Design of Mouth Retractor-mounted Suction Robot using Stackable Four-bar Mechanism

초록

This paper presents a conceptual design for an automated suction robot system mounted on the retractor, serving as an assistive device for dental treatment. The proposed robot features a retractor-mounted design, using the oral opening to ensure stability and reducing the risk of unexpected patient movement. Additionally, a link and actuation mechanism based on a stacked four-bar mechanism was developed to control the position of the suction tip. This mechanical setup automates repetitive suction and drainage tasks while enhancing safety and ease of maintenance. The result shows that the proposed system has the potential to replace manual suction assistance effectively and improve clinical efficiency. Future research will aim to further improve the system's practicality by adding oral cavity recognition, secretion detection, and advanced patient safety features.