Researchers at Delft and Radboud University have developed Densor, a device that measures mouth temperature and jaw position in unmatched ways.
As wearable electronic devices expand their health-monitoring capabilities, we can expect earlier detection of treatable medical conditions, leading to improved outcomes. Today, many smartwatches track heart rate, respiratory rate, body temperature, sleep duration, and blood oxygen levels. Additionally, emerging technologies collect health data from platforms such as earbuds and wearable patches, which are still confined to research settings.
However, while smartwatches are helpful, they cannot measure everything—especially regarding the mouth, which offers insights into overall health. Researchers at Delft University of Technology and Radboud University Medical Center aim to fill this gap with a new device, Densor. This device can measure factors such as mouth temperature and jaw position in a practical manner that existing systems can’t match.
The Densor device integrates technologies into a compact, battery-free intraoral sensing platform. It uses a Near Field Communication (NFC) interface for wireless communication, is compatible with most smartphones, and avoids the need for continuous, energy-draining transmission. The system utilizes non-volatile memory to store measurements, and energy is harvested through NFC-based energy capture, storing power in capacitors instead of traditional batteries. These capacitors provide enough energy to power the sensors intermittently, with a low-power real-time clock that conserves energy between measurements.
Densor includes three sensing modalities: a three-axis accelerometer to monitor jaw position, a photodiode to detect mouth opening via light measurement, and a temperature sensor to measure oral temperature. The hardware is designed to be embedded into standard orthodontic plastic aligners, offering a solution for intraoral sensing.
The device opens up a variety of healthcare, wellness, and research applications. Its ability to track oral temperature, jaw position, and mouth opening makes it helpful in monitoring orthodontic treatment compliance and other oral therapies. In sleep studies, Densor can monitor jaw movements and head positions, aiding in diagnosing and managing sleep disorders like obstructive sleep apnea. Additionally, it can detect speech and water consumption, offering the potential for monitoring hydration levels and progress in speech therapy.
While none of Densor’s sensing capabilities are entirely new, the practical design has the potential to bring dental wearables to a broader audience and offer health benefits in the future.
