Systems for packaging orthodontic appliances

Abstract

Systems for packaging orthodontic appliances are provided. In some embodiments, a system includes a processor and a memory operably coupled to the processor and storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the system to perform operations including: receiving a plurality of orthodontic appliances, each orthodontic appliance associated with an identifier; receiving a plurality of containers, each container associated with at least one identifier of at least one orthodontic appliance; matching each orthodontic appliance to a corresponding container that is associated with the identifier of the orthodontic appliance; and loading each orthodontic appliance into the corresponding container for the orthodontic appliance.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A system for packaging orthodontic appliances, the system comprising:
 a processor; and   a memory operably coupled to the processor and storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the system to perform operations comprising:
 receiving a plurality of orthodontic appliances, each orthodontic appliance associated with an identifier, 
 receiving a plurality of containers, each container associated with at least one identifier of at least one orthodontic appliance, 
 matching each orthodontic appliance to a corresponding container that is associated with the identifier of the orthodontic appliance by:
 receiving the identifier associated with each orthodontic appliance from a first reader device, 
 receiving the at least one identifier associated with each container from a second reader device, and 
 comparing the identifier associated with each orthodontic appliance and the at least one identifier associated with each container to verify that each orthodontic appliance is properly matched with the corresponding container, and 
 
 after verifying that each orthodontic appliance is properly matched with the corresponding container, loading each orthodontic appliance into the corresponding container for the orthodontic appliance. 
   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising an insertion mechanism configured to load each orthodontic appliance into the corresponding container for the orthodontic appliance. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising an item conveyor configured to convey the plurality of orthodontic appliances to the insertion mechanism. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of orthodontic appliances are sorted into a plurality of groups on the item conveyor, each group corresponding to an individual patient. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the orthodontic appliances within each group are ordered in a predetermined sequence corresponding to a plurality of treatment stages for the individual patient. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the identifier for each orthodontic appliance includes information indicating (a) the group for the orthodontic appliance and (b) a placement of the orthodontic appliance within the predetermined sequence of the group. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein each orthodontic appliance is associated with a readable element storing the identifier for the orthodontic appliance. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the readable element is located on the orthodontic appliance. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the readable element is located on a carrier supporting the orthodontic appliance. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the readable element is an RFID chip, a barcode, or a symbol. 
     
     
         12 . A system for packaging orthodontic appliances, the system comprising:
 a first conveyor configured to receive a plurality of orthodontic appliances, each orthodontic appliance associated with an identifier;   a second conveyor configured to receive a plurality of containers, each container associated with at least one identifier of at least one orthodontic appliance;   a processor; and   a memory operably coupled to the processor and storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the system to perform operations comprising:
 receiving the identifier associated with each orthodontic appliance from a first reader device, 
 receiving the at least one identifier associated with each container from a second reader device, 
 comparing the identifier associated with each orthodontic appliance and the at least one identifier associated with each container to match each orthodontic appliance to a corresponding container that is associated with the identifier of the orthodontic appliance, and 
 after matching each orthodontic appliance to the corresponding container, transmitting instructions to an insertion mechanism to load each orthodontic appliance into the corresponding container for the orthodontic appliance. 
   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of orthodontic appliances are sorted into a plurality of groups on the first conveyor, each group corresponding to an individual patient. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the orthodontic appliances within each group are ordered in a predetermined sequence corresponding to a plurality of treatment stages for the individual patient. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the identifier for each orthodontic appliance includes information indicating (a) the group for the orthodontic appliance and (b) a placement of the orthodontic appliance within the predetermined sequence of the group. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the insertion mechanism is configured to load each container with a pair of orthodontic appliances. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the pair of orthodontic appliances includes an upper orthodontic appliance and a lower orthodontic appliance. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein each orthodontic appliance is associated with a readable element storing the identifier for the orthodontic appliance. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the readable element is located on the orthodontic appliance. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the readable element is located on a carrier supporting the orthodontic appliance. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the readable element is an RFID chip, a barcode, or a symbol.