target position without interference between the sweep geometry cavity and the union of all positions of the tooth between the initial position and the target position; modifying the sweep geometry cavity to interface with the tooth to generate movement of the tooth along the movement vector; and outputting, from a computer, data for generating an orthodontic appliance for moving the tooth from the initial position to the target position, the appliance having a tooth-receiving cavity geometry defined by the modified sweep geometry cavity.