← Back to all work

Client project · Accessible design

Tactile mouth model, built for blind and deaf children

A hyperrealistic, anatomically accurate mouth model, sculpted from a real CT dataset so children who can't see or hear can still learn where every part of the mouth is - by touch alone.

DisciplineBiomedical engineering + product design
Source dataCT / DICOM segmentation
MechanismTool-free, hinged, foldable
Output3D-printed tactile prototype

This model started as a real CT scan dataset, segmented and reconstructed the same way I approach a surgical implant - then built out into something meant to be explored with hands, not eyes. Every dimension is anatomically accurate: the size of the teeth, the shape of the uvula, the gums, the tongue, the palate, and the exact distance from the palate to the uvula, all scaled to match a real human mouth. The goal was a teaching tool a blind or deaf child could pick up, open, and confidently locate every part of on their own.

Anatomically precise

Every measurement - tooth size, uvula, gums, tongue, palate, and the palate-to-uvula distance - matches real human proportions, not a simplified teaching model.

Sculpted palate rugae

The ridges of the palate were hand-sculpted in detail so a child can feel their way across the roof of the mouth and locate exactly where they are.

Foldable, hinged design

A hinge system built into the back of the model lets it open and close naturally, the way a real jaw would, without a separate stand or fixture.

Tool-free assembly

Rather than a multi-part kit, the upper and lower halves connect with a simple lego-style snap attachment - no screws, no tools, no adult assembly required.

Design & segmentation

From CT mesh to sculpted anatomy

The raw segmented mesh from the CT dataset formed the anatomical foundation. From there, surface detail - especially the palate rugae - was sculpted by hand to make every landmark distinguishable by touch.

Final render

The full model, open and closed

Colour, translucency, and surface finish were pushed to be as close to real oral tissue as possible - the model needed to hold up to close, repeated handling.

Tactile detail

Where the accuracy matters most

The hinge, the palate, and the teeth are the three points a child relies on most to orient themselves - so each one got extra sculpting and finishing passes.

Physical prototype

3D-printed and hinge-tested

The upper and lower arches were printed separately, in contrasting resin so the fit and hinge alignment could be checked before final assembly and finishing.

3D-printed upper and lower arches of the model in teal and purple resin, showing the palate and teeth detail before assembly
Printed upper (teal) and lower (purple) arches - palate rugae and dentition visible straight off the printer.
The two printed halves of the model fitted together, showing the bite alignment
Test-fitting the bite alignment between the two halves before the hinge and finish work.

Built so a child who has never seen or heard a description of their own mouth can still learn, with confidence, exactly what's there.

Interested in a similar project?

Whether it's a surgical implant or an accessible teaching model, every case starts with the same question: what does this need to be true to, and for whom?

Send a message