Passive Aligner Integration for Orthodontic Discomfort Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing orthodontic treatment plans using patient-removable aligners can cause discomfort due to pressure on teeth and connected structures, particularly during initial stages, and integrating passive aligners into the treatment workflow is challenging, with existing methods lacking customization and integration with treatment planning software.

Innovation Solution

A system and method for integrating passive aligners into orthodontic treatment plans using a trained neural network model to interpret requests and generate computer-readable instructions, allowing for the inclusion of passive aligners based on criteria such as product type and doctor identification, and updating treatment planning software without long release cycles.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If passive aligners are integrated into the treatment plan to reduce patient discomfort, then patient comfort is improved, but the complexity of treatment planning software and workflow integration increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepatient discomfortVSAvoidtreatment planning software complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The treatment plan is segmented into distinct stages, with passive aligners assigned to specific transition stages. The software divides the treatment workflow into modular components that can be independently configured, allowing passive aligners to be integrated as discrete elements rather than requiring complete system redesign.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The treatment planning software implements dynamic configuration options where passive aligner settings can be adjusted based on patient-specific needs, product type, and treatment stage. The system adapts the treatment plan automatically based on input parameters, reducing manual complexity while maintaining customization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Object-affected harmful factors

If passive aligners are used to ease patient discomfort during transition stages, then patient comfort is improved, but the number of treatment stages and aligners increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepatient discomfortVSAvoidnumber of aligners

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

Passive aligners are applied selectively only during transition stages where discomfort occurs, rather than throughout the entire treatment. This partial application provides comfort benefits while minimizing the total number of aligners required, as active aligners are used only when tooth movement is needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Adaptability or versatility

If treatment planning software is updated to include passive aligner settings, then functionality is improved, but software update cycles and release time increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesoftware functionalityVSAvoidsoftware update cycle time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The treatment planning software is designed with a universal configuration system that can accommodate multiple aligner types (active and passive) through a common framework. This multi-functionality allows passive aligner settings to be integrated into existing software architecture without requiring separate update cycles, as the system can handle both aligner types through unified configuration parameters.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Adaptability or versatility

If passive aligners are integrated into the treatment workflow, then treatment customization is improved, but the difficulty of workflow integration increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment customizationVSAvoidworkflow integration difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The software implements intermediary configuration layers that mediate between treatment planning parameters and passive aligner settings. These intermediary components translate high-level treatment goals into specific passive aligner configurations, simplifying workflow integration while maintaining customization capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS20250288393A1Methods and systems for optimization of orthodontic treatment using passive aligners

Publication Date: 2025.09.18 ALIGN TECHNOLOGY INC

AI summary

Methods and apparatuses for integrating passive aligners into orthodontic treatment plans. The passive aligners may be worn by a patient during treatment without applying substantial orthodontic forces on the patient's teeth. Integrating the passive aligners into the treatment plan can include separating parameter settings related to passive aligners into separate files that have different updating privileges, thereby providing a pathway to changing certain settings related to passive aligners without waiting for a full software update release cycle. A prescription service module may interface with treatment planning software to update the settings associated with passive aligners. This configuration allows for quicker inclusion of passive aligners into a treatment plan after request from a doctor. In some examples, a trained neural network model is used to interpret a request from a doctor and generate instructions to include one or more passive aligners into the orthodontic treatment plan.