Pilot Evaluation of Multilayer Ceramic Capacitor Sensor Array in Bite Force Measurement

• Main Authors: Tzu-Hsuan Liu, 劉子玄
• Other Authors: Chih-Hang Chang
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2009
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/75188888534701571983

碩士 === 國立成功大學 === 醫學工程研究所碩博士班 === 97 === One of the important functions of tooth is to provide force for food chewing. The quantified force information in human occlusion or mastication was incompletely recorded in past study, especially concerning how these forces are distributed on the dental crown. From a biomechanical point of view, the distribution of the occlusal force is not less important than the force magnitude for estimating most dental treatments such as crown or post restoration in a long term success. Therefore, the main purpose of this study is to justify the feasibility of using multilayer ceramic capacitor (MLCC) act as a force sensor, as well as to calibrate the accuracy of using the MLCC as a sensor array to measure the occlusal force. The result reveals that the relationship in piezoelectric charge versus loading force of a single MLCC shows high linearity (R2=0.998), and it possesses the capacity to withstand 450N normal force. This suggested that strength of a single MLCC can survive from bite force. In sensor array calibrating, although the result of force distribution depends on the varied height of each MLCCs, the total force measured by this homemade sensor array can effectively report the MTS applied total force (error < 6%). Putting the sensor array under the crown surface, this array also provides high accuracy response (error < 2%). To conclude, the MLCC is an acceptable force sensor component and is possible for bite force measurement.