Bio-engineered Intraoral Bilateral Occlusal Bite Force Sensing Device to Validate the Humanoid Drug-releasing Chewing Robot

A critical review of the literature demonstrates that masticatory apparatus, or chewing robots, are of interest in three different scientific fields: i) dental science; ii) food science; and iii) the pharmaceutical industries for drug release. This study presents a bio-engineered intraoral bilateral occlusal bite force sensing device to validate a humanoid, drug-releasing chewing robot from medicated chewing gum pioneered by the author. The manuscript illustrates accurate knowledge abstraction of the masticatory system such as anatomy, chewing motion, muscles, and associated forces, particularly the maximum bite force. Technical biology is used to aid bionic engineering of the occlusal bite force measurement device using a bionic product life-cycle management methodology proposed and developed by the author. Three piezoresistive sensors (Flexiforce A301) were embedded within a silicone rubber housing for incisor and two posterior (working and non-working side) second molars. The sensor housing was created as a bio-engineered occlusal bite force sensing sliver using the theorical sphere of Monson and anatomically mapped to a reverse engineered, parametrised skull conforming to the occlusal curvatures in a dental arch, allowing absolute bite force measurement. Two-part aluminium moulds were designed and machined with a tailor-made spacer to cast the sensor housing sliver with a bite registration guide. Once proof-of-concept was tested, a prototype was built using rapid prototyping and an Arduino data-logger to validate the humanoid chewing robot jaws.