Jaw training robot and its clinical results

Abstract

This paper describes the 6 degrees of freedom (6-DOF) jaw training robot that manipulates the patient's jaw and its clinical results. Patients having disorders on their jaw joint who can't control the jaws not only open/close but also sideways are the target of this research. The authors have developed a 6-DOF slave manipulator and 3-DOF master manipulator for these patients. Natural jaw motion to sideway was simulated by changing the center of rotation according to the rotational direction of the mandible. Real training for the patient who has disorders on the jaw joint was done and the distance to sideway was increased 9 to 15 [mm] in right jaw joint and 7 to 12 [mm] in left.