A Prototype system for acquisition and analysis of 3D mandibular movement

Abstract

This paper presents the development of a new prototype system for the acquisition of the 3D mandibular movement. In Dental Medicine, the study of the mandibular movement is very important in oral rehabilitation treatments because it allows to determine if exists, or not, pathologies in the temporomandibular joints and helps medical doctors to elaborate an adequate treatment plan. In this work a facial arc, commonly used in Dental Medicine, was adapted to use electromagnetic sensors to acquire the movement involved. Some parts of the referred facial arc were redesigned in order to ensure the most comfort possible to the patients during medical exams, and it was developed a specific support for the sensors employed. To visualise and analyse in a personal computer the 3D movement acquired by the designed prototype system it was developed a software application using LabVIEW. In this software neural networks were employed to transform in cartesian coordinates the electrical signals obtained by the three electromagnetic sensors used.