Investigating the Use of Magnetic Actuation for a Self-Contained Functional Tongue Prosthetic

Oral cancer can result in the loss of the tongue through surgical removal known as glossectomy. Patients who have undergone this procedure face challenges during speech, mastication, and deglutition. Currently, tongue prosthetics lack functionality and are mainly cosmetic. Many of these prosthetics are made of wax and connected to a retainer, which attaches to the back molars of the patient. The goal of this project was to develop a self-contained mechatronic tongue prosthesis that can fit within the oral cavity and aid in deglutition. Investigations into various techniques and sensors supporting miniaturization were carried out and magnetic actuation was found to be the most promising technique. The development process involved redesigning the silicone cast to house sensors, selecting sensors and components for magnetic actuation, magnetic field quantification and miniaturizing various other electrical components. The tongue prosthesis was tested, and the displacement was comparable to a normal human tongue. Details from literature review, design iterations, simulations, validation processes, manufacturing challenges and conclusions will be discussed in depth in this paper.