3D image of the in vitro system: the tongue moves thanks to 3 inflatable and deflatable cavities. Credit: INRAE – Alejandro Avila-Sierra
INRAE researchers have developed an artificial mouth to reproduce and better understand the processing of soft foods. The device is based on anatomical data collected at Fujita Health University and features a silicone tongue that contracts using compressed air to mimic the movements of the human tongue. The results were published October 15 in the journal Scientific reports.
With a growing world population and an aging demographic, one of the challenges of the food industry is to be able to offer innovative products meeting the needs of people suffering from age-related pathologies, such as sarcopenia or salivation problems or swallowing.
Current in vitro models do not always accurately reproduce the anatomy of the mouth or the movements of the tongue and are therefore of limited help in developing foods adapted to the specific needs of different populations.
In this context, researchers from INRAE and their Japanese counterparts from Fujita Health University collaborated to design the first artificial mouth with a programmable tongue to simulate the contractions and movements observed in vivo. The tongue is made from a silicone designed to replicate the elasticity, wettability and roughness of the human tongue. It includes three cavities that can be inflated and deflated by compressed air to accurately reproduce movements observed in humans via ultrasound imaging.
The first artificial mouth with a programmable tongue to simulate contractions and movements observed in vivo. Credit: INRAE - Nicolas Bertrand
This cutting-edge technology was tested with three commercially available soft foods: a cream dessert, a chocolate mousse and a chocolate fondant. Food boli obtained with the artificial mouth were very similar to in vivo data collected from healthy participants, in terms of firmness, adhesive and cohesive properties, and viscosity.
This device represents a new asset for studying the dynamics of oral food processing, and researchers have already begun work to include chewing in subsequent designs.
More information:
Alejandro Avila-Sierra et al, A one-of-a-kind 3D biomimetic artificial mouth capable of replicating oral processing of soft foods, Scientific reports (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-73629-9
Provided by INRAE - National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and the Environment
Quote: Artificial mouth imitates human tongue movements to understand oral processing of soft foods (October 15, 2024) retrieved October 15, 2024 from
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