• The Journal of the Korean dental association
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• v.54 no.7
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• pp.501-512
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• 2016

We evaluated a self-inflatable osmotic tissue expander for its utility in creating sufficient soft tissue elongation for primary closure after bone grafting. Six patients with alveolar defects who required vertical augmentation of >6 mm before implant placement were enrolled. All had more than three prior surgeries, and flap advancement for primary coverage was restricted by severely fibrosed scars. Expanders were inserted beneath the flap and fixed with a screw. After 4 weeks, expander removal and bone grafting were performed simultaneously. A vertical block autograft and guided bone regeneration and distraction osteogenesis were performed. Expansion was sufficient to cover the grafted area without additional periosteal incision. Complications included mucosal perforation and displacement of the expander. All augmentation procedures healed uneventfully and the osseous implants were successfully placed. The tissue expander may facilitate primary closure by increasing soft tissue volume. In our experience, this device is effective, rapid, and minimally invasive, especially in fibrous scar tissue.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.539-548
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• 2007

In the paper, a wireless charger with the function of auto-shutdown for fully implantale middle ear hearing devices (F-IMEHD) has been designed. The wireless charger can communicate with an implant module to be turned off automatically shutdown after an internal rechargeable battery has been fully-charged by electromagnetic coupling using two coils. For the communication with an implant module, the wireless charger uses the load shift keying (LSK) method. But, the variation of the mutual inductance due to the different distance between two coils can cause the communication error in receiving the fully-charged signal from an implant module. To solve the problem, the implemented wireless charger has a variable reference generator for LSK communication. The wireless charger generates proper level of the reference voltage for a comparator using an ADC (analog-to-digital converter) and a DAC (digital-to-analog converter). Through the result of experiment, it has been confirmed that the presented wireless charger can detect signals from implantable module. And wireless charger can stop generating electromagnetic flux after an implanted battery has been fully charged in spite of variable coil distance according to different skin thickness.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.166-175
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• 2016

Purpose: Decision-making by dental and medical experts can be influenced by their biases, interests, and experiences, and academic arguments about controversial issues may additionally be considered indirect experiences capable of affecting decision-making. This study reports on the use of interactive communication devices to evaluate preferences and flexibility in decision-making among dental care providers who attended two distinct academic conferences. Methods: Two debates were presented by a team of two lecturers at two academic conferences (focusing on periodontology and implant dentistry, respectively) and the audience members of each session were surveyed. Before each lecture, two case modules about the diagnosis and treatment of multirooted molar lesions were provided, and interactive communication devices were used to collect responses about decision-making preferences in treatment planning immediately before and after a debate about treatment strategies. Results: In total, 81 and 84 completed answers from both conferences were obtained for the first and second case modules, respectively. The preferred treatment plan differed significantly according to the focus of the conference, and a tendency emerged for the clinicians participating in each conference to express uniform preferences. However, attending the debates resulted in significant changes in decision-making preferences regardless of the conference focus or the characteristics of the participants. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that providing continuing education via debates on controversial issues may be effective in widening conceptual knowledge and reducing biases among experts in the dental and medical fields.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.487-495
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• 1998

In this paper, a new type of implantable middle ear hearing aid, which consists of external loop coil, a small magnet and a simple external device, is proposed. The internal device of proposed type consists of only a small magnet and the external device does not need to be positioned behind the ear or in the ear canal. The proposed type is excellent in cosmetic sides and very convenient to use, because the external device can be hidden in upper garment and collar of clothes. Also, purposely this type doesn't need to be small on the size of battery, which means it has longer battery life. Therefore, the battery is not necessary to be charged frequently. It also can solve the difficulty of gap calibration at surgical operation which conventional Implantable middle. Therefore, the battery is not necessary to be charged frequently. It also can solve the difficulty of gap calibration at surgical operation which conventional implantable middle ear hearing aid has. We investigate the performance of proposed implantable middle ear bearing aid and we analyze that proposed type is appropriate for mild and severe hearing impaired person and the result of experiment showed the accuracy of our analysis. For the validation of our analysis we used the temporal bone at the experiment and confirm that ossicles can be vibrated when the proposed system In startled in the body.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.63-71
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• 2009

It is said that the desirable bio-signal measurement and stimulation system should be an implantable type if the several problems such as biocompatibility, electrical safety, and so on are overcome. In addition to the biocompatibility issue, a robust RF communication and a stable electrical power source for the implantable bio-signal measurement and stimulation system are very important matters. In this paper, a wireless telemetry system which adopts the FCC's approved MICS (medical implant communication service) protocol and a wireless power transmission has been proposed. The proposed system composed of a base station (BS) and an implantable medical device (IMD) has the advantages that the interference with other RF devices can be reduced by the use of the specially assigned MICS frequency band of 402.MHz to 405 MHz. Also, the proposed system includes various functions of a multi-channel bio-signal acquisition and an electric stimulation. Since the electrical power for the IMD can be provided by the inductive link between PCB patterned coils, the IMD needs no battery so that the IMD can be smaller size and much less dangerous than the active type IMD which includes the internal battery. Finally, the validity as a wireless telemetry system has been demonstrated through the experiments by using the implemented BS and IMD.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.221-226
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• 2013

Purpose: This study aimed to assess the combined effect of dismantling before sterilization and aging on the accuracy (${\pm}10%$ of the target torque) of spring-style mechanical torque devices (S-S MTDs). Methods: Twenty new S-SMTDs from two different manufacturers (Nobel Biocare and Straumann: 10 of each type) were selected and divided into two groups, namely, case (group A) and control (group B). For sterilization, 100 cycles of autoclaving were performed in 100 sequences. In each sequence, 10 repetitions of peak torque values were registered for aging. To measure and assess the output of each device, a Tohnichi torque gauge was used (P<0.05). Results: Before steam sterilization, all of the tested devices stayed within 10% of their target values. After 100 cycles of steam sterilization and aging with or without dismantling of the devices, the Nobel Biocare devices stayed within 10% of their target torque. In the Straumann devices, despite the significant difference between the peak torque and target torque values, the absolute error values stayed within 10% of their target torque. Conclusion: Within the limitations of this study, there was no significant difference between the mean and absolute value of error between Nobel Biocare and Straumann S-S MTDs.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.385-390
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• 2009

Purpose: In this study we evaluated the morphologic aspects of defects created by a piezoelectric ultrasonic scaler with scaler tip on casting gold alloy using scanning electron microscope (SEM) images and defect surface profiles. Methods: 54 blocks of type III casting gold alloy (Firmilay, Jellenko Inc, CA, USA) were scaled by a piezoelectric ultrasonic scaler (P-MAX, Satelec, France) with scaler tip (No. 1 tip) on a sledge device. 2-dimensional profiles of defects on all samples were investigated by a surface profilometer (a-Step 500, KLA-Tencor, CA, USA). The selected working parameters were lateral force (0.5 N, 1.0 N, 2.0 N), mode (P mode, S mode), and power setting (2, 4, 8). SEM images were obtained. Defect surface profiles were made on Microsoft Excel program using data obtained by a surface profilometer. Results: Among P mode samples, there were similarities on defect surface profiles and SEM images regardless of lateral force. The defects created in P mode were narrow and shallow although the depth and the width increased as power setting changed low (2) to high (8). In P mode samples, the defect depth was the greatest when lateral force of 0.5 N was applied. However all the depths were smaller than 1 m. SEM images of Lateral force of 0.5 N, S mode, power setting 2 and 4 were similar to that of P mode, but the other SEM images of S mode showed discernible changes. Defect depth of S mode samples was the greatest when lateral force of 1.0 N was applied. Conclusions: Within the limitations of this study, it can be concoluded that removing capability of piezoelectric scaler with scaler tip becomes maximized as power level becomes higher but the capability is restricted when excessive lateral force is applied on scaler tip.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.85-92
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• 2005

Reconstruction of defect in the anterior part of the maxilla to enable implant placement or prothesis is a complicated treatment due to the anatomical position and lack of soft tissues. Two cases are presented in which autogenous iliac PMCB(particulate marrow and cancellous bone) with titanium mesh were used for premaxilla reconstruction and alveolar bone repair of the anterior maxillas prior to denture and implants fixation respectively. Cancellous bone from the anterior iliac crest was compressed and placed against a titanium mesh fixed to the bone of palate in a patient with severe defect of the anterior maxilla. There were no problem in the healing, and the anterior maxillas of two patients had increased height and width during the initial healing and remodeling. The clinical reports describe the use of titanium mesh for reconstruction of premaxilla. Autogenous bone grafts were harvested from the iliac crest and were loaded on a titanium mesh that were left in the patient's maxilla for 6 months before they were removed respectively. The radiographic analysis demonstrated that a 10mm vertical ridge augmentation had been achieved. In guided bone regeneration, the quantity of bone regenerated under the barrier has been demonstrated to be directly related to the amount of the space under the membrane. This space can diminish as a result of membrane collapse. To avoid this problem which involved the use of a titanium mesh barrier to protect the regenerating tissues and to achieve a rigid fixation of the bone segments, were used in association with autologous bone in 2 cases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the capability of a configured titanium mesh to serve as a mechanical and biologic device for restoring a vertically defected premaxilla.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.117-122
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• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of the present randomized controlled clinical study was to evaluate the short-term outcomes of micro-current electrical neuromuscular stimulation (MENS) as an adjunct method to nonsurgical periodontal therapy. Methods: Twenty patients with moderate to severe chronic periodontitis were recruited into the study and randomly treated with either nonsurgical periodontal therapy followed by 5 MENS treatments with a micro current device or by nonsurgical periodontal therapy alone. Periodontal parameters were measured at baseline and 6 weeks following therapy, and included the plaque index, bleeding on probing, probing depth, and clinical attachment level (CAL). Results: All measured values were reduced at the time of re-evaluation. The amount of inflammation was significantly reduced in both the test (P=0.002) and control group (P=0.015). The test group demonstrated a significant CAL gain at 6 weeks following therapy, including non-molar (P=0.009) and molar teeth (P=0.028). In comparison with the control group, the test group showed statistically significant differences in the CAL on both molar (P=0.027) and non-molar teeth (P=0.031). Conclusions: In conclusion, the short-term results of the study indicate that MENS could be a suitable adjunctive method in the treatment of chronic periodontitis.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.155-160
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• 2014

Purpose: The purposes of this study were to develop a workstation computer that allowed intraoperative touchless control of diagnostic and surgical images by a surgeon, and to report the preliminary experience with the use of the system in a series of cases in which dental surgery was performed. Materials and Methods: A custom workstation with a new motion sensing input device (Leap Motion) was set up in order to use a natural user interface (NUI) to manipulate the imaging software by hand gestures. The system allowed intraoperative touchless control of the surgical images. Results: For the first time in the literature, an NUI system was used for a pilot study during 11 dental surgery procedures including tooth extractions, dental implant placements, and guided bone regeneration. No complications were reported. The system performed very well and was very useful. Conclusion: The proposed system fulfilled the objective of providing touchless access and control of the system of images and a three-dimensional surgical plan, thus allowing the maintenance of sterile conditions. The interaction between surgical staff, under sterile conditions, and computer equipment has been a key issue. The solution with an NUI with touchless control of the images seems to be closer to an ideal. The cost of the sensor system is quite low; this could facilitate its incorporation into the practice of routine dental surgery. This technology has enormous potential in dental surgery and other healthcare specialties.