Device and method for simulating swallowing of fluid food by patients with different swallowing disorders

Abstract

The present invention discloses a device and method for simulating the swallowing of fluid food by patients with different swallowing disorders. The device includes a maxillary base and a glossopharyngeal base. The maxillary base is covered on several glossopharyngeal bases. The shapes of the several glossopharyngeal bases are adapted to the shapes of the opposite sides of the maxillary base. A food passage hose for food to pass through is provided between the maxillary base and the several glossopharyngeal bases. A plurality of pressure sensing plates are provided between the food passage hose and the maxillary base. Each glossopharyngeal base is connected to a transmission mechanism, which is connected to a drive mechanism. The drive mechanism drives the glossopharyngeal base to move and squeeze the food passage hose to transport food and realize the swallowing action. The present invention can simulate the dynamic swallowing process of fluid food and can simulate swallowing for different people by changing the movement speed and movement timing of the glossopharyngeal base, providing assistance for understanding and treating swallowing disorders.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a device and method for simulating the swallowing of fluid food by patients with different dysphagia, and belongs to the field of bionic mechanical design of human oropharyngeal swallowing. Background Art

[0002] Dysphagia refers to the difficulty in eating and swallowing caused by abnormal nerve or muscle control. Patients with dysphagia often have difficulty transporting solid or liquid food from the mouth to the stomach, that is, they cannot safely and effectively transport food through the soft interface of the body, which can easily cause serious symptoms such as choking, coughing and malnutrition. However, because the swallowing process occurs inside the body, medical information can only be obtained through endoscopy, X-ray angiography and other methods, but it is difficult to obtain relevant information about food flow and organ movement during swallowing. This makes it difficult for medical staff to fully evaluate swallowing function, and hinders the study of the impact of food texture on the swallowing process and the development of corresponding functional foods.

[0003] Most swallowing device models currently proposed by researchers are static, unable to demonstrate the dynamic swallowing process or capture information about the flow of the food bolus during swallowing. Consequently, these devices are unable to capture critical data supporting disease research and functional food development. Furthermore, because different people have distinct swallowing motion characteristics, existing swallowing devices are unable to adapt to swallowing simulations for diverse populations.

[0004] Therefore, in order to demonstrate the dynamic swallowing process, obtain the flow information of the food bolus during swallowing, and then support the treatment of swallowing disorders, it is urgent to develop an in vitro swallowing simulation device. Summary of the Invention

[0005] To solve the above problems, the present invention provides a device and method for simulating the swallowing of fluid food by patients with different swallowing disorders. The device can simulate the dynamic swallowing process of fluid food, and can simulate the swallowing of different people by changing the movement speed and movement timing of the glossopharyngeal matrix, providing assistance for understanding and treating swallowing disorders.

[0006] The first object of the present invention is to provide a device for simulating the swallowing of fluid food by patients with different swallowing disorders, comprising a maxillary base and a glossopharyngeal base, wherein the maxillary base is covered on a plurality of glossopharyngeal bases, and the shapes of the plurality of glossopharyngeal bases and the opposite side of the maxillary base are adapted to each other, a food channel hose for food to pass through is provided between the maxillary base and the plurality of glossopharyngeal bases, a plurality of pressure sensing sheets are provided between the food channel hose and the maxillary base, each of the glossopharyngeal bases is connected to a transmission mechanism, and the transmission mechanism is connected to a driving mechanism, and the driving mechanism drives the glossopharyngeal base to move through the transmission mechanism and squeezes the food channel hose to transport food to realize the swallowing action.

[0007] In one embodiment of the present invention, the transmission mechanism is a screw-nut mechanism, including a screw, a nut, a linear bearing and a guide pin, the nut is connected to the screw, one end of the glossopharyngeal base is connected to the nut, and the other end is connected to a linear bearing, and the linear bearing is sleeved on the guide pin.

[0008] In one embodiment of the present invention, the driving mechanism includes a motor and a coupling connected to the motor, the other end of the coupling is connected to the screw, the motor drives the screw to rotate through the coupling, and the rotation of the screw drives the nut and the glossopharyngeal base on the nut to perform linear reciprocating motion along the axial direction of the screw.

[0009] In one embodiment of the present invention, the maxillary base includes a maxillary part and a pharyngeal wall part, the maxillary part is an arcuate surface, and the pharyngeal wall part is a vertical plane; the side of several of the glossopharyngeal bases opposite to the maxillary part of the maxillary base is an arcuate surface and is adapted to each other; the side of several of the glossopharyngeal bases opposite to the pharyngeal wall part of the maxillary base is a vertical plane and is adapted to each other.

[0010] In one embodiment of the present invention, a first glossopharyngeal base, a second glossopharyngeal base, a third glossopharyngeal base, a fourth glossopharyngeal base, a fifth glossopharyngeal base, a sixth glossopharyngeal base and a seventh glossopharyngeal base are sequentially arranged along the opposite end from the head to the tail of the maxillary base. The first glossopharyngeal base, the second glossopharyngeal base, the third glossopharyngeal base, the fourth glossopharyngeal base and the fifth glossopharyngeal base are located below the upper jaw portion of the maxillary base and can move up and down, the sixth glossopharyngeal base and the seventh glossopharyngeal base are located on the inner side of the pharyngeal wall portion of the maxillary base and can move left and right, the first glossopharyngeal base moves to close the food passage hose, the second glossopharyngeal base, the third glossopharyngeal base, the fourth glossopharyngeal base, the fifth glossopharyngeal base, the sixth glossopharyngeal base and the seventh glossopharyngeal base move to squeeze the food passage hose to simulate the swallowing action; the spacing between adjacent glossopharyngeal bases is 2 mm.

[0011] In one embodiment of the present invention, the pressure sensing piece is arranged in the oral cavity and pharynx simulated by the maxillary matrix and several glossopharyngeal matrices. The pressure sensing piece is used to collect pressure at fixed time intervals during the operation of the device to obtain the pressure change trend and pressure peak during swallowing.

[0012] In one embodiment of the present invention, it also includes a mounting base, on which a first vertical mounting plate, a second vertical mounting plate and a third vertical mounting plate are installed, the first vertical mounting plate is connected to a first horizontal mounting plate and a second horizontal mounting plate, and the first vertical mounting plate is connected to the maxillary base through a number of positioning pins.

[0013] In one embodiment of the present invention, the transmission mechanism connected to the first glossopharyngeal base, the second glossopharyngeal base, the third glossopharyngeal base, the fourth glossopharyngeal base and the fifth glossopharyngeal base is arranged vertically, and its lead screw is mounted on the second horizontal mounting plate through a bearing seat, its guide pin passes through the second horizontal mounting plate and is fixed to the first horizontal mounting plate, and the motor connected thereto is fixed to the first horizontal mounting plate; the transmission mechanism connected to the sixth glossopharyngeal base and the seventh glossopharyngeal base is arranged horizontally, and its lead screw is mounted on the second vertical mounting plate through a bearing seat, its guide pin passes through the second vertical mounting plate and is fixed to the third vertical mounting plate, and the motor connected thereto is fixed to the third vertical mounting plate.

[0014] In one embodiment of the present invention, the food channel hose is made of an elastic soft material, and the two sides of the food channel hose are respectively fitted with the maxillary base and several glossopharyngeal bases, and the several glossopharyngeal bases push the food channel hose to be squeezed and deformed under the drive of a motor; the inner diameter of the food channel hose is 18 mm, the outer diameter is 20 mm, and the wall thickness is 1 mm.

[0015] A second object of the present invention is to provide a method for simulating food swallowing, which utilizes the device for simulating the swallowing of fluid food by patients with different dysphagia, and comprises the following steps:

[0016] Step 1: obtaining human oropharyngeal tissue motion parameters, and setting the motion start time point, end time point, and motion speed of each glossopharyngeal matrix in the device according to the obtained human oropharyngeal tissue motion parameters;

[0017] Step 2: Using the device to simulate the swallowing process of food in the human oropharyngeal cavity; first, manually inject a certain volume of fluid food into the food passage hose from the entrance, and at the same time drive the glossopharyngeal matrix to squeeze the food passage hose to close the entrance; after the fluid food is injected, turn on the motor to sequentially drive the second glossopharyngeal matrix, the third glossopharyngeal matrix, the fourth glossopharyngeal matrix, the fifth glossopharyngeal matrix, the sixth glossopharyngeal matrix, and the seventh glossopharyngeal matrix to move and squeeze the food passage hose, thereby reducing the cross-sectional area of ​​the food passage; wait for the glossopharyngeal matrix to gradually squeeze and transport the food from the entrance to the exit, and finally realize the swallowing action;

[0018] Step 3: photograph the position of the food bolus at each moment in the device, and use the pressure sensor to obtain the swallowing pressure of the food during swallowing;

[0019] Step 4: Compare the swallowing time and swallowing pressure of simulated normal swallowing and simulated abnormal swallowing.

[0020] Beneficial effects

[0021] The present invention provides a device and method for dynamic swallowing of fluid food based on oropharyngeal movement. The device's maxillary and glossopharyngeal bases can be manufactured using rapid prototyping technology. The maxillary and glossopharyngeal bases are constructed of rigid materials to replicate swallowing motion, while the food passageway is constructed of flexible materials to simulate oral soft tissue. Pressure sensing plates are provided to achieve soft contact between the tongue and palate and food, while simultaneously measuring swallowing pressure and velocity during in vitro swallowing and directly observing the flow of the food bolus during swallowing. In vitro measurement data on food flow and the swallowing system obtained from the dynamic swallowing process will facilitate research on the flow characteristics of food during swallowing, assist in providing targeted, safe food for patients with dysphagia of varying degrees and symptoms, and provide assistance in treating and alleviating dysphagia. Furthermore, the structure and motion parameters of the fluid food swallowing device are derived from real human swallowing data. The number of moving components and motion patterns are modeled after real human swallowing motion, making the simulated swallowing more similar to real human swallowing. The deformation of the food passageway can meet the requirements of continuous swallowing, achieving the goal of transporting the food bolus from one end of the device to the other without leaving any residue. The present invention can simulate the dynamic swallowing process of fluid food, and can simulate the swallowing of different people by changing the movement speed and movement timing of the glossopharyngeal matrix, providing help for understanding and treating swallowing disorders. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] Figure 1 A three-dimensional diagram of a device for simulating the swallowing of fluid food by patients with different swallowing disorders according to the present invention;

[0023] Figure 2 It is a structural schematic diagram of the transmission mechanism connected to the second glossopharyngeal base of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of a food bolus just entering the device of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of a food bolus being transported rearward through the device of the present invention.

[0026] Figure 5 This is a timing diagram of the movements of the motors during a swallowing simulation of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 6 A comparison diagram of the food bolus position during a simulated swallowing and a real swallowing of the present invention;

[0028] Figure 7 A diagram showing pressure changes at various locations during a simulated swallowing session of the present invention;

[0029] Figure 8 This is a comparison chart of swallowing duration between normal swallowing and abnormal swallowing simulated by the present invention;

[0030] Figure 9This is a comparison chart of swallowing pressure when simulating normal swallowing and abnormal swallowing according to the present invention.

[0031] In the figure: 1. Mounting base plate; 2. First horizontal mounting plate; 3. Second horizontal mounting plate; 4. First vertical mounting plate; 5. First glossopharyngeal matrix; 6. Second glossopharyngeal matrix; 7. Third glossopharyngeal matrix; 8. Fourth glossopharyngeal matrix; 9. Fifth glossopharyngeal matrix; 10. Maxillary matrix; 11. Positioning pin; 12. Sixth glossopharyngeal matrix; 13. Seventh glossopharyngeal matrix; 14. Second vertical mounting plate; 15. Third vertical mounting plate; 16. Base; 17. Motor; 18. Coupling; 19. Bearing seat; 20. Screw; 21. Nut; 22. Linear bearing; 23. Guide pin; 24. Food channel hose; 25. Pressure sensing sheet. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032] The following will clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of them. All other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field based on the embodiments of the present invention without making any creative efforts shall fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0033] In the present invention, unless otherwise expressly specified or limited, the terms "connected," "connect," and "fixed" should be understood in a broad sense. For example, they may refer to fixed connection, detachable connection, or integration; mechanical connection or electrical connection; direct connection or indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and internal communication between two components or interaction between two components. Those skilled in the art will understand the specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention based on the specific circumstances.

[0034] In the present invention, unless otherwise expressly specified or limited, a first feature being "above" or "below" a second feature may include the first and second features being in direct contact, or may include the first and second features being in contact not directly but through another feature between them. Furthermore, a first feature being "above," "above," and "above" a second feature may include the first feature being directly above or obliquely above the second feature, or may simply mean that the first feature is higher in level than the second feature. A first feature being "below," "below," and "below" a second feature may include the first feature being directly below or obliquely below the second feature, or may simply mean that the first feature is lower in level than the second feature.

[0035] Example 1

[0036] like Figure 1-4As shown, this embodiment provides a device for simulating the swallowing of fluid food by patients with different swallowing disorders, including a maxillary base 10 and a glossopharyngeal base, wherein the maxillary base 10 is covered on several glossopharyngeal bases, and the shapes of several glossopharyngeal bases are adapted to the shapes of the opposite sides of the maxillary base 10, and a food channel hose 24 for food to pass through is arranged between the maxillary base 10 and several glossopharyngeal bases, and a plurality of pressure sensing sheets 25 are arranged between the food channel hose 24 and the maxillary base 10, and the pressure sensing sheets 25 are used to collect pressure at fixed time intervals during the operation of the device to obtain the pressure change trend and pressure peak during the swallowing process; each of the glossopharyngeal bases is connected to a transmission mechanism, and the transmission mechanism is connected to a driving mechanism, and the driving mechanism drives the glossopharyngeal base to move and squeeze the food channel hose 24 through the transmission mechanism to transport food to realize the swallowing action.

[0037] Optionally, the transmission mechanism is a screw-nut mechanism, including a screw 20, a nut 21, a linear bearing 22 and a guide pin 23. The nut 21 is connected to the screw 20, one end of the glossopharyngeal base is connected to the nut 21, and the other end is connected to the linear bearing 22, and the linear bearing 22 is sleeved on the guide pin 23.

[0038] Optionally, the driving mechanism includes a motor 17 and a coupling 18 connected to the motor 17, the other end of the coupling 18 is connected to the screw 20, the motor 17 drives the screw 20 to rotate through the coupling 18, and the rotation of the screw 20 drives the nut 21 and the glossopharyngeal base on the nut 21 to perform linear reciprocating motion along the axial direction of the screw 20; the other end of the glossopharyngeal base is mounted on the guide pin 23 through a linear bearing 22, which guides the other end of the glossopharyngeal base, so that the glossopharyngeal base as a whole performs linear reciprocating motion smoothly.

[0039] Optionally, the maxillary base 10 includes a palate part and a pharyngeal wall part, the palate part is an arcuate surface, and the pharyngeal wall part is a vertical plane; the side of several glossopharyngeal bases opposite to the palate part of the maxillary base 10 is an arcuate surface and is adapted to each other, that is, the upper surfaces of several glossopharyngeal bases and the lower surface of the palate part of the maxillary base 10 are both arcuate surfaces and are adapted to each other, so that the upper surfaces of the several glossopharyngeal bases and the lower surface of the palate part of the maxillary base 10 can be completely fitted together; the side of several glossopharyngeal bases opposite to the pharyngeal wall part of the maxillary base 10 is a vertical plane and is adapted to each other, that is, the outer surfaces of several glossopharyngeal bases and the inner surface of the pharyngeal wall part of the maxillary base 10 are both vertical planes and are adapted to each other, so that the outer surfaces of the several glossopharyngeal bases and the inner surface of the pharyngeal wall part of the maxillary base 10 can be completely fitted together; respectively simulating the surfaces of the palate and glossopharyngeal surfaces of the oral cavity.

[0040] Optionally, a first glossopharyngeal base 5, a second glossopharyngeal base 6, a third glossopharyngeal base 7, a fourth glossopharyngeal base 8, a fifth glossopharyngeal base 9, a sixth glossopharyngeal base 12 and a seventh glossopharyngeal base 13 are sequentially arranged along the opposite end from the head to the tail of the maxillary base 10. The first glossopharyngeal base 5, the second glossopharyngeal base 6, the third glossopharyngeal base 7, the fourth glossopharyngeal base 8 and the fifth glossopharyngeal base 9 are located below the upper palate part of the maxillary base 10 and can move up and down, the sixth glossopharyngeal base 12 and the seventh glossopharyngeal base 13 are located on the inner side of the pharyngeal wall part of the maxillary base 10 and can move left and right, the first glossopharyngeal base 5 moves to close the food passage hose 24, and the second glossopharyngeal base 6, the third glossopharyngeal base 7, the fourth glossopharyngeal base 8, the fifth glossopharyngeal base 9, the sixth glossopharyngeal base 12 and the seventh glossopharyngeal base 13 move to squeeze the food passage hose 24 to simulate the swallowing action. It should be noted that the number of glossopharyngeal bases and the transmission mechanisms connected thereto can be adjusted according to the size of the human oropharynx and swallowing movements, and there is no specific limitation on this.

[0041] Alternatively, as Figure 3 and 4 As shown, the pressure sensing piece 25 is arranged on the maxillary matrix 10 and the oral cavity and pharynx simulated by several glossopharyngeal matrices.

[0042] Optionally, a mounting base plate 1 is further included, on which a first vertical mounting plate 4, a second vertical mounting plate 14, and a third vertical mounting plate 15 are mounted. The first vertical mounting plate 4 is connected to the first horizontal mounting plate 2 and the second horizontal mounting plate 3. The first vertical mounting plate 4 is connected to the maxillary base 10 via a plurality of locating pins 11. Optionally, the second vertical mounting plate 14 and the third vertical mounting plate 15 are parallel to and perpendicular to the first vertical mounting plate 4, and the first horizontal mounting plate 2 and the second horizontal mounting plate 3 are parallel to and perpendicular to the first vertical mounting plate 4.

[0043] Optionally, the transmission mechanism connected to the first glossopharyngeal base 5, the second glossopharyngeal base 6, the third glossopharyngeal base 7, the fourth glossopharyngeal base 8 and the fifth glossopharyngeal base 9 is arranged vertically, and its screw 20 is mounted on the second horizontal mounting plate 3 through the bearing seat 19, its guide pin shaft 23 passes through the second horizontal mounting plate 3 and is fixed on the first horizontal mounting plate 2, and the motor 17 connected to it is fixed on the first horizontal mounting plate 2.

[0044] Optionally, the transmission mechanism connected to the sixth glossopharyngeal base 12 and the seventh glossopharyngeal base 13 is arranged horizontally, and its screw 20 is mounted on the second vertical mounting plate 14 through the bearing seat 19, its guide pin shaft 23 passes through the second vertical mounting plate 14 and is fixed on the third vertical mounting plate 15, and the motor 17 connected to it is fixed on the third vertical mounting plate 15.

[0045] Optionally, the material of the food passage hose 24 is PDMS (polydimethylsiloxane), rubber or other elastic soft materials; the two sides of the food passage hose 24 are respectively fitted with the maxillary matrix 10 and several glossopharyngeal matrices, and the several glossopharyngeal matrices push the food passage hose 24 to be squeezed and deformed under the drive of the motor 17.

[0046] In designing a biomimetic swallowing device in this embodiment, based on the studied swallowing motion patterns and anatomical characteristics of the human oropharynx, a flexible hose was used to simulate the oral cavity and pharynx as the device's food passage. Considering that the tongue and pharyngeal walls are the structures that actively extrudes the food bolus during swallowing, while the palate remains largely immobile, a rigid wall was used to constrain the flexible hose's exterior. The oropharynx was divided into six sections, and six glossopharyngeal basal bodies, which can move radially along the hose, were added to the hose's underside as moving components to drive the hose's contraction and simulate oropharyngeal squeezing motion. Furthermore, to ensure continuous swallowing motion, the six moving components were spatially compact and adjacent to each other, ensuring that no residue remained within the flexible hose after the simulated swallowing action. It should be noted that these six moving components correspond to the second glossopharyngeal basal body 6, the third glossopharyngeal basal body 7, the fourth glossopharyngeal basal body 8, the fifth glossopharyngeal basal body 9, the sixth glossopharyngeal basal body 12, and the seventh glossopharyngeal basal body 13, while the first glossopharyngeal basal body 5 serves only to seal the food passage hose 24.

[0047] The human oropharynx's upper palate and posterior pharyngeal wall are simulated using a rigid wall. To ensure that the device's key dimensions are similar to those of the human body, the dimensions of the rigid wall should be based on those of the real human upper palate and posterior pharyngeal wall, referred to as the maxillary matrix. The human upper palate is shaped like a dome, with low edges and a high center. Since this device is designed based solely on human sagittal structural data, the curvature of the upper palate along the coronal axis is no longer considered. The pharyngeal cavity, on the other hand, is approximately cylindrical in shape. According to human anatomy, the highest point of the upper palate in a normal adult is approximately 15 mm high, the width of the dental arch is between 30 and 50 mm, the left-right diameter of the upper airway cross-section at the level of the soft palate apex is approximately 20 mm, and the left-right diameter of the upper airway cross-section at the level of the epiglottis apex is approximately 30 mm. To simplify the structure, the upper palate and pharyngeal wall contours are treated as a circular arc and a flat surface, respectively, to form the upper palate's rigid plate.

[0048] The oropharyngeal food passage is simulated using a flexible tube. This device is designed to simulate the human oropharynx for food swallowing tests and to facilitate observation of changes in the food bolus during swallowing, so the flexible tube is required to be transparent. The flexible tube only serves to constrain the food bolus in the device, and the power to deform the flexible tube to push the food bolus comes from the moving parts, so the flexible tube is required to be soft and fit the maxillary base. Food-grade silicone has high transparency, good stability and fluidity, and a soft texture, so food-grade silicone is selected as the hose material. Referring to the size of the human oropharynx, the inner diameter of the food passage hose 24 is determined to be 18 mm, the outer diameter is 20 mm, and the wall thickness is 1 mm.

[0049] The flexible hose's underside consists of six sliders that can move radially along the hose, acting as moving parts. These sliders simulate the tongue and pharyngeal wall driving the hose's contraction to simulate oropharyngeal squeezing motion, known as the glossopharyngeal matrix. The glossopharyngeal matrix ensures continuous squeezing motion, with no food bolus remaining inside the hose after the action is completed. Therefore, the lower glossopharyngeal matrix should be able to align with the maxillary matrix after swallowing, and the space between the glossopharyngeal matrices should be compact, leaving no gaps inside the hose. The glossopharyngeal matrix width was determined to be 32 mm. Furthermore, the upper contour of the glossopharyngeal matrix should be able to align with the maxillary matrix, so the upper end of the slider is designed as a circular curved surface with the same radius as the inner surface of the maxillary matrix. The spacing between the glossopharyngeal matrices is set to 2 mm to ensure continuous deformation of the hose during action and no gaps inside the hose after compression, thus meeting the requirements for continuous motion of the swallowing bionic device.

[0050] When using the device to simulate swallowing, first manually inject a certain volume of fluid food into the food passage hose 24 from the entrance, and at the same time drive the glossopharyngeal base 5 to squeeze the food passage hose 24 to close the entrance. Figure 3 After the liquid food is injected, the motor 17 is turned on to sequentially drive the second glossopharyngeal matrix 6, the third glossopharyngeal matrix 7, the fourth glossopharyngeal matrix 8, the fifth glossopharyngeal matrix 9, the sixth glossopharyngeal matrix 12 and the seventh glossopharyngeal matrix 13 to move and squeeze the food passage hose 24, so that the cross-sectional area of ​​the food passage is reduced, as shown. Figure 4 Wait for the glossopharyngeal matrix to gradually squeeze and transport food from the entrance to the exit, and finally complete the swallowing action.

[0051] In order to simulate the swallowing movements of different groups of people, by adjusting the speed and start and stop time of each motor 17, the second glossopharyngeal matrix 6, the third glossopharyngeal matrix 7, the fourth glossopharyngeal matrix 8, the fifth glossopharyngeal matrix 9, the sixth glossopharyngeal matrix 12 and the seventh glossopharyngeal matrix 13 can be squeezed into the food passage hose 24 at different movement speeds and movement sequences, which can meet the adaptation to the swallowing movements of different groups of people.

[0052] Example 2

[0053] This embodiment provides a method for simulating food swallowing, which uses the device provided in the above embodiment 1 to perform simulation, and includes the following steps:

[0054] Step 1: obtaining human oropharyngeal tissue motion parameters, and setting the motion start time point, end time point, and motion speed of each glossopharyngeal matrix in the device according to the obtained human oropharyngeal tissue motion parameters;

[0055] Step 2: using the device to simulate the swallowing process of food in the human oropharynx;

[0056] Step 3: photograph the position of the food bolus at each moment in the device, and use the pressure sensor to obtain the swallowing pressure of the food during swallowing;

[0057] Step 4: Compare the swallowing time and swallowing pressure of simulated normal swallowing and simulated abnormal swallowing.

[0058] Optionally, in the step 2, a certain volume of fluid food is first manually injected into the food passage hose 24 from the entrance, and at the same time, the glossopharyngeal matrix 5 is driven to squeeze the food passage hose 24 to close the entrance, as shown in FIG. Figure 3 After the fluid food is injected, the motor 17 is turned on to sequentially drive the second glossopharyngeal matrix 6, the third glossopharyngeal matrix 7, the fourth glossopharyngeal matrix 8, the fifth glossopharyngeal matrix 9, the sixth glossopharyngeal matrix 12 and the seventh glossopharyngeal matrix 13 to move and squeeze the food channel hose 24, so that the cross-sectional area of ​​the food channel is reduced, as shown. Figure 4 As shown; wait for the glossopharyngeal matrix to gradually squeeze and transport the food from the entrance to the exit, and finally realize the swallowing action.

[0059] like Figure 6 As shown, Figure 6 This is a comparison of the bolus position during a simulated swallow and a real swallow. The simulated bolus is depicted with a dashed line. The bolus position at each moment closely matches that of a real swallow. The bolus was smoothly and continuously transported from the device's hose inlet to the outlet, effectively replicating the actual swallowing process. The simulated swallow took 0.86 seconds from the start of the device to the bolus reaching the outlet of the swallowing hose. The swallowing time for the selected subject was 0.76 seconds, making the two times quite similar.

[0060] like Figure 7 As shown, Figure 7 This is a graph of pressure changes at various locations during a simulated swallowing session. The pressure values ​​range from 20-40 kPa, closely resembling actual swallowing. During a real swallow, a pressure gradient forms between the tongue and palate from front to back, transporting the food bolus backward. Similarly, pressure generation and maximum values ​​are detected at locations 1, 2, 3, and 4 in a temporal and spatial order, consistent with the patterns of real swallowing.

[0061] Figure 8The figure shows the comparison of swallowing time between normal swallowing and abnormal swallowing when simulating 5 ml of 5.0% potato starch solution (ST-5.0), 1.0% xanthan gum solution (XG-1.0), 3.0% Shushisu S solution (SS-3.0) and 12.5% ​​soy protein isolate solution (SP-12.5). The results showed that compared with the simulated normal swallowing, the simulated abnormal swallowing showed a longer swallowing time in all thickener solution samples. This result is consistent with the swallowing time pattern of patients with different swallowing disorders in real swallowing, and also verifies the effectiveness of the bionic swallowing device.

[0062] Figure 9 Shown is a comparison of the swallowing pressure peaks at point 3 during normal and abnormal swallowing when simulating 5 ml of 5.0% potato starch solution (ST-5.0), 1.0% xanthan gum solution (XG-1.0), 3.0% Shushisu S solution (SS-3.0), and 12.5% ​​soy protein isolate solution (SP-12.5). The results showed that the swallowing pressure peak at point 3 showed significant differences between simulated normal swallowing and simulated abnormal swallowing, and the swallowing pressure peak at point 3 during simulated abnormal swallowing was significantly lower. Compared with patients with normal swallowing, patients with abnormal swallowing have slower tongue movements, which is reflected in the bionic swallowing device, and will reduce the swallowing pressure during in vitro simulated swallowing. This result is consistent with the law of real swallowing.

[0063] There were significant differences in swallowing duration and swallowing pressure between simulated normal swallowing and simulated abnormal swallowing, proving that the device can adapt to different swallowing symptoms and also proving the effectiveness of the device.

[0064] Although the present invention has been disclosed above in terms of preferred embodiments, it is not intended to limit the present invention. Anyone familiar with this technology can make various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention should be based on the definition of the claims.

Claims

1. A device for simulating the swallowing of fluid food by patients with different swallowing disorders, characterized in that: The invention comprises a maxillary base and a glossopharyngeal base, wherein the maxillary base is covered on a plurality of glossopharyngeal bases, the plurality of glossopharyngeal bases are adapted to the shape of the opposite side of the maxillary base, a food passage hose for passing food is provided between the maxillary base and the plurality of glossopharyngeal bases, a plurality of pressure sensing sheets are provided between the food passage hose and the maxillary base, each of the glossopharyngeal bases is connected to a transmission mechanism, the transmission mechanism is connected to a drive mechanism, and the drive mechanism drives the glossopharyngeal base to move and squeeze the food passage hose through the transmission mechanism to transport food and realize swallowing action; The maxillary base includes a palate portion and a pharyngeal wall portion, the palate portion is an arcuate curved surface, and the pharyngeal wall portion is a vertical plane; a plurality of glossopharyngeal bases have a side opposite to the palate portion of the maxillary base that is an arcuate curved surface and are compatible with each other; a plurality of glossopharyngeal bases have a side opposite to the pharyngeal wall portion of the maxillary base that is a vertical plane and are compatible with each other; A first glossopharyngeal base, a second glossopharyngeal base, a third glossopharyngeal base, a fourth glossopharyngeal base, a fifth glossopharyngeal base, a sixth glossopharyngeal base and a seventh glossopharyngeal base are sequentially arranged along the opposite end from the head to the tail of the maxillary base. The first glossopharyngeal base, the second glossopharyngeal base, the third glossopharyngeal base, the fourth glossopharyngeal base and the fifth glossopharyngeal base are located below the upper jaw part of the maxillary base and can move up and down. The sixth glossopharyngeal base and the seventh glossopharyngeal base are located on the inner side of the pharyngeal wall part of the maxillary base and can move left and right. The first glossopharyngeal base moves to close the food passage hose, and the second glossopharyngeal base, the third glossopharyngeal base, the fourth glossopharyngeal base, the fifth glossopharyngeal base, the sixth glossopharyngeal base and the seventh glossopharyngeal base move to squeeze the food passage hose to simulate swallowing action; the spacing between adjacent glossopharyngeal bases is 2 mm.

2. The device for simulating swallowing of fluid food by patients with different swallowing disorders according to claim 1, characterized in that: The transmission mechanism is a screw-nut mechanism, including a screw, a nut, a linear bearing and a guide pin. The nut is connected to the screw, one end of the glossopharyngeal base is connected to the nut, and the other end is connected to a linear bearing. The linear bearing is sleeved on the guide pin.

3. The device for simulating swallowing of fluid food by patients with different swallowing disorders according to claim 2, characterized in that: The driving mechanism includes a motor and a coupling connected to the motor. The other end of the coupling is connected to the screw. The motor drives the screw to rotate through the coupling. The rotation of the screw drives the nut and the glossopharyngeal base on the nut to perform linear reciprocating motion along the axial direction of the screw.

4. The device for simulating swallowing of fluid food by patients with different swallowing disorders according to claim 1, characterized in that: The pressure sensing pieces are arranged in the oral cavity and pharynx simulated by the maxillary matrix and several glossopharyngeal matrices. The pressure sensing pieces are used to collect pressure at fixed time intervals during the operation of the device to obtain the pressure change trend and pressure peak during swallowing.

5. The device for simulating swallowing of fluid food by patients with different swallowing disorders according to claim 1, characterized in that: It also includes a mounting base, on which a first vertical mounting plate, a second vertical mounting plate and a third vertical mounting plate are mounted, the first vertical mounting plate is connected to a first horizontal mounting plate and a second horizontal mounting plate, and the first vertical mounting plate is connected to the maxillary base through several positioning pins.

6. The device for simulating swallowing of fluid food by patients with different swallowing disorders according to claim 5, characterized in that: The transmission mechanism connected to the first glossopharyngeal base, the second glossopharyngeal base, the third glossopharyngeal base, the fourth glossopharyngeal base and the fifth glossopharyngeal base is arranged vertically, and its lead screw is mounted on the second horizontal mounting plate through a bearing seat, its guide pin passes through the second horizontal mounting plate and is fixed on the first horizontal mounting plate, and the motor connected to it is fixed on the first horizontal mounting plate; the transmission mechanism connected to the sixth glossopharyngeal base and the seventh glossopharyngeal base is arranged horizontally, and its lead screw is mounted on the second vertical mounting plate through a bearing seat, its guide pin passes through the second vertical mounting plate and is fixed on the third vertical mounting plate, and the motor connected to it is fixed on the third vertical mounting plate.

7. The device for simulating swallowing of fluid food by patients with different swallowing disorders according to claim 3, characterized in that: The food channel hose is made of elastic soft material. The two sides of the food channel hose are respectively fitted with the maxillary base and several glossopharyngeal bases. The several glossopharyngeal bases push the food channel hose to be squeezed and deformed under the drive of the motor; the inner diameter of the food channel hose is 18 mm, the outer diameter is 20 mm, and the wall thickness is 1 mm.

8. A method for simulating food swallowing, characterized in that: The method uses the device for simulating the swallowing of fluid food by patients with different dysphagia according to any one of claims 1 to 7, comprising the following steps: Step 1: obtaining human oropharyngeal tissue motion parameters, and setting the motion start time point, end time point, and motion speed of each glossopharyngeal matrix in the device according to the obtained human oropharyngeal tissue motion parameters; Step 2: Using the device to simulate the swallowing process of food in the human oropharynx: first, manually inject a certain volume of fluid food into the food passage hose from the entrance, and at the same time drive the glossopharyngeal matrix to squeeze the food passage hose to close the entrance; after the fluid food is injected, start the motor to sequentially drive the second glossopharyngeal matrix, the third glossopharyngeal matrix, the fourth glossopharyngeal matrix, the fifth glossopharyngeal matrix, the sixth glossopharyngeal matrix, and the seventh glossopharyngeal matrix to move and squeeze the food passage hose, thereby reducing the cross-sectional area of ​​the food passage; wait for the glossopharyngeal matrix to gradually squeeze and transport the food from the entrance to the exit, and finally realize the swallowing action; Step 3: photograph the position of the food bolus at each moment in the device, and use the pressure sensor to obtain the swallowing pressure of the food during swallowing; Step 4: Compare the swallowing time and swallowing pressure of simulated normal swallowing and simulated abnormal swallowing.

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