Proposition of integrated electrical mechanism and facial prosthesis for eyelid motion on prosthetic oculopalpebral rehabilitation: technical note

Abstract

Surgical reconstruction of large facial defects may not be always possible, therefore extraoral maxillofacial prosthesis is a good restorative option. The oculopalpebral prosthesis has a natural appearance however it can be easily noticed because its eyelids do not move. For esthetic purposes, it is desirable that the prosthetic eyelids open and close synchronously with the contralateral eye, which provides a challenge to the prosthetic reconstruction of the oculopalpebral region. To improve the esthetic outcome, an oculopalpebral prosthesis prototype with mechanical and electric features allowing synchronization of the eyelid motion with the sound eye was planned, designed, and built. An oculopalpebral prosthesis was made in thermoactivated acrylic resin. A gap was created to accommodate an electrical system and allow free motion of a thin eyelid made of silicone attached to the appliance. The movable eyelid was made with medical grade silicone (SILASTIC^® MDX4-4210) and connected to an electrical and electronic system responsible to command the opening and closing movements. This mechanical and electrical prototype with the system connected to a sensor, successfully captured the eyelid motion of the contralateral sound eye. The proposed mechanical and electrical system attached to an oculopalpebral prosthesis could successfully establish and synchronize the eyelid movements with the sound eye.