ALEXANDRIA, Va., March 19 -- United States Patent no. 12,251,288, issued on March 18, was assigned to ALIGN TECHNOLOGY INC. (San Jose, Calif.).
"Variable direction tooth attachments" was invented by Allen Boronkay (San Jose, Calif.) and Tzishing Jesse Lim (Mountain View, Calif.).
According to the abstract* released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "Tooth attachments are provided comprising one or more convex surfaces for engagement by a surface of an orthodontic appliance. Polymeric shell appliances are provided in which the polymeric shell appliances are configured to provide one or more activation forces to facilitate tooth movement. The polymeric shell appliances may comprise one or more tooth receiving cavities. The polymeric sh...