We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress
Sign In
Advertise with Us

Download Mobile App




Wearable Monitor Identifies Swallowing Disorders

By HospiMedica International staff writers
Posted on 01 Jan 2020
Print article
Image: The Curasis submental swallowing sensor (Photo courtesy of Purdue University)
Image: The Curasis submental swallowing sensor (Photo courtesy of Purdue University)
A flexible submental sensor patch with remote monitoring capabilities helps in the management of oropharyngeal swallowing disorders.

Developed at Purdue University (Lafayette, IN, USA), the noninvasive skin-mountable sensor patch fits on the curvature of the submental area, providing simultaneous remote monitoring of muscle activity and laryngeal movement during swallowing tasks and maneuvers. The recording of the submental muscle activity is then sent wirelessly to separate unit (clipped on the wearer's shirt) so as to store it for later analysis by a doctor. The sensor patches are built with cheap disposable components, and are meant to be used about 10 times before they are thrown away. A study describing the device was published on December 13, 2019, in Science Advances.

Completion of a swallow requires the precise coordination of more than 30 pairs of muscles of the head and neck, six pairs of cranial nerves, and complex circuitry in the brainstem and several brain areas. Any disruption in these pathways can result in severe oropharyngeal swallowing disorders, also known as dysphagia. Swallowing rehabilitation requires frequent performance of both head and neck exercises that primarily rely on biofeedback devices, which are usually available only in large medical centers. This dearth directly affects treatment compliance and outcomes.

“Our device is unique in that we specifically created it to work well with the small and intricate muscles associated with swallowing events,” said Chi Hwan Lee, PhD, assistant professor of biomedical and mechanical engineering at the Purdue College of Engineering, and CTO of Curasis (Lafayette, IN, USA), which will develop the product commercially. “The sensor sticker is stretchable and flexible to work well with the skin and curvilinear head and neck shape, while the connected unit has electronic chips and more rigid components.”

Dysphagia is difficulty in swallowing that is sometimes classifies as a symptom, and in some contexts it is classified as a condition in its own right. It may manifest as a sensation that suggests difficulty in the passage of solids or liquids from the mouth to the stomach, a lack of pharyngeal sensation, or various other inadequacies of the swallowing mechanism. Dysphagia is distinguished from other symptoms like odynophagia (painful swallowing) and globus, the sensation of a lump in the throat. A person can have dysphagia without odynophagia, odynophagia without dysphagia, or both together.

Related Links:
Purdue University

Gold Member
SARS‑CoV‑2/Flu A/Flu B/RSV Sample-To-Answer Test
SARS‑CoV‑2/Flu A/Flu B/RSV Cartridge (CE-IVD)
Gold Member
Solid State Kv/Dose Multi-Sensor
AGMS-DM+
Silver Member
Compact 14-Day Uninterrupted Holter ECG
NR-314P
New
Silver Member
Mobile X-Ray Barrier
Lead Acrylic Mobile X-Ray Barriers

Print article

Channels

Critical Care

view channel
Image: Researchers have developed a novel risk score for cardiovascular complications after bone marrow transplant (Photo courtesy of 123RF)

Novel Tool Predicts Cardiovascular Risks after Bone Marrow Transplantation

Every year, thousands of people undergo bone marrow transplants to potentially cure serious diseases like leukemia, lymphoma, and immune deficiency disorders. While these transplants can be lifesaving,... Read more

Surgical Techniques

view channel
Image: The Early Bird Bleed Monitoring System provides visual and audible indicators of the onset and progression of bleeding events (Photo courtesy of Saranas)

Novel Technology Monitors and Lowers Bleeding Complications in Patients Undergoing Heart Procedures

Bleeding complications at the femoral access site can significantly hamper recovery, affecting the success of procedures, patient satisfaction, and overall healthcare costs. It is crucial for surgeons... Read more

Health IT

view channel
Image: First ever institution-specific model provides significant performance advantage over current population-derived models (Photo courtesy of Mount Sinai)

Machine Learning Model Improves Mortality Risk Prediction for Cardiac Surgery Patients

Machine learning algorithms have been deployed to create predictive models in various medical fields, with some demonstrating improved outcomes compared to their standard-of-care counterparts.... Read more

Point of Care

view channel
Image: The new eye-safe laser technology can diagnose traumatic brain injury (Photo courtesy of 123RF)

Novel Diagnostic Hand-Held Device Detects Known Biomarkers for Traumatic Brain Injury

The growing need for prompt and efficient diagnosis of traumatic brain injury (TBI), a major cause of mortality globally, has spurred the development of innovative diagnostic technologies.... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2024 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.