Session: 05-06-01 Biomedical Devices I

Paper Number: 69641

Start Time: Friday, 11:35 AM

69641 - Investigating the Use of Magnetic Actuation to Develop a Functional Tongue Prosthetic 

As technology has advanced, so have the methods by which prosthetics are able to mimic true human functionality. An unmet need within the prosthetics realm has been oral prosthetics that help to restore the functionality of the tongue after its removal through glossectomy as a result of oral cancer [1]. Removal of the tongue through glossectomy impacts an individual’s ability to speak and to masticate. In addition, patients also experience psychological impacts and often have difficulty adjusting after the procedure [2]. Existing tongue prosthetics are largely static and lack the ability to mimic anatomical movements during feeding and speech [3]. There are few prosthetics that provide swallowing capabilities and are affordable for use. The size constraints of the oral cavity poses many challenges when trying to integrate electrical components.  

Recently, more capable sensors and advanced materials have been integrated into modern prosthetics. Additionally, there has been a rise in the use of magnetically actuated robots within the realm of healthcare. Magnets have been utilized in medical implants and devices for many years. Oral implants involving magnets such as early dentures have not shown any adverse effects for the patient. Magnets have been shown to improve blood flow when placed in the oral cavity. From this knowledge, magnets can be used successfully in oral implants and prosthetics. 

This paper describes the development of a novel tongue prosthetic using magnetic actuation that would improve the quality of life of glossectomy patients through the ability to swallow with the aid of an oral prosthetic. To mitigate issues with functionality, our team utilized a magnetic tubular pull solenoid and various magnets to create actuation at the tip of the tongue. A solenoid consists of a copper wire with a current running through it that produces a magnetic field spiral around the copper wire and force running through the center. The idea was to utilize opposing pole attraction force and actuate when the solenoid is receiving a current from our power source. 

This project began with a literature review to understand the limitations of current tongue prosthetics. Additionally, this literature review explored the dimensions of the oral cavity, movement of the tongue in response to food, and magnetic actuation. Various designs were considered including pneumatics but were eliminated due to the cumbersome components such as pumps and various tubing. An artificial tongue that imitates the size and shape of the average tongue was made using Ecoflex 00-30 silicone with magnets and electronics embedded in the prosthetic. The magnetic solenoid generates a magnetic field to draw in the magnets and move the tip of the artificial tongue upwards. A denture base has been integrated into the system to hold most  electronics underneath the silicone tongue and have the magnets and solenoids in the tongue itself. A force sensor has been placed within the tongue as the mechanism to initiate the magnetic solenoids when food is detected on the prosthetic  tongue. Additional details of the literature review, design iterations, validation testing, and conclusions will be discussed more in-depth. 

 

References

[1]Cancer Resources from OncoLink | Treatment, R. (n.d.). Surgical Procedures: Glossectomy. Retrieved October 23, 2020, from https://www.oncolink.org/cancers/head-and-neck/treatments/surgical-treatments/surgical-procedures-glossectomy

[2]Kamatchinathan, P., Kaja, N., Muthuraman, V., Antharaju, Y., Kumar, M., & Varadharajan, U. (2016). Psychological Analysis of Oral Cancer Patients during Pre-operative Period in South Indian Population: A Prospective, Quantitative, Multicentre Study. Journal of clinical and diagnostic research : JCDR, 10(10), ZC72–ZC74. https://doi.org/10.7860/JCDR/2016/21491.8654

[3]Kumar, P., Hasti, A., Jagadeesh, H., & Thoudam, B. (2019). Rehabilitation of a partial glossectomy patient: Palatal augmentation prosthesis. Retrieved October 23, 2020, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31040555

Presenting Author: Sarah Vasquez Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Authors:

Sarah Vasquez Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Thomas Lipkin Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Dana Landry Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Jenna Currie Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Pradeep Radhakrishnan Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Dirk Albrecht Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Kaveh Pahlavan Worcester Polytechnic Institute