The Information given herein is, to the best of our knowledge, correct. However, this material is intended to be purely descriptive and is not intended to imply a warranty of any kind.
The clinical use of Electromagnetic Articulography
(EMA)
Sensor handling
Glue for Sensors
Coating for Sensors
Software tools for system check and maintenance
Fixation of the measurement sensors
Examination of the lip kinematics
Examination of the tongue kinematics
Hygienical measurements
Index
Before beginning the examination of an articulator on a patient, it should
be examined if and to which extent the concerned structure performs transversal
or rotation movements during speech or swallowing. For example, a sidewise
movement of the tongue is not uncommon in hypoglossus nerve paralysis.
In such cases, the extent of sidewise movement should be determined when
using EMA.
Lateral movement of the sensors from > 10mm has clinically relevant
influence on measurement errors. Rotation of the articulators by more than
30° also leads to artifacts and absolute and relative measurement errors.
When fixing the sensors on the oral mucous membrane, the use of a cotton
swab or an airstream to dry up the mucous membrane is recommended. If the
incisors are used as a reference point, a temporary sealant such as Temp-bond
may be used.
Depending on the surface movement, the sensors remain affixed for up to
one hour. Adherence to the surface of the tongue and the outer skin is
stronger than to the mucous surface of the mouth because of the surface
structure.
To fix the sensors to the soft palate for a longer examination, an atraumatic
suture under local anesthetic should be taken into consideration. The positioning
of the sensors normally depends on the clinical or scientific question
to be studied. Depending on the indication, the following sensor-combinations
have been found to be useful.
Lower lip sensor: immediately caudal to the lip red-white
borderline.
As reference points, further sensors are fixed directly subnasal and over
the point of the chin in a area of little movement.
In combination with other sensor positions, experience has shown that at
least one sensor in the region of the tip of the tongue and one further
back are needed, since the tip of the tongue and the dorsal region show
different movement in speech and swallowing. Combinations with sensors
positioned on the lower jaw and at the velum may be considered depending
on the question to be studied.
The lower jaw may be studied using a point on the mucous membrane in the
region of the median anterior vestibule. Supplementary sensors on the outer
skin of the chin may also be used.
Positioning sensors at the incisal point of the lower jaw is generally
not possible because of the vertical overbite. For reference points sensors
can be fixed to the upper jaw either in the vestibulum or in the region
of the mesial incisors.
The use of Cyano-Vemeer or Histoacryl on composite
dental filling material or crowns is to be strictly avoided. The soft palate
has to be examined from a distal third near the margin. A deduction anterior
of the velar knee (velar dimple) does not seize the maximal movement track
and so it is to be avoided.
During short examinations, the use of Cyano-Vemeer or Histoacryl after
drying up the velum with a cotton swab is sufficient. During longer examinations,
a sensor can be covered with little lateral perforate extensions, "buttonholes"
of Palador, a self-hardening acrylic material. Under local anaesthesia
the sensor will then be fixed to the mucous surface with an atraumatic
suture (f.i. silk 4-0). This should be done by a doctor who has the experience.
In this case it is an assumption to work sterile.
It is possible to mark on the tongue with lipstick. Placing pellets at an exact location is difficult, but one can put a small mark next to the place where the pellet should go, and things are easier.
2. One difficulty we've encountered is a loss of receiver coils due to broken leads at the coil base. This usually occurs as the result of the repeated dipping (in Plastylate) and cleaning these coils require. We have been able to reduce this damage by occasionally dipping the stripped-down coils in cyanoacrylate glue. up as far as the sleeve. This strengthens the base and reduces breakage.
Please see also "Coating for sensors" with plasty late or with shrinkable tube
Cyano-Veneer® Fast
Self setting adhesive liquid
universal resin
repair and filling material for dental application
For fixation of the measurement sensors
inside the mouse.
delivery form:
Package with 4 ampoules 3g each
Order-No. ACVEN001
Meyer-Haake
Medizin- und Dentalhandelsgesellschaft GmbH
Postfach/P.O. Box 2069
D-61440 Oberursel - Germany
Phone *(49) 6171 570 88
Fax: *(49) 6171 563 22
Hystoacryl® blue
Tissue Adhesive
For fixation of the measurement sensors
inside the mouse.
delivery form:
Package with 5 ampoules 0.5g each
Cat. No. 105 005/2
B.Braun Melsungen AG
Woundhealing Division
P.O.B. 110 + 120
34212 Melsungen - Germany
Plasty-late is a natural-rubber-based, stabilized, liquid moulding compound
which is prevulcanized and therefore ready for use.
Plasty-late has proved a success already for several years in industrial
manufacture of gummos moulding
(figures, gleves, bathin-caps etc.).
The sensors can be covered with plasty-late, which can simply be removed after the examination. and keeps the sensors on clean condition.
hobby-time
bastel-system gmbh
D7995 Neukirch/Bodensee - Germany
This user tip concerns an alternative to the latex method to cover the AG100 coils and has two advantages as compared to the latter:
The method consists of using shrinkable tubing as cover material. Regarding the shrinkable tubing, one can use the standard material that is used for electronics, with the following specifications:
One can use a paintstripper heater (hair dryers won't do!) to shrink
the tubing. One can also buy special devices for this as well, but they
are more expensive. One only needs to heat the coil covered by the tubing
for a few seconds, but keep the wire of the coil out of the heat.
Also, before applying the tubing to the coil, one has to put a little mineral
jelly on the coil (this makes removing the tubing even easier after the
experiment, especially if one has put a thin layer of super glue on the
coils to protect them, as described by Prof. Katz on this
site).
It is important not to leave an opening at the front part of the coil (excessive
glue may enter). By using a pair of pliers, one can bring the open ends
of the tubing together immediately after the heating and cut off the excessive
parts.
P.S. To remove the tubing material one needs a very small pair of scissors (e.g., a knee bended type with a cutting size of .5 cm used for surgery or tissue preparation) to make a small cut along the length side of the coil. This way the cover can be opened and the coil can be squeezed gently out of it.
Succes with your measurements!
Points.exe is a program to check the system accuracy, noise and the actual calibration.