Automatic stimulus breaker for electric dental pulp tester using pain response

The pulp test provides a means of examining the vitality of dental pulp using physical or chemical stimulation. During electrical pulp testing, an electrical current stimulates the intradental nerve, which may be painful and stressful to patients. The study involved measurement of the electromyogram...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Medical & biological engineering & computing 2005-05, Vol.43 (3), p.375-378
Main Authors: Nam, K C, Lee, S J, Song, C G, Kim, D W
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Biomedical engineering
Dental pulp
Dental Pulp Test - adverse effects
Dental Pulp Test - methods
Dentistry
Electric Stimulation - methods
Electromyography
Female
Fingers - physiology
Humans
Male
Movement
Pain Measurement - methods
Studies
Voice
Citations: Items that this one cites
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Summary:The pulp test provides a means of examining the vitality of dental pulp using physical or chemical stimulation. During electrical pulp testing, an electrical current stimulates the intradental nerve, which may be painful and stressful to patients. The study involved measurement of the electromyogram (EMG) from the anterior belly of the digastric muscle, finger movement and voice response during electrical pulp testing. The excessive stimulus time from the onset time of response (EMG, voice and finger movement) to the end of the stimulation was obtained. The results indicated that the responses occurred in the order: EMG, finger and voice. Based on these results, an automatic stimulus shut-off circuit was developed using the above-mentioned responses to stimulus during electric pulp testing. Excessive stimulus time was reduced by prompt switching-off of the pulp tester output, 64 ms on average after the first detected response (EMG). Consequently, excessive stimulus times were reduced by 284 and 152 ms on average for the subject and examiner disconnection, respectively, using the developed automatic shut-off circuit. Therefore it was possible to minimise pain and stress by reducing excessive pulp stimulation.
ISSN:0140-0118
1741-0444
DOI:10.1007/BF02345815