Archive from the Fall 2001 semester.
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Project Title: Mouth Guard for Prevention of Bruxism
Team Members: Kathleen Agard, Jackie Gerhart, Matt Harris, Carla Maas, Darcee
Nelson, Julie Sauer, Tracy Stefonek
Client: Michael Conforti
Advisor: John G. Webster
Date: 10/26/01 - 11/5/01
Problem Statement: The goal of this project is to design a mouth guard that will detect the teeth grinding of a patient during sleep. The device should provide a stimulus to the patient causing he/she to unclench his/her teeth.
Restatement of Team Goals:
1. Met as a whole team.
2. Decided that initial testing had to be completed before a specific final
design is chosen.
3. Planned initial tests, and group members to start testing before next week.
The initial testing plan is outlined in the table below:
Initial Test Activities
Jackie and Darcee - Shape tested for level of comfort
Possible shapes:
A. Full mouthguard, top
B. Full mouthguard, bottom
C 3. Partial mouthguard with wire
D. Top mouthguard with bridge
E. Top mouthguard with full roof of mouth coverage.
Placement of electronics:
A. Roof of mouth
B. Inside of cheek
Tracy and Darcee
Piezoelectric Strips
A. Obtain piezoelectric material
B. Test voltage outputs with an oscilloscope
Kathleen and Matt
Pressure Tests
A. Test pressure of clenching, grinding, normal biting
Carla and Julie
Stimulus Location, Magnitude
A. Construct small electrodes
B. Test different stimulus locations
C. Test stimulus voltages Carla, Julie
4. Information on the webpage: www.cae.wisc.edu/~bruxism
Summary of Accomplishments:
1. Obtained piezoelectric material.
2. Tested piezoelectric material. The force was provided by a hammer and the
output was provided by an oscilloscope. Determined that the piezoelectric material
can provide an adequate voltage (approx. 20 V) but the pulse occurs over an
extremely short time interval and cannot be felt on the skin or in the mouth.
Furthermore, the piezoelectric material produced minimal voltage when a slow
force was applied. (Pushing on the material with a finger instead of hitting
it with a hammer.)
3. Searched for other piezoelectric sensors and switches.
4. Obtained mouthguards to use for testing appropriate shapes for final design.
5. Made different shape models and started tested them.
6. Researched using load cells and strain gauges to measure force during bruxing.
7. Obtained electrode material.
8. Determined that the back upper gums are the optimal placement for electrodes
in the mouth.
9. Determined appropriate current (4-10mA) and pulse frequency (>10 Hz) for
circuit.
Statement of Team Goals:
1. Finish testing various mouthguard shapes.
2. Continue researching load cells to measure pressure.
3. Visit ECE shop for parts: binary sensor, wires, and batteries to use in prototype.
4. Further testing of pulse frequency.
5. Find a way to attach electrodes temporarily in mouth (maybe to a mouthguard).
6. Search for miniature components.
7. Initial discussion of circuit.
8. Discuss schedule for the rest of the semester.
Project Schedule:
10/27 - 11/29 Work on final design
11/30 - 12/13 Final presentation and paper
12/14 Final presentations
12/17 - 12/23 Final meeting with advisor
Difficulties:
Finding miniature parts for device.
Activities:
Jackie: Worked on notebook, .5 hours; searched for mouthguards, .5 hours; meeting with Darcee about mouthguard shapes, 30 min; team meeting, 1 hour
Total Time: 3 hours
Carla: Getting electrodes (carbon rubber for cutting smaller ones) from Prof Webster, 15 min; BWIG webpage, 3 hours; testing TENS machine in mouth, 1 hour; team meeting, 1 hour
Total Time: 5 hours, 15 min
Kathleen: Talked to Prof. Lakes about load cells for finding forces, 5 min; talked to BME TA (Matt) about strain gauge and apparatus for measuring force, 15 min; Contacted John Dreger about using Structure and Materials Lab for testing force, 22 min; talked with Matt Harris about ideas for finding force, 5 min; team meeting, 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour, 47 min
Darcee: Combined PDS, 2 hours; meeting with Jackie about mouthguard shapes, 30 min., purchased mouthguards and silicon rubber, 30 min; Constructed different shapes for testing, 30 min; team meeting, 1 hour
Total Time: 4.5 hours
Matt: bought a football mouth guard, .5 hours; BSAC meeting rescheduled for next week Mon., meeting with Kathleen about pressure, 1.5 hours; worked on Webpage, .5 hours; team meeting, 1 hour
Total Time: 3.5 hours
Tracy: emailing/contacting companies regarding piezoelectric sensors and switches, researched circuits, 2 hours; team meeting, 1 hour
Total Time: 3 hours
Julie: tested TENS machine in mouth, 1 hour; team meeting, 1 hour
Total Time: 2 hours
