Desenvolvimento de um sistema de aquisição e tratamento de sinais para medição de força de mordida de seres humanos

Abstract

The first studies defining interocclusal strength were carried out by Borelli in 1681, and Black in 1893, originating the Gnatodynamometer. Initially, bite force studies aimed to evaluate the physical properties of materials to be used in dentistry. Since then, bite force has become an increasingly common measure of performance, helping the dental professionals to diagnose abnormalities in the dental arches of patients. In this project, an acquisition and treatment of signals system was developed to measure the bite force of human beings. The device consists of the 120 ohms strain gauge, INA 125, Arduino Nano, DS3231 Real Time Clock module, LCD display 16x2 with I2C and microSD card. The strain gauge deforms according to the bite force applied and this deformation is perceived by the Wheatstone Bridge, of which it is a part. This signal is amplified by the INA 125 and sent to the Arduino Nano, which will process the signal and forward it to the LCD display with I2C, where the bite force value is visualized. The obtained data are stored on the microSD card as a report. Once the measurements are finished, the SD card can be inserted into a computer or a mobile device, for printing and/or sending the data to the Internet, respectively. The DS3231 module provide the date and time when measurements are performed. In this project, a device was developed able to measure the bite force of patients, generate a report with the data collected and, after analysis, forward the patients to the appropriate dental treatment. The operating range of the device is from 0 to 500N. The analysis of the data, by health professionals, may also contribute to the improvement of oral health policies.