Evaluating an impedance-based smart drill system in a preliminary human cadaver model

Dental implant placement requires a great level of accuracy given the risk of iatrogenic injury to the inferior alveolar nerve and maxillary sinus. Real-time impedance sensing of the surrounding tissues by the drill tip can provide feedback to the surgeon for improved outcomes and reduced risk of injury. Previous studies have shown impedance sensing to successfully discriminate between cortical and cancellous bone in ex vivo and in situ large animal tissue. Understanding electrical properties of tissues in a cadaver model is essential to developing human-centered sensor and tissue classification algorithms. This paper presents preliminary results, for the first time, of the impedance-based smart drill in a cadaver model. Further, it assesses the difference between an off-the-shelf benchtop Sciospec impedance acquisition system and a custom small-form factor impedance module interfaced directly on a handheld dental drill. Impedance data was collected from 28 total teeth (14 mandibular and 14 maxillary) within a cadaver head at 19-51 frequencies (8148 total data points) with the two systems. Preliminary results demonstrating significant differences between low- and high-risk anatomical structure while drilling with both benchtop and custom handheld drill systems are presented and discussed.Clinical Relevance- This model is crucial for characterizing the electrical properties of mandibular and maxillary tissues within human anatomy to explore the feasibility of a real-time smart sensing drill for improved dental implant treatment.