In vitro analysis of the initial tooth mobility in a novel optomechanical set-up.

An optomechanical set-up was developed to accurately measure displacement/force curves of the initial tooth mobility in vitro. The system presented is capable of recording all six components of a tooth movement resulting from an applied orthodontic force system, and consists of a laser diode-based optical part and a six degree of freedom mechanical part. Three laser diodes were mounted in orthogonal arrangement on the tooth of a specimen and their light (lambda = 670 nm) was focused on the surfaces of three position sensing detectors. The laser beams thus defined a cartesian rigid body coordinate system and the movements of the tooth could directly be derived from the movements of the laser spots on the surfaces of the optical detectors. The force system was applied and simultaneously measured via a three-dimensional force-torque transducer mounted on a six-axis positioning table. Measuring accuracy of the tooth displacements was in the range of 9.0 microns and 0.022 deg for translations and rotations, respectively. Resolution and accuracy of the mechanical system was approx. 0.02 N for the measurement of forces and 0.5 Nmm for torques. Displacement/force diagrams of the specimen of a swine's mandible are presented, showing the relationships between applied force system and tooth displacement of the lower first premolar. The accuracy reached proved to be sufficient for the verification of numerical (Finite Element) models of the initial tooth mobility.

[A computer-controlled flexing test for determining the elastic parameters of highly flexible orthodontic wires]. / Ein rechnergesteuerter Biegemessplatz zur Bestimmung der Elastizitätsparameter hochflexibler orthodontischer Drähte.

Metals are the most commonly used materials in the construction of orthodontic appliances designed for the correction of malocclusions. Knowledge of the force systems at work is a prerequisite for judging the functionality of these appliances. The elasticity parameters (Young's E-moduli, strain limits) of the alloys employed can be drawn upon to calculate numerically forces and torsional moments. Both tensile tests and bending experiments are used to determine the E-moduli and strain limits of standard steel and highly flexible NiTi wires frequently used in orthodontics. However, parameters obtained by tensile tests are less suited for studying the mechanical properties of orthodontic appliances. Since bending deformation prevails, bending experiments should be preferred method for ascertaining the relevant parameters. This study, therefore, presents a new experimental method for testing the bend ability of highly flexible materials and the determination of the underlying material parameters. A comparison of calculated force systems with direct measurements revealed that bending parameters lead to an appropriate description of forces and moments generated during clinical treatment, whereas calculations based on tensile test parameters differ substantially. The bending test proposed here is, thus, a suitable means for dependably predicting the force systems produced by an orthodontic appliance and the test therefore can contribute to an accurate design of new types of therapeutic devices.

Autoantibodies against triosephosphate isomerase. A possible clue to pathogenesis of hemolytic anemia in infectious mononucleosis.

In sera from patients with acute EBV, infection and the clinical symptoms of infectious mononucleosis antibodies of the Ig class M were found that are directed against two cellular proteins. The molecular mass of these proteins was determined to be 29 (p29) and 26 kD (p26), respectively, in SDS-PAGE. P29 was identified as part of the glycolytic enzyme triosephosphate isomerase (TPI) by comparison of the NH2-terminal amino acid sequences. A purified antibody against TPI induces a 51Cr release from human erythrocytes. Possibly, anti-TPI causes hemolysis, which is an infrequent but serious symptom of infectious mononucleosis.