System and method for manufacturing orthodontic device

Abstract

Embodiments of the present specification provide a system and method of manufacturing an orthodontic device. The method may include determining a baseline thickness of an orthodontic device for orthodontic treatment of a tooth of a target subject. The method may include, for each local point on a tooth of a target object, determining a movement path of the local point from an initial position of the local point to a target position of the local point. The method may further include, for each local point on the teeth of the target object, determining a target thickness of the orthodontic device corresponding to the local point based on the movement path and the baseline thickness. The method may further include directing the 3D printer to integrally manufacture the orthodontic device based on the target thickness of the orthodontic device at each local point.

Description

Cross-referencing

[0001] This specification claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 492,471, filed on March 27, 2023, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0002] This specification generally relates to the field of three-dimensional (3D) printing, and more specifically, to systems and methods for manufacturing orthodontic devices using 3D printing technology. Background Technology

[0003] 3D printing technology has been widely applied in the orthodontic market, such as in the production of orthodontic appliances (e.g., aligners, retainers, etc.). However, in current manufacturing processes, orthodontic appliances are not manufactured as a single piece. In other words, only some components of the orthodontic appliance are manufactured using 3D printing technology. Alternatively, the components of the orthodontic appliance are printed separately and then assembled into an appliance, which is both cumbersome and wasteful. Furthermore, current manufacturing processes also involve thermoforming operations using uniform thermoplastic sheets. Orthodontic appliances made from uniform thermoplastic sheets also have a uniform thickness, making it impossible to provide customized localized forces for different teeth or different local points on teeth.

[0004] Therefore, it is desirable to provide a system and method for manufacturing orthodontic appliances that can integrally manufacture orthodontic appliances with customized and uneven thickness, thereby providing customized forces to teeth and improving orthodontic results. Summary of the Invention

[0005] One aspect of this specification provides a method for manufacturing an orthodontic appliance. The method is implemented on a computing device having at least one processor and at least one storage device. The method may include determining a baseline thickness of the orthodontic appliance for orthodontic treatment of teeth of a target subject. The method may include, for each local point on the target subject's teeth, determining a movement path from an initial position of the local point to a target position of the local point. The method may further include, for each local point on the target subject's teeth, determining a target thickness of the orthodontic appliance corresponding to that local point based on the movement path and the baseline thickness. The method may further include, based on the target thickness of the orthodontic appliance at each local point, guiding a 3D printer to integrally manufacture the orthodontic appliance.

[0006] One aspect of this specification provides a system for manufacturing an orthodontic appliance. The system may include at least one storage device and at least one processor. The at least one storage device includes a set of instructions. The at least one processor is configured to communicate with the at least one storage device. When executing the set of instructions, the at least one processor is configured to guide the system to perform the following operations: The operations may include determining a baseline thickness of an orthodontic appliance for orthodontic treatment of teeth of a target subject. The operations may include, for each local point on the target subject tooth, determining a movement path from an initial position of the local point to a target position of the local point. The operations may further include, for each local point on the target subject tooth, determining a target thickness of the orthodontic appliance corresponding to the local point based on the movement path and the baseline thickness. The operations may further include, based on the target thickness of the orthodontic appliance at each local point, guiding a 3D printer to integrally manufacture the orthodontic appliance.

[0007] One aspect of embodiments of this specification provides a non-transitory computer-readable medium. The medium may include executable instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, instruct at least one processor to perform a method of manufacturing an orthodontic appliance. The method may include determining a baseline thickness of an orthodontic appliance for orthodontic treatment of teeth of a target subject. The method may include, for each local point on the target subject's teeth, determining a movement path from an initial position of the local point to a target position of the local point. The method may further include, for each local point on the target subject's teeth, determining a target thickness of the orthodontic appliance corresponding to that local point based on the movement path and the baseline thickness. The method may further include, based on the target thickness of the orthodontic appliance at each local point, guiding a 3D printer to integrally manufacture the orthodontic appliance.

[0008] Some of the additional features of this application will be described in the following description. These additional features will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the study of the following description and the accompanying drawings, or from an understanding of the production or operation of the embodiments. The features of this application can be implemented and achieved through practice or by using various aspects of the methods, tools, and combinations set forth in the detailed examples discussed below. Attached Figure Description

[0009] This application will be further described through exemplary embodiments. These exemplary embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. These embodiments are non-limiting exemplary embodiments, in which the same numbers in the figures denote similar structures, wherein:

[0010] Figure 1 These are exemplary schematic diagrams of a system for manufacturing orthodontic devices according to some embodiments of this specification;

[0011] Figure 2 These are exemplary block diagrams of a processing apparatus according to some embodiments of this specification;

[0012] Figure 3 This is an exemplary flowchart illustrating the process of manufacturing an orthodontic device according to some embodiments of this specification;

[0013] Figure 4A These are exemplary schematic diagrams of digital tooth models shown according to some embodiments of this specification;

[0014] Figure 4B This is an exemplary schematic diagram of a preliminary digital model of an orthodontic device according to some embodiments of this specification;

[0015] Figure 5 This is an exemplary schematic diagram of the orthodontic treatment process according to some embodiments of this specification;

[0016] Figure 6 This is an exemplary flowchart illustrating the process of determining the target thickness of an orthodontic device at a local point according to some embodiments of this specification;

[0017] Figure 7 This is an exemplary flowchart illustrating the process of determining the target thickness of an orthodontic device at a local point using a thickness determination model, according to some embodiments of this specification.

[0018] Figure 8 These are exemplary schematic diagrams illustrating the process of manufacturing an orthodontic device according to some embodiments of this specification; and

[0019] Figure 9 These are exemplary schematic diagrams of computing devices according to some embodiments of this specification. Detailed Implementation

[0020] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments in this specification, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. However, those skilled in the art should understand that this specification can be implemented without these details. In other instances, to avoid unnecessarily obscuring various aspects of this specification, well-known methods, procedures, systems, components, and / or circuits have been described at a relatively high level without detailed description. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes can be made to the disclosed embodiments, and the general principles defined in this specification can be applied to other embodiments and application scenarios without departing from the principles and scope of this specification. Therefore, this specification is not limited to the embodiments shown, but conforms to the broadest scope consistent with the claims.

[0021] The terminology used in this specification is for the purpose of describing particular exemplary embodiments only and is not restrictive. The singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” used herein may also include the plural forms unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It should also be understood that the terms “comprising” and “including” as used in this application's specification indicate only the presence of the stated features, integers, steps, operations, components, and / or parts, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, components, parts, and / or combinations thereof.

[0022] It is understood that when a unit, engine, module, or block is referred to as being "on," "connected to," or "coupled to" another unit, engine, module, or block, it may be directly on, connected to, or coupled to, or communicate with the other unit, engine, module, or block, or there may be an intermediate unit, engine, module, or block, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. In this specification, the term "and / or" may include any one or more of the relevant listed items or a combination thereof.

[0023] These and other features, characteristics, functions and operating methods of related structural elements, as well as component assembly and manufacturing economics, will become more apparent from the following description of the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification. However, it should be understood that the drawings are for illustrative and descriptive purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of this specification. It should also be understood that the drawings are not drawn to scale.

[0024] As mentioned above, 3D printing technology has been widely applied in the field of orthodontics. For example, 3D printing technology can be used to manufacture invisible aligners. Invisible aligners are used to perform orthodontic treatment on the teeth of a target individual. At the beginning of orthodontic treatment, the doctor may determine an orthodontic treatment plan to move the target individual's teeth from their initial position to a desired (or target) position. The orthodontic treatment plan may include multiple treatment steps. In each treatment step, the teeth are moved to the predetermined position using the corresponding invisible aligner by applying controlled forces to localized points on the teeth. Each aligner can be worn for 1-2 weeks to move the teeth in small increments. For example, the aligner applies controlled forces to the teeth so that the tooth movement matches the aligner. When a new aligner is worn, the teeth will be slightly straighter than before. As each aligner is replaced by the next, the teeth continue to move until they reach their desired position.

[0025] Currently, orthodontic appliances are manufactured according to the following steps: In step 1, a dental model file of the target patient is obtained by performing a physical impression scan or intraoral scan. In step 2, orthodontic software is used to determine the orthodontic treatment plan and generate a corresponding dental model for each treatment step. In step 3, dental models for all treatment steps are printed using 3D printing technology. In step 4, the orthodontic appliance is produced by thermoforming the dental models for all treatment steps. In step 5, the orthodontic appliance undergoes post-processing, such as trimming and polishing.

[0026] The performance of orthodontic appliances in moving teeth depends on many variables, one of which is the thickness of the appliance. Thickness affects the magnitude of the force and / or torque applied to the teeth. If the appliance is manufactured using a thermoforming process that uses uniform thermoplastic sheets, the appliance may have a uniform thickness, failing to provide customized localized forces for different teeth or localized points on the teeth, thus reducing orthodontic effectiveness. During orthodontic appliance use, certain areas may require localized thickening due to functional requirements. For example, certain areas of the appliance may require increased clamping force on the teeth. In traditional thermoformed appliances, this problem is addressed by adding attachments. Furthermore, solutions for increasing the clamping force of traditional thermoformed appliances include adding special structures, such as... The dynamic spine structure. Furthermore, during the removal of the braces, if the braces fit relatively well to the teeth and are relatively thin, there may not be suitable points on the braces to apply the force needed to remove them.

[0027] To address the aforementioned problems, this specification provides a system and method for manufacturing orthodontic appliances. The method may include determining the baseline thickness of an orthodontic appliance for orthodontic treatment of a target patient's teeth. For each local point on the target patient's teeth, the method may include determining a movement path from the local point's initial position to a target position, and determining a target thickness of the orthodontic appliance corresponding to the local point based on the movement path and the baseline thickness. The method may further include guiding a 3D printer to integrally manufacture the orthodontic appliance based on the target thickness of the orthodontic appliance at each local point. By determining the target thickness of the orthodontic appliance at each local point, orthodontic appliances with customized thicknesses can be integrally manufactured using 3D printing technology, thereby enabling the provision of customized local forces and / or torques to different teeth or local points on teeth, thus improving orthodontic outcomes.

[0028] Furthermore, introducing corrective thicknesses (e.g., first corrective thickness, second corrective thickness, third corrective thickness, fourth corrective thickness, etc.) to determine the target thickness of the orthodontic appliance at each local point combines the characteristic information of the local point and / or the tooth, thereby improving the accuracy of thickness determination, the customization of the orthodontic appliance, and the orthodontic effect. Simultaneously, the target thickness can be directly determined based on the baseline thickness and corrective thickness, allowing for the integrated fabrication of the orthodontic appliance without the need for or with fewer attachments (e.g., attachments to increase the clamping force between the tooth and the orthodontic appliance, attachments to provide a force for easy removal of the orthodontic appliance from the tooth, etc.). This simplifies the production process of the orthodontic appliance, thereby improving production efficiency. In addition, corrective thickness can improve the user experience. For example, by introducing a third corrective thickness, the force point on the orthodontic appliance corresponding to the lingual side of the posterior molars can be designed, providing a force for easy removal of the orthodontic appliance from the tooth. At the same time, the portion of the orthodontic appliance corresponding to the lingual side of the posterior molars can be thickened to prevent deformation and breakage of the orthodontic appliance.

[0029] Figure 1 This is an exemplary schematic diagram of a system 100 for manufacturing orthodontic devices according to some embodiments of this specification.

[0030] like Figure 1 As shown, the system 100 for manufacturing orthodontic devices may include a 3D printer 110, a network 120, at least one terminal device 130, a processing device 140, and a storage device 150. The components of system 100 may be connected in one or more of a variety of ways. For example, the 3D printer 110 may be connected to the processing device 140 via the network 120. Alternatively, the 3D printer 110 may be directly connected to the processing device 140 (e.g., as shown by the double-headed arrow in the dashed line connecting the 3D printer 110 and the processing device 140).

[0031] 3D printer 110 can be configured to manufacture 3D objects (e.g., orthodontic devices) by processing printing material according to instructions from processing device 140. For example, 3D printer 110 can continuously stack printing material layer by layer according to a predetermined printing model of the 3D object. In some embodiments, the printing material may include plastic materials, resin materials, metal materials, rubber materials, wax materials, etc., or any combination thereof. For example, the printing material may be a resin material, including a thermosetting component and a photocurable component. The photocurable component can be cured by a light beam, while the thermosetting component can be cured during heating. In some embodiments, 3D printer 110 can be any type of printer. Example types may include digital light processing (DLP) printers, liquid crystal display (LCD) printers, stereolithography (SLA) printers, polymer jet printers, selective laser sintering (SLS) printers, selective laser melting (SLM) printers, electron beam melting (EBM) printers, fused deposition modeling (FDM) printers, layer laminate manufacturing (LLM) printers, aerosol printers, bioprinters, etc., or any combination thereof.

[0032] Network 120 may include any suitable network capable of facilitating information and / or data exchange within system 100. In some embodiments, one or more components of system 100 (e.g., 3D printer 110, at least one terminal device 130, processing device 140, storage device 150) may communicate with one or more other components of system 100 via network 120. In some embodiments, network 120 may be a wired network or a wireless network, or a combination thereof. By way of example only, network 120 may include cable networks, wired networks, fiber optic networks, telecommunications networks, intranets, wireless local area networks (WLANs), metropolitan area networks (MANs), public telephone switched networks (PSTNs), and Bluetooth networks. TM ), ZigBee TMNetworks, near field communication (NFC) networks, and any combination thereof. In some embodiments, network 120 may include one or more network access points. For example, network 120 may include wired and / or wireless network access points, such as base stations and / or internet exchange points, through which one or more components of system 100 may connect to network 120 to exchange data and / or information.

[0033] At least one terminal device 130 may include a mobile device 130-1, a tablet computer 130-2, a laptop computer 130-3, etc., or any combination thereof. In some embodiments, the mobile device 130-1 may include smart home devices, wearable devices, smart mobile devices, virtual reality devices, augmented reality devices, etc., or any combination thereof. In some embodiments, smart home devices may include smart lighting devices, smart control devices for smart appliances, smart monitoring devices, smart TVs, smart cameras, smart walkie-talkies, etc., or any combination thereof. In some embodiments, wearable devices may include smart bracelets, smart ankle boots, smart glasses, smart helmets, smartwatches, smart clothing, smart backpacks, smart accessories, etc., or any combination thereof. In some embodiments, smart mobile devices may include smartphones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), gaming devices, navigation devices, point of sale (POS) devices, etc., or any combination thereof. In some embodiments, virtual reality devices and / or augmented reality devices may include virtual reality helmets, virtual reality glasses, virtual reality goggles, augmented reality helmets, augmented reality glasses, augmented reality goggles, etc., or any combination thereof. For example, virtual reality devices and / or augmented reality devices may include Google... TM Glasses, Oculus Rift, HoloLens, Gear VR, etc.

[0034] In some embodiments, the 3D printer 110 and / or processing device 140 can be remotely operated via at least one terminal device 130. In some embodiments, the 3D printer 110 and / or processing device 140 can be operated via a wireless connection via at least one terminal device 130. In some embodiments, at least one terminal device 130 can receive information and / or instructions input by a user and transmit the received information and / or instructions to the 3D printer 110 or processing device 140 via network 120. In some embodiments, at least one terminal device 130 can receive data and / or information from the processing device 140. In some embodiments, at least one terminal device 130 can provide a user interface through which a user can view information and / or input data and / or instructions to system 100. For example, at least one terminal 130 may include a display that can display information in a human-readable form (e.g., text, images, audio, video, graphics, animation, etc., or any combination thereof). The display of at least one terminal 130 may include a cathode ray tube (CRT) display, a liquid crystal display (LCD), a light-emitting diode (LED) display, a plasma display panel (PDP), a 3D display, or any combination thereof. In some embodiments, at least one terminal device 130 may be part of a processing device 140. In some embodiments, at least one terminal device 130 may be omitted.

[0035] The processing device 140 can process data and / or information obtained from the 3D printer 110, at least one terminal device 130, and / or storage device 150. For example, the processing device 140 can determine the baseline thickness of an orthodontic appliance used to perform orthodontic treatment on the teeth of a target patient. As another example, for each local point on the target patient's teeth, the processing device 140 can determine the movement path of the local point from its initial position to its target position, and based on the movement path and the baseline thickness, determine the target thickness of the orthodontic appliance corresponding to the local point. As yet another example, the processing device 140 can guide the 3D printer 110 to integrally manufacture the orthodontic appliance based on the target thickness of the orthodontic appliance at each local point.

[0036] In some embodiments, the processing device 140 may be a single server or a group of servers. The server group may be centralized or distributed. In some embodiments, the processing device 140 may be local or remote. For example, the processing device 140 may access information and / or data stored or retrieved in the 3D printer 110, at least one terminal device 130, and / or storage device 150 via network 120. As another example, the processing device 140 may be directly connected to the 3D printer 110, at least one terminal device 130, and / or storage device 150 to access stored or retrieved information and / or data. In some embodiments, the processing device 140 may be implemented on a cloud platform. By way of example only, the cloud platform may include private cloud, public cloud, hybrid cloud, community cloud, distributed cloud, internal cloud, multi-tiered cloud, etc., or any combination thereof. In some embodiments, the processing device 140 may be integrated into the 3D printer 110.

[0037] Storage device 150 can store data and / or instructions. In some embodiments, storage device 150 can store data obtained from 3D printer 110, at least one terminal device 130, and / or processing device 140. For example, storage device 150 can store the baseline thickness of the orthodontic device, the movement path corresponding to each local point, the target thickness of the orthodontic device at each local point, etc. In some embodiments, storage device 150 can store data and / or instructions that processing device 140 can execute or use to perform the exemplary methods described herein. For example, storage device 150 can store instructions that processing device 140 can execute to process a printed model. In some embodiments, storage device 150 can include a mass storage device, a removable storage device, a volatile read-write memory, a read-only memory (ROM), etc., or any combination thereof. In some embodiments, storage device 150 can be implemented on a cloud platform. By way of example only, a cloud platform can include a private cloud, a public cloud, a hybrid cloud, a community cloud, a distributed cloud, an internal cloud, a multi-tiered cloud, etc., or any combination thereof.

[0038] In some embodiments, storage device 150 may be connected to network 120 to communicate with one or more components of system 100 (e.g., 3D printer 110, processing device 140, at least one terminal device 130). One or more components of system 100 may access data or instructions stored in storage device 150 via network 120. In some embodiments, storage device 150 may be directly connected to or communicate with one or more components of system 100 (e.g., 3D printer 110, processing device 140, at least one terminal device 130). In some embodiments, storage device 150 may be part of processing device 140.

[0039] In some embodiments, system 100 may further include other components (e.g., one or more power supplies, 3D scanners, etc.) connected to one or more components of system 100 (e.g., 3D printer 110, processing device 140, at least one terminal device 130, storage device 150).

[0040] It should be noted that the above description is for illustrative purposes only and is not intended to limit the scope of this specification. Various changes and modifications can be made by those skilled in the art based on the description herein. The features, structures, methods, and other characteristics of the exemplary embodiments described herein can be combined in various ways to obtain additional and / or alternative exemplary embodiments. However, these changes and modifications do not depart from the scope of this specification.

[0041] Figure 2 This is an exemplary block diagram of a processing device 140 according to some embodiments of this specification. In some embodiments, the processing device 140 may be coupled to a computer-readable storage medium (e.g., Figure 1 The processing device 140 can communicate with the storage device 150 shown and can execute instructions stored in a computer-readable storage medium. The processing device 140 may include a first determining module 210, a second determining module 220, a third determining module 230, and a control module 240.

[0042] The first determining module 210 can be configured to determine the baseline thickness of an orthodontic appliance used for orthodontic treatment of the teeth of a target subject. The baseline thickness refers to the initially determined thickness of the orthodontic appliance. In some embodiments, the baseline thickness of the orthodontic appliance may be the same at each local point on the target subject's teeth. Further description of determining the baseline thickness of the orthodontic appliance can be found in other parts of this specification, such as step 302 and its related description.

[0043] The second determining module 220 can be configured to determine, for each local point on the teeth of the target object, a movement path from the initial position of the local point to a target position of the local point. A local point is a point located on the tooth surface of the target object. The initial position of the local point refers to its position before the application of the orthodontic appliance, while the target position refers to the desired position of the local point after the application of the orthodontic appliance. Accordingly, the movement path of the local point refers to the predicted path by which the local point moves from its initial position to its target position during orthodontic treatment with the application of the orthodontic appliance. Further description of determining the movement path of local points can be found in other parts of this specification, such as step 304 and its related description.

[0044] The third determining module 230 can be configured to determine, for each local point on the target object's teeth, a target thickness of the orthodontic appliance corresponding to that local point, based on the movement path and baseline thickness. The orthodontic appliance to be manufactured may include a point corresponding to each local point on the target object's teeth, and this point may cover the corresponding local point when the orthodontic appliance is worn on the target object. The target thickness corresponding to a local point refers to the desired thickness of the orthodontic appliance at the corresponding point of the local point. Further description of determining the target thickness of the orthodontic appliance corresponding to a local point can be found in other parts of this specification, such as step 306 and its related description.

[0045] The control module 240 can be configured to guide the 3D printer to integrally manufacture the orthodontic appliance based on the target thickness of the appliance at each local point. Further description of the manufacture of the orthodontic appliance can be found in other parts of this specification, such as step 308 and its related description.

[0046] It should be noted that the above description of the processing device 140 is provided for illustrative purposes and is not intended to limit the scope of this specification. Various changes and modifications can be made by those skilled in the art under the guidance of this specification. However, these changes and modifications do not depart from the scope of this specification. In some embodiments, the processing device 140 may include one or more other modules. For example, the processing device 140 may include a storage module for storing data generated by the modules in the processing device 140. In some embodiments, any two modules may be combined into one module, and any module may be divided into two or more units. For example, the first determining module 210, the second determining module 220, and the third determining module 230 may be merged into a single determining module.

[0047] Figure 3 This is an exemplary flowchart of a process 300 for manufacturing an orthodontic device according to some embodiments of this specification.

[0048] In 302, the processing device 140 (e.g., the first determining module 210) can determine the baseline thickness of the orthodontic apparatus used to perform orthodontic treatment on the teeth of the target subject.

[0049] The target group refers to individuals whose teeth require orthodontic treatment. For example, the target group could include teenagers with misaligned teeth.

[0050] Orthodontic appliances are dental appliances used to treat malocclusion, which is caused by misalignment of teeth (e.g., crowding or misalignment), asymmetry in the relationship between the upper and lower jaws, or both. Exemplary orthodontic appliances may include active orthodontic appliances, passive orthodontic appliances, functional orthodontic appliances, or any combination thereof. Active orthodontic appliances are devices used to apply forces to teeth to change their position and / or relationship. For example, active orthodontic appliances may include braces, aligners, headbands, expanders, or any combination thereof. Passive orthodontic appliances are devices that move teeth by relying on the bite of the target individual. For example, passive orthodontic appliances may include retainers, nighttime protective devices, or any combination thereof. Functional orthodontic appliances are devices that use the muscle movements and / or the responses of the target individual's nervous system to generate orthodontic or corrective forces. For example, functional orthodontic appliances may include orthodontic headbands, Herbst appliances, double-plate appliances, fixed lingual mandibular growth modifiers (FLMGM), or any combination thereof.

[0051] To perform orthodontic treatment on the teeth of a target patient, an orthodontic treatment plan can be determined, comprising multiple treatment steps, and at least one of these treatment steps can correspond to an orthodontic appliance. For ease of explanation, this specification describes at least one orthodontic appliance that corresponds to a treatment step in the orthodontic treatment plan.

[0052] Baseline thickness refers to the initially determined thickness of the orthodontic appliance. In some embodiments, the baseline thickness of the orthodontic appliance may be the same at every local point on the target patient's teeth. In some embodiments, the baseline thickness of the orthodontic appliance may be in the millimeter range. For example, the baseline thickness of the orthodontic appliance may range from 0.1 mm to 5.0 mm. Another example is that the baseline thickness of the orthodontic appliance may range from 0.1 mm to 1.0 mm. Yet another example is that the baseline thickness of the orthodontic appliance may range from 0.2 mm to 0.8 mm. Yet another example is that the baseline thickness of the orthodontic appliance may range from 0.3 mm to 0.7 mm. Yet another example is that the baseline thickness of the orthodontic appliance may range from 0.4 mm to 0.6 mm. Yet another example is that the baseline thickness of the orthodontic appliance may be 0.5 mm.

[0053] In some embodiments, the processing device 140 may determine the baseline thickness of the orthodontic appliance based on empirical values. For example, the processing device 140 may determine empirical values ​​based on historical data and assign these empirical values ​​as the baseline thickness of the orthodontic appliance. In some embodiments, the processing device 140 may determine the baseline thickness of the orthodontic appliance based on input from a user (e.g., a doctor). For example, the baseline thickness may be input by the user via a user terminal.

[0054] In some embodiments, the processing device 140 may determine the baseline thickness of the orthodontic device based on the 3D printer used to produce the orthodontic device. For example, if the optimal printing thickness of the 3D printer 110 is 0.5 mm, the processing device 140 may determine 0.5 mm as the baseline thickness of the orthodontic device.

[0055] In some embodiments, the processing device 140 can determine the baseline thickness of the orthodontic appliance based on the dental condition of the target subject. For example, an image of the target subject's teeth can be obtained by scanning the target subject's teeth (e.g., by performing a physical impression scan or intraoral scan), and the processing device 140 can determine the baseline thickness of the orthodontic appliance based on the image. See also Figure 4A and 4B A digital tooth model 400 corresponding to the teeth of the target object can be generated based on an image of the target object's teeth, and a preliminary digital model 450 of the orthodontic appliance can be generated based on the digital tooth model 400. Accordingly, the baseline thickness of the orthodontic appliance can be determined based on the preliminary digital model 450. In some embodiments, the digital tooth model 400 and / or the preliminary digital model 450 can be generated using computer software (e.g., LuxCreo's LuxDesign).

[0056] In some embodiments, the processing device 140 can determine the baseline thickness of the orthodontic device based on an orthodontic treatment plan corresponding to a target object. For example, an orthodontic treatment plan corresponding to the target object can be predetermined, and the processing device 140 can determine the baseline thickness of the orthodontic device based on the orthodontic treatment plan (e.g., each treatment step in the orthodontic treatment plan). In some embodiments, the baseline thickness of the orthodontic device corresponding to each treatment step in the orthodontic treatment plan can be the same or different.

[0057] In 304, for each local point on the tooth of the target object, the processing device 140 (e.g., the second determining module 220) can determine the movement path of the local point from its initial position to its target position.

[0058] A local point is a point located on the surface of a tooth of a target object. For example, a local point may include a point located on the enamel of the tooth of the target object.

[0059] The initial position of a local point refers to its location before the application of the orthodontic appliance, while the target position refers to its desired location after the application of the appliance. Correspondingly, the movement path of a local point refers to the predicted path by which it moves from its initial position to its target position during orthodontic treatment with the appliance applied. For example, Figure 5An exemplary schematic diagram of the movement path of a local point shown in some embodiments of this specification. For example... Figure 5 As shown, during orthodontic treatment, the local point at the upper left corner of tooth 502 moves from the initial position A to the target position A', and the corresponding movement path of the local point is represented by arrow AA'.

[0060] In some embodiments, the processing device 140 can determine the movement path of each local point according to an orthodontic treatment plan. For example, an orthodontic treatment plan (e.g., each treatment step in an orthodontic treatment plan) may include an initial position and a target position for each local point. For example, an orthodontic treatment plan may include a first digital tooth model corresponding to the current tooth and a second digital tooth model corresponding to the target tooth after orthodontic treatment (or a treatment step in orthodontic treatment). The processing device 140 can determine the correspondence between local points in the first and second digital tooth models, and determine the movement path of each local point based on the correspondence, the first digital tooth model, and the second digital tooth model. For example, the movement path of a local point can be determined based on the position of the local point in the first digital tooth model and the position of the corresponding local point in the second digital tooth model.

[0061] In some embodiments, the movement path can be represented by a vector. In some embodiments, the movement path can be represented by parameters, such as the length of the movement path, the direction of the movement path, the position of a point along the movement path, or any combination thereof.

[0062] In some embodiments, the length of the movement path at each local point may not exceed a length threshold. The length threshold may be equal to the maximum distance between the initial and target positions of each local point. In some embodiments, the length threshold may be determined based on the maximum thickness of the orthodontic appliance. Since the orthodontic appliance provides force for orthodontic treatment of the target teeth, the maximum thickness of the orthodontic appliance can determine the length threshold. For example, the length threshold may be 1 mm, and the length of the movement path at each local point may be in the range of 0 mm to 1 mm. As another example, the length threshold may be 0.4 mm, and the length of the movement path at each local point may be in the range of 0 mm to 0.4 mm. Yet another example, the length threshold may be 0.3 mm, and the length of the movement path at each local point may be in the range of 0 mm to 0.3 mm.

[0063] In 306, for each local point on the teeth of the target object, the processing device 140 (e.g., the third determining module 230) can determine the target thickness of the orthodontic device corresponding to the local point based on the movement path and the baseline thickness.

[0064] The orthodontic appliance to be fabricated may include a point corresponding to each local point on the target patient's teeth, and this point may cover the corresponding local point when the orthodontic appliance is worn on the target patient. The target thickness corresponding to the local point refers to the desired thickness of the orthodontic appliance at the corresponding point of the local point.

[0065] In some embodiments, for each local point on the target tooth, the processing device 140 can determine the target thickness of the orthodontic appliance corresponding to the local point by constructing a function related to the movement path and baseline thickness. For example, the target thickness of the orthodontic appliance corresponding to the local point can be determined according to formula (1): T = kT b (1) Where T refers to the target thickness of the orthodontic device corresponding to a local point; T b This refers to the baseline thickness of the orthodontic appliance; k is a coefficient determined based on the movement path. For example, k is positively correlated with the length of the movement path.

[0066] For example, the target thickness of the orthodontic device corresponding to a local point can be determined according to formula (2): T=tP, (2) Here, P refers to the length of the movement path; while t is a coefficient determined based on the baseline thickness of the orthodontic appliance. For example, t is positively correlated with the baseline thickness of the orthodontic appliance.

[0067] In some embodiments, for each local point on the teeth of the target object, the processing device 140 can determine a first corrected thickness of the orthodontic appliance corresponding to the local point based on the movement path, and determine a target thickness of the orthodontic appliance corresponding to the local point based on the first corrected thickness and the baseline thickness. For example, the target thickness of the orthodontic appliance corresponding to the local point can be determined according to formula (3): T = T b +T fc (3) Among them, T fc This refers to the first correction thickness of the orthodontic device corresponding to a local point.

[0068] The first correction thickness can be related to the component of the movement path along the normal direction of the local point. The normal direction of the local point refers to the normal direction of the tooth surface at the local point. For example, the first correction thickness can be equal to the component of the movement path along the normal direction of the local point. For example, the processing device 140 can determine the local plane where the local point is located and determine the direction perpendicular to the local plane at the local point as the normal direction of the local point. As another example, the processing device 140 can acquire a digital tooth model (e.g., digital tooth model 400) of the target tooth. The processing device 140 can determine the surface equation of the tooth at the local point based on the digital tooth model and determine the normal direction by determining the gradient of the surface equation. Then, the processing device 140 can determine the component of the movement path along the normal direction of the local point and specify the length of the component of the movement path along the normal direction of the local point as the first correction thickness.

[0069] For example only, see Figure 5 Assuming the baseline thickness of the orthodontic device is 0.5 mm and the length of the movement path AA' is 0.3 mm, if the normal direction of the local point is parallel to the movement path AA', then the length of the component of the movement path along the normal direction of the local point can be 0.3 mm, and the first correction thickness can also be 0.3 mm. Therefore, according to formula (3), the target thickness of the orthodontic device corresponding to the local point can be 0.8 mm (i.e., the sum of 0.5 mm and 0.3 mm). If the normal direction of the local point is perpendicular to the movement path, then the length of the component of the movement path along the normal direction of the local point can be 0 mm, and the first correction thickness can also be 0 mm. Therefore, according to formula (3), the target thickness of the orthodontic device corresponding to the local point can be 0.5 mm (i.e., the sum of 0.5 mm and 0 mm).

[0070] In some embodiments, the first correction thickness may be related to the components of the movement path along one or more reference directions corresponding to the normal direction of the local point. For example, the processing device 140 may determine one or more reference directions based on the normal direction of the local point. For each of the one or more reference directions, the processing device 140 may determine the component of the movement path along that direction. The processing device 140 may further determine the first correction thickness of the orthodontic device corresponding to the local point based on the component of the movement path along the normal direction and the component of the movement path along each reference direction.

[0071] A reference direction refers to a direction surrounding the normal direction. For example, the angle between the reference direction and the normal direction can not exceed an angle threshold. The angle threshold can be determined by the system default settings or manually set by the user. For example, the angle threshold can be 1 degree, 5 degrees, 10 degrees, 15 degrees, 20 degrees, 30 degrees, etc.

[0072] In some embodiments, the processing device 140 may further determine one or more reference directions based on the curvature of the tooth at the local point and / or the angle between the movement path of the local point and the normal direction of the local point. The curvature of the tooth at the local point can reflect the degree of curvature of the tooth at the local point. For example, the curvature of a local point located at a tooth corner may be greater than the curvature of a local point located on the tooth surface. In some embodiments, the curvature of the tooth at the local point can be determined based on a digital tooth model of the tooth or the surface equation of the local point. The angle between the movement path of the local point and the normal direction of the local point can reflect the degree of curvature of the movement path of the local point during orthodontic treatment.

[0073] In some embodiments, the larger the curvature of the tooth at a local point and / or the angle between the movement path of the local point and the normal direction of the local point, the larger the angle threshold and the number of one or more reference directions. For example, if the curvature of the tooth at a local point is greater than or equal to the curvature threshold (e.g., 90 degrees), the processing device 140 may determine the angle threshold to be 30 degrees and the number of one or more reference directions to be 8. As another example, if the curvature of the tooth at a local point is less than the curvature threshold, the processing device 140 may determine the angle threshold to be 10 degrees and the number of one or more reference directions to be 3. The curvature threshold can be determined according to system default settings or manually set by the user. For example, the curvature threshold can be 30 degrees, 45 degrees, 60 degrees, 90 degrees, 120 degrees, etc.

[0074] In some embodiments, after determining an angle threshold and the number of one or more reference directions, the processing device 140 can determine one or more reference directions based on the normal direction, the angle threshold, and the number of one or more reference directions. For example, the processing device 140 can randomly determine one or more reference directions within an angle threshold around the normal direction. As another example, the processing device 140 can determine one or more reference directions at uniform intervals within an angle threshold around the normal direction.

[0075] In some embodiments, the processing device 140 can determine the first correction thickness of the orthodontic device corresponding to a local point by weighted averaging the lengths of the components of the movement path along the normal direction and in each reference direction. For example, the components of the movement path along the normal direction and the components of the movement path along each reference direction can have the same weighting value. Alternatively, the components of the movement path along the normal direction can have a first weighting value, and the components of the movement path along each reference direction can have a second weighting value. The first weighting value can be different from the second weighting value. Yet another example is that each component of the movement path along the normal direction and the components of the movement path along each reference direction can have a specific weighting value. In some embodiments, the weighting value corresponding to the component can be determined based on system default settings or manually set by the user.

[0076] In some embodiments, the first correction thickness can be adjusted based on at least one of the baseline thickness, the first correction thickness, or feature information of the local point (also referred to as first feature information). For example, the processing device 140 can determine an adjustment coefficient based on at least one of the baseline thickness, the first correction thickness, or the feature information of the local point, and adjust the first correction thickness based on the adjustment coefficient to generate an adjusted first correction thickness. Further, the processing device 140 can determine a target thickness of the orthodontic device corresponding to the local point based on the adjusted first correction thickness and the baseline thickness. More details on determining the target thickness based on the adjusted first correction thickness and the baseline thickness can be found in other parts of this specification (e.g., Figure 6 (and related descriptions).

[0077] In some embodiments, the processing device 140 can acquire the position of the tooth corresponding to the local point and determine a second correction thickness of the orthodontic device corresponding to the local point based on the position of the tooth. The processing device 140 can further determine a target thickness based on the second correction thickness, a first correction thickness (or an adjusted first correction thickness), and a baseline thickness. For example, the target thickness of the orthodontic device corresponding to the local point can be determined according to formula (4): T = T b +T fc +T sc (4) Among them, T sc This refers to the second correction thickness of the orthodontic device corresponding to a local point.

[0078] A second corrective thickness can be used to prevent posterior open bite. Posterior open bite is often caused by the use of orthodontic appliances (e.g., clear aligners). The orthodontic appliance covers the occlusal surface of the posterior teeth, and the subject bites onto the appliance, causing the anterior teeth (upper teeth) to tilt backward or overbite. By introducing a second corrective thickness at the posterior tooth position, the occurrence or development of posterior open bite can be avoided. In some embodiments, the second corrective thickness can be determined for the posterior teeth (e.g., premolars and / or molars) of the subject to achieve an increase in thickness towards the posterior teeth. For example, the processing device 140 can determine whether the tooth corresponding to a local point is one of the premolars and / or molars based on the tooth's position. If the tooth corresponding to the local point is one of the premolars and / or molars, the processing device 140 can determine that the second corrective thickness of the orthodontic appliance corresponding to the local point is greater than 0. In some embodiments, the second corrective thickness can be determined based on system default settings or manually set by the user. For example, the second corrective thickness can be in the range of 0.1 mm to 1.5 mm. As another example, the second corrective thickness can be in the range of 0.5 mm to 1.2 mm. For example, the second correction thickness can be in the range of 0.8 mm to 1.1 mm. For example, the second correction thickness can be 1.0 mm. In some embodiments, if the tooth corresponding to the local point is not one of the premolars and / or molars, the processing device 140 can determine that the second correction thickness of the orthodontic device corresponding to the local point is equal to 0 mm.

[0079] In some embodiments, the second corrected thickness corresponding to each local point can be the same. For example, the second corrected thickness corresponding to each local point can be 1.0 mm. In some embodiments, different local points can correspond to different second corrected thicknesses. For example, the second corrected thickness of the tooth can increase in a continuous manner. For example, the distal molar can be 1 mm thicker than the mid-molar, and the thickness change can be continuous rather than stepwise.

[0080] In some embodiments, the processing device 140 may acquire the location of a local point and determine a third correction thickness of the orthodontic device corresponding to the local point based on the location of the local point. The location of the local point may include the location of the local point on the corresponding tooth and the location of the tooth. The processing device 140 may further determine a target thickness based on at least one of the third correction thickness, the second correction thickness, the first correction thickness (or an adjusted first correction thickness), and the baseline thickness. For example, if the tooth is a molar and the local point is located on the lingual side of the target tooth, the processing device 140 may determine that the third correction thickness of the orthodontic device corresponding to the local point is greater than 0. In some embodiments, the third correction thickness may be determined based on system default settings or manually set by the user. For example, the third correction thickness may be in the range of 0.1 mm to 1.5 mm. Another example is that the third correction thickness may be in the range of 0.5 mm to 1.2 mm. Yet another example is that the third correction thickness may be in the range of 0.8 mm to 1.1 mm. Yet another example is that the third correction thickness may be 1.0 mm. In some embodiments, if the tooth corresponding to the local point is not one of the molars, or if the local point is not located on the lingual side of the target tooth, the processing device 140 may determine that the third correction thickness of the orthodontic device corresponding to the local point is equal to 0 mm.

[0081] By introducing a third corrective thickness, the force point on the orthodontic appliance corresponding to the lingual side of the posterior molars can be designed. This ensures a good fit between the teeth and the orthodontic appliance while providing the force for easy removal of the appliance, thus improving the user experience and guaranteeing orthodontic results. In the process of manufacturing orthodontic appliances using thermoforming technology (also known as thermoformed orthodontic appliances), if the thermoformed appliance perfectly matches the dental model of the target teeth, removing the thermoformed appliance from the model becomes very difficult. In contrast, directly printed orthodontic appliances do not encounter this problem and therefore have a better fit. Furthermore, a perfectly fitted orthodontic appliance can make removal difficult during use. Therefore, localized thickness adjustments (e.g., by introducing a third corrective thickness) can solve this problem. Additionally, the portion of the orthodontic appliance corresponding to the lingual side of the posterior molars can be thickened to prevent deformation and breakage.

[0082] In some embodiments, the processing device 140 may determine a fourth correction thickness based on at least one preset requirement, and determine a target thickness based on at least one of the fourth correction thickness, a third correction thickness, a second correction thickness, a first correction thickness (or an adjusted first correction thickness), and a baseline thickness. For example, the processing device 140 may determine whether the target thickness of the orthodontic appliance corresponding to a local point meets at least one preset requirement. At least one preset requirement may include manufacturing requirements, treatment requirements, structural requirements, etc., or any combination thereof. For example, treatment requirements may include whether an orthodontic appliance having a target thickness corresponding to each local point meets the orthodontic treatment plan. As another example, structural requirements may include whether an orthodontic appliance having a target thickness corresponding to each local point conforms to the target patient's teeth. If the target thickness of the orthodontic appliance corresponding to a local point meets the preset requirement, the processing device 140 may determine that the fourth correction thickness of the orthodontic appliance corresponding to the local point is equal to 0. If the target thickness of the orthodontic appliance corresponding to a local point does not meet the preset requirement, the processing device 140 may determine that the fourth correction thickness of the orthodontic appliance corresponding to the local point is greater than 0.

[0083] The fourth correction thickness can be used to adjust the target thickness of the orthodontic device corresponding to a local point according to preset requirements. In some embodiments, the fourth correction thickness can be determined according to system default settings or manually set by the user. For example, the fourth correction thickness can be in the range of 0.1 mm to 1.5 mm. Another example is that the fourth correction thickness can be in the range of 0.5 mm to 1.2 mm. Yet another example is that the fourth correction thickness can be in the range of 0.8 mm to 1.1 mm. Yet another example is that the fourth correction thickness can be 1.0 mm.

[0084] By introducing a fourth correction thickness, the target thickness of the orthodontic device corresponding to a local point can be adjusted so that the manufactured orthodontic device meets the preset requirements, thereby ensuring the accuracy of the orthodontic device and the orthodontic effect.

[0085] In some embodiments, the processing device 140 may acquire a thickness determination model. The thickness determination model may be a trained machine learning model. The processing device 140 may use the thickness determination model to determine the target thickness of the orthodontic device corresponding to a local point based on the movement path and baseline thickness. For example, the processing device 140 may input the movement path and baseline thickness into the thickness determination model, and the thickness determination model may output the target thickness of the orthodontic device corresponding to the local point.

[0086] For example, the processing device 140 can sample feature points along the movement path and, based on the feature points and baseline thickness, use a thickness determination model to determine the target thickness of the orthodontic appliance corresponding to the local point. Feature points can be used to describe the characteristics of the movement path. For example, feature points can include start points, midpoints, end points, etc., or any combination thereof. The number of feature points can be determined based on the smoothness of the tooth at the local point and / or the angle between the movement path of the local point and the normal direction of the local point. For example, the larger the smoothness of the tooth at the local point and / or the angle between the movement path of the local point and the normal direction of the local point, the more feature points there are. The method for determining the number of feature points can be similar to the method for determining the number of one or more reference directions, and will not be elaborated further here.

[0087] A thickness determination model is a model used to determine the target thickness of an orthodontic device corresponding to a local point. In some embodiments, the thickness determination model may be a trained machine learning model, such as a neural network model, which is not limited herein.

[0088] In some embodiments, the thickness determination model can be generated through a training process. For example, the processing device 140 can acquire multiple training samples. Each of the multiple training samples may include a sample baseline thickness and a sample movement path at a local point, as well as a gold standard thickness corresponding to the local point. The gold standard thickness can indicate the sample thickness of the orthodontic device at the local point. The processing device 140 can generate the thickness determination model by training an initial model using the multiple training samples. Further description of the thickness determination model can be found in other parts of this specification (e.g., Figure 7 (and related descriptions).

[0089] In some embodiments, the input to the thickness determination model may further include feature information of local points and / or feature information of one or more neighboring points of the local point (also referred to as second feature information). For example, the processing device 140 may input the movement path, baseline thickness, feature information of the local point, and feature information of one or more neighboring points of the local point into the thickness determination model, and the thickness determination model may output the target thickness of the orthodontic device corresponding to the local point. The number of neighboring points may be determined in a manner similar to determining the number of one or more reference directions, and will not be elaborated further here. Accordingly, each sample in a plurality of training samples may further include sample feature information of the sample local point and / or sample feature information of one or more neighboring sample points of the sample local point.

[0090] In 308, the processing device 140 (e.g., control module 240) can guide a 3D printer to integrally manufacture the orthodontic device based on the target thickness of the orthodontic device at each local point.

[0091] In some embodiments, processing device 140 may acquire a preliminary digital model of the orthodontic device (e.g., preliminary digital model 450) and generate a target digital model of the orthodontic device based on the target thickness of the orthodontic device at each local point and the preliminary digital model. Further, processing device 140 may also instruct a 3D printer (e.g., 3D printer 110) to integrally manufacture the orthodontic device based on the target digital model. The preliminary digital model refers to a digital model of the orthodontic device with a baseline thickness, and the target digital model refers to a digital model of the orthodontic device with a target thickness at each local point. For example, processing device 140 may generate the target digital model by using computer software (e.g., LuxCreo's LuxDesign) to adjust the preliminary digital model according to the target thickness of the orthodontic device at each local point.

[0092] In some embodiments, the processing device 140 can generate a processed digital model by post-processing the target digital model, and guide a 3D printer (e.g., 3D printer 110) to integrally manufacture an orthodontic device based on the processed digital model. Post-processing may include trimming, polishing, smoothing, desensitization operations, etc., or any combination thereof. In some embodiments, the processing device 140 may use computer software (e.g., LuxCreo's LuxDesign) to post-process the target digital model.

[0093] In some embodiments, prior to the integrated manufacturing of the orthodontic device, the processing device 140 may display a target digital model (or a processed digital model) to a user. For example, the target digital model (or the processed digital model) may be displayed through a user interface of at least one terminal 130, and the user may confirm and / or adjust the target digital model (or the processed digital model) through an input device of at least one terminal 130 (e.g., a mouse, keyboard, touchscreen, etc.).

[0094] According to some embodiments of this specification, by determining the target thickness of the orthodontic appliance at each local point, each local point of the orthodontic appliance can have a customized, non-uniform thickness. This allows for the application of customized forces to the teeth, thereby improving orthodontic outcomes. Furthermore, by determining the target thickness of the orthodontic appliance at each local point, the orthodontic appliance can be manufactured as a single unit, eliminating the need for or minimizing the number of attachments (e.g., attachments to enhance the clamping force between the teeth and the orthodontic appliance, attachments to provide forces for easy removal of the orthodontic appliance from the teeth, etc.). This simplifies the manufacturing process of the orthodontic appliance, thereby improving production efficiency. Moreover, by introducing a first correction thickness and a second correction thickness to determine the target thickness of the orthodontic appliance at each local point, the characteristic information of the local point and / or teeth can be taken into account. This improves the accuracy of thickness determination and the customization of the orthodontic appliance, thereby enhancing orthodontic outcomes.

[0095] Figure 6 This is an exemplary flowchart of a process 600 for determining the target thickness of local points of an orthodontic device according to some embodiments of this specification. In some embodiments, process 600 may be executed to achieve the same effect as... Figure 3 At least a part of operation 306.

[0096] In 602, the processing device 140 (e.g., the third determining module 230) can determine the adjustment coefficient based on at least one of the baseline thickness, the first correction thickness, or the feature information of the local point.

[0097] The feature information may include the appearance parameters of the tooth at a local point (e.g., thickness, curvature, smoothness, hardness, etc.), the tolerance for movement of the local point, the age of the target object, the diagnostic status of the tooth at the local point (e.g., whether the tooth is loose, whether it is decayed, the degree of sensitivity, etc.), or any combination thereof.

[0098] In some embodiments, the adjustment factor may be related to at least one of the baseline thickness, the first correction thickness, or the feature information of the local point. For example, if the tooth has relatively high rigidity at the local point, the adjustment factor corresponding to the local point can be relatively large. As another example, if the first local point is closer to the tooth root (e.g., closer to the occlusal surface) than the second local point, the adjustment factor for the first local point can be greater than that for the second local point. Therefore, if the movement path of the first local point is equal to that of the second local point (or the first correction thickness of the first local point is equal to that of the second local point), the orthodontic appliance corresponding to the first local point can provide a greater orthodontic force than the orthodontic appliance corresponding to the second local point. In these cases, the adjustment factor can be used to reflect the differences in the feature information between local points, thereby providing customized local forces for different teeth or different local points on a tooth, thus improving orthodontic outcomes.

[0099] In some embodiments, the processing device 140 can determine the correspondence between the adjustment coefficient, the baseline thickness, the first correction thickness, and the feature information of the local point, and determine the adjustment coefficient based on the correspondence and at least one of the baseline thickness, the first correction thickness, or the feature information of the local point. For example, the processing device 140 can create tables, charts, etc., based on historical data to display the correspondence. When at least one of the baseline thickness, the first correction thickness, or the feature information of the local point is obtained, the processing device 140 can retrieve tables, charts, etc., to determine the adjustment coefficient based on at least one of the baseline thickness, the first correction thickness, or the feature information of the local point.

[0100] In 604, the processing device 140 (e.g., the third determining module 230) can generate an adjusted first corrected thickness by adjusting the first corrected thickness based on the adjustment coefficient.

[0101] For example, the adjusted first correction thickness can be generated by multiplying the first correction thickness by an adjustment factor.

[0102] In 606, the processing device 140 (e.g., the third determining module 230) can determine the target thickness of the orthodontic device corresponding to the local point based on the adjusted first correction thickness and the baseline thickness.

[0103] For example, the target thickness of the orthodontic device corresponding to a local point can be the sum of the adjusted first correction thickness and the baseline thickness. For example, the target thickness of the orthodontic device corresponding to a local point can be determined according to formula (5): T = T b +aT fc (5) Where 'a' refers to the first correction thickness of the orthodontic device after adjustment, corresponding to the local point.

[0104] For example, the processing device 140 can obtain a second corrected thickness and determine the target thickness by adding the second corrected thickness, the adjusted first corrected thickness, and the baseline thickness.

[0105] According to some embodiments of this specification, by taking into account at least one of the baseline thickness, the first correction thickness, or the characteristic information of a local point, the first correction thickness can be adjusted, which can improve the accuracy of determining the target thickness, thereby improving the accuracy of the orthodontic device and the orthodontic effect.

[0106] Figure 7 This is an exemplary flowchart of process 700 for determining the target thickness of an orthodontic device at a local point using a thickness determination model, according to some embodiments of this specification.

[0107] like Figure 7 As shown, in some embodiments, the movement path 702 corresponding to a local point and the baseline thickness 704 can be input into the thickness determination model 720, and the thickness determination model 720 can output the target thickness 730.

[0108] In some embodiments, the thickness determination model 720 can be obtained by training an initial model based on a plurality of training samples 740. In some embodiments, each of the plurality of training samples 740 may include a sample movement path 741 corresponding to a local point of the sample and a sample baseline thickness 742, as well as a gold standard thickness 745 corresponding to the local point of the sample. The gold standard thickness 745 may indicate the sample thickness of the orthodontic device at the local point of the sample.

[0109] The sample movement path 741 and sample baseline thickness 742 corresponding to local points of the sample can be similar to Figure 3The method for obtaining the movement path and baseline thickness corresponding to local points, as described in the previous section, will not be repeated here. The gold standard thickness of 745 can be obtained in a similar manner. Figure 3 The method for obtaining the target thickness corresponding to the local point, as described in the previous section, will not be repeated here. In some embodiments, the sample movement path 741, the sample baseline thickness 742, and the gold standard thickness 745 corresponding to the local point of the sample can be obtained from historically manufactured orthodontic devices.

[0110] In some embodiments, the thickness determination model 720 can be generated by training an initial model using multiple training samples 740. During training, the parameters of the initial model can be updated through one or more iterations.

[0111] For example, for each of the multiple training samples 740, the processing device 140 can determine the predicted thickness by inputting the sample movement path 741 corresponding to the sample local point and the sample baseline thickness 742 into the initial model. The processing device 140 can determine the training loss between the predicted thickness and the gold standard thickness 745 of the training samples and update the parameters of the initial model based on the training loss. For example, the processing device 140 can use a backpropagation algorithm based on the training loss to adjust the parameters of the initial model to reduce the difference between the predicted thickness and the gold standard thickness, for example, by continuously adjusting the parameters of the initial model to reduce or minimize the training loss.

[0112] In some embodiments, the training loss may include perceptual loss, squared loss, logistic regression loss, focus loss, dice loss, or any combination thereof.

[0113] In some embodiments, feature points 710 can be sampled along the movement path 702, and information on feature points 710 and baseline thickness 704 can be input into thickness determination model 720, which can output target thickness 730.

[0114] In some embodiments, the input to the thickness determination model 720 may further include first feature information 706 of the local point and / or second feature information 708 of one or more adjacent points of the local point. For example, the movement path 702 (or feature point 710), baseline thickness 704, first feature information 706, and second feature information 708 may be input to the thickness determination model 720, which may output a target thickness 730 of the orthodontic device corresponding to the local point. Accordingly, each training sample in the plurality of training samples 740 may further include sample feature information of the sample local point and / or sample feature information of one or more adjacent sample points of the sample local point (not shown).

[0115] According to some embodiments of this specification, the target thickness of the orthodontic device corresponding to a local point can be automatically determined using a thickness determination model, which can improve the efficiency and accuracy of target thickness determination, thereby improving the efficiency and accuracy of orthodontic device manufacturing.

[0116] Figure 8 This is an exemplary schematic diagram of a process 800 for manufacturing an orthodontic device according to some embodiments of this specification.

[0117] like Figure 8 As shown, a baseline thickness 810 of the orthodontic appliance 860 for orthodontic treatment of the target tooth 805 can be determined. For each local point on the target tooth 805, a movement path 820 from the initial position of the local point to the target position of the local point can be determined. Based on the movement path 820, a first correction thickness 830 of the orthodontic appliance 860 corresponding to the local point can be determined. Based on the first correction thickness 830 and the baseline thickness 810, a target thickness 850 of the orthodontic appliance corresponding to the local point can be determined. Based on the target thickness 850 of the orthodontic appliance 860 at each local point, the orthodontic appliance 860 can be integrally manufactured using a 3D printer (e.g., 3D printer 110).

[0118] In some embodiments, the adjusted first correction thickness 834 of the orthodontic device 860 at a local point can be determined by adjusting the first correction thickness 830 based on an adjustment factor 832. The adjustment factor 832 can be determined based on at least one of a baseline thickness 810, the first correction thickness 830, or feature information of the local point (not shown). Therefore, the target thickness 850 of the orthodontic device 860 at the local point can be determined based on the adjusted first correction thickness 834 and the baseline thickness 810.

[0119] In some embodiments, based on information about the tooth 805 (e.g., the position of the tooth corresponding to the local point, the position of the local point on the corresponding tooth), at least one additional correction thickness (e.g., a second correction thickness, a third correction thickness, a fourth correction thickness, etc.) 840 can be determined. Accordingly, based on at least one additional correction thickness 840, a first correction thickness 830 (or an adjusted first correction thickness 834), and a baseline thickness 810, a target thickness 850 of the orthodontic device 860 at the local point can be determined.

[0120] Processes 300 and 600-800 can be performed at... Figure 1This is implemented in the system 100 shown. For example, processes 300 and 600-800 may be stored as instructions in storage device 150 and invoked and / or executed by processing device 140. The operation of the processes shown below is for illustrative purposes only. In some embodiments, processes 300 and 600-800 may be accomplished by one or more additional operations not described and / or without one or more of the operations discussed. Furthermore, the order of operations of processes 300 and 600-800 is not intended to be limiting.

[0121] Figure 9 These are exemplary schematic diagrams of computing devices according to some embodiments of this specification.

[0122] In some embodiments, one or more components of the system 100 for manufacturing orthodontic devices may be implemented on a computing device 900. For example, a processing device 140 may be implemented on the computing device 900 and configured to implement the functions and / or methods disclosed in this specification.

[0123] The computing device 900 may include any components used to implement the system 100 described herein. For example, the processing device 140 may be implemented by hardware, software programs, firmware, or any combination thereof on the computing device 900. For illustrative purposes, Figure 9 Only one computer is described in this specification, but the computing functions associated with system 100 described in this specification can be implemented in a distributed manner through a set of similar platforms to distribute the processing load of system 100.

[0124] The computing device 900 may include a communication port connected to a network for data communication. The computing device 900 may include a processor (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU)), memory, a communication interface, a display device, and input devices connected via a system bus. The processor of the computing device 900 can provide computing and control capabilities. The memory of the computing device 900 may include non-volatile storage media and internal memory. The non-volatile storage media can store the operating system and computer programs. The internal memory can provide an environment for the execution of the operating system and computer programs in the non-volatile storage media. The communication interface of the computing device 900 can be used for wired or wireless communication with external terminals. Wireless communication can be achieved through Wi-Fi, mobile cellular networks, near field communication (NFC), etc. When the processor executes a computer program, methods for manufacturing orthodontic devices can be implemented. The display unit of the computing device 900 may include a liquid crystal display (LCD) or an electronic ink display. The input devices of the computing device 900 may include a touch layer covering the display unit, devices disposed on the casing of the computing device 900 (e.g., buttons, trackballs, touchpads, etc.), an external keyboard, an external touchpad, an external mouse, etc.

[0125] For the sake of explanation only, Figure 9 Only one processor is described herein. However, it should be noted that the computing device 900 in this specification may also include multiple processors. Therefore, the operations and / or method steps performed by one processor in this specification may also be performed jointly or separately by multiple processors. For example, if the processor of the computing device 900 in this specification performs operations A and B simultaneously, it should be understood that operations A and B may also be performed jointly or separately by two or more different processors (e.g., the first processor performs operation A, the second processor performs operation B, or the first and second processors jointly perform operations A and B).

[0126] Some embodiments of this specification also provide a computer-readable storage medium. The computer-readable storage medium can store computer-executable instructions, which can be used to cause a computer to implement the processes described in the above embodiments of this specification.

[0127] The basic concepts have been described above. Obviously, for those skilled in the art who have read this application, the above disclosure is merely illustrative and does not constitute a limitation of this application. Various changes, improvements, and modifications may occur, which are intended for those skilled in the art, although not explicitly stated herein. Such modifications, improvements, and modifications are suggested in this application and therefore remain within the spirit and scope of the exemplary embodiments of this application.

[0128] Furthermore, this application uses specific terms to describe embodiments of the application. For example, the terms "one embodiment" and / or "some embodiments" refer to specific features, structures, or characteristics related to an embodiment that are included in at least one embodiment of this disclosure. Therefore, it should be emphasized and understood that references to "one embodiment" or "another embodiment" two or more times in various parts of this disclosure do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. In addition, specific features, structures, or characteristics may be appropriately combined in one or more embodiments of this disclosure.

[0129] Furthermore, unless expressly stated in the claims, the order of processing elements and sequences, the use of numbers and letters, or other names described in this application are not intended to limit the order of the processes and methods of this application. Although the foregoing disclosure has discussed some currently considered useful embodiments of the invention through various examples, it should be understood that such details are for illustrative purposes only, and the appended claims are not limited to the disclosed embodiments; rather, the claims are intended to cover all modifications and equivalent combinations that conform to the substance and scope of the embodiments of this application. For example, while the implementation of the various components described above can be embodied in a hardware device, it can also be implemented as a purely software solution, such as an installation on an existing server or mobile device.

[0130] Similarly, it should be noted that, in order to simplify the description of the present application and thus aid in the understanding of one or more embodiments of the invention, the foregoing description of the embodiments of the present application sometimes combines multiple features into a single embodiment, drawing, or description thereof. However, the method of the present application should not be construed as reflecting an intention that the claimed object to be scanned requires more features than expressly recited in each claim. Rather, the subject of the invention should possess fewer features than in any single embodiment described above.

[0131] In some embodiments, the numbers used to describe quantities or properties in the description and claims of certain embodiments of this application should be understood to be modified in certain circumstances by the terms "approximately," "approximately," or "substantially." For example, unless otherwise stated, "approximately," "approximately," or "substantially" may represent a variation of ±20% of the value described. Accordingly, in some embodiments, the numerical parameters used in the specification and claims are approximate values, which may be varied depending on the characteristics required by individual embodiments. In some embodiments, numerical parameters should take into account specified significant digits and employ a general method of digit reservation. Although the numerical ranges and parameters used to confirm their breadth of application in some embodiments of this application are approximate values, in specific embodiments, such numerical values ​​are set as precisely as feasible.

[0132] Every patent, patent application, publication of a patent application, and other material such as articles, books, specifications, publications, documents, things, and / or similar content cited herein is incorporated in its entirety by reference for all purposes, except for any related application history, any content inconsistent with or conflicting with this document, or any content that may limit the widest scope of the relevant claims present or thereafter. For example, if there is any inconsistency or conflict between the use of terminology in the description, definitions, and / or associated with any incorporated material and the terminology associated with this document, the terminology used in the description, definitions, and / or this document shall prevail.

[0133] Finally, it should be understood that the embodiments described in this application are merely illustrative of the principles of the embodiments of this application. Other modifications may also fall within the scope of this application. Therefore, alternative configurations of the embodiments of this application are considered as examples and not limitations, and are regarded as consistent with the teachings of this application. Accordingly, the embodiments of this application are not limited to the embodiments explicitly described and illustrated in this application.

Claims

1. A method for manufacturing an orthodontic device, the method being implemented on a computing device having at least one processor and at least one storage device, the method comprising: Determine the baseline thickness of the orthodontic appliance used to perform orthodontic treatment on the teeth of the target patient; For each local point on the teeth of the target object Determine the movement path of the local point from its initial position to its target position; as well as Based on the movement path and the baseline thickness, the target thickness of the orthodontic device corresponding to the local point is determined; as well as Based on the target thickness of the orthodontic device at each local point, a 3D printer is guided to integrally manufacture the orthodontic device.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, Determining the target thickness of the orthodontic device corresponding to the local point based on the movement path and the baseline thickness includes: A first correction thickness of the orthodontic device corresponding to the local point is determined based on the movement path, the first correction thickness being related to the component of the movement path along the normal direction of the local point; and Based on the first correction thickness and the baseline thickness, the target thickness of the orthodontic device corresponding to the local point is determined.

3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that, Determining the target thickness of the orthodontic device corresponding to the local point based on the first correction thickness and the baseline thickness includes: The adjustment coefficient is determined based on at least one of the baseline thickness, the first correction thickness, or the feature information of the local point. The adjusted first correction thickness is generated by adjusting the first correction thickness based on the adjustment coefficient; and Based on the adjusted first correction thickness and the baseline thickness, the target thickness of the orthodontic device corresponding to the local point is determined.

4. The method according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that, Determining the target thickness of the orthodontic device corresponding to the local point based on the first correction thickness and the baseline thickness includes: Obtain the position of the tooth corresponding to the local point; Based on the position of the teeth, a second correction thickness of the orthodontic device corresponding to the local point is determined; and The target thickness is determined based on the second corrected thickness, the first corrected thickness, and the baseline thickness.

5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that, Determining the target thickness based on the second corrected thickness, the first corrected thickness, and the baseline thickness includes: Obtain the position of the local point; Based on the location of the local point, a third correction thickness of the orthodontic appliance corresponding to the local point is determined, the third correction thickness being configured to provide an application point on the orthodontic appliance to remove the orthodontic appliance from the tooth; and The target thickness is determined based on the third correction thickness, the second correction thickness, the first correction thickness, and the baseline thickness.

6. The method according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that, Determining the target thickness based on the second corrected thickness, the first corrected thickness, and the baseline thickness includes: The fourth correction thickness is determined based on at least one preset requirement; and The target thickness is determined based on the fourth correction thickness, the second correction thickness, the first correction thickness, and the baseline thickness.

7. The method according to any one of claims 2-6, characterized in that, Determining the first correction thickness of the orthodontic device corresponding to the local point based on the movement path includes: Based on the normal direction of the local point, determine one or more reference directions; For each of the one or more reference directions, determine the component of the movement path along that direction; and Based on the component of the movement path along the normal direction and the component of the movement path along each reference direction, a first correction thickness of the orthodontic device corresponding to the local point is determined.

8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that, The one or more reference directions are further determined based on the curvature of the tooth at the local point and / or the angle between the movement path of the local point and the normal direction of the local point.

9. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, Determining the target thickness of the orthodontic device corresponding to the local point based on the movement path and the baseline thickness includes: Obtain a thickness determination model, wherein the thickness determination model is a trained machine learning model; and Based on the movement path and the baseline thickness, the target thickness of the orthodontic device corresponding to the local point is determined using the thickness determination model.

10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that, The step of determining the target thickness of the orthodontic device corresponding to the local point using the thickness determination model based on the movement path and the baseline thickness includes: Feature points are sampled along the movement path, wherein the number of feature points is determined based on the smoothness of the tooth at the local point and / or the angle between the movement path of the local point and the normal direction of the local point; Based on the feature points and the baseline thickness, the target thickness of the orthodontic device corresponding to the local points is determined using the thickness determination model.

11. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that, The input to the thickness determination model further includes feature information of the local point and / or feature information of one or more neighboring points of the local point.

12. The method according to any one of claims 1-11, characterized in that, The method of guiding a 3D printer to integrally manufacture the orthodontic device based on the target thickness of the orthodontic device at each local point includes: Obtain the initial digital model of the orthodontic device; Based on the target thickness of the orthodontic device at each local point and the initial digital model, a target digital model of the orthodontic device is generated; and The 3D printer is guided to manufacture the orthodontic device in one piece based on the target digital model.

13. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that, The process of guiding the 3D printer to integrally manufacture the orthodontic device based on the target digital model includes: A processed digital model is generated by post-processing the target digital model, the post-processing including at least one of trimming and polishing; and The 3D printer is guided to manufacture the orthodontic device in one piece based on the processed digital model.

14. A system for manufacturing orthodontic devices, characterized in that, include: At least one storage device, including a set of instructions; as well as At least one processor is configured to communicate with the at least one storage device, wherein, when executing the set of instructions, the at least one processor is configured to guide the system to perform steps including the following operations: Determine the baseline thickness of the orthodontic appliance used to perform orthodontic treatment on the teeth of the target patient; For each local point on the teeth of the target object Determine the movement path of the local point from its initial position to its target position. path; as well as Based on the movement path and the baseline thickness, the target thickness of the orthodontic device corresponding to the local point is determined; and based on the target thickness of the orthodontic device at each local point, a 3D printer is guided to integrally manufacture the orthodontic device.

15. The system according to claim 14, characterized in that, Determining the target thickness of the orthodontic device corresponding to the local point based on the movement path and the baseline thickness includes: A first correction thickness of the orthodontic device corresponding to the local point is determined based on the movement path, the first correction thickness being related to the component of the movement path along the normal direction of the local point; and Based on the first correction thickness and the baseline thickness, the target thickness of the orthodontic device corresponding to the local point is determined.

16. The system according to claim 15, characterized in that, Determining the target thickness of the orthodontic device corresponding to the local point based on the first correction thickness and the baseline thickness includes: The adjustment coefficient is determined based on at least one of the baseline thickness, the first correction thickness, or the feature information of the local point. The adjusted first correction thickness is generated by adjusting the first correction thickness based on the adjustment coefficient; and Based on the adjusted first correction thickness and the baseline thickness, the target thickness of the orthodontic device corresponding to the local point is determined.

17. The system according to claim 15 or 16, characterized in that, Determining the target thickness of the orthodontic device corresponding to the local point based on the first correction thickness and the baseline thickness includes: Obtain the position of the tooth corresponding to the local point; Based on the position of the teeth, a second correction thickness of the orthodontic device corresponding to the local point is determined; and The target thickness is determined based on the second corrected thickness, the first corrected thickness, and the baseline thickness.

18. The system according to claim 17, characterized in that, Determining the target thickness based on the second corrected thickness, the first corrected thickness, and the baseline thickness includes: Obtain the position of the local point; Based on the location of the local point, a third correction thickness of the orthodontic appliance corresponding to the local point is determined, the third correction thickness being configured to provide an application point on the orthodontic appliance to remove the orthodontic appliance from the tooth; and The target thickness is determined based on the third correction thickness, the second correction thickness, the first correction thickness, and the baseline thickness.

19. The system according to claim 17 or 18, characterized in that, Determining the target thickness based on the second corrected thickness, the first corrected thickness, and the baseline thickness includes: The fourth correction thickness is determined based on at least one preset requirement; and The target thickness is determined based on the fourth correction thickness, the second correction thickness, the first correction thickness, and the baseline thickness.

20. The system according to any one of claims 15-19, characterized in that, Determining the first correction thickness of the orthodontic device corresponding to the local point based on the movement path includes: Based on the normal direction of the local point, determine one or more reference directions; For each of the one or more reference directions, determine the component of the movement path along that direction; and Based on the component of the movement path along the normal direction and the component of the movement path along each reference direction, a first correction thickness of the orthodontic device corresponding to the local point is determined.

21. The system according to claim 20, characterized in that, The one or more reference directions are further determined based on the curvature of the tooth at the local point and / or the angle between the movement path of the local point and the normal direction of the local point.

22. The system according to claim 14, characterized in that, Determining the target thickness of the orthodontic device corresponding to the local point based on the movement path and the baseline thickness includes: Obtain a thickness determination model, wherein the thickness determination model is a trained machine learning model; and Based on the movement path and the baseline thickness, the target thickness of the orthodontic device corresponding to the local point is determined using the thickness determination model.

23. The system according to claim 22, characterized in that, The step of determining the target thickness of the orthodontic device corresponding to the local point using the thickness determination model based on the movement path and the baseline thickness includes: Feature points are sampled along the movement path, wherein the number of feature points is determined based on the smoothness of the tooth at the local point and / or the angle between the movement path of the local point and the normal direction of the local point; Based on the feature points and the baseline thickness, the target thickness of the orthodontic device corresponding to the local points is determined using the thickness determination model.

24. The system according to claim 23, characterized in that, The input to the thickness determination model further includes feature information of the local point and / or feature information of one or more neighboring points of the local point.

25. The system according to any one of claims 14-24, characterized in that, The method of guiding a 3D printer to integrally manufacture the orthodontic device based on the target thickness of the orthodontic device at each local point includes: Obtain the initial digital model of the orthodontic device; Based on the target thickness of the orthodontic device at each local point and the initial digital model, a target digital model of the orthodontic device is generated; and The 3D printer is guided to manufacture the orthodontic device in one piece based on the target digital model.

26. The system according to claim 25, characterized in that, The process of guiding the 3D printer to integrally manufacture the orthodontic device based on the target digital model includes: A processed digital model is generated by post-processing the target digital model, the post-processing including at least one of trimming and polishing; and The 3D printer is guided to manufacture the orthodontic device in one piece based on the processed digital model.

27. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising executable instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, instruct the at least one processor to perform a method of manufacturing an orthodontic device, the method comprising: Determine the baseline thickness of the orthodontic appliance used to perform orthodontic treatment on the teeth of the target patient; For each local point on the teeth of the target object Determine the movement path of the local point from its initial position to its target position; as well as Based on the movement path and the baseline thickness, the target thickness of the orthodontic device corresponding to the local point is determined; as well as Based on the target thickness of the orthodontic device at each local point, the 3D printer is guided to manufacture the orthodontic device in one piece.

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