Status Report on Instrumentation Useful for Craniofacial Research

Abstract

This report reviews briefly State-of-the-Art of certain bioengineering instrumentation useful in craniofacial research and assessment. Brief reviews are included in the areas of Radiography, Electromyography, lntra-oral air flow/pressure, Lingual/palatal pressure, Oral-sensory perception, Visualization techniques, Acoustic processing, and Digital Computers. It should be obvious , even from this limited effort, that the variety and quality of available equipment is expanding rapidly. While it is conceded that there probably have been no abrupt or profound instrumental breakthroughs in any of the areas discussed, the sum total of the advances being made in each of the cited areas, taken collectively, are impressive. It is quite evident that both the clinical and basic researcher now have at their command great quantities of equipment of excellent intrinsic quality that are appropriate for the types of assessment and research being carried out or contemplated. These devices are at a level of sophistication not dreamed of as little as 20 years ago. It is now necessary for the scientist and practitioner to exploit this wealth of facilities and to be prepared to utilize effectively the future instrumental advances that can be expected in this area. This paper will review the current status of instrumentation and procedures1 that are being utilized in, or would be potentially useful for: 1) research related to orthognathic surgery, 2) assessment of post-operative craniofacial function, and 3) basic research on craniofacial relationships and anomalies. The presentation will be organized into eight sections of differing length and importance. They are: 1) Radiography, 2) Electromyography, 3) Intraoral air flow/pressure, 4) Lingual/palatal pressure, 5) Oral—sensory perception, 6) Visualization techniques, 7) Acoustic processing, and 8) Digital computers. Evaluation of the limitations and robustness of each technique will accompany the descriptions. Dr. Hollien is the Director of The Institute for Advanced Study of the Communication Process,