Contributor(s)

Muftu, Sinan

Abstract

The following report describes the anatomy and biomechanics of the human jaw along with design ideas for the development of a realistic jaw simulator. Creating a physical simulation gives hope that controls can be applied to study the mechanical properties, dynamic loadings, joint thresholds, and joint degeneration. This knowledge could lead to the ability to test and improve current jaw prosthetics or even to the eventual understanding and treatment of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disease. The problems that exist in creating a realistic simulator are the unknown order, direction, and magnitude of muscle forces, the functions of the various ligaments, and the complex TMJ. The project has been broken down into four stages, with the goal of this first stage being simulation of jaw closing. In order to accomplish this goal, three muscles were used: the temporal, the masseter, and the lateral pterygoid muscles. This will be accomplished using servo-motors to act as the muscles. The system control is position-based rather than force-based, a decision that was made because the force equations were statically indeterminate. A LabVIEW interface was created to control the position of the jaw and monitor the lengths of each muscle group. The virtual and physical model indicated unrealistic results. Based on our assumptions of perpendicularity, the mandible fell away from the jaw while simulating the closing motion. More analysis needs to be done on jaw movement to continue on with the project in the future.

Notes

Capstone Design Course MIE U702, Technical Design Report, Project #5, Final report

Keywords

human jaw, jaw simulator

Publisher

Northeastern University

Publication Date

11-5-2007

Rights Holder

Northeastern University, Department of Mechanical, Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

Permanent URL

http://hdl.handle.net/2047/d10011456


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