Daikin Industries, Ltd.

Shigeru Saito

Toshiharu Yagi

Yoshihide Higashihata

Eiichi Fukada

A mastication measurement apparatus is provided with a displacement detecting element such as a piezoelectric element and a holder which keeps the detecting element in close contact with a part of the side of one's face. The apparatus is capable of processing electric signals produced by the detecting element to measure the number of masticating cycles, number of masticating cycles per unit time, a maximum value of the mastication force and the mastication energy, and is also capable of checking whether a denture is matched to a subject by detecting noises included in the output of the detecting element. In accordance with the invention, it is also possible to determine which teeth are not used during the mastication of food by attaching the detecting elements to both sides of a face and comparing the outputs from both detecting elements.

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Zushi, Japan

Shigeru Saito