Smart Flexible 3D Sensor for Monitoring Orthodontics Forces: Prototype Design and Proof of Principle Experiment

Thumbnail Image

Files

bioengineering-09-00570.pdf (1.02 MB)

Links to Files

https://www.mdpi.com/2306-5354/9/10/570

Permanent Link

https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering9100570
 http://hdl.handle.net/11603/26292

Collections

UMBC Mechanical Engineering Department
UMBC Faculty Collection

Author/Creator

Author/Creator ORCID

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6418-7527

Date

2022-10-18

Type of Work

journal articles
Text

Department

Program

Citation of Original Publication

Lee, Soobum, Chabum Lee, Jose A. Bosio, and Mary Anne S. Melo. 2022. "Smart Flexible 3D Sensor for Monitoring Orthodontics Forces: Prototype Design and Proof of Principle Experiment" Bioengineering 9, no. 10: 570. https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering9100570

Rights

This item is likely protected under Title 17 of the U.S. Copyright Law. Unless on a Creative Commons license, for uses protected by Copyright Law, contact the copyright holder or the author.
Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Subjects

Abstract

There is a critical need for an accurate device for orthodontists to know the magnitude of forces exerted on the tooth by the orthodontic brackets. Here, we propose a new orthodontic force measurement principle to detect the deformation of the elastic semi-sphere sensor. Specifically, we aimed to detail technical issues and the feasibility of the sensor performance attached to the inner surface of the orthodontic aligner or on the tooth surface. Accurate force tracking is important for the optimal decision of aligner replacement and cost reduction. A finite element (FE) model of the semi-sphere sensor was developed, and the relationship between the force and the contact area change was investigated. The prototype was manufactured, and the force detection performance was experimentally verified. In the experiment, the semi-sphere sensor was manufactured using thermoplastic polymer, and a high-precision mold sized 3 mm in diameter. The change in the contact area in the semi-sphere sensor was captured using a portable microscope. Further development is justified, and future implementation of the proposed sensor would be an array of multiple semisphere sensors in different locations for directional orthodontic force detection.