The study of a simultaneous analyzing system for TMJ sounds and condylar movement

The system and its analyzing conditions

Abstract

We developed a simultaneous analyzing system for a total evaluation of TMJ sounds and condylar movement in TMD patients.
•We introduced this system and studied proper conditions for quantitative evaluation of condylar movement-velocity.
The outline is described below.
•This system was mainly developed for the purpose of diagnosis of TMJ and analysis of condylar micro-movement. An analyzing program including quantitative TMJ sounds, condylar movement, and the time-relationship between them was made.
•To accurately evaluate the location of sounds with various frequencies and TMJ micro-sounds, the digital filtering method was employed.
•It was proved that the pathway of condylar movement was not affected by some analyzing conditions, but velocity was strongly affected.
•A higher sampling frequency and lesser smoothing yielded a more marked difference of velocity between normal controls. It was therefore necessary to be at least over 100Hz of sampling frequency and below 7 points of smoothing to differentiate velocity between normal controls and patients.