Earable RCC: Development of an Earphone-Type Reliable Chewing-Count Measurement Device

Abstract

Gastric cancer patients having undergone gastrectomy are at a high risk of becoming malnourished owing to decreased gastric function. To prevent malnutrition, patients need to thoroughly chew a mouthful of food at least 30 times. For these gastrectomy patients requiring dietary support, we developed a chewing-count measurement device named earable RCC using an earphone-type sensor. Experiments to evaluate the performance of this device were conducted on six healthy volunteers who participated in “gum-chewing tests” and “almond-eating tests.” The precision calculated based on the results was ≥0.958, indicating that the earphone-type chewing-count measurement device could experimentally distinguish chewing from other actions. In addition, the recall calculated from the test results was ≥0.937, showing that the device does not miss chewing actions and can accurately count the number of chews with high probability at the timing of chewing. The experimental results also imply that earphone-type sensors may be used to measure swallowing, occlusal force, and tongue motion. Our future plans include clinical testing of the earphone-type chewing-count measurement device to determine its utility in patients who have undergone gastrectomy. We also intend to expand the application of this device for use in other patients to aid in dementia prevention and dietary support.

A Basic Study for Estimation of Occlusal Force using an Ear Wearable Sensor

“…3 We have been engaged in development of wearable devices that can easily measure occlusal force and chewing ability at home or in hospital, and in research on health management using thus measured results. 5 In evaluation experiments with six subjects, the wearable device showed precision ratio over 0.958 and recall ratio over 0.937. 4 In that research, we evaluated accuracy of meal dura-tion by means of average overlap ratio.…”

“…In addition, we developed a device to measure chewing count with an ear wearable sensor. 5 In evaluation experiments with six subjects, the wearable device showed precision ratio over 0.958 and recall ratio over 0.937. These results demonstrated that that the device rarely mistakes other actions for chewing and detects chewing at high probability, thus featuring accurate measurement of chewing count.…”

“…5,6 Patients who underwent gastrectomy for cancer are at high risk of malnutrition because of decline in gastric accommodation and emptying. Such monitoring device would be useful, for example, to improve nutrition procedures in postoperative gastric cancer patients.…”

“…Such monitoring device would be useful, for example, to improve nutrition procedures in postoperative gastric cancer patients. 5,6 Patients who underwent gastrectomy for cancer are at high risk of malnutrition because of decline in gastric accommodation and emptying. 12 In order to avoid malnutrition, doctors need a device to monitor occlusion and chewing so as to instruct patients towards better nutrition procedures.…”

A basic study for estimation of occlusal force using an ear wearable sensor

“…In that research, average overlap ratio in seven subjects was 0.567. In addition, we developed a device to measure chewing count with an ear wearable sensor . In evaluation experiments with six subjects, the wearable device showed precision ratio over 0.958 and recall ratio over 0.937.…”