DE202013008320U1 - System for recording and storing lower jaw movements by means of acceleration sensors - Google Patents

Abstract

System consisting of hardware and software for recording and storing lower jaw movements in such a way that in a housing, which is attached to the lower jaw front teeth, there is a three-dimensional measuring accelerometer, whose acceleration data are converted into location coordinates and using a software on an external PC graphically displayed.

Description

To the state of the art

Lower jaw movement records are generally used by specialist therapists in the field of dentistry to diagnose and monitor chewing muscle problems, although the clinical relevance of these methods is still debatable.

Systems are currently being used that require a lot of equipment: a rack is mounted on the head which serves as a carrier for receivers or sensors.

The sensors measure in the current system either capacitive changes, emitted infrared or ultrasonic waves. The lower jaw is then equipped accordingly with a magnet or with another frame as a carrier of sensors or infrared b. z. w. Connected to ultrasound emitters.

Since the spatial position of the lower jaw is to be precisely determined and measured, in these methods, the frames used must have a considerable minimum size in order to obtain all spatial coordinates of the lower jaw movements.

problem

The size of these racks is impractical. In addition, these racks, when attached to the lower jaw, affect the true jaw movements. With the current capacitive methods, only spatial movements of a point can be determined.

Rotational movements of the lower jaw that occur around this point are not recorded. In addition, the costs of these systems are very high.

solution

The invention solves these problems in the manner in which small, commercially available circuit boards with three-dimensional acceleration sensors are installed in a housing which is attached to the lower jaw front teeth with the aid of a short arm using conventional registration silicone located in each dental practice. In this case, a positioning nose serves for orientation at the interdental space of the middle mandibular cutting teeth. The midpoint between the cutting edges (incisive midpoint) is set to be the same as the top of the positioning tab by software.

The acceleration sensor measures the acceleration changes with respect to gravity three-dimensionally. The data can be used to calculate spatial location coordinates by integrating twice. Since the accelerometer also registers rotations about one point, changes in the location coordinates of remote locations, e.g. B. condyles, are calculated simultaneously and graphed. To improve the position determination, a gyroscope can be used for the simultaneous measurement of the angular velocity on the same board. In addition, a compass mounted on the same board can additionally improve the position determination. In order to take into account any possible rotation of the head in the lower jaw movements, a same sensor (same housing) can be attached to the head. The software then calculates the lower jaw movements referenced to the data of this head sensor.

advantages

The system, in its simplest form, consists of a single small housing that weighs a few ounces and thus has less impact on lower jaw movements than cantilevered racks with multiple sensors or emitters.

Since the boards are very cheap with these acceleration sensors, the system presented here will significantly undercut the market price systems, which will ultimately also affect the cost of treatment for patients.

Legend of the drawings

1 : Housing with extension from above

2 : Housing with extension from the side

3 : Case with extension from diagonally above

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

Housing with circuit board

2

USB port (in 'non-wireless connection' version)

3

extension

4

positioning nose

5

Bend to account for the lip

6

Holes for attachment with silicone

Claims (6)

System consisting of hardware and software for recording and storing lower jaw movements in the form that are housed in a housing attached to the lower jaw front teeth is a three-dimensional measuring acceleration sensor is located, the acceleration data using the software on an external PC in spatial coordinates are converted and graphed. The system of claim 1 in the form that, in another embodiment, a second three-dimensionally measuring acceleration sensor for reference to a cranial region, e.g. B. forehead, is fixed so that head movements of simultaneous lower jaw movements can be subtracted. System according to claim 1 and 2, in the form that the housing for receiving the acceleration sensors has an extension for attachment to the mandibular anterior teeth, which takes into account the lower jaw lip with a curvature and at the end part of which is a preferably curved plate which is provided with holes and a positioning nose is provided .. System according to claims 1 and 2, in the form that the data transmission of one of the sensors or both sensors to the external PC is achieved either by a wireless connection or by a cable. System according to claim 1, in such a way that the trajectories of the incisive center or the trajectories of the incisive center are visualized together with those of the two condyles for the graphic representation of the lower jaw movements. A system according to claim 1, in the form that a gyroscope and a compass for improving the position determination in the same housing / on the same board is used together with the accelerometer.

Images