Low-Power Wireless System to Monitor Tongue Strength Against the Palate

Abstract

The study of the tongue - especially the analysis of its strength against teeth and palate - provides important information on health conditions or treatment outcomes. In this work, an easy-to-use intra-oral device was designed and fabricated to monitor position and strength of the tongue in real-time, without using cables or tubes. The proposed intra-oral device is based on tailored-made capacitive flexible force sensors. Measured data are collected and transmitted via Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) to a custom-made iOS application. The proposed fabrication process offers a custom-fit device made of materials and components commonly used in dentistry, ensuring biocompatibility. A preliminary device evaluation shows positive results in terms of battery duration and quality of the measured data also after its immersion in water. The 50-mAh battery allows the proposed system to be used for multiple rehabilitation sessions before recharging it. The non-linear behavior and the hysteresis of the capacitive sensors allow to detect five levels from 0 N to 1.11 N of applied force against the palate.