摘要 |
<p>A dental force transducer (7) for measuring human jaw muscle activity, comprising a hollow body (9, 11, 13, 15) having a pair of horizontal surfaces adapted to be clenched between upper (19) and lower teeth (21) for urging the pair of horizontal surfaces (9, 11) toward each other, a pair of vertical surfaces (13, 15) connected to respective opposite ends of the pair of horizontal surfaces such that the pair of vertical surfaces become deformed in response to the pair of horizontal surfaces being urged toward each other, and a plurality of strain gauges (25, 27, 29) mounted to the pair of vertical surfaces for exhibiting a change in resistance proportional to deformation of the pair of vertical surfaces, thereby indicating magnitude of bite force of the upper and lower teeth on the pair of horizontal surfaces from a location surrounding the teeth.</p> |