Researcher describes ‘smart’ orthodontics
At the International Solid-State Circuits conference here Monday (February 21), Mathias Kuhl, a PhD candidate at the University of Freiburg-Imtek, described the system, which generates a map of two in-plane stress components on a semiconductor surface by integrating 24 stress sensors.
According to Kuhl, orthodontic bracket—or braces—for straightening crooked teeth have been operating on basically the same fundamental principles since they were introduced in around 1900. Success or failure of orthodontic brackets is highly dependent upon the experience level of the orthodontist, Kuhl said, because the only method currently for measuring the force applied by the brackets is a one-dimensional measurement provided by a spring scale.
The stress-mapping system developed by Kruhl and fellow researchers would enable orthodontists to collect more precise, accurate information about stress levels, resulting in more effective treatment, Kuhl said. The system detects stresses with a resolution of better than 25 kilopascals, according to the paper.
Approximately 4.5 million people in the U.S. are fitted with orthodontic brackets, according to Kuhl.
The stress-mapping system consists of a chip and a micro-coil that communicates at 13.56 MHz, according to the paper.
The chip at the heart of the system implemented in 0.35-micron CMOS and includes a telemetric interface circuit working at 13.56 MHz with amplitude-shift keying modulation for power and data transmission, according to the paper.
The system’s size—2×2.5 square millimeters—is small enough for use in orthodontic treatments, according to the paper. The chip and micro-coil are connected via flip chip, the paper states.
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