JP3479151B2 - Occlusal force meter - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an occlusal force meter for measuring an occlusal force applied to an occlusal surface of a tooth by occlusion.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as an occlusal force meter for measuring an occlusal force, an occlusal force measuring device disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 57-170704 and an occlusal force measuring device disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 2-25379. Etc. are known.

In all of the conventional occlusal force meters, the occlusal force at the time of occlusion is detected by an occlusal force detecting section using a force-electrical converter. Then, the detection signal obtained from this occlusal force detection unit is applied to the main body through the connection cable, and the main body also processes the detection signal to obtain an occlusal force measurement value, and the occlusal force measurement value is given to the main body. It was displayed on the display attached to the department.

[0004]

By the way, the display mode at the time of measurement in such a conventional occlusal force meter only displays the measured occlusal force measurement value in real time.

However, since the measured value of occlusal force tends to vary from measurement to measurement depending on the bite condition of the person to be measured, it is not possible to accurately measure the measured value of occlusal force with a conventional occlusal force meter. There was a problem that it was difficult to grasp the correct occlusal force.

The present invention has solved the problems existing in such conventional techniques, and an object of the present invention is to provide an occlusal force meter capable of accurately and accurately grasping the occlusal force.

[0007]

According to the present invention, an occlusal force detector 2 for detecting an occlusal force and a detection signal Sa obtained from the occlusal force detector 2 are processed to display an occlusal force measurement value on a display 4. When configuring the occlusal force meter 1 including the main body 3 that operates, in particular, the main body 3 stores a storage unit 5 that sequentially stores the measured values of the occlusal force at each measurement time, and the occlusal force stored in the storage unit 5. It is characterized by including a control function unit 6 having a function of reading out measured values and sequentially displaying the read out occlusal force measured values on the display 4 for a fixed time Td in the order of measurement.

In this case, according to the optimum embodiment, the control function section 6 has a function of displaying the order of measurement together with the measured value of the occlusal force by the pattern F. In addition, the control function unit 6
Calculates the average value of the measured occlusal force measurement values, displays all the measured occlusal force measurement values, and then displays the average value and the pattern G indicating the average value, and further displays After displaying all the measured values of occlusal force, it has a function of displaying the maximum value of the measured measured values of occlusal force, the pattern H indicating that the measured value is the maximum value, and the order of measurement when the maximum value was obtained. On the other hand, the control function unit 6 has a function of displaying the measured values of occlusal force in an arbitrary order at the time of measurement based on the operation of the call key 7, and also outputs the measured values of occlusal force stored in the storage unit 5 by the external output unit 8. It has the function of outputting to the outside.
The occlusal force measurement value is conditioned on the condition that the detected occlusal value detection value exceeds a preset occlusal force judgment value for a certain period of time at the time of measurement, and until the occlusal force judgment value falls below the occlusal force judgment value. The peak value of the occlusal force detection value during the period can be used. Further, the occlusal force detection unit 2 and the main body unit 3 are integrally formed.

[0009]

According to the occlusal force meter 1 according to the present invention, the occlusal force applied to the occlusal surface of the tooth by the occlusal force is detected by the occlusal force detection unit 2. The detection signal Sa obtained from the occlusal force detection unit 2 is subjected to signal processing in the main body unit 3 and displayed on the display 4 as an occlusal force measurement value, and at the same time, the occlusal force measurement value is stored in the storage unit 5. In this case, the occlusal force measurement value is sequentially stored at each measurement. Then, when the measurement is completed, the control function unit 6 reads the occlusal force measurement values stored in the storage unit 5, and the read occlusal force measurement values are sequentially displayed in the order of measurement for a fixed time Td at each display unit 4. Is displayed in. In this case, the occlusal force measurement value is under the condition that the detected occlusal force detection value exceeds the preset occlusal force determination value for a certain period of time during measurement, and is below the occlusal force determination value after exceeding the occlusal force determination value. The peak value of the occlusal force detection value during the period is used.

Further, according to the optimum embodiment, the order of measurement is displayed together with the occlusal force measurement value by the pattern F. Furthermore, after the average value of the measured occlusal force measurement values is calculated and all the measured occlusal force measurement values are displayed,
The average value and the pattern G indicating the average value are displayed, and the maximum value of measured occlusal force measurement values, the pattern H indicating the maximum value, and the order of measurement when the maximum value is obtained are displayed. . If the call key 7 is operated, the occlusal force measurement value in any order at the time of measurement is displayed based on this operation. The occlusal force measurement value stored in the storage unit 5 is output to the outside via the external output unit 8.

Therefore, after the measurement, a plurality of occlusal force measurement values obtained from a plurality of measurements are sequentially displayed on the spot, and the average value and the maximum value are also displayed together. Even if the size is large, the occlusal force can be grasped accurately and accurately.

[0012]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, preferred embodiments according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

First, the external structure of the occlusal force meter 1 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the occlusal force meter 1 includes
The body part 3 and the occlusal force detection part 2 are integrally configured. Body 3
Has a housing portion 11 which also functions as a hand-held grip, and the housing portion 11 has an electronic circuit built therein. On the other hand, the display unit 4, the calling key 7, the power key 12 and the alarm 13 are arranged on the upper surface of the housing portion 11, and the battery housing portion 14 is arranged on the lower surface.

As shown in FIG. 1, the display 4 has a digital display section E for displaying the measured measured occlusal force, and a pattern F for displaying the order of measurement at the bottom of the digital display section E. . In this case, the pattern F includes dots Fa arranged in the horizontal direction, which are sequentially turned on for each measurement unit,
It is composed of Fb, Fc ... In the example, dot F
The case where 10 is a, that is, the number of measurements is 10 is illustrated. A corresponding number is displayed (printed) under each dot Fa. Furthermore, next to the last dot Fj, a pattern G having the same shape as that of the dot Fj is provided, and the fact that it is an average value is displayed by lighting this pattern G, and next to the pattern G, A pattern H having the same shape as the pattern G is provided, and the fact that the maximum value is displayed is displayed by turning on the pattern H.

On the other hand, at the front end of the housing portion 11, an auxiliary positioning portion 15 having a width narrower than that of the housing portion 11 is formed to project, and the tip of the auxiliary positioning portion 15 is narrower than the positioning portion 15 and compared. The arm portion 16 formed to be relatively thin is projected. And this arm portion 16
The bite part 17 is held and fixed at the tip of the. As a result, the occlusal force detection unit 2 extends from the part 17 to be bitten to the auxiliary positioning part 15.
Is configured. The auxiliary positioning part 15 is for contacting the lips and the like of the person to be measured at the time of measurement to perform the approximate positioning. For example, at the time of alignment, the part contacting the lips and the like serves as a fulcrum and serves as a minute position. Matching becomes possible. On the other hand, on the other hand, at the rear end of the housing portion 11, a connector portion 18 for taking out data to the outside is provided.

Next, the internal structure of the occlusal force meter 1 including the specific structure of the occlusal force detection unit 2 will be described with reference to FIGS.

In FIG. 5, reference numeral 2 is an occlusal force detection unit,
It is configured as shown in FIGS. The bite part 17 described above
Is formed in a flat tongue shape, and a hollow pressure receiving chamber 20 is provided inside. In this case, at least the upper and lower surfaces of the part to be bitten 17 (pressure receiving chamber 20) are thin diaphragms 21 and 22 having flexibility.
The pressure receiving plates 23 and 24 having high rigidity are fixed to the outer surfaces of the respective diaphragms 21 and 22. Highly rigid pressure receiving plate 2
Numerals 3 and 24 fix the effective areas of the diaphragms 21 and 22 so as to eliminate errors due to variations in the size of the teeth T and deviations in the occlusal area. In this case, the thickness of each of the diaphragms 21 and 22 can be selected to be about 0.2 mm, the distance between the two diaphragms 21 and 22 can be selected to be about 0.5 mm, and the overall thickness can be configured to be within 3 mm. On the other hand, inside the auxiliary positioning portion 15, a pressure detector 25 for converting pressure into an electric signal is arranged, and a coupler 26 is coupled to the pressure detector 25 to provide a pressure chamber 27. A pipe 28 connects the bite part 17 and the coupler 26. The bite part 6 and the pipe 28 are connected by brazing. In addition,
The pipe 28 is a thin tube that minimizes the amount of liquid.
As a result, a closed space is formed in which the pressure receiving chamber 20 and the pressurizing chamber 27 communicate with each other via the pipe 28. Therefore, the pressure medium liquid L such as propylene glycol is enclosed inside the pressure transmitting portion. In addition, 29 is an auxiliary pipe connected to the bite part 17, and the tip is sealed. Therefore, the pressing force applied between the pressure receiving plates 23 and 24 acts on the pressure detector 25 via the pressure medium liquid L, and the pressure detector 25
Is taken out as an electric signal. This pressure detector 25
Uses a metal diaphragm pressure sensor.

Further, 31 is a flexible bag-like cover for covering the bite part 17 to the auxiliary positioning part 15, which is made of synthetic resin.
It is integrally molded with a flexible material such as rubber. The cover 31 is exchanged for each person to be used. It should be noted that by forming claw portions 32 on the outer surface of the auxiliary positioning portion 15 and engaging with the engaging holes 33 provided in the cover 31, the cover 31 is prevented from being pulled out and positioned. In addition, at the position corresponding to the pressure receiving plates 23, 24 on the cover 31, the pressure receiving plates 23, 24 are provided.
And a thick portion 3 having a size substantially the same as the bite surface of the tooth T ...
4 and 35 are formed, and convex main positioning portions 36 and 37 are formed in the center thereof. Main positioning parts 36, 3
7 has a function of properly positioning by locating in the depressions Tc ... Of the teeth T. Furthermore, the main positioning portions 36 and 37 and the thick portions 34 and 35 are deformed by the occlusion. As a result, the contact area with respect to the teeth T is increased, the position is stabilized, and the teeth are protected.

On the other hand, in FIG. 5, the occlusal force detection unit 2 (pressure detector 25) is connected to the CPU 42 via the signal processing unit 41. Reference numeral 43 is a power supply control unit that controls ON / OFF of the power supply, and connects the power supply key 12 and the CPU 42. Further, the call key 7 is connected to the CPU 42. On the other hand, 44, 45 and 46 are a timer unit, a ROM and a RAM managed by the CPU 42, respectively.
45 stores a control program for executing control of the entire occlusal force meter. Further, the RAM 46 is a storage unit 5.
And has a function of storing various data such as an occlusal force measurement value or an average value at each measurement time. On the other hand, 47 is a setting unit which can set an occlusal force determination value for various occlusal force detection values, which will be described later, and various times. Further, the connector unit 18 is connected to the CPU 42 via the output circuit unit 48, and the external output unit 8
Make up. Further, the alarm 13 is the alarm circuit section 49.
The display 4 is connected to the CPU 42 via the display circuit section 50 while being connected to the CPU 42 via the. In addition, R
The CPU 42 together with the control program stored in the OM 45
Constitutes the control function unit 6.

Next, a method of using the occlusal force meter 1 according to this embodiment and its operation will be described with reference to the flow charts shown in FIGS. 9 to 11 and the above-mentioned drawings.

First, the cover 31 is attached to the occlusal force meter 1 as shown in FIG. Further, the power key is turned on for the measurement (step S1). As a result, the occlusal force meter 1
Operates according to the flowchart shown in FIG.

First, the person to be measured holds the housing portion 11 by hand and inserts the bite portion 17 into his mouth. At this time, the auxiliary positioning portion 15 is placed on the lips or the like to perform the rough positioning, and the main positioning portions 36 and 37 are moved to the upper and lower teeth (back teeth) T ...
Apply proper positioning to the dent. After the positioning, if the thick portions 34 and 35 are bitten as much as possible, the occlusal force at this time is the pressure receiving plates 23 and 24, the pressure receiving chamber 20, the pipe 28,
It acts on the pressure detector 25 via the coupler 26 and the pressure medium liquid L in the pressurizing chamber 27, and a detection signal Sa having a magnitude corresponding to the occlusal force is obtained from the pressure detector 25. Further, the detection signal Sa is given to the signal processing unit 41, subjected to processing such as correction and analog-digital conversion, and then given to the CPU 42 (step S2).

On the other hand, the occlusal force judgment value is set in advance in the setting section 47. The occlusal force judgment value is based on the minimum measured value, and a small value is set accordingly. The measured occlusal force value to be measured is the occlusal force detection value (instantaneous value or sampling value) given from the signal processing unit 41.
On the condition that the occlusal force judgment value continuously exceeds the occlusal force judgment value for a certain period of time Ti, and the occlusal force detection value peak value from when the occlusal force judgment value exceeds the occlusal force judgment value Used as a measurement value. In this case, before measurement, light bite is performed several times in order to find a place where the person to be measured is most likely to bite. Therefore, as the fixed time Ti, a length which does not measure and store this action is selected.

That is, the occlusal force detection value and the occlusal force determination value are compared (step S3). If the occlusal force detection value exceeds the occlusal force determination value, the timer unit 44 measures the time (step S3).
4) If the predetermined time Ti has passed (step S5),
An alarm signal is output from the CPU 42. This allows
The alarm circuit unit 49 activates the alarm 13, and an alarm sound indicating that the measurement is completed is emitted from the alarm 13 (step S6).

Further, at this time, the display 4 is shown in FIG.
The peak value during measurement is displayed according to the flowchart shown in. That is, the detected value of the occlusal force is displayed from the start of the measurement (step S21), and if the magnitude of the measured detected value exceeds the magnitude of the displayed value, the displayed value is updated with the detected value (step S22). , S23). Therefore, the peak value of the detected value during the measurement is updated and displayed on the display device 4 as needed, and after the measurement, the peak value from the time when the occlusal force determination value is exceeded to the time when the occlusal force determination value is decreased is displayed. It

On the other hand, after the measurement is completed, since the detected value becomes smaller than the judgment value, the obtained peak value is taken in as the occlusal force measurement value and stored in the RAM 46 together with the index indicating the measurement order (step). S7, S
8). The measurement is repeated a plurality of times by the same procedure (step S9). Then, when the measurement is not started for a certain period of time, a memory display process for displaying the data stored in the RAM 46 is executed (steps S10 and S11). Further, when the measurement is started during the memory display, the measurement is performed by the same procedure as described above, and the additional storage is sequentially performed.

Next, the memory display process will be described with reference to FIG.
It will be described according to the flowchart shown in FIG. First, the occlusal force measurement value in the first measurement is read from the RAM 46, the read occlusal force measurement value is digitally displayed on the digital display portion E of the display 4, and the first dot Fa indicating the first time is displayed. The light is turned on (step S31). Then, this display is performed for the time Td (step S3).
2). On the other hand, when the time Td has elapsed and the stored occlusal force measurement value remains, the remaining occlusal force measurement value and the corresponding dots Fb ... Are sequentially displayed in the same manner. That is, if the measurement is performed 5 times in total, the corresponding measured values of each occlusal force are sequentially read from the RAM 46, and the corresponding measured values of the occlusal force are sequentially displayed on the digital display section E in sequence for each time Td. Together with the corresponding dots Fa, Fb,
When Fc, Fd, and Fe are sequentially turned on for each time Td and the fifth display is performed, the dot Fa is displayed as shown in FIG.
To Fe all light up (steps S33, S34, S3)
5, S36). Further, when the display of all the stored occlusal force measurement values is completed, the average value of all the occlusal force measurement values is calculated, the average value is displayed on the digital display E, and the pattern indicating that it is the average value is displayed. G lights up (step S37). This average value is also displayed for the time Td (step S38). When the display of the average value is completed, the maximum value of all occlusal force measurement values is selected, the maximum value is displayed on the digital display E, and the pattern H indicating the maximum value and the pattern corresponding to the order of measurement are also displayed. The F dot lights up (step S39). Then, this maximum value is also displayed for the time Td (step S4).
0). When the display of the maximum value is finished, one cycle of the memory display process is finished, and the same display is repeated again from the beginning (step S31-). The number of displayed cycles, the displayed time Td, etc. can be set by the setting unit 47.

On the other hand, returning to the flowchart shown in FIG. 10, when the series of memory display processing (step S11) is completed, the power off signal is given from the CPU 42 to the power supply control section 43 by the auto power off function, and the power is turned off.
It becomes FF (step S13). The auto power off function sets the time, and the power is turned on when the set time elapses.
You may make it FF. Further, if the call key 7 is pressed after the measurement is completed, it is possible to execute a call display process capable of displaying only the occlusal force measurement value related to the data to be known (steps S10 and S14). In this case, for example, when the user wants to know the data for the third time, the call key 7 may be pressed three times, and the measurement order can be selected depending on the number of times of pressing. Then, if the display is performed for a certain time Te, the process proceeds to the memory display process (steps S12, S10, S11).

The embodiment has been described in detail above.
The present invention is not limited to such an embodiment.
For example, the order of measurement may be displayed as numbers. Moreover, although the case where it was applied to an occlusal force meter was shown, in general,
In a measuring device comprising a sensor section for detecting a physical quantity and a main body section for processing a detection signal obtained from this sensor section and displaying a measured value on a display, the main body section is provided with the measured values at each measurement time sequentially. It can be configured by including a storage unit that stores the measurement value and a control function unit that reads out the measurement value stored in the storage unit and sequentially displays the read out measurement value on the display unit for a predetermined time in a measurement order. Further, although the peak value is exemplified, an average value of a plurality of sampling values may be used. In addition, the detailed configuration, shape, material and the like can be arbitrarily changed without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0031]

As described above, the present invention comprises the occlusal force detecting section for detecting the occlusal force, and the main body section for processing the detection signal obtained from the occlusal force detecting section and displaying the measured occlusal force value on the display. In the occlusal dynamometer consisting of the following, the main body part stores the occlusal force measurement value at each measurement time in sequence, the occlusal force measurement value stored in the storage part, and the occlusal force measurement value read out in the order of measurement. Since it is equipped with a control function unit that has the function of displaying on the display unit one by one for a certain period of time, after measurement, multiple occlusal force measurement values obtained from multiple measurements are sequentially displayed on the spot, and the optimum According to the embodiment, since the average value and the maximum value can be displayed together, there is a remarkable effect that the occlusal force can be grasped accurately and accurately even when there is a large variation at the time of measurement.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an enlarged view of an indicator in an occlusal force meter according to the present invention,

FIG. 2 is an external plan view of the occlusal force meter,

FIG. 3 is an external side view of the occlusal force meter,

FIG. 4 is an external rear view of the occlusal force meter,

FIG. 5 is a block circuit diagram of an electric system in the occlusal force meter,

FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional side view of an occlusal force detection unit in the same occlusal force meter,

FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional side view of the occluded part in the occlusal force detection unit of the occlusal force meter,

FIG. 8 is a partial cross-sectional plan view of an occlusal force detection unit in the occlusal force meter,

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure when performing peak display in the occlusal force meter,

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of main operations in the occlusal force meter,

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a procedure of memory display processing in the same occlusal force meter.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 bite force meter 2 Occlusal force detector 3 main body 4 display 5 memory 6 Control function section 7 Call key 8 External output section Sa detection signal F pattern G pattern H pattern

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (72) Inventor Toshiaki Kobayashi 1-30-4 Higashimagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside President Nokeiki Co., Ltd. (56) Reference JP-A-8-252245 (JP, A) JP Flat 8-215223 (JP, A) JP 61-257641 (JP, A) Actual open 57-170704 (JP, U) Actual open 49-125783 (JP, U) Actual public 2-25379 (JP , Y2) U.S. Pat. No. 46-27595 (JP, Y1) US Patent 4521186 (US, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) A61B 5/11 A61C 19/05

Claims (9)

(57) [Claims] 1. An occlusal force meter comprising an occlusal force detection unit for detecting an occlusal force, and a main body unit for processing a detection signal obtained from the occlusal force detection unit to display an occlusal force measurement value on a display, In the main body unit, a storage unit that sequentially stores occlusal force measurement values at each measurement time, and the occlusal force measurement values stored in the storage unit are read out, and the read occlusal force measurement values are sequentially displayed for each fixed time in the order of measurement. An occlusal force meter comprising a control function unit having a function of displaying on an occlusion. 2. The occlusal force measurement value is conditioned on the condition that the detected occlusal force detection value exceeds a preset occlusal force determination value for a certain period of time at the time of measurement, and falls below the occlusal force determination value after exceeding the occlusal force determination value. The occlusal force meter according to claim 1, wherein a peak value of detected values of occlusal force during the period is used. 3. The occlusal force meter according to claim 1, wherein the control function unit has a function of displaying the measurement order together with the occlusal force measurement value. 4. The occlusal force meter according to claim 3, wherein the order of measurement has a function of displaying it in a pattern. 5. The control function unit calculates an average value of the measured occlusal force measurement values, displays all the measured occlusal force measurement values, and then displays the average value and a pattern indicating that the average value is the average value. It has a function, Claim 1, 2, 3
Or the occlusal force meter described in 4. 6. The control function unit displays all the occlusal force measurement values to be displayed, and then the maximum value in the measured occlusal force measurement values, the pattern indicating that the maximum value is obtained, and the order of measurement when the maximum value is obtained. The occlusal force meter according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5, having a function of displaying. 7. The control function unit has a function of displaying occlusal force measurement values in an arbitrary order at the time of measurement based on an operation of a call key.
And 6 the occlusal force meter. 8. The occlusal force meter according to claim 1, wherein the control function unit has a function of outputting the occlusal force measurement value stored in the storage unit by the external output unit to the outside. 9. The occlusal force meter according to claim 1, wherein the occlusal force detection portion and the main body portion are integrally formed.