De Pasquale Paolo, Rubino Erasmo, Borzelli Daniele, Peditto Matteo, Nastro Siniscalchi Enrico, De Ponte Francesco Saverio, Oteri Giacomo, d'Avella Andrea
Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, University of Messina, 98100 Messina, Italy.
Laboratory of Neuromotor Physiology, IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, 00179 Rome, Italy.
Materials (Basel). 2022 Jun 4;15(11):4000. doi: 10.3390/ma15114000.
Assessing maximum voluntary bite force is important to characterize the functional state of the masticatory system. Due to several factors affecting the estimation of the maximum bite force, a unique solution combining desirable features such as reliability, accuracy, precision, usability, and comfort is not available. The aim of the present study was to develop a low-cost bite force measurement device allowing for subject-specific customization, comfortable bite force expression, and reliable force estimation over time. The device was realized using an inexpensive load cell, two 3D printed ergonomic forks hosting reusable subject-specific silicone molds, a read-out system based on a low-cost microcontroller, and a wireless link to a personal computer. A simple model was used to estimate bite force taking into account individual morphology and device placement in the mouth. Measurement reliability, accuracy, and precision were assessed on a calibration dataset. A validation procedure on healthy participants was performed to assess the repeatability of the measurements over multiple repetitions and sessions. A 2% precision and 2% accuracy were achieved on measurements of forces in the physiological range of adult bite forces. Multiple recordings on healthy participants demonstrated good repeatability (coefficient of variation 11%) with no significant effect of repetition and session. The novel device provides an affordable and reliable solution for assessing maximum bite force that can be easily used to perform clinical evaluations in single sessions or in longitudinal studies.
评估最大自主咬合力对于表征咀嚼系统的功能状态很重要。由于有多种因素影响最大咬合力的估计，目前还没有一种独特的解决方案能兼具可靠性、准确性、精确性、易用性和舒适性等理想特性。本研究的目的是开发一种低成本的咬合力测量装置，该装置能够进行针对个体的定制、实现舒适的咬合力表达，并能随时间可靠地估计咬合力。该装置通过使用一个廉价的称重传感器、两个3D打印的符合人体工程学的叉形件（其上装有可重复使用的针对个体的硅胶模具）、一个基于低成本微控制器的读出系统以及与个人计算机的无线连接来实现。使用一个简单模型来估计咬合力，该模型考虑了个体形态以及装置在口腔中的放置位置。在校准数据集上评估了测量的可靠性、准确性和精确性。对健康参与者进行了验证程序，以评估多次重复测量和多轮测量中的测量重复性。在成人咬合力的生理范围内进行力的测量时，实现了2%的精确性和2%的准确性。对健康参与者的多次记录显示出良好的重复性（变异系数为11%），重复测量和不同轮次测量均无显著影响。这种新型装置为评估最大咬合力提供了一种经济实惠且可靠的解决方案，可轻松用于单次临床评估或纵向研究。
