Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:
Referring to
The dental occlusion sensing unit 1 includes a connecting tube 12, a pair of occlusion force sensors 11, and a pair of transmission lines 14.
The connecting tube 12 has opposite first and second tube portions 121, 122 each having a coupling end 1212, 1222, and a mounting end 1211, 1221 opposite to the coupling end 1212, 1222, and a third tube portion 123 having an end connected to the coupling ends 1212, 1222 of the first and second tube portions 121, 122.
Each occlusion force sensor 11 is mounted fixedly on a respective one of the mounting ends 1211, 1221 of the first and second tube portions 121, 122 of the connecting tube 12, and has parallel top and bottom faces 111, 112. Each occlusion force sensor 11 is operable to sense an occlusion force of the person under test applied on each of the top and bottom faces 111, 112 so as to output an electrical signal corresponding to the occlusion force sensed thereby. In this embodiment, each occlusion force sensor 11 includes circular upper and lower plates 114, 115 spaced apart from each other and configured respectively with the top and bottom faces 111, 112, and a resistance strain device 113, for example, which is composed of four resistance strain gauges (not shown) interconnected in a bridge form, clamped between the upper and lower plates 114, 115. The top face 111 of the upper plate 114 of each occlusion force sensor 11 is formed with a central recess 116, and the bottom face 112 of the lower plate 115 of each occlusion force sensor 11 is formed with a central projection 117 such that the central recesses 116 in the top plates 114 and the central projections 117 on the bottom plates 115 are adapted to engage easily and respectively tooth peaks and valleys of the person under test, thereby enhancing stability during test. Preferably, a level 13 is disposed between the first and second tube portions 121, 122 of the connecting tube 12 for indicating whether the top and bottom faces 111, 112 of the occlusion force sensors 11 are parallel to each other.
The transmission lines 14 are connected electrically and respectively to the occlusion force sensors 11, and extend respectively through an assembly of the first and third tube portions 121, 123 of the connecting tube 12 and an assembly of the second and third tube portions 122, 123 of the connecting tube 12 for transmitting the electrical signals from the occlusion force sensors 11.
The processing unit 2 is coupled electrically to the transmission lines 14 for receiving the electrical signals transmitted thereby. The processing unit 2 is operable to generate occlusion force information in relation to the electrical signals from the occlusion force sensors 11.
The display unit 3 is connected electrically to the processing unit 2 for displaying the occlusion force information from the processing unit 2 thereon.
The memory unit 4 is connected electrically to the processing unit 2 for storing the occlusion force information therein.
It is noted that, in this embodiment, the occlusion force information includes a maximum occlusion force, a minimum occlusion force, an average occlusion force or a sum of occlusion forces during a period.
In sum, due to the presence of the two occlusion force sensors 11, the apparatus for testing dental occlusion of the present invention can simultaneously test dental occlusion upon the teeth in left and right lateral sides of an oral cavity of the person under test. Moreover, the apparatus for testing dental occlusion of the present invention can generate and display relatively detailed occlusion force information as compared to the prior art.
While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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095128476 | Aug 2006 | TW | national |