Abstract
To measure the occusal force three dimensionally on the tooth surface with the minimum jaw separation, we developed a miniature three dimensional transducer system utilizing force sensitive resin material and the computer program and tested its reliability.
The transducer has 10.0mm diameter with 0.3mm thickness and a cone shape metal loading tip was attached on its top (3.0mm in height). Loads applied at the loading tip which could distributed through the metal cone to the sensing surface which is divided into four equal segments. By calculating the force distribution ratio among four segments, the vector of the load could be determined.
1. Each section of the sensing surface showed fairly linear relation between load and output up to 5kg, so the sensor as a whole was capable for up to around 20kg force measurements.
2. With the A/D and the computer program, the direction and amount of the applied force was calculated and visualized on the display.
