Wireless Communication of Intraoral Devices and Its Optimal Frequency Selection

This paper explores communication methods and frequencies for wireless intraoral electronic devices, by using an intraoral tongue drive system (iTDS) as a practical example. Because intraoral devices do not meet the operating conditions of the body channel communication, we chose radio frequency communication. We evaluated and compared three frequencies in industrial, scientific, and medical bands (27 MHz, 433.9 MHz, and 2.48 GHz) in terms of their data link performance based on path loss and radiation patterns over horizontal and vertical planes. To do so, we dynamically minimize the impedance mismatch caused by the varying oral environment by applying the adaptive impedance matching technique to 433.9 MHz and 2.48 GHz bands. Experimental results showed that 27 MHz has the smallest path loss in the near-field up to 39 cm separation between transmitter and receiver antennas. However, 433.9 MHz shows the best performance beyond 39 cm and offers a maximum operating distance of 123 cm with 0 dBm transmitter output power. These distances were obtained by a bit error rate test and verified by a link budget analysis and full functionality test of the iTDS with computer access.