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New Smart Mouthpiece from MIT Tracks Health and Enables Hands-Free Device Control for Disabled Users

• By John K. Waters
• 10/28/2024

Researchers at MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) and Aarhus University have developed an innovative mouthpiece called MouthIO that promises to expand the possibilities of hands-free interaction and health monitoring. Engineered to fit precisely over a user’s upper or lower teeth, this device is designed with embedded sensors and feedback mechanisms, allowing users to capture "in-mouth interactions," communicate hands-free with other devices, and even track specific health data.

MouthIO uses mouth-based sensors to interact with digital systems, a new approach that is expected to benefit people with motor impairments who can use MouthIO’s capabilities to control devices and navigate interfaces with tongue taps, effectively transforming their mouth into an additional "hand." The brace’s potential extends into healthcare, where its embedded sensors can collect critical health data, such as tracking bruxism (teeth grinding), and help clinicians monitor patient behavior.

MouthIO is made on a 3D-printed using clear dental resin that can be adapted to each user’s unique dental structure. Researchers created a modeling tool within the software Blender to allow users to tailor the fit to their dental scans, which can be produced by scanning a physical impression of their teeth. The 3D model, once customized, is printed as a brace housing tiny sensors, batteries, and feedback devices like LEDs or vibration motors. MouthIO can detect and respond to tongue touches or jaw movements, relaying commands to devices through Bluetooth. Users can make selections on a screen, scroll through webpages, or initiate commands without needing their hands.

The team behind the device tested its health-monitoring potential by embedding an accelerometer to detect movements associated with bruxism. The sensors tracked each time a user clenched or ground their teeth, creating a data set of jaw activity that could be used to help dentists understand grinding frequency or intensity. Such data could be valuable for managing the condition and other behaviors linked to dental health.

Beyond health monitoring, MouthIO has demonstrated potential for those who may have limited hand mobility or other motor impairments. By connecting tiny touch sensors to specific teeth, users could tap their tongue against these sensors to send signals to external devices, effectively acting as a hands-free controller. This function could enable individuals to scroll through content, initiate commands, and more, allowing for greater accessibility. According to MIT professor Stefanie Mueller, MouthIO demonstrates how miniature electronics can open up new hands-free interactions in unexpected ways, potentially providing life-changing assistance for those with accessibility needs.

MouthIO comes in two designs: a standard model that fully covers the teeth and an "open-bite" version, which leaves the front teeth exposed to reduce any impact on speech. The open-bite design, which fits like open-finger gloves, lets users speak without the typical “lisp” that full-mouth retainers often cause, making it more comfortable and discreet for long-term use. In preliminary user studies, the open-bite design was especially popular, as participants found it easy to wear over extended periods. Researchers also tested its feedback potential, embedding a temperature sensor to detect hot liquids. When a beverage exceeded 65°C (or 149°F), the device vibrated, alerting users to prevent accidental burns — a potentially useful feature for individuals with reduced sensation in their mouth.

MouthIO’s customizable, do-it-yourself construction method is cost-effective, with a basic brace design costing only about $15 to produce using a 3D printer. The process is simple enough that users can scan their dental impression with an app like Polycam, upload the model to Blender, and use the researchers’ plugin to shape and refine the brace. More advanced production methods, such as professional-grade dental scanners, allow for faster and more precise fabrication, though at a higher cost.

The researchers are now looking to test MouthIO’s long-term viability and refine its design. They are exploring flexible materials to make the device more comfortable and are experimenting with placing the technology in other parts of the mouth, such as the cheek or palate. Additionally, they have begun developing a wireless-charging version of MouthIO, a feature that could make the device even more convenient for everyday use.

As this technology advances, the implications are far-reaching, especially for people who rely on alternative communication or who benefit from health monitoring tools. With sensors in the mouth capable of capturing subtle, real-time data on user habits and behaviors, MouthIO could represent a new frontier in health and human-computer interaction. Wessely and his team believe this technology has the potential to support accessibility in unprecedented ways, giving users a truly integrated, hands-free digital assistant.