U.S. patent application number 16/387291 was filed with the patent office on 2019-08-08 for health-care e-commerce systems and methods.
The applicant listed for this patent is Align Technology, Inc.. Invention is credited to Amir Abolfathi, Beth Ann Cooney, Ike Udechuku, Keith Wolf.
Application Number | 20190244264 16/387291 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 24130135 |
Filed Date | 2019-08-08 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20190244264 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Abolfathi; Amir ; et
al. |
August 8, 2019 |
HEALTH-CARE E-COMMERCE SYSTEMS AND METHODS
Abstract
A virtual health-care electronic commerce community includes a
network to communicate information relating to the community; one
or more patients coupled to the network; one or more treating
professionals coupled to the network; and a server coupled to the
network, the server storing data for each patient and performing
patient data visualization in response to a user request.
Inventors: |
Abolfathi; Amir; (Woodside,
CA) ; Udechuku; Ike; (San Francisco, CA) ;
Cooney; Beth Ann; (Sunnyvale, CA) ; Wolf; Keith;
(San Francisco, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Align Technology, Inc. |
San Jose |
CA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
24130135 |
Appl. No.: |
16/387291 |
Filed: |
April 17, 2019 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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12964565 |
Dec 9, 2010 |
10332164 |
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16387291 |
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11271360 |
Nov 10, 2005 |
7904307 |
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12964565 |
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09534461 |
Mar 24, 2000 |
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11271360 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q 50/22 20130101;
G16H 50/50 20180101; G06Q 50/24 20130101; B33Y 80/00 20141201; G06Q
30/06 20130101; G16H 10/60 20180101; B33Y 50/00 20141201; G16H
40/67 20180101 |
International
Class: |
G06Q 30/06 20060101
G06Q030/06; G06Q 50/22 20060101 G06Q050/22; B33Y 80/00 20060101
B33Y080/00; B33Y 50/00 20060101 B33Y050/00 |
Claims
1. A system for manufacturing orthodontic appliances, the system
comprising: a server comprising storage media having one or more
instructions that when executed cause the server to: receive
digitized data representing the patient's teeth and case type data
for the patient; process the digitized data and the case type data
so as to generate one or more manipulable three-dimensional
computer models of the patient's teeth, the one or more manipulable
three-dimensional computer models representing a sequential
treatment plan for the patient's teeth; transmit the one or more
manipulable three-dimensional computer models representing the
sequential treatment plan to a computer associated with one or more
treating professionals; receive, from the computer associated with
the one or more treating professionals, feedback data for
processing the one or more manipulable three-dimensional computer
models of the patient's teeth; and process the feedback data so as
to generate a plurality of digital data sets for manufacturing a
plurality of sequential orthodontic appliances.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the case type data comprises
information on the patient's malocclusion.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein the feedback data includes the
adjustment to the tooth position in the at least one of the one or
more manipulable three-dimensional computer models.
4. The system of claim 3, wherein the adjustment of the tooth
position in the at the least one of the one or more manipulable
three-dimensional computer models comprises automated teeth
collision detection.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more manipulable
three-dimensional computer models of the patient's teeth correspond
to an initial arrangement, one or more intermediate arrangements,
and a desired final arrangement of the patient's teeth in the
sequential treatment plan.
6. The system of claim 5, wherein the one or more manipulable
three-dimensional computer models of the patient's teeth are
configured to be displayed as one or more animations of the
patient's teeth from the initial arrangement to one or more
intermediate arrangements or the desired final arrangement.
7. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more manipulable
three-dimensional computer models of the patient's teeth are
configured to visually display an expected outcome of the
sequential treatment plan.
8. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more
treating professionals is a dentist or an orthodontist.
9. The system of claim 1, wherein the server is coupled to the
computer associated with the one or more treating professionals
over a network.
10. The system of claim 9, wherein the network is accessible by the
computer associated with the one or more treating professionals
using a browser.
11. A method for manufacturing orthodontic appliances, the method
comprising: receiving, by a computer system that includes one or
more processors, digitized data representing the patient's teeth
and case type data for the patient; processing, by the computer
system, the digitized data and the case type data so as to generate
one or more manipulable three-dimensional computer models of the
patient's teeth, the one or more manipulable three-dimensional
computer models representing a sequential treatment plan for the
patient's teeth; transmitting the one or more manipulable
three-dimensional computer models representing the sequential
treatment plan to a computer associated with one or more treating
professionals; receiving, from the computer associated with the one
or more treating professionals, feedback data for processing the
one or more manipulable three-dimensional computer models of the
patient's teeth; processing, by the computer system, the feedback
data so as to generate a plurality of digital data sets for
manufacturing a plurality of sequential orthodontic appliances.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein the case type data comprises
information on the patient's malocclusion.
13. The method of claim 11, wherein the feedback data includes the
adjustment to the tooth position in the at least one of the one or
more manipulable three-dimensional computer models.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein the adjustment of the tooth
position in the at least one of the one or more manipulable
three-dimensional computer models comprises using automated teeth
collision detection.
15. The method of claim 11, wherein the one or more manipulable
three-dimensional computer models of the patient's teeth correspond
to an initial arrangement, one or more intermediate arrangements,
and a desired final arrangement of the patient's teeth in the
sequential treatment plan.
16. The method of claim 15, further comprising generating one or
more animations of the patient's teeth from the initial arrangement
to one or more intermediate arrangements or the desired final
arrangement.
17. The method of claim 11, further comprising visually displaying
an expected outcome of the sequential treatment plan.
18. The method of claim 11, wherein the one or more treating
professionals comprise at least one of a dentist or an
orthodontist.
19. The method of claim 11, wherein the computer system is coupled
to the computer associated with the one or more treating
professionals over a network.
20. The method of claim 19, wherein the network is accessible by
the computer associated with the one or more treating professionals
using a browser.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 12/964,565, filed Dec. 9, 2010, which is a
continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No.
11/271,360, filed Nov. 10, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,904,307,
issued Mar. 8, 2011, which is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 09/534,461, filed Mar. 24, 2000, now
abandoned, the full disclosures of which are incorporated herein by
reference in their entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The Internet has become a significant medium for
communication and commerce and has enabled millions of people to
share information and conduct business electronically. The unique
characteristics of the Internet such as its ability to provide
enhanced communication, rich text, and graphic environment provide
an ideal support for a wide variety of electronic commerce
transactions. For example, a consumer can search, review, and
extensively shop a number of competing chains in an instant. As
such, consumers benefit by being able to obtain a good price
relatively quickly and easily.
[0003] On-line retailers also benefit, since these retailers can
carry a larger number of products at a lower cost and with greater
merchandising flexibility without the physical constraints faced by
traditional retailers. Additionally, they can assist the consumer's
purchase decision by providing relevant information and enabling
consumers to shop at their convenience by remaining open 24 hours a
day, seven days a week. Online retailers can also provide
personalized services and use direct marketing efforts based on
information provided by customers.
[0004] As such, the Internet has evolved into a unique sales and
marketing channel. The ubiquity and convenience of the Internet
makes it ideal for dispensing information on certain topics that
traditionally require visits to specialists. For example, certain
consumers may be interested in products and services associated
with orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics that specializes in
the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of dental and facial
irregularities ("malocclusion" or "bad bite"). The orthodontic
treatment process typically uses corrective appliances such as
braces and/or other fixed or removable appliances to bring the
teeth, lips and jaws into proper alignment and to achieve a facial
balance. The pervasiveness of the Internet makes it an ideal source
for information relating to these products and services.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] In one aspect, a virtual health-care electronic commerce
community includes a network to communicate information relating to
the community; one or more patients coupled to the network; one or
more treating professionals coupled to the network; and a server
coupled to the network, the server storing data for each patient
and performing patient data visualization in response to a user
request.
[0006] Implementations of the above aspect may include one or more
of the following. The treating professional can view one or more of
the following patient data visualization over the network: a right
buccal view; a left buccal view; a posterior view; an anterior
view; a mandibular occlusal view; a maxillary occlusal view; an
overjet view; a left distal molar view; a left lingual view; a
lingual incisor view; a right lingual view; a right distal molar
view; an upper jaw view; and a lower jaw view. The treating
professionals can include dentists or orthodontists. One or more
partners can be connected to the network. The partners can be a
financing partner, a supplier, or a delivery company. The treating
professionals can perform office management operations using the
server. The office management operations include one or more of the
following: patient scheduling, patient accounting, and claim
processing. The patients and the treating professionals can access
the server using browsers.
[0007] In another aspect, a method for performing dental-related
electronic commerce includes transmitting teeth data associated a
patient from a dental server to a treating professional computer
over the Internet upon an authorized request; displaying a
three-dimensional computer model of the teeth at the treating
professional computer using a browser; allowing a treating
professional to manipulate the three-dimensional computer model of
the teeth using the browser; transmitting the computer model from
the treating professional computer to the server; and generating an
appliance to treat the patient based on the computer model of the
teeth.
[0008] Implementations of the above aspect may include one or more
of the following. The system can provide financing options for the
patient using one or more financing partners. The system can offer
an on-line shop geared to the patient's dental requirements. The
system also allows a treating professional to manipulate the
three-dimensional computer model of the teeth using the browser
further comprises displaying a plurality of dental views.
[0009] A treating professional can manipulate the three-dimensional
computer model of the teeth using the browser further comprises
clicking on a tooth to adjust its position. The system can display
x, y and z axis to allow the treating professional to adjust the
position of the tooth. Supplemental services can also be offered to
the patient, including teeth whitening services.
[0010] In another aspect, a server supports a health-care
electronic commerce community with one or more patients and one or
more service providers. The server includes a processor adapted to
communicate with a network; a data storage device coupled to the
processor and adapted to store data for each patient; and software
to communicate 3D patient data in response to a client request.
[0011] Implementations can include one or more of the following. A
browser can receive the client request and transmitting the request
to the server. The browser can use a viewer plug-in to visualize
patient data in 3D. The providers can provide health-care service
such as dentistry applications, cosmetic augmentation, hair-care
enhancements, liposuction, plastic or reconstructive surgery.
[0012] Advantages of the system may include one or more of the
following. The system supports a virtual community of dental
patients, dentists, specialists such as orthodontists and oral
surgeons, financial institutions, benefit providers and the
providers of dental equipment or services. For treating
professionals, such as dentists and orthodontists, the system
provides a one-stop solution for planning patient treatments,
managing communication with patients, storing patient records and
sharing records with relevant persons outside the doctor's office.
The system can act as the repository for the file notes and visual
imagery (photographs, x-rays and virtual treatment plans)
associated with the course of treatment. The doctors will control
access to the centralized patient file. Various tools are provided
to support the interpretation of information and the diagnostic
process. For example, the system allows the doctors to retrieve,
and analyze patient information and to simulate using two and
three-dimensional visual imagery of the patient's teeth and other
anatomical structures. The system supports visualization of the
expected outcome of a particular course of treatment. Working
together with the patient these images can enhance the patient's
understanding of the benefits of treatment and act as a valuable
selling tool for the doctor. The system also provides diagnostic
decision-support capabilities such as visualizing the placement of
implantations, veneers and crowns before or after a course of
treatment to straighten the teeth. The system provides an animated
prediction of the suggested treatment that helps the patient and
the doctor to visualize the pace of treatment. Using these tools,
the doctor can easily and quickly view and/or edit the treatment
plan. When doctor and patient choose the final treatment plan the
system disseminates aspects of the plan and the relevant patient
records to the appropriate members of the virtual community, thus
reducing the cost and delay associated with traditional physical
shipment of patient information. Aspects of the final treatment
plan can be used to generate appliances used in the physical
treatment. The information associated with the patient's treatment
(visual images, virtual treatment plans, file notes and the like)
are digitized and maintained in a central storage facility in a
secure manner. Doctors and patients can have access to these files
without the need to extract files and models from storage and with
reduced risk of records being misplaced.
[0013] Administratively, the system allows the office to be managed
more efficiently without requiring the treating professional to
purchase and maintain special software. The system keeps track of
all patients that need to be contacted for an appointment.
Scheduling can be done automatically or can be customized to the
office's preference and availability of treating professionals and
supporting resources. Based on the appointments, the system can
electronically mail (email) patients with reminders. Alternatively,
the system can print reminder cards that can be mailed to patients
reminding them of their appointment. The system can also
automatically generate personalized correspondence to patients
relating to data collected in the initial exam and treatment
recommendations. Moreover, the patient can review the proposed
treatment with the treating professional anywhere.
[0014] The system also simplifies and streamlines the processing of
insurance claims to produce an orderly flow of information.
Insurance claims can flow through the treating professional's
office from pre-authorization to continuation of treatment with a
minimal amount of intervention. The system also provides accounting
functions to check out patients, post charges, setup contracts, add
comments to ledgers, post payments, adjust ledgers, and display all
transactions applied to specific ledgers.
[0015] Moreover, the treating professionals can leverage the
collective purchasing power of the system by being able to order
supplies required by patients directly through the system at a
discount. These supplies can be directly shipped to the patients,
thus avoiding overhead costs associated with handling the supplies.
Further, information reviewed or generated by the treating
professionals is provided through a secure on-line connection.
Thus, the patient's privacy, as well as the treating professional's
sensitive office information, is not compromised.
[0016] For patients, the system provides a broad array of
dental-care resources that help consumers find answers to their
critical dental questions and make informed purchasing decisions.
The system also enables people to share their experiences and to
support one another in managing their medical conditions. This is
done through forums where Internet users with interests and
concerns about their dental health can interact with each other, to
interact in a community environment and to access content created
by others.
[0017] The system is convenient to use and provides informative
shopping experience through which dental care services and
dental-related products can be dispensed. Consumers can access the
system using an intuitive, easy-to-use shopping interface that is
available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Consumers can shop
quickly and conveniently from anywhere Internet access is
available. For example, a customer can store his or her dental
history and other relevant dental information, as well as create
personalized shopping lists for quick and easy reordering of his or
her dental supplies.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] FIG. 1 is a diagram of an exemplary environment supporting
electronic commerce.
[0019] FIG. 2 is a diagram of a server to support electronic
commerce.
[0020] FIG. 3 is a diagram of a web site on the server of FIG.
2.
[0021] FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a process for selecting dental
services from a patient's perspective.
[0022] FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a first process for providing
dental services from a treating professional's perspective.
[0023] FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a second process for providing
dental services from a treating professional's perspective.
[0024] FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a process to render 3D views of a
patient's teeth on a browser.
[0025] FIG. 8 is an exemplary output of the process of FIG. 7 using
the browser.
[0026] FIG. 9 is a diagram of a system for manufacturing
appliances.
[0027] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a computer system to
support the fabrication of appliances.
[0028] FIG. 11 is an exemplary home page of the web-based interface
of the present invention.
[0029] FIG. 12 is a Treatment Preference template according to the
present invention.
[0030] FIGS. 13A and 13B are exemplary drawings of a patient's
teeth depicting initial and final high resolution images.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0031] Referring now to FIG. 1, an environment supporting a dental
system 100 is shown. The system 100 communicates over a network 102
that can be a local area network or a wide area network such as the
Internet.
[0032] One or more client computers 104-105 can be connected to the
network 102. In one embodiment where the network 102 is the
Internet, the client computers execute a suitable browser such as
Navigator from Netscape, Inc. and Internet Explorer from Microsoft
Corp. By clicking on the highlighted text (or specific graphic
image), the user can jump from the current web page to a new web
page address associated with the link--with the new page displayed
on the screen. In this manner, the user can "surf the web" by
clicking on an almost endless succession of links going to page
after page all following a common thread as defined by the text or
graphic component of the link label.
[0033] Through the network 102, the client computers 104-105 can
access a dental server 106. The dental server 106 serves a web
site, a portal, a vortal, or a content site for providing dental
related information to interested parties such as dental patients,
dentists, orthodontists, and others. When sensitive information is
communicated through the dental server 106, such information is
securely encrypted using Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) technology
throughout the transaction. The server 106 can be a stand-alone
computer or can be a server farm that can distribute processing and
communications activity across a computer network so that no single
device is overwhelmed. During load balancing, if one server is
swamped with requests, excess requests are forwarded to another
server with more capacity.
[0034] The network 102 connects the dental server 106 to one or
more treating professional workstations 108-109. The workstations
108-109 allow treating professionals access to a plethora of
services provided by the dental server 106 such as patient
treatment and office management, among others. The dental server
106 stores information associated with patient history on-line in a
secure manner. The server 106 also allows the treating professional
to have a comprehensive view of the patient's treatment history at
any time using a suitable browser, eliminating the need to pull
treatment files or charts or to look for misfiled or lost charts.
The dental server 106 also provides treating professionals with
tools to analyze patient data, for example, tools to reconstruct a
3D model of the teeth. For example, using the browser, the treating
professional can request the server 106 to animate the progress of
the treatment plan. When the treating professional arrives at a
prescription or other final designation, the treatment prescription
is used to automatically generate appliances, as described in more
details below. Further, in addition to aiding professionals in
treating patients, the treating professional can perform office
management, purchasing and other logistical operations using the
browser and the dental server 106.
[0035] In addition to communicating with patients and treating
professionals, the dental server 106 can communicate with one or
more partners 110 using the network 102. The partners 110 can be
product suppliers, service providers, or any suitable commercial
entities.
[0036] One partner 110 can be a financing partner that offers
customers with one or more electronic financing options. In one
implementation, the financing partner can be a credit card
processing company. The credit card processing company can accept a
customer's existing credit card or can issue the customer with a
new credit card. Further, the credit card can be issued under the
name of a third-party bank, the name of the credit card processing
company, or the name of the site supported by the dental server 106
under a co-branding arrangement.
[0037] The customer enters the sensitive data such as credit card
number, shipping address, among others, onto a purchase form. The
credit data is then submitted, collected and passed securely
through the dental server 106. This data can be processed in real
time or can be collected by mail or telephone and then entered by
an operator. A processor at the credit card processing company then
verifies that the credit card number is valid and is not stolen,
among other anti-fraud measures. If the credit card information is
valid, the purchase price will be reserved from the issuing bank of
the consumer's credit card and allocated to the account associated
with the server 106. Periodically, the credit card processor
settles all accounts; it is at this time that all monies move.
Funds reserved are transmitted from the issuing bank of the
cardholder's credit card to the account of the server 106. Also,
discount fees are paid from these funds, as they are moving.
[0038] Alternatively, the financing partner can debit from the
customer's checking account over the Internet. One such check
debiting service is the MerchanTrust.TM. Paperless Checks.TM.
Services, available from Merchant Commerce, Inc. These services
provide customers with the convenience of making online purchases
by checking account debits, with no manual data entry required of a
merchant. In this embodiment, a customer fills in a form at the
site with bank information printed at the bottom of his or her
personal check. The information is processed as an Electronic Funds
Transfer (EFT) to the customer's account using the Automated
Clearinghouse (ACH) payment system.
[0039] Yet another possible partner 110 is a dental supply retailer
providing an on-line shop on the web site to retail dental products
to the customers and treating professionals. The retailer can be a
co-branding partner that uses the brand name linked or suitably
associated with the web site of the server 106 such that users of
the server 106 would not know that the on-line shop is actually
operated by a third party. The retailer can offer dental products
for brushing, flossing, and cleaning of dental implants and
bridges. Other dental products include anti-plaque rinse and
plaque-fighting toothpaste. The retailer can also sell other
health-care-related products such as prescription drugs;
non-prescription drugs; personal care; beauty and spa; vitamins,
herbs and nutrition; and medical supplies. Additionally, the
retailer can serve the needs of the treating professionals by
offering products such as brackets, buccal tubes, bands, archwire
products, bonding adhesives, hand instruments, systems, supplies
and equipment.
[0040] Yet another partner 110 can be a shipping partner. The
shipping partner delivers dental supply of goods received from a
multiplicity of producers and manufacturers for ultimate
distribution to each customer. The facilities for warehousing and
introduction of goods into a transportation stream for
redistribution are the so-called cross docking facilities. The
supply or good flows in bulk from a producer or a manufacturer to
one or more cross docking facilities owned by either the shipping
partner or the operator of the server 106. The items are then
broken into smaller unit sizes and distributed to the
customers.
[0041] The above list of partners lists only exemplary partners and
is not an exhaustive list. Other possible partners include
value-added service providers such as third party software
providers who provide plug-in viewing and diagnostic enhancements
that can be used by the professionals.
[0042] The server 106 can perform dynamic targeting and information
gathering. The users provide demographic information when they
register for our service. The server 106 can track our users'
behavior the entire time they are online. As a result, the server
106 can deliver targeted advertisements and measure their
effectiveness. For example, users can receive ads from a brokerage
firm when they are viewing sites containing stock quotes or
financial news, or receive promotions from a bookseller when
browsing sites containing book reviews. As such, the dental server
106 can provide a prominent and sustained advertising medium to the
community. In contrast to most portal and content sites which
display advertising, the site remains with users the entire time
they are online. Once users are logged on, the site remains in full
view throughout the session, including when they are waiting for
pages to download, navigating the Internet and even engaging in
non-browsing activities such as sending or receiving e-mail. The
constant visibility of the site allows advertisements to be
displayed for a specified period of time.
[0043] In combination, the dental server 106 forms a hub that links
dental clients using client computers 104-105, treating
professionals using workstations 108-109, and partners 110 into a
living electronic commerce (e-commerce) community.
[0044] FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the server 106. The server 106
includes a web server 140, a patient information server 142, a
resource planning (RP) server 144 and a streaming server 146. In
one embodiment, the RP server 144 runs Microsoft SQL server and
provides information relating to a doctor or a patient such as
address and history. When a patient's case or static snapshots of
the case is needed, the data is pulled from the patient information
server 142. When media data such as video needs to be streamed to a
requesting client, the streaming server 146 can send the stream. In
one implementation, the streaming data is stored in QuickTime
format on a Linux-based server running the QuickTime server
software.
[0045] The servers can be clustered. In one embodiment using
Microsoft's Cluster Server, cluster-enabled applications such as
Microsoft's SQL Server and Exchange. With Cluster Server, two
servers can run applications at the same time. When one server
fails, the remaining server handles its application as well as the
failed server's applications. Next, the remaining server adopts the
IP address of the failed server and mounts one or more data drives
that the two systems share. The remaining server is rebooted and
applications such as SQL Server can be started and initialized on
this server. Persistent clients can re-attach to the server and
continue to operate.
[0046] Referring now to FIG. 3, a diagram 200 shows various major
functions supported by the dental server 106. First, the process
200 performs an automatic detection for the existence of a browser
welcome plug-in (step 202). If the welcome plug-in exists, an
introductory animation (flash) is shown (step 204). From step 204
or 206, the process 200 shows a home page (step 208) with one or
more links. A link is created by having a word in a text field (or
a graphic image on a web page) linked to the location of another
web page, via a string of information setting forth the new web
page address presented in hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP), among
others.
[0047] The user can navigate the home page to join a particular
site from a constellation of related sites. For instance, the user
can navigate to a patient's site (step 208), a doctor's site (step
210), a privacy statement site (step 212), one or more additional
sites (step 214), and an about site (step 216), among others. The
additional sites can be an on-line shopping store that is
co-branded with the web site hosted by the server 106, or the
on-line shopping store can be directly affiliated with a third
party such as planet-rx.com, among others. The additional sites can
also be third party value-added providers of products and/or
services.
[0048] FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary usage of the system of FIG.
1 from a patient's perspective. First, a prospective client using a
client computer 104 visits the web site on the dental server 106
and identifies a treating professional meeting one or more
criteria, for example a professional whose location is closest to
his or her home address (step 230). Next, the patient schedules an
appointment with the treating professional (step 232). At the
meeting, an assistant captures various anatomical data from the
patient by taking digital photographs of the face and teeth, taking
x-rays of the front, back, side, and top/bottom of the patient,
taking one or more impressions, among others (step 234). Next, this
information is entered into a form on the server 106 (step 236).
The data is then digitized, stored on the server 106, and made
available to the treating professionals and the patient over the
Internet (step 238). Next, the server 106 and one or more
orthodontic treating persons process the patient data and render
the patient's teeth in a plurality of alternative final states
(step 240). Based on the choices, the patient selects a desired
final state (step 242).
[0049] In addition to performing orthodontic operations, the server
106 can also perform other value-added services. For example,
processes executed by the server 106 can simulate the color of the
patient's enamel and show the color of the teeth before and after
bleaching (step 244). Further, processes on the server 106 can
simulate the color of the patient's silver fillings (amalgram) and
show the teeth after cosmetic work to cover the amalgam (step 246).
After visualizing the effects of the operations, comparing the
before and after operations, and reviewing guideline pricing for
the orthodontic operation as well as add-ons such as bleaching
(step 248), the patient makes a decision (step 250).
[0050] Once the patient has accepted a particular treatment
selection, the server 106 offers the patient with one or more
financing options from one of its financial partners (step 256).
Additionally, the server 106 can guide the patient to an on-line
shopping store to purchase products relating to his or her dental
health (step 258). For example, the patient can buy cleaning
supplies, brushes, and flossing supply at a price competitive to
his or her traditional stores. Moreover, the products can be
delivered to the patient using one or more delivery partners at a
convenient time (step 260).
[0051] FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary usage of the system of FIG.
1 from a treating professional's perspective. A prospective patient
uses a client computer 104 and visits the web site on the dental
server 106 (step 280). The client identifies a treating
professional and schedules an appointment with the treating
professional (step 281). Alternatively, a referring dentist can
refer the client to the treating orthodontist (step 282). The
referring dentist can visit the web site on the dental server 106
and uses one or more dental esthetic tools to show patients the
potential benefits of anterior and posterior esthetic restorations
and, if the patient is interested, refers the patient to the
treating professional (step 283).
[0052] During an initial examination, the treating professional or
an assistant takes a set of digital facial and intraoral images
which is uploaded to a secure, collaborative workspace on the
dental server 106 (step 284). The workspace is shared with the
referring dentist.
[0053] Next, the treating professional generates a dentofacial
treatment visualization showing the patient's face and smile before
and after treatment (step 286). The treating professional can also
combine the patient's face and an aligner into the intraoral image
to show how inconspicuous the appliance will be (step 288).
[0054] Once the patient requests treatment, the treating
professional takes impressions and a bite registration and sends
the information to the company (step 290). The treating
professional also takes a lateral ceph and a panorex and uploads
them and a treating prescription to the workspace (step 292). The
professional's assistant creates a separate workspace for the
patient, uploads selected "before and after" images into it, and
invites the patient to review the images (step 294).
[0055] At the company, another professional reviews the records and
decides to accept or decline the case (step 296). The models are
then scanned, and the intraoral images are retrieved and used to
texture-map enamel and gingiva (step 298). The data is then sent to
the workspace and the treating professional is notified (step
300).
[0056] In one embodiment, the tooth models may be posted on a
hypertext transfer protocol (http) web site for limited access by
the corresponding patients and treating clinicians. Since realistic
models have a large volume of data, the storage and transmission of
the models can be expensive and time consuming. To reduce
transmission problems arising from the large size of the 3D model,
in one embodiment, data associated with the model is compressed.
The compression is done by modeling the teeth meshes as a curve
network before transmission to the treating professional. Once the
curve network is received, the 3D model is reconstructed from the
curve network for the treating professional to analyze. More
information on the compression is disclosed in a co-pending
application having Ser. No. 09/50,6419, filed Feb. 17, 2000 (now
U.S. Pat. No. 6,463,344), entitled, "EFFICIENT DATA REPRESENTATION
OF TEETH MODEL", and filed by ELENA PAVLOVSKAIA and HUAFENG WEN,
the contents of which are hereby incorporated.
[0057] The treating professional can, at his or her convenience,
check the setup, and review the information sent in step 300 (step
302). The treating professionals can use a variety of tools to
interpret patient information. For example, the treating
professional can retrieve and analyze patient information through a
reconstructed 3D model of the patient's teeth and other anatomical
structures. The professional can view animations showing the
progress of the treatment plan to help the treating physician
visualize the pace of treatment. Using these tools, the treating
professional can easily and quickly view and/or edit the treatment
plan.
[0058] If necessary, the treating professional can adjust one or
more teeth positions at various intermediate stages of treatment
(step 302). A variety of diagnostic decision-support capabilities
such as automated teeth collision detection can be used to aid the
treating professional in adjusting the teeth positions.
[0059] When the treating professional arrives at a prescription or
other final designation, the treatment information is automatically
collected by the system over the Internet, thus eliminating the
cost and delay associated with the traditional physical shipping of
patient information (step 304). These modifications are then
retrofitted onto the dataset used to generate the aligners (step
306).
[0060] FIG. 7 shows a process 400 associated with a viewer that
allows the treating professional to visualize the patient's teeth
over the network 102 such as the Internet. In one embodiment,
during start-up, a browser checks for a viewer plug-in module
embodying the process 400 in a "plugins" subdirectory (Windows) or
Plug-ins folder (Mac OS) in the same folder or directory as the
browser (step 402). If the viewer plug-in module is available, the
browser looks for a MIME type and extension info from the version
resource. Through a TYPE attribute, the browser knows the MIME type
and can load a registered plug-in first and, if there are no
matches for the MIME type, the browser looks for a helper
application.
[0061] Once the viewer plug-in is identified, the browser loads the
viewer plug-in code into memory (step 404); initializes the viewer
plug-in (step 406); and creates a new instance of the viewer
plug-in (step 408). When the professional leaves the site or closes
the window, the viewer plug-in instance is deleted. When the last
instance of the viewer plug-in is deleted, the plug-in code is
unloaded from memory.
[0062] Next, data files are downloaded to the viewer plug-in (step
410). In one implementation, the viewer plug-in downloads a data
file from the dental server 102 using a suitable protocol such as a
file transfer protocol (FTP). The viewer plug-in uses the
downloaded file to present the treatment plan graphically to the
clinician. The viewer plug-in also can be used by the treatment
plan designer at the host site to view images of a patient's teeth.
FIG. 4 shows an exemplary user interface for the viewer plug-in of
FIG. 3. The professional can change views, select a particular
tooth and change its position as desired (step 412).
[0063] 3-D images of various orthodontic views can then be rendered
after each instruction from the treating professional is received
(step 414). In this process, an origin point, or "look from" point
associated with a camera view is generated. Next, a "look at" point
or a focus point associated with the camera view is determined. In
this system, the line from LookFromPoint to LookAtPoint defines the
direction the camera is shooting at. Additionally, a camera Z
vector, or up vector, is determined.
[0064] Exemplary pseudo code implementations for generating various
orthodontic views is shown below. With reference to the pseudo
code, the code defines a bounding box of one mold (2 arches) which
is the smallest cube containing the molds geometry. Other settings
associated with the bounding box include: [0065] Z_Axis: point from
lower to upper, [0066] Y_Axis: point from inside mouse to front
teeth (incisors) [0067] X_Axis: point from center to left. [0068]
FieldOfView: is the open angle, it corresponding to lens [0069]
HalfFieldOfView: FieldOfView*0.5 [0070] MoldCenter: Center of the
BoundingBox [0071] X_Length: BoundingBox X dimension [0072]
Y_Length: BoundingBox X dimension [0073] Z_Length: BoundingBox X
dimension [0074] X_MIN: minimum X value of the BoundingBox, i.e.
right most surface cube X value. [0075] X_MAX: maximum X value of
the BoundingBox [0076] Y_MIN: minimum Y value of the BoundingBox
[0077] Y_MAX: maximum Y value of the BoundingBox [0078] Z_MIN:
minimum Z value of the BoundingBox [0079] Z_MAX: maximum Z value of
the BoundingBox
[0080] RIGHT BUCCAL OVERJET VIEW PSEUDO-CODE
[0081] CameraLookFromPoint: [0082]
X=0.5*MoldCenter.X+0.5*X_Max+0.25*MAX(Y_Length,
Z_Length)/tan(HalfFieldOfView); [0083] Y=MoldCenter.Y [0084]
Z=MoldCenter.Z-0.25*MAX(Y_Length,
Z_Length)/tan(HalfFieldOfView);
[0085] CameraLookAtPoint: [0086] X=MoldCenter.X+0.25*X Length;
[0087] Y=MoldCenter.Y; [0088] Z=MoldCenter.Z;
[0089] CameraUpVector: ZAxis;
[0090] ANTERIOR OVERJET VIEW PSEUDO-CODE
[0091] CameraLookFromPoint: [0092] X=MoldCenter.X; [0093]
Y=0.5*MoldCenter.Y+0.5*Y_Max+0.25*MAX(X_Length,
Z_Length)/tan(HalfFieldOfView); [0094]
Z=MoldCenter.Z-0.25*MAX(X_Length,
Z_Length)/tan(HalfFieldOfView);
[0095] CameraLookAtPoint: [0096] X=MoldCenter.X; [0097]
Y=MoldCenter.Y+0.25*Y_Length; [0098] Z=MoldCenter.Z;
[0099] CameraUpVector: ZAxis;
[0100] LEFT BUCCAL OVERJET VIEW PSEUDO-CODE
[0101] CameraLookFromPoint: [0102]
X=0.5*MoldCenter.X+0.5*X_Min-0.25*MAX(Y_Length,
Z_Length)/tan(HalfFieldOfView); [0103] Y=MoldCenter.Y; [0104]
Z=MoldCenter.Z-0.25*MAX(Y_Length,
Z_Length)/tan(HalfFieldOfView);
[0105] CameraLookAtPoint: [0106] X=MoldCenter.X-0.25*X_Length;
[0107] Y=MoldCenter.Y; [0108] Z=MoldCenter.Z;
[0109] CameraUpVector: ZAxis;
[0110] LEFT DISTAL_MOLAR
[0111] CameraLookFromPoint: [0112] X=MoldCenter.X-0.25*X_Length;
[0113] Y=Y_Min-0.25*MAX(X_Length, Z_Length)/tan(HalfFieldOfView);
[0114] Z=MoldCenter.Z;
[0115] CameraLookAtPoint: [0116] X=MoldCenter.X-0.25*X_Length;
[0117] Y=MoldCenter.Y; [0118] Z=MoldCenter.Z;
[0119] CameraUpVector: ZAxis;
[0120] LEFT LINGUAL VIEW PSEUDO-CODE
[0121] CameraLookFromPoint: [0122] X=MoldCenter.X+0.125*X_Length;
[0123] Y=MoldCenter.Y; [0124] Z=MoldCenter.Z;
[0125] CameraLookAtPoint: [0126] X=MoldCenter.X-0.25*X_Length;
[0127] Y=MoldCenter.Y; [0128] Z=MoldCenter.Z;
[0129] CameraUpVector: ZAxis;
[0130] LINGUAL INCISOR VIEW PSEUDO-CODE
[0131] CameraLookFromPoint: [0132] X=MoldCenter.X; [0133]
Y=MoldCenter.Y; [0134] Z=MoldCenter.Z;
[0135] CameraLookAtPoint: [0136] X=MoldCenter.X; [0137]
Y=MoldCenter.Y+0.25*Y_Length; [0138] Z=MoldCenter.Z;
[0139] CameraUpVector: ZAxis;
[0140] RIGHT LINGUAL VIEW PSEUDO-CODE
[0141] CameraLookFromPoint: [0142] X=MoldCenter.X+0.125*X_Length;
[0143] Y=MoldCenter.Y; [0144] Z=MoldCenter.Z;
[0145] CameraLookAtPoint: [0146] X=MoldCenter.X+0.25*X_Length;
[0147] Y=MoldCenter.Y; [0148] Z=MoldCenter.Z
[0149] CameraUpVector: ZAxis;
[0150] RIGHT DISTAL MOLAR VIEW PSEUDO-CODE
[0151] CameraLookFromPoint: [0152] X=MoldCenter.X+0.25*X_Length;
[0153] Y=Y_MIN-0.25*MAX(X_Length, Z_Length)/tan(HalfFieldOfView);
[0154] Z=MoldCenter.Z;
[0155] CameraLookAtPoint: [0156] X=MoldCenter.X+0.25*X_Length;
[0157] Y=MoldCenter.Y; [0158] Z=MoldCenter.Z;
[0159] CameraUpVector: ZAxis;
[0160] Once the intermediate and final data sets have been created,
the appliances may be fabricated as illustrated in FIG. 9. Common
fabrication methods employ a rapid prototyping device 501 such as a
stereolithography machine. A particularly suitable rapid
prototyping machine is Model SLA-250/50 available from 3D System,
Valencia, Calif. The rapid prototyping machine 501 selectively
hardens a liquid or other non-hardened resin into a
three-dimensional structure which can be separated from the
remaining non-hardened resin, washed, and used either directly as
the appliance or indirectly as a mold for producing the appliance.
The prototyping machine 501 receives the individual digital data
sets and produces one structure corresponding to each of the
desired appliances. Generally, because the rapid prototyping
machine 501 may utilize a resin having non-optimum mechanical
properties and which may not be generally acceptable for patient
use, the prototyping machine typically is used to produce molds
which are, in effect, positive tooth models of each successive
stage of the treatment. After the positive models are prepared, a
conventional pressure or vacuum molding machine 551 is used to
produce the appliances from a more suitable material, such as 0.03
inch thermal forming dental material, available from Tru-Tain
Plastics, Rochester, Minn. 55902. Suitable pressure molding
equipment is available under the trade name BIOSTAR from Great
Lakes Orthodontics, Ltd., Tonawanda, N.Y. 14150. The molding
machine 551 produces each of the appliances directly from the
positive tooth model and the desired material. Suitable vacuum
molding machines are available from Raintree Essix, Inc.
[0161] After production, the appliances can be supplied to the
treating professional all at one time. The appliances are marked in
some manner, typically by sequential numbering directly on the
appliances or on tags, pouches, or other items which are affixed to
or which enclose each appliance, to indicate their order of use.
Optionally, written instructions may accompany the system which set
forth that the patient is to wear the individual appliances in the
order marked on the appliances or elsewhere in the packaging. Use
of the appliances in such a manner will reposition the patient's
teeth progressively toward the final tooth arrangement.
[0162] Because a patient's teeth may respond differently than
originally expected, the treating clinician may wish to evaluate
the patient's progress during the course of treatment. The system
can also do this automatically, starting from the newly-measured
in-course dentition. If the patient's teeth do not progress as
planned, the clinician can revise the treatment plan as necessary
to bring the patient's treatment back on course or to design an
alternative treatment plan. The clinician may provide comments,
oral or written, for use in revising the treatment plan. The
clinician also can form another set of plaster castings of the
patient's teeth for digital imaging and manipulation. The clinician
may wish to limit initial aligner production to only a few
aligners, delaying production on subsequent aligners until the
patient's progress has been evaluated.
[0163] FIG. 10 is a simplified block diagram of a data processing
system 600 that may be used to develop orthodontic treatment plans.
The data processing system 600 typically includes at least one
processor 602 that communicates with a number of peripheral devices
via bus subsystem 604. These peripheral devices typically include a
storage subsystem 606 (memory subsystem 608 and file storage
subsystem 614), a set of user interface input and output devices
618, and an interface to outside networks 616, including the public
switched telephone network. This interface is shown schematically
as "Modems and Network Interface" block 616, and is coupled to
corresponding interface devices in other data processing systems
via communication network interface 624. Data processing system 600
could be a terminal or a low-end personal computer or a high-end
personal computer, workstation or mainframe.
[0164] The user interface input devices typically include a
keyboard and may further include a pointing device and a scanner.
The pointing device may be an indirect pointing device such as a
mouse, trackball, touchpad, or graphics tablet, or a direct
pointing device such as a touchscreen incorporated into the
display, or a three dimensional pointing device, such as the
gyroscopic pointing device described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,440,326,
other types of user interface input devices, such as voice
recognition systems, can also be used.
[0165] User interface output devices typically include a printer
and a display subsystem, which includes a display controller and a
display device coupled to the controller. The display device may be
a cathode ray tube (CRT), a flat-panel device such as a liquid
crystal display (LCD), or a projection device. The display
subsystem may also provide non-visual displays such as audio
output.
[0166] Storage subsystem 606 maintains the basic required
programming and data constructs. The program modules discussed
above are typically stored in storage subsystem 606. Storage
subsystem 606 typically comprises memory subsystem 608 and file
storage subsystem 614.
[0167] Memory subsystem 608 typically includes a number of memories
including a main random access memory (RAM) 610 for storage of
instructions and data during program execution and a read only
memory (ROM) 612 in which fixed instructions are stored. In the
case of Macintosh-compatible personal computers, the ROM would
include portions of the operating system; in the case of
IBM-compatible personal computers, this would include the BIOS
(basic input/output system).
[0168] File storage subsystem 614 provides persistent
(non-volatile) storage for program and data files, and typically
includes at least one hard disk drive and at least one floppy disk
drive (with associated removable media). There may also be other
devices such as a CD-ROM drive and optical drives (all with their
associated removable media). Additionally, the system may include
drives of the type with removable media cartridges. The removable
media cartridges may, for example be hard disk cartridges, such as
those marketed by Syquest and others, and flexible disk cartridges,
such as those marketed by Iomega. One or more of the drives may be
located at a remote location, such as in a server on a local area
network or at a site on the Internet's World Wide Web.
[0169] In this context, the term "bus subsystem" is used
generically so as to include any mechanism for letting the various
components and subsystems communicate with each other as intended.
With the exception of the input devices and the display, the other
components need not be at the same physical location. Thus, for
example, portions of the file storage system could be connected via
various local-area or wide-area network media, including telephone
lines. Similarly, the input devices and display need not be at the
same location as the processor, although it is anticipated that
personal computers and workstations typically will be used.
[0170] Bus subsystem 604 is shown schematically as a single bus,
but a typical system has a number of buses such as a local bus and
one or more expansion buses (e.g., ADB, SCSI, ISA, EISA, MCA,
NuBus, or PCI), as well as serial and parallel ports. Network
connections are usually established through a device such as a
network adapter on one of these expansion buses or a modem on a
serial port. The client computer may be a desktop system or a
portable system.
[0171] Scanner 620 is responsible for scanning casts of the
patient's teeth obtained either from the patient or from an
orthodontist and providing the scanned digital data set information
to data processing system 600 for further processing. In a
distributed environment, scanner 620 may be located at a remote
location and communicate scanned digital data set information to
data processing system 600 via network interface 624.
[0172] Fabrication machine 622 fabricates dental appliances based
on intermediate and final data set information received from data
processing system 600. In a distributed environment, fabrication
machine 622 may be located at a remote location and receive data
set information from data processing system 600 via network
interface 624.
[0173] The system of the present invention is a web-based
transaction environment that allows qualified orthodontists and
dental practitioners to submit malocclusion cases as candidates for
treatment. The system is also used for managing the cases accepted
for treatment. The treating professional can accomplish the case
submission and case management process entirely within the
web-based environment. An orthodontist or treating professional
submits cases into a case submission system. The treating
professional can also view and manage the case using a case
management system. The case management system also interacts with a
provider, which operates the system of FIG. 9 in producing aligners
for patients based on instructions from the treating
professional.
[0174] Case submission is the process of creating and submitting a
malocclusion case as a candidate for the system's treatment, all
within a web-based environment. The orthodontist or treatment
professional initiates the case submission process by first logging
in to the web application. After a successful login, the treating
professional can begin the case creation process. The treating
professional enters the patient information, their practice
information, the billing and shipping information, and finally the
diagnosis and treatment plan. After the case details are finished,
the treating professional submits the case information.
Subsequently, the treating professional can submit the associated
digital images and x-rays. The submitted case is received by the
provider. This completes the case submission process.
[0175] First, the user clicks on a Start a New Case link to take
the user to an On-line Treatment Planning Form where the user can
complete the On-line Treatment Planning form and submit the
form.
[0176] First, the treating professional logs in. The doctor
information is updated. Next, patient information is entered. The
user can also enter billing information as well as shipping
information. Next, the treating professional enters a diagnosis.
The treating professional also enters the treatment plan. The case
is then submitted. Additionally, digital photographs can be
submitted and uploaded to the system of FIG. 10. Also, digital
x-ray cells are submitted.
[0177] Once the user has submitted the On-line Treatment Planning
Form, the user prints copies of the `Treatment Planning Form
Summary`, save one copy for the user's records, and place the
second copy in the Orthodontics Records box along with the same
materials the user typically sends to the system. Next, the user
prints a shipping label by clicking on the `Print UPS Label` button
that appears when the user submits a new case on-line. The shipping
label is affixed to the outside of an orthodontics records box that
contains a Treatment Planning Form Summary, a PVS impression of
each arch in a separate foam bag, a bite registration in a separate
foam bag, copies of the patient's x-rays, and copies of the
patient's photos (intraoral and extraoral), for example.
[0178] Case management takes place after the treating professional
has submitted the case. The case management process consists of the
recursive review and approval process all taking place within the
web environment. The case management process ends when the treating
professional has finished the closed case.
[0179] First, the treating professional submits the case. The
system receives the case over the network, and an experienced
professional reviewer reviews the case. The completed review is
submitted to the server and the treating professional can review
and approve the case. Upon receiving the approval, the case manager
accepts the case. The case is then forwarded to the system of FIG.
10 to develop a computer model. The computer model is then
presented to the case manager, who in turn forwards the model to
the treating professional for approval. The treating professional
reviews the model and if he or she accepts the treatment plan,
sends an approval to the case manager. The system of FIG. 9 then
manufactures the aligners. The produced aligners are then shipped
to the treating professional. Upon receipt of the fabricated
aligners, the treating professional can finish the case. Upon
conclusion of treatment, the case is closed and the system of FIG.
10 sends an instruction to the case manager to close the case.
[0180] First, a new case is started. This can be done using a
treatment planning form. The treatment planning form allows the
user to select a case type and to evaluate orthodontic conditions
that may be encountered. The process then captures doctor and
patient information using a doctor and patient information form.
This form verifies address information and shipping information,
patient information, and allows the doctor to enter case refinement
coverage options, among others. The doctor enters a diagnosis. This
can be done through a diagnosis form. The doctor then enters the
treatment goals. This can be done using a treatment goals form. The
doctor then summarizes the case using a treatment plan summary
preview. The case is submitted. This can be done using a treatment
plan summary. A shipping label is printed using, for example, a UPS
label printing process for cases that are shipped using UPS.
[0181] First, a user logs in. In this process, doctor information
can be processed. Next, a new case can be started. In this step,
case type information can be collected, patient information data
can be collected, diagnosis information can be collected, or
treatment goals can be collected. The case can be submitted. This
can be done over the network. Additional case submission
information can also be submitted. X-ray information includes PVS
impression, wax bite, x-rays, and digital images, among others. The
information from the case submitted and the case submission data is
then reviewed. The reviewer can modify, accept, or reject.
[0182] FIG. 11 shows an exemplary home page of the web-based
interface. The web-based system of FIG. 11 allows users such as
doctors to manage the system practices on-line. The user can view
all aspects of the patients' cases on-line. The user can also order
advertising and marketing materials, chat on-line with other system
doctors, review the system's how-to tutorials, and link the user's
personal website.
[0183] The web-based system helps users such as the treating
doctors to ensure that appliances received from the provider will
treat the patient the way the user intended. The system does this
with a dynamic 3-D animation called a virtual treatment model. The
system not only shows the user's patient's teeth going through
their projected movement as a result of wearing the system
appliances (aligners), but it also gives the user the ability to
manipulate the model in time and space to insure the treatment
sequence is exactly what the user had in mind. The system gives the
user control over the aligners the user will receive: if the
animation the user sees does not depict the treatment or outcome
the user intended, the system allows the user to send feedback to
the provider with instructions on how to re-set the case. After the
provider has received the user's explicit approval, the appliances
are manufactured and sent to the user's office.
[0184] When the user views the case online through the provider's
web site (for example at www.invisalign.com), the system contacts
the provider's computer systems over the Internet and downloads the
treatment model to the user's computer at work or at home. The
system then allows the user to play animation showing the treatment
progressing over time, starting and stopping at any point during
the treatment. It also allows the user to inspect the treatment
from any angle, or from as far away or as close as the user
likes.
[0185] The system allows the user to view the status of all the
cases at any point in time. Within the home page, a Patient Chart
appears on the right hand side of the page. The chart is divided
into two columns--those cases that require action--Action
Required--and those that do not--No Action Required. Within these
lists, a status will appear next to each patient's name. This
status identifies the current point of treatment for the patient.
For example, if the user has patient John Doe in the Action
Required column, and his status reads Awaiting Your Approval, the
user will need to view and approve of Mr. Doe's file in order to
continue with his treatment.
[0186] Status categories that appear under Action Required can
include the following: [0187] Awaiting Approval [0188] Treatment
Form Waiting to be Submitted [0189] Case Refinement Waiting to be
Submitted [0190] Screening Form Waiting to be Submitted [0191] Case
Screening Result is Ready [0192] Case on Hold Awaiting New
Impressions [0193] Case Waiting to be Resumed by Doctor [0194]
Midcourse Correction Waiting to be Submitted [0195] Further
Materials Required
[0196] Statuses that can appear under No Action Required include
the following: [0197] Treatment Form Submitted to the provider
[0198] Case Received and Under Review [0199] Order Accepted by the
provider [0200] Under Development [0201] Shipments Scheduled [0202]
Aligners Shipped [0203] Case Refinement Submitted [0204] Case
Currently Being Screened [0205] Case Hold Requested by Doctor
[0206] Case Resume Requested by Doctor [0207] Cancellation
Requested by Doctor [0208] Midcourse Correction Submitted
[0209] Treatment Form Waiting to be Submitted. This means that the
user started a standard Online Treatment Planning Form for a
patient, but did not submit it to the provider. The case will be
stored in VIP under this category until submiting it.
[0210] Case Received and Under Review. Case Received and Under
Review is a category of patients whose clinical items (Treatment
Planning Forms, PVS impressions, Bite Registrations, X-rays,
Photos) the provider has received and in the process of confirming
that these patients are candidates for the system treatment. If the
case is accepted for treatment, the status will change to Order
Accepted by the provider. If the case is not accepted for
treatment, the status will change to Order Not Accepted by the
provider and a representative will call the user's office.
[0211] Order Accepted. Order Accepted is a category of patients
whose cases have been accepted for treatment by the provider. The
next status the user will see for this patient will be Under
Development. When this patient's file has been developed, the
status will then become Awaiting Approval. At that time, feedback
to the system will be required in order to continue processing the
case.
[0212] Under Development. Under Development is a category of
patients whose files are currently being developed by the provider.
When the system is ready, the patient's status will change to
Awaiting Approval. At that time, feedback to the system will be
required in order to continue processing the case.
[0213] Awaiting Approval. Awaiting Approval is a category of
patients whose files are ready for review and feedback. To review a
patient's file, the user can click on their name in the home page.
The user will be linked to the patient's Summary Page where the
user can view models. If the user accepts a patient's case, the
status for the patient will change to The aligner in Production. If
the user requests modification of the file, the status will change
back to Under Development.
[0214] Shipments Scheduled. Shipments Scheduled is a category of
patients' whose aligners are currently being produced and are due
to ship in the near term. To view a patient's scheduled ship date,
the user can click on his or her name. The user will be linked to
the patient's Summary Page where the user can view the ship date.
Once the patient's aligners are shipped, the status will change to
Aligners Shipped.
[0215] Aligners Shipped. Aligners Shipped is a category of
patients' whose aligners have already shipped. The user can check
the date the aligners were shipped by clicking on the patient's
name. The user will be linked to the patient's Summary Page where
the user can view the ship date. This is the last status for a
patient.
[0216] Case Refinement Waiting to be Submitted. Case Refinement
Waiting to be Submitted is a category of patients whose Case
Refinement Form the user started, but did not yet submit to the
provider. To submit this form for a patient, the user can click on
the patient's name. The user will be linked to the patient's
Summary Page. From this page the user can continue filling out the
form and submit it to the provider. Once the form is submitted, the
status will change to Case Refinement Submitted.
[0217] Case Refinement Submitted. Case Refinement Submitted is a
category of patients whose Case Refinement Form the user submitted
to the provider. Once the provider begins developing a new file for
these patients, the patient status will change to Under
Development. When the system is ready, the patient's status will
change to Awaiting Approval. At that time, feedback to the system
will be required in order to continue processing the case.
[0218] Screening Form Waiting to be Submitted. Screening Form
Waiting to be Submitted is a category of patients' whose Screening
Forms the user started, but did not submit to the provider. To
submit this form for a patient, a user can click on the patient's
name. The user will be linked to the patient's Summary Page. From
this page the user can continue filling out the form and submit it
to the provider. Once the form is submitted, the status will change
to Case Currently Being Screened.
[0219] Case Currently Being Screened. Case Currently Being Screened
is a category of patients' whose Screening Forms the user submitted
to the provider. These cases are currently being reviewed by the
provider when the review process is complete, the patient status
will change to Case Screening Result is Ready.
[0220] Case Screening Result is Ready. Case Screening Result is
Ready is a category of patients' whose Screening Forms the user
submitted to the provider and whose results are ready for review.
These cases are currently being reviewed by the provider--when the
review process is complete, the patient status will change to Case
Screening Result is Ready. To review the case screening results for
a patient, the user can click on the patient's name.
[0221] Case on Hold Awaiting New Impressions. Case on Hold Awaiting
New Impressions is a category of patients' whose cases have been
placed on hold by the provider due to unusable PVS impressions.
When the provider places a case on hold, the user's office will be
called so that steps can be taken to resume the case as quickly as
possible.
[0222] Case Waiting to be Resumed by Doctor. Case Waiting to be
Resumed by Doctor is a category of patients whose cases the user
has placed on hold--these cases will remain on hold until the user
resumes them. To resume a case, the user can click on the patient's
name in VIP. The user will be linked to the patient's Summary Page.
From this page the user can click on the Resume this Case link.
[0223] Case Hold Requested by Doctor. Case Hold Requested by Doctor
is a category of patients' whose cases the user has requested that
The provider hold. Before The provider places the case on hold, the
user will be called to confirm that the user wants The provider to
stop processing the case. Once The provider has confirmed that the
user wants the case placed on hold, the status will change to Case
Waiting to be Resumed by Doctor. The user can then resume it by
clicking on the patient's name in VIP. The user will be linked to
the patient's Summary Page. From this page the user can click on
the Resume this Case link.
[0224] Case Resume Requested by Doctor. Case Hold Requested by
Doctor is a category of patients' whose cases the user has
requested that the provider hold. Before the provider places the
case on hold, the user's office will be called to confirm that the
user wants the provider to stop processing the case. Once the
provider has confirmed that the user wants the case placed on hold,
the status will change to Case Waiting to be Resumed by Doctor. The
user can then resume it by clicking on the patient's name. The user
will be linked to the patient's Summary Page. From this page the
user can click on the Resume this Case link.
[0225] Cancellation Requested by Doctor. Cancellation Requested by
Doctor is a category of patients' whose cases the user has
requested that the provider cancel. Before the provider cancels a
case, the user's office will be called to confirm that the user
wants the provider to stop processing the case. Once the provider
has confirmed that the user wants the case placed on hold, the case
will be removed from the database.
[0226] Midcourse Correction Waiting to be Submitted. Midcourse
Correction Form Waiting to be Submitted is a category of patients
whose Midcourse Correction Forms the user started, but did not
submit to the provider. To submit this form for a patient, the user
can click on the patient's name. The user will be linked to the
patient's Summary Page. From this page the user can continue
filling out the form and submit it to the provider. Once the form
is submitted, the status will change to Midcourse Correction
Submitted. Once the provider has had a chance to review the user's
request, the patient status will change to Under Development.
[0227] Midcourse Correction Submitted. Midcourse Correction
Submitted is a category of patients' whose Midcourse Correction
Forms the user recently submitted to the provider. Once the
provider has had a chance to review the request, the patient status
will change to Under Development.
[0228] Further Materials Required. Further Materials Required is a
category of patients' whose files are incomplete and cannot be
processed further until additional materials are sent to the
provider. In most cases, this means that the Submission Box sent to
the provider did not include all necessary patient materials. When
a case enters this status, the provider will call the user's office
to let the user know that further materials are required.
[0229] To view only certain cases, the user must click on the
status category in the Case Summary box that the user is interested
in viewing. For example, if the user would like to view only cases
that are in the Awaiting Approval phase, the user clicks on that
link. The patient chart on the right side of the page will now only
display cases in the Awaiting Approval phase.
[0230] To return to a view of all the cases, the user clicks on
Total to take the user back to the original patient chart. The user
can also sort cases within any patient list by clicking on one of
the column headings. For example, to sort cases by patient name,
the user must click on the Patient Name heading. The cases will now
be sorted in alphabetical order by patient name. The user can
always identify how the patient list is sorted by noting which
column heading is italicized.
[0231] Each of the patients in treatment has their own Patient
Summary Page. The Patient Summary Page allows the user to view all
aspects of a patient's case, from their file to their treatment
history. To access a Patient's Summary Page, the user clicks on the
name of the patient whose file the user would like to view. The
user can find a list of all the patients on the Home Page. From the
Patient Summary Page, the user can do each of the following: [0232]
View a Patient's Model [0233] View Static Images [0234] View
Treatment History [0235] View On-line Forms--Attachment and
Reproximation [0236] Create an Aligner Schedule [0237] Place a Case
on Hold [0238] Cancel a Case
[0239] One function supported by the system is to enable the user
to complete an On-line Treatment Planning Form as quickly and as
efficiently as possible.
[0240] On the Treatment Forms page the user can access the
following: [0241] On-line Treatment Planning Form [0242] Paper
Treatment Planning Form [0243] Case Refinement Form [0244]
Mid-course Correction Form
[0245] A template called Treatment Preferences shown in FIG. 12 is
used and allows the user to enter treatment information one
time--this information is then incorporated into each form the user
fills out, eliminating the need to enter redundant information each
time the user submits a new case. The Treatment Preferences form
will automatically appear in a separate window when the user clicks
on the Start a New Case link for the first time. For each On-line
Treatment Planning Form the user fills out, at the beginning of the
form the user will be given the option of activating the Treatment
Preferences for that form. The user can change the Treatment
Preferences at any time by clicking on the Treatment Preferences
link that appears after the user has clicked on the Start a New
Case link.
[0246] In this system, the form does not allow the user to advance
to subsequent pages until the current page is completely filled
out. In addition, the form has built-in logic; it does not permit
the user to send in a form that has contradicting inputs, nor can
the user submit a case that does not meet predetermined case
selection criteria. These features greatly increase the likelihood
that each submitted case would be accepted for treatment. If the
user needs help filling out the form, the user clicks on the
question mark symbol within the form to view the comprehensive Help
section.
[0247] Yet another feature is a Case Selection Expansion option.
Case Selection Expansion allows experienced system doctors to
submit cases beyond the limits of what is normally accepted through
the On-line Treatment Planning Form. If the user is an experienced
user who has submitted a large number of cases, the user is
eligible for Case Selection Expansion. Once classified as an
experienced user, the user will see a screen asking whether the
user would like to use the standard On-line Treatment Planning Form
or the Case Selection Expansion Form, which allows more
flexibility. If the user selects the Case Selection Expansion Form,
the user is prompted to sign a waiver. Besides relaxed case
selection criteria for the Case Selection Expansion Form, the user
will find the two submission forms are identical.
[0248] Yet another feature in this embodiment is case screening. If
the user is not sure whether a case is appropriate for system
treatment and would like feedback from the system, the user can use
the Case Screening feature. The user must be able to submit digital
photos on-line to use this feature. In one embodiment, to screen a
new case, the user clicks on a Case Screening link, enters the
office information and the patient's information, enters the
treatment plan and goals for the patient, and uploads digital
photos of the case--either individual photos or a composite photo.
After submission, a professional reviewer at the provider reviews
and provides comments and/or suggestions for treatment. If a
patient's screening result is ready, that patient's status is
listed as Case Screening Result is Ready. The user can then click
on the patient's name to view the screening result and to submit
the case for treatment.
[0249] The system can also handle case refinement situations. Case
refinement occurs when additional aligners beyond the last stage
are needed to move a patient's teeth closer to the desired final
outcome approved by the user in the system. If the user has a case
that qualifies for Case Refinement, the user's next step is to
submit a Case Refinement Form for that case. Once the user has
submitted a Case Refinement Form, the user can track the status of
the form through the VIP Home Page. When the form is submitted, the
patient's status will change to Case Refinement Submitted. When a
new file begins production, the status will change to Under
Development. Once the file is ready for review, the status will
change again to Awaiting Approval.
[0250] In instances when clinical results deviate from the original
treatment plan such that the aligner(s) no longer fit, a Mid-Course
Correction is necessary. This may be due to any of the following:
[0251] Patient underwent dental work during the course of treatment
[0252] Poor patient compliance [0253] Treatment goal has changed
[0254] Case has deviated from the approved course of treatment
[0255] If the user has a case that qualifies for Mid-Course
Correction, the next step is to submit a Mid-Course Correction Form
for that case. Once the user has submitted a Mid-Course Correction
Form, the user can track the status of the form through the Home
Page. When the form is submitted, the patient's status will change
to Mid-Course Correction Form Submitted. When a new file begins
production, the status will change to Under Development. Unlike
Case Refinement Cases, Mid-Course Correction files do not require
feedback. Once the file is ready, the status will change again to
Aligner Shipments Scheduled.
[0256] FIGS. 13A and 13B show exemplary views of Static Images of a
patient's teeth. The benefit of the Static Images is that they
provide the user with initial and final images of the depicted
treatment at a high resolution. To view a patient's Static Images,
the user can click on the View Static Images link within the
Options left menu bar on the left side of a Patient's Summary Page.
Alternatively, the user can access Static Images by clicking on the
Static Images link at the bottom a Patient's Summary Page. Once
viewing the images, the user can enlarge them for a better view by
clicking on them.
[0257] FIG. 13B shows a Scroll Over Model--the user can scroll the
mouse over the image to view the initial and final views of the
patient's depicted treatment. The bottom images provide a
side-by-side comparison of the initial and final views.
[0258] The system can also allow the user to view a patient's
dental model. To view a patient's file, the user must click on the
name of the patient whose file the user would like to view. The
user can use the system to see many different views of a treatment
model. The user can zoom in and out, hide the upper and lower
arches, and rotate the model to see it from different angles. The
user can choose to see the model from fourteen different pre-set
angles. The user can rotate a model to any angle, making it seem to
spin in the window. The user can position the mouse inside the
model window and click and hold the left mouse button while
dragging the mouse in the direction that the user wants to move the
model. The model rotates as the user moves the mouse. As an
example, the user can start with the right buccal view of the
model. The user must click and hold the left mouse button and drag
the mouse from right to left. As the user does so, the model
rotates so the user can see all of the teeth as the model
moves.
[0259] If the user would like to take a closer look at a model, the
user can zoom in. Conversely, if the user would like to see a view
of the model from further away, the user can zoom out. To zoom, the
user must press and hold the Control (Ctrl) key. Positioning the
mouse inside the model window, the user must click and hold the
left mouse button and drag the mouse up to zoom out and down to
zoom in. The further the user drags, the further the user will
zoom. Alternatively, if the mouse has a mouse wheel, the user can
turn the mouse wheel to zoom in and out. The user can also slide
the model up and down, and left and right. To slide the model, the
user must press and hold the Shift key, then click and drag the
mouse. The model moves in the direction of the mouse motion. This
motion can be useful when the user has a zoomed in view of the
model, and the user would like to see another part of the model.
The user can hide the upper or lower arch to see an unobstructed
view of the other arch. This is useful, for example, when looking
at the occlusal surface of either arch. To hide the upper arch, the
user must click the checked box next to Show Upper Jaw in the left
menu bar. The check mark is removed and the upper arch disappears
from view. To hide the lower arch, the user must click the checked
box next to Show Lower Jaw in the Dialog box. The check mark is
removed and the lower arch disappears from view. When the user
hides either arch, the user can still rotate the model so the user
can see it from any angle. Once the user has hidden an arch, the
user can show it again. To show an arch once the user has hidden
it, the user must re-select the Show Upper Jaw or Show Lower Jaw
command from the left bar menu. When the boxes show check marks,
the arches are shown. The user can also select the level of detail
of the model. On the left menu bar, the options Show Low Resolution
and Show High Resolution appear. By default, Show Low Resolution is
selected. Alternatively, the user can select Show High Resolution
to show a more detailed version of the model.
[0260] To print a model in its current view, the user must click
the Print icon or right-click the mouse over the window and select
Print from the Right Mouse Button menu.
[0261] The animation allows the user to see how a patient is
projected to progress using the system. Using the animation
controls located in the lower right corner of the model window, the
user can play, stop, rewind and fast-forward the animation. The
user can also step forward or backward through the animation stage
by stage (a stage corresponds to one set of aligners). To play an
animation, the user must click the Play button. The Play button
then becomes the Stop button. To stop an animation, the user must
click the Stop button. To resume playing the animation, the Play
button is clicked. When the user rewinds an animation, the model
returns to its beginning position. To rewind an animation, the user
can click the Rewind (<<) button. To rewind the model
stage-by-stage, the user can click the Back (<) button and the
model will rewind one stage. When the user fast-forwards an
animation, the model advances to its final position. To
fast-forward an animation, the user can click the Fast Forward
(>>) button. To view the model stage-by-stage, the user can
click the Forward (>) button and the model will advance one
stage.
[0262] Other features supported by the web-based system of the
present invention includes Viewing Current/Archived News; Viewing
the Case Gallery where the user can view before and after pictures
of past system patients by visiting the system Case Gallery;
Downloading All Files at Once, where the user can view the
patients' cases without being connected to the Internet; Printing a
List of All Patients; and a Message Board, where the users talk
with other system doctors to share experiences with the product so
the user can learn from and offer suggestions to other doctors who
are using the provider.
[0263] The invention has been described in terms of particular
embodiments. Other embodiments are within the scope of the
following claims. For example, the three-dimensional scanning
techniques described above may be used to analyze material
characteristics, such as shrinkage and expansion, of the materials
that form the tooth castings and the aligners. Also, the 3D tooth
models and the graphical interface described above may be used to
assist clinicians that treat patients with conventional braces or
other conventional orthodontic appliances, in which case the
constraints applied to tooth movement would be modified
accordingly.
* * * * *
References