Orthodontic Treatment Plan Comparison for Flexible Stage Selection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing orthodontic treatment planning systems lack flexibility and customization, failing to account for varying clinician preferences and patient goals, leading to a need for robust comparative tools that allow for interactive and dynamic planning.

Innovation Solution

A comparative orthodontic treatment planning tool and system that generates multiple treatment plans based on an initial tooth data set, allowing users to visualize and select between different treatment stages and options, including pricing and material selections, to facilitate informed decision-making.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a single treatment plan is generated based on one prescription form, then the treatment planning process is simplified, but the system lacks flexibility and cannot account for varying clinician preferences and patient goals

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetreatment plan flexibilityVSAvoidtreatment planning system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The treatment planning system segments the treatment process into multiple independent plans, each representing different treatment philosophies or approaches. Each plan can be independently generated, evaluated, and compared, allowing clinicians to explore multiple treatment pathways without overwhelming complexity in the overall system architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The treatment planning system is designed to generate multiple treatment plans using a single unified platform that can accommodate different treatment philosophies, clinician preferences, and patient goals. The system universally handles various treatment scenarios through a common interface and data structure, providing flexibility without requiring separate specialized systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple treatment plans are generated and compared, then treatment planning flexibility is enhanced, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetreatment plan flexibilityVSAvoidcomparative treatment planning system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system merges multiple treatment plans into a single comparative evaluation framework. Different treatment plans are integrated into a unified interface where they can be simultaneously displayed, compared, and evaluated against common criteria such as treatment duration, cost, and expected outcomes, reducing the perceived complexity through consolidation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system adds a new dimension to treatment planning by enabling multi-plan comparison across multiple parameters simultaneously. Instead of evaluating plans sequentially or in isolation, the system presents plans in a multi-dimensional comparison view that allows clinicians to assess trade-offs across different treatment aspects in a single integrated display.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Loss of information

If detailed treatment stage comparisons are displayed, then user understanding of treatment options is improved, but the information processing requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetreatment information clarityVSAvoidcomputational resource usage
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system extracts and displays only the most relevant treatment stage information for comparison, such as key milestone achievements, critical treatment milestones, and significant anatomical changes. By selectively extracting and presenting only the most important information rather than displaying all possible details, the system maintains information clarity while reducing computational processing requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP4233777B1Computer-implemented method for comparing orthodontic treatment plans and computing system for doing the same
Publication Date: 2026.04.22 ALIGN TECHNOLOGY INC
  • EP4233777B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4233777B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4233777B1 patent drawingFigure 3A

AI summary

A computer implemented method of orthodontic treatment planning with a comparative orthodontic treatment planning tool, the method comprising: receiving a plurality of treatment plans configured to, in use, move teeth from an initial arrangement to a final arrangement, the difference between final arrangements of respective plans differing from one another based on one or more treatment factors; simultaneously displaying, on a digital display, a treatment stage from a first treatment plan of the plurality of treatment plans and a treatment stage from a second treatment plan of the plurality of treatment plans, wherein the simultaneous displaying provides for comparison of the treatment stage from the first treatment plan and the treatment stage from the second treatment plan; and providing for a user to select one of the first treatment plan and the second treatment plan based on said comparison.