A swallowing training device for improving swallowing function of a patient

Abstract

This invention relates to the field of medical devices, specifically to a swallowing training device for improving a patient's swallowing function. The device includes a handle, a control panel, and a pump assembly. A tongue sleeve is fixedly connected to one end of the handle, and the tongue sleeve has an internal placement cavity. A first air bladder layer is fixedly connected to the upper surface of the tongue sleeve, and several first electrostimulation pads electrically connected to the control panel are embedded in the surface of the first air bladder layer. An inlet and an outlet are provided at the end of the handle away from the tongue sleeve, both of which are connected to the first air bladder layer. Both the inlet and outlet are connected to the pump assembly. This invention uses the pump assembly to inflate the first air bladder layer with fluid, allowing it to make large-area contact with the oral cavity wall. Then, multiple first electrostimulation pads embedded in the surface of the first air bladder layer simultaneously provide electrical stimulation, thereby providing synergistic stimulation training to the swallowing-related muscle groups.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of medical devices, specifically to a swallowing training device for improving a patient's swallowing function. Background Technology

[0002] Dysphagia refers to the difficulty, delay, or inability to complete the process of food moving from the mouth through the throat to the stomach, which may be accompanied by choking, aspiration, or pain when swallowing. This disorder not only affects food intake and nutrient intake, but may also lead to serious complications such as aspiration pneumonia. The factors that cause dysphagia are mainly divided into three categories, as follows: (1) Neuromuscular factors: Stroke, Parkinson's disease, traumatic brain injury, etc., can damage the nerves controlling the swallowing muscles, leading to muscle weakness and coordination disorders. Degenerative diseases in the elderly can also cause relaxation of the swallowing muscles and slow reaction. (2) Structural factors: Tumors in the oral cavity and pharynx, tonsillar hypertrophy, esophageal stenosis, etc., directly obstruct the passage of food. (3) Functional factors: Psychological anxiety, poor eating habits, or uncoordinated swallowing movements after surgery can cause functional dysphagia.

[0003] The core reason for patients undergoing swallowing training is to improve the strength, coordination, and flexibility of their swallowing muscles through scientific training. This helps patients restore normal swallowing function, reduces the risk of choking and aspiration, and ensures nutritional intake and safety. At the same time, training can enhance patients' confidence in eating, improve their quality of life, and reduce problems such as malnutrition and dehydration caused by prolonged difficulty in eating normally. It is especially suitable for people prone to swallowing disorders, such as those with nerve damage or after surgery.

[0004] Current clinical rehabilitation interventions for dysphagia primarily rely on passive stimulation and active functional training. Conventional methods include tactile stimulation such as manual pressure on the tongue base and palatopharyngeal arch by therapists, cold stimulation with ice swabs, and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS). These are combined with active training such as tongue muscle resistance, dry swallowing, and the Mendelsohn maneuver to improve the strength of the swallowing muscles and the sensitivity of the swallowing reflex. However, these traditional training and stimulation methods mostly target only one or a few points of the swallowing-related muscle groups for independent and dispersed stimulation. This makes it difficult to achieve synchronous and coordinated stimulation of key functional points of multiple core swallowing muscles, such as the pharyngeal constrictor muscles and the veli palatine muscles. This can easily lead to uneven training of the swallowing muscles and insufficient induction of nerve reflexes, thus hindering the overall recovery efficiency of swallowing function.

[0005] Therefore, this solution proposes a swallowing training device to improve patients' swallowing function in order to solve the above problems. Summary of the Invention

[0006] To address the aforementioned problems, this invention provides a swallowing training device to improve patients' swallowing function. This device is used to simultaneously stimulate multiple muscle groups in the oral cavity of patients with swallowing disorders or to simultaneously stimulate a single muscle group over a large area. It overcomes the shortcomings of traditional stimulation methods, such as scattered stimulation points and uneven muscle group training, effectively improving swallowing reflexes and muscle coordination, and assisting patients in the recovery of their swallowing function.

[0007] To achieve the above objectives, the technical solution of the present invention is as follows: A swallowing training device for improving a patient's swallowing function includes a handle and a control panel. The control panel is embedded in the surface of the handle. A tongue sleeve is fixedly connected to one end of the handle, and the inside of the tongue sleeve is configured as a placement cavity. A first air bladder layer is fixedly connected to the upper end face of the tongue sleeve. A plurality of first electric shock pads electrically connected to the control panel are embedded in the surface of the first air bladder layer. A separating groove is opened at the end of the tongue sleeve away from the handle, and the separating groove is aligned with the central axis of the tongue sleeve.

[0008] It also includes a pump assembly electrically connected to the control panel, which is used to supply or discharge fluid to the first airbag layer; the handle has an inlet and an outlet at the end away from the tongue sleeve, both of which are connected to the first airbag layer; both the inlet and the outlet are connected to the pump assembly.

[0009] The technical principle of the above solution is as follows: During use, the patient's tongue is first placed inside the placement cavity of the tongue cannula. The dividing groove is aligned with the central axis of the tongue to achieve precise positioning and stable fixation. Then, the pump assembly is activated via the control panel on the handle. The pump assembly injects fluid (cold air or cold water) into the first air bladder layer through the inlet at the end of the handle, causing the first air bladder layer to gradually expand until it achieves a large-area, tight, and flexible fit against the patient's oral cavity wall, adapting to the oral contours of different patients and covering key functional points of the swallowing core muscle groups such as the cheek and palate.

[0010] Once the first airbag layer is properly attached, the control panel controls the simultaneous operation of several embedded first electrostimulation pads on the surface of the first airbag layer. This electrical stimulation acts on the swallowing-related muscle groups in the attachment area, effectively inducing the swallowing nerve reflex and improving muscle strength and coordination. During training, the pump assembly's fluid volume can be flexibly adjusted via the control panel to control the expansion degree of the first airbag layer, adapting to different patients' tolerance and training needs. If adjustments are needed or training needs to be terminated, the pump assembly drains the fluid from the first airbag layer through the drainage port, causing the first airbag layer to contract and facilitating device removal.

[0011] The above-mentioned approach offers the following advantages: This approach, through the pump assembly regulating the expansion of the first air bladder layer, achieves a large-area, tight, and flexible fit between the surface of the first air bladder layer and the patient's oral cavity wall. This reduces the problems of small contact area and scattered stimulation points associated with traditional cold stimulation methods (such as single-point contact with ice swabs), improving the contact efficiency and range of action between the stimulation subject and the swallowing muscles. Simultaneously, working in conjunction with the first electrostimulation pad, and leveraging the large coverage of the first air bladder layer, it precisely targets the core swallowing muscles in multiple areas such as the cheek and soft palate, achieving multi-site, synchronized combined stimulation.

[0012] Furthermore, the end of the grip furthest from the tongue cannula has an auxiliary channel that communicates with the placement cavity.

[0013] Beneficial effects: The auxiliary channel connects to the tongue cannula placement cavity and is located at the end of the handle, allowing the insertion of stimuli such as ice swabs without removing the device, thus stimulating the swallowing muscles deep in the throat. Simultaneously, the auxiliary channel works synergistically with the first airbag layer and the first electroconvulsive patch to achieve comprehensive stimulation of the oral cavity and throat, fully inducing the swallowing nerve reflex and enhancing the comprehensiveness and effectiveness of training.

[0014] Furthermore, the tongue sleeve is formed by combining an upper shell and a lower shell; an extension block is fixedly connected to the end of the upper shell away from the handle, and the outer surfaces of both the upper shell and the extension block are fixedly connected to the first airbag layer; a partition groove is provided on the lower shell.

[0015] Beneficial effects: The extension block at the end of the upper shell expands the coverage of the first air bladder layer, allowing it to fit more fully against the palate after inflation, focusing on covering the soft palate muscles. This effectively stimulates the soft palate swallowing muscles and better induces the pharyngeal swallowing reflex. The dividing groove in the lower shell adapts to the physiological structure under the tongue, ensuring a more stable and close fit. It also increases the insertion length of the tongue cannula into the deeper parts of the oral cavity, making the device more reliable and less prone to displacement. Overall, this improves the accuracy and comprehensiveness of stimulation to the oral cavity and soft palate muscles, optimizing the swallowing training effect.

[0016] Furthermore, the lower shell surface is symmetrically and fixedly connected with a second airbag layer, and the two second airbag layers are respectively located on both sides of the partition groove; each of the second airbag layers has a number of second electric shock pads that are electrically connected to the control panel embedded in its surface; each of the second airbag layers is connected to the liquid inlet and the liquid outlet.

[0017] Beneficial Effects: The second air sac layer and the second electrostimulation pad are symmetrically arranged on both sides of the lower shell's dividing groove, allowing for targeted action on the muscles at the base of the tongue. The second air sac layer expands synchronously with the first air sac layer, closely adhering to the surface of the muscles on both sides of the tongue base. Combined with the embedded second electrostimulation pad, this provides electrical stimulation, effectively strengthening the strength and coordination of the tongue base muscles, and improving problems such as delayed swallowing and food residue caused by weak tongue base and insufficient posterior elevation. Simultaneously, this forms a multi-point stimulation layout with the first air sac layer and the first electrostimulation pad, simultaneously covering key swallowing muscle groups such as the soft palate, cheek, and tongue base, achieving comprehensive and integrated swallowing training, further enhancing the comprehensiveness of stimulation and the effectiveness of rehabilitation training.

[0018] Furthermore, the surface of the first airbag layer is embedded with several first pressure sensors that are electrically connected to the control panel; the surface of each of the second airbag layers is embedded with several second pressure sensors that are electrically connected to the control panel; both the first and second pressure sensors are pressure-pressing type pressure sensors.

[0019] The control panel receives and analyzes the electrical signals transmitted by the first and second pressure sensors to obtain the contraction force, amplitude of movement, and timing of swallowing movements of the patient's cheek, soft palate, and tongue root muscles. It then compares the real-time detection data with preset normal characteristic thresholds to determine the patient's swallowing disorder recovery status and outputs corresponding auxiliary strategies based on the patient's swallowing disorder recovery status.

[0020] Beneficial effects: A pressure sensor (first pressure sensor) and a pressure sensor (second pressure sensor) are respectively installed in the first and second air sac layers. These sensors can collect pressure signals generated by the contraction and relaxation of the swallowing muscles in the oral cavity and tongue base during training, providing accurate feedback on the real-time state of muscle contraction and relaxation. The first pressure sensor monitors the movement pressure of the soft palate and cheek muscles, while the second pressure sensor specifically collects the contraction and relaxation pressure of the tongue base muscles. Both types of sensors transmit signals synchronously to the control panel, providing data for the automatic adjustment of the degree of expansion and the intensity of electrical stimulation, reducing the impact of excessive or insufficient stimulation on training effectiveness.

[0021] Furthermore, the upper shell contains a resistance component to limit the patient's tongue from rising.

[0022] Beneficial effects: The resistance components inside the upper shell can moderately restrain the patient's tongue from rising, providing an environment for resistance training of the tongue muscles and enhancing their strength and control. Combined with stimulation training while restraining the tongue, this further improves tongue stability, ensures precise stimulation of the target muscle groups, and optimizes swallowing training results.

[0023] Furthermore, the resistance component includes a pressing block and a sliding cavity. The sliding cavity is opened inside the upper half shell. A piston plate is slidably fitted on the inner wall of the sliding cavity. Several sliding rods are fixedly connected to the bottom end of the piston plate. The bottom ends of the sliding rods all extend into the placement cavity and are fixedly connected to the top of the pressing block. The pressing block is located directly above the dividing groove, and the width of the pressing block is greater than the width of the dividing groove.

[0024] The upper shell has a drive cavity inside, and a drive block is slidably fitted inside the drive cavity. The drive cavity is connected to a transition channel, and the end of the transition channel away from the drive cavity is connected to the sliding cavity. Several springs are installed inside the drive cavity, and the two ends of the springs are fixedly connected to the drive block and the inner wall of the drive cavity, respectively.

[0025] The grip surface has an adjustment groove, and an adjustment rod that slides with the upper shell is provided at the end of the drive block away from the transition channel. The end of the adjustment rod away from the drive block extends into the adjustment groove; a support rod located in the adjustment groove is fixedly connected to the adjustment rod.

[0026] Beneficial effects: The resistance component applies controllable resistance to the patient's tongue elevation through the pressing block, achieving tongue muscle resistance training and effectively enhancing tongue muscle strength and control. The adjusting rod, in conjunction with the drive block, spring, piston plate, and slide rod, adjusts the pressing height of the pressing block, placing it on the patient's tongue to create resistance to the tongue elevation movement.

[0027] Furthermore, the adjusting rod is a cylindrical structure, and the adjusting rod and the driving block are rotatably coupled; the side wall of the adjusting groove along the length direction has a limiting groove corresponding to the support rod, and the limiting groove is located on the side of the adjusting groove near the upper shell.

[0028] Beneficial effects: The adjusting rod and the drive block can rotate relative to each other. The gear can be locked by screwing the support rod into the corresponding limit groove, which prevents the adjusting rod from shifting during training and ensures that the resistance of the pressing block on the tongue remains constant, making tongue muscle resistance training more stable and controllable and improving training effect.

[0029] Furthermore, several spherical protrusions are fixedly connected to the bottom of the pressing block.

[0030] Beneficial effects: The spherical protrusions at the bottom of the pressing block can form multiple points of contact with the tongue surface, enhancing the tactile stimulation of the tongue, helping to stabilize the position of the tongue, making tongue muscle resistance training more in line with physiological form, and improving the training experience and effect.

[0031] Furthermore, the slide rods are symmetrically distributed on both sides of the sliding cavity width direction; and the distance between two adjacent slide rods along the sliding cavity width direction is greater than the diameter of the auxiliary channel; the top of the pressing block has an open groove along the axis of the upper shell.

[0032] Beneficial effects: The symmetrical distribution and spacing of the slide bars can avoid the auxiliary channel. Combined with the open groove of the pressing block, it can reserve sufficient space for other stimulation components (such as ice cotton swabs) to pass through the auxiliary channel, ensuring that the stimulation components can smoothly reach the deep throat, while not interfering with the operation of the pressing block, so that deep stimulation and tongue restraint training do not interfere with each other.

[0033] Additional aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. Attached Figure Description

[0034] Figure 1 This is an overall front axonometric view of an embodiment of the swallowing training device for improving patient swallowing function according to the present invention;

[0035] Figure 2 for Figure 1 Enlarged view of section A;

[0036] Figure 3 This is an overall reverse axonometric view of an embodiment of the swallowing training device for improving patient swallowing function according to the present invention;

[0037] Figure 4 for Figure 3 Enlarged view of section B;

[0038] Figure 5 This is an overall axonometric sectional view of an embodiment of the swallowing training device for improving patient swallowing function according to the present invention.

[0039] The reference numerals in the accompanying drawings include: 1. Handle; 101. Liquid inlet; 102. Auxiliary channel; 103. Liquid outlet; 2. Control panel; 3. Tongue sleeve; 301. Dividing groove; 302. Placement cavity; 4. First airbag layer; 401. First pressure sensor; 402. First electric shock pad; 5. Second airbag layer; 501. Second pressure sensor; 502. Second electric shock pad; 6. Adjustment groove; 7. Pressing block; 701. Sliding cavity; 702. Piston plate; 703. Slide rod; 704. Transition channel; 705. Drive cavity; 706. Spring; 707. Adjusting rod; 708. Drive block; 8. Extension block. Detailed Implementation

[0040] The technical solution of the present invention will now be clearly and completely described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some, not all, of the embodiments of the present invention. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0041] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that the terms "center," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "inner," and "outer," etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are used only for the convenience of describing the invention and for simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on the invention. Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," and "third" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0042] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "linking" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection of two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention based on the specific circumstances.

[0043] The following detailed description illustrates the specific implementation method:

[0044] Example 1:

[0045] like Figure 1 As shown, a swallowing training device for improving a patient's swallowing function includes a handle 1, a pump assembly, and a control panel 2, with the control panel 2 embedded in the surface of the handle 1. One end of the handle 1 has an integrally formed elliptical tongue sleeve 3, the inside of which is provided as a placement cavity 302, and the tongue sleeve 3 is formed by combining an upper shell and a lower shell.

[0046] For the swallowing muscles of the cheek and soft palate, a first air bladder layer 4 is adhered to the outer surface of the upper shell. Several first electro-shock pads 402, electrically connected to the control panel 2, are embedded within the surface of the first air bladder layer 4. An extension block 8 is integrally formed at the end of the upper shell away from the handle 1, extending the first air bladder layer 4 to the outer surface of the extension block 8, thus expanding the coverage area of ​​the soft palate region when the first air bladder layer 4 is inflated. Simultaneously, a separating groove 301 is formed at the end of the lower shell away from the handle 1, and the separating groove 301 is aligned with the central axis of the tongue cannula 3, allowing the lower shell to adapt to the structural features under the tongue when the patient's tongue enters the placement cavity 302. For the swallowing muscles at the base of the tongue, second air bladder layers 5 are symmetrically adhered to the surface of the lower shell, with two second air bladder layers 5 located on either side of the separating groove 301. Several second electro-shock pads 502, electrically connected to the control panel 2, are embedded within the surface of each second air bladder layer 5.

[0047] The grip 1 has an inlet 101 and an outlet 103 at the end furthest from the tongue sleeve 3. The second airbag layer 5 is connected to both the inlet 101 and outlet 103, which in turn are connected to the first airbag layer 4. Both the inlet 101 and outlet 103 are also connected to the pump assembly. The pump assembly is preferably a water pump (not shown in the figure), and the water source temperature is selected according to actual training needs (5–25°C, selectively for cold stimulation).

[0048] Meanwhile, the end of the handle 1 away from the tongue cannula 3 has an auxiliary channel 102 that communicates with the placement cavity 302, which facilitates the insertion of stimuli such as ice cotton swabs to stimulate the swallowing muscle groups (such as the epiglottis) deep in the throat, thereby forming synchronous stimulation of more swallowing muscle groups and achieving combined stimulation.

[0049] The specific implementation process is as follows: During use, first, the patient's tongue is placed into the placement cavity 302 of the tongue cannula 3. The lower half of the cannula's dividing groove 301 adapts to the structure below the tongue, ensuring stable positioning. Then, the water pump is activated via the control panel 2, delivering liquid through the inlet 101 to the first air sac layer 4 and the second air sac layer 5. This causes the first air sac layer 4 to expand and adhere to the inner wall of the oral cavity (cheek muscles and palate muscles), while simultaneously causing the second air sac layer 5 to adhere to the muscles on both sides of the base of the tongue. Depending on the temperature of the liquid input by the water pump, various targeted swallowing training programs can be switched, as detailed below:

[0050] When the water pump inputs a 25°C room temperature liquid, the first airbag layer 4 and the second airbag layer 5 expand and only serve to provide flexible fit and fixation, without generating low-temperature stimulation, thus entering a pure electrical stimulation training mode. The control panel 2 controls the first and second electric shock pads 402 to synchronously output electrical stimulation, which acts on the cheek, soft palate, and tongue root muscles respectively. Through regular electrical stimulation, it strengthens muscle contraction ability, improves muscle coordination, and gradually induces and consolidates the swallowing reflex. This is suitable for patients with weak swallowing reflexes and low-temperature intolerance to carry out basic muscle strength training.

[0051] When the pump delivers cold water at approximately 5°C, the first airbag layer 4 and the second airbag layer 5 expand and adhere to the inner wall of the oral cavity, continuously transmitting the low temperature to the corresponding muscle groups, thus entering a combined cold stimulation-electrical stimulation training mode. The low temperature rapidly improves the sensitivity of the pharyngeal nerves and induces an immediate swallowing reflex. Combined with electrical stimulation, this simultaneously strengthens muscle strength and motor coordination, significantly improving training efficiency. This is suitable for patients with delayed swallowing reflexes and sensory impairment. During training, the pump assembly drives the first airbag layer 4 and the second airbag layer 5 to perform periodic expansion and contraction alternations, intermittently changing the degree of contact between the airbags and the muscles. This reduces discomfort caused by prolonged cold stimulation of local muscle groups, ensuring the effectiveness of cold stimulation while improving training safety. Alternatively, only cold stimulation can be performed, i.e., a pure cold stimulation training mode.

[0052] In addition, the auxiliary channel 102 can be used in conjunction with the above training modes to insert stimuli to strengthen the deep muscles of the throat, thereby achieving coordinated training of the swallowing muscles of the entire oral cavity, soft palate, tongue root and deep throat.

[0053] Example 2:

[0054] The difference from Example 1 is that, as Figure 1 and Figure 5 As shown, the upper shell is equipped with a resistance component for restricting the patient's tongue from rising. Specifically, the resistance component includes a pressing block 7 and a sliding cavity 701. The sliding cavity 701 is opened inside the upper shell. A piston plate 702 is slidably fitted on the inner wall of the sliding cavity 701. Several sliding rods 703 are bonded to the bottom end of the piston plate 702. The bottom ends of the sliding rods 703 all extend into the placement cavity 302 and are bonded to the top of the pressing block 7. The pressing block 7 is located directly above the separating groove 301, and the width of the pressing block 7 is greater than the width of the separating groove 301.

[0055] The upper shell has a drive cavity 705 inside, and a drive block 708 is slidably fitted inside the drive cavity 705. The drive cavity 705 is connected to a transition channel 704, and the end of the transition channel 704 away from the drive cavity 705 is connected to a sliding cavity 701. Several springs 706 are installed inside the drive cavity 705, and the two ends of the springs 706 are respectively bonded to the drive block 708 and the inner wall of the drive cavity 705. The handle 1 has an adjustment groove 6 on its surface. An adjustment rod 707 that slidably fits with the upper shell is provided at the end of the drive block 708 away from the transition channel 704. The end of the adjustment rod 707 away from the drive block 708 extends into the adjustment groove 6. A support rod is integrally formed on the adjustment rod 707 and located in the adjustment groove 6. At the same time, the adjustment rod 707 is a cylindrical structure, and the adjustment rod 707 and the drive block 708 are rotatably fitted. A limiting groove corresponding to the support rod is opened on the side wall of the adjustment groove 6 along its length, and the limiting groove is located on the side of the adjustment groove 6 closer to the upper shell. Several spherical protrusions are fixedly connected to the bottom of the pressing block 7.

[0056] Secondly, the slide bars 703 are symmetrically distributed on both sides of the sliding cavity 701 in the width direction, and the distance between two adjacent slide bars 703 in the width direction of the sliding cavity 701 is greater than the diameter of the auxiliary channel 102. The top of the pressing block 7 has an open groove along the axis of the upper shell, thus reserving sufficient space for stimulation components such as ice cotton swabs to pass through the auxiliary channel 102, ensuring that the deep throat stimulation operation is carried out smoothly, and realizing that tongue muscle resistance training and deep throat stimulation do not interfere with each other and are carried out in a coordinated manner.

[0057] The specific implementation process is as follows: The patient's tongue is placed into the placement cavity 302 of the tongue cannula 3, and then the adjusting rod 707 is pushed, which drives the driving block 708 to slide along the inner wall of the driving cavity 705 towards the transition channel 704. During the movement of the driving block 708, the gas in the driving cavity 705 will be squeezed, so that the gas is pressed into the area above the piston plate 702 of the sliding cavity 701 through the transition channel 704. The stable pressure generated by the gas pushes the piston plate 702 to slide down along the inner wall of the sliding cavity 701, which drives the slide rod 703 to move down synchronously. Finally, the pressing block 7 at the bottom of the slide rod 703 moves closer to the tongue surface, forming a controllable resistance constraint on the upward movement of the tongue.

[0058] After the pressing block 7 is adjusted to the preset height, rotate the adjusting rod 707 to screw the support rod on the adjusting rod 707 into the corresponding limiting groove on the side wall of the adjusting groove 6, locking the height of the pressing block 7. This prevents the pressing block 7 from shifting due to the upward force of the tongue during training, ensuring the stability of resistance training. At the same time, the spring 706 in the drive cavity 705 provides a stable reset tension for the drive block 708, facilitating quick reset when the height of the pressing block 7 is adjusted later, and helping to maintain the position of the drive block 708.

[0059] Simultaneously, when the patient actively raises their tongue, the tongue surface will press against the spherical protrusion. The protrusion, with the help of resistance training, applies multi-point pressure stimulation to the tongue surface, which can further activate the nerve endings on the tongue surface and strengthen the tongue muscle contraction memory. At the same time, in conjunction with the pure electrical stimulation training mode, cold-electric combined stimulation training mode, and pure cold stimulation training mode described in Example 1, the tongue muscle resistance training, multi-point pressure stimulation, and electrical / cold stimulation of the oral cavity and pharynx are synergistically linked, acting on the swallowing-related muscle groups from multiple dimensions, further enhancing the training effect and accelerating the patient's swallowing function recovery.

[0060] Example 3:

[0061] The difference from Example 2 is that, as Figure 2 and Figure 4 As shown, the surface of the first airbag layer 4 is embedded with several first pressure sensors 401 that are electrically connected to the control panel 2; the surface of the second airbag layer 5 is embedded with several second pressure sensors 501 that are electrically connected to the control panel 2; the first pressure sensors 401 and the second pressure sensors 501 are both pressure-plate type pressure sensors. The thin sheet structure can be closely attached to the surface of the first airbag layer 4 and the second airbag layer 5 without damaging the flexibility and sealing of the first airbag layer 4 and the second airbag layer 5, and can stably collect the contact pressure of the muscle group.

[0062] During training, the first pressure sensor 401 is responsible for collecting pressure signals from the contact between the first air sac layer 4 and the cheek and soft palate muscles, while the second pressure sensor 501 collects the contact pressure between the second air sac layer 5 and the tongue root muscles, as well as the muscle contraction and relaxation pressure. The pressure changes are converted into electrical signals in real time and transmitted to the control panel 2. The control panel 2 uses a built-in signal processing algorithm to analyze the pressure amplitude, fluctuation frequency, and change curve, thereby intuitively reflecting the magnitude of muscle contraction force, the strength of movement amplitude, and the timing of swallowing actions. This enables the detection of the movement status of multiple swallowing muscle groups inside the oral cavity. Based on whether the muscle contraction pressure meets the standard, whether the swallowing waveform is regular, and whether the action response is timely, the degree of recovery of swallowing disorders can be comprehensively judged.

[0063] Specifically, firstly, four key features reflecting the movement state of the swallowing muscles are extracted from the preprocessed pressure signal. These key features include pressure amplitude characteristics, time domain characteristics, frequency domain characteristics, and pressure distribution characteristics. Then, the above four key features are weighted and fused to obtain a comprehensive evaluation index (0-100 points). At the same time, control panel 2 pre-stores the pressure characteristic threshold range of the swallowing muscles in healthy individuals (such as pressure peak, dominant frequency range, and pulse width), and records the characteristic data of the patient's first training as the initial baseline.

[0064] During each patient's dysphagia rehabilitation training session, the real-time integrated evaluation indicators were compared with the normal threshold and the initial baseline, and the rehabilitation assessment results were divided into three categories, as follows:

[0065] Target achieved: Real-time characteristics within the normal stress characteristic threshold range indicate good rehabilitation effect;

[0066] Needs improvement: Real-time features did not reach the normal stress feature threshold range, but there was an improvement compared to the initial baseline (e.g., peak value increased by 5% to 20%), indicating that muscle function is recovering, but intensive training is still needed;

[0067] Failure to meet the standard: Real-time characteristics are lower than the initial baseline or deviate too far from the normal stress characteristic threshold range, indicating insufficient muscle contraction force, poor motor coordination, and delayed rehabilitation progress.

[0068] Following this, based on the rehabilitation assessment results, corresponding support strategies are output, as follows:

[0069] If the standard is met: reduce the training intensity (e.g., reduce the intensity of the electric shock pad by 10% to 30%) and switch to a mild training mode (e.g., switch from the cold-electric combined stimulation training mode to the pure electric stimulation training mode).

[0070] If the condition is determined to be "needs improvement": maintain the current training mode, fine-tune the training parameters (such as keeping the electric shock intensity unchanged and increasing the stimulation frequency), continuously strengthen muscle group function, and reduce the possibility of excessive intensity causing patient discomfort.

[0071] If the training intensity is deemed "not up to standard", increase the intensity of the training (e.g., increase the intensity of the electric shock pad by 10% to 15%), or extend the duration of the combined stimulation (e.g., increase the duration of the cold-electric combined stimulation by 1 to 2 minutes), or switch to a more advanced training mode (e.g., switch from the pure electric stimulation training mode to the cold-electric combined stimulation training mode).

[0072] Obviously, the above embodiments are merely illustrative examples for clear explanation and are not intended to limit the implementation. Those skilled in the art will recognize that other variations or modifications can be made based on the above description. It is neither necessary nor possible to exhaustively list all possible implementations here. However, obvious variations or modifications derived therefrom are still within the scope of protection of this invention.

Claims

1. A swallowing training device for improving a patient's swallowing function, comprising a handle (1) and a control panel (2), wherein the control panel (2) is embedded in the surface of the handle (1), characterized in that, One end of the handle (1) is fixedly connected to a tongue sleeve (3), and the inside of the tongue sleeve (3) is set as a placement cavity (302); the upper end of the tongue sleeve (3) is fixedly connected to a first airbag layer (4), and the surface of the first airbag layer (4) is embedded with several first electric shock pads (402) that are electrically connected to the control panel (2); a partition groove (301) is opened at the end of the tongue sleeve (3) away from the handle (1), and the partition groove (301) is aligned with the central axis of the tongue sleeve (3); It also includes a pump assembly electrically connected to the control panel (2), which is used to supply or discharge fluid to the first airbag layer (4); the handle (1) has an inlet (101) and a outlet (103) at the end away from the tongue sleeve (3), and both the inlet (101) and the outlet (103) are connected to the first airbag layer (4); both the inlet (101) and the outlet (103) are connected to the pump assembly.

2. The swallowing training device for improving a patient's swallowing function according to claim 1, characterized in that, The end of the handle (1) away from the tongue sleeve (3) has an auxiliary channel (102) that communicates with the placement cavity (302).

3. The swallowing training device for improving a patient's swallowing function according to claim 2, characterized in that, The tongue sleeve (3) is formed by combining an upper shell and a lower shell; an extension block (8) is fixedly connected to the end of the upper shell away from the handle (1), and the outer surfaces of the upper shell and the extension block (8) are fixedly connected to the first airbag layer (4); a partition groove (301) is provided on the lower shell.

4. The swallowing training device for improving a patient's swallowing function according to claim 3, characterized in that, The lower half shell surface is symmetrically fixedly connected with a second airbag layer (5), and the two second airbag layers (5) are located on both sides of the partition groove (301); the surface of the second airbag layer (5) is embedded with a number of second electric shock pieces (502) that are electrically connected to the control panel (2); the second airbag layer (5) is connected to the liquid inlet (101) and the liquid outlet (103).

5. The swallowing training device for improving a patient's swallowing function according to claim 4, characterized in that, The surface of the first airbag layer (4) is embedded with several first pressure sensors (401) that are electrically connected to the control panel (2); the surface of the second airbag layer (5) is embedded with several second pressure sensors (501) that are electrically connected to the control panel (2); the first pressure sensor (401) and the second pressure sensor (501) are both pressure-pressing sensors. The control panel (2) is used to receive and analyze the electrical signals transmitted by the first pressure sensor (401) and the second pressure sensor (501), obtain the contraction force, movement amplitude and swallowing action sequence of the patient's cheek, soft palate and tongue root muscle groups, compare the real-time detection data with the preset normal characteristic threshold, judge the patient's swallowing disorder recovery status, and output the corresponding auxiliary strategy according to the patient's swallowing disorder recovery status.

6. The swallowing training device for improving a patient's swallowing function according to claim 5, characterized in that, The upper shell contains a resistance component to limit the patient's tongue from rising.

7. The swallowing training device for improving a patient's swallowing function according to claim 6, characterized in that, The resistance assembly includes a pressing block (7) and a sliding cavity (701). The sliding cavity (701) is located inside the upper shell. A piston plate (702) is slidably fitted on the inner wall of the sliding cavity (701). Several sliding rods (703) are fixedly connected to the bottom end of the piston plate (702). The bottom ends of the sliding rods (703) all extend into the placement cavity (302) and are fixedly connected to the top end of the pressing block (7). The pressing block (7) is located directly above the partition groove (301), and the width of the pressing block (7) is greater than the width of the partition groove (301). The upper shell has a drive cavity (705) inside, and a drive block (708) is slidably fitted inside the drive cavity (705). The drive cavity (705) is connected to a transition channel (704), and one end of the transition channel (704) away from the drive cavity (705) is connected to a sliding cavity (701). Several springs (706) are provided inside the drive cavity (705), and the two ends of the springs (706) are fixedly connected to the drive block (708) and the inner wall of the drive cavity (705) respectively. The handle (1) has an adjustment groove (6) on its surface. The drive block (708) is provided with an adjustment rod (707) that slides with the upper shell at one end away from the transition channel (704). The end of the adjustment rod (707) away from the drive block (708) extends into the adjustment groove (6). A support rod located in the adjustment groove (6) is fixedly connected to the adjustment rod (707).

8. The swallowing training device for improving a patient's swallowing function according to claim 7, characterized in that, The adjusting rod (707) is a cylindrical structure, and the adjusting rod (707) and the driving block (708) are rotated together; the side wall of the adjusting groove (6) in the length direction has a limiting groove corresponding to the support rod, and the limiting groove is located on the side of the adjusting groove (6) near the upper shell.

9. The swallowing training device for improving a patient's swallowing function according to claim 8, characterized in that, The bottom of the pressing block (7) is fixedly connected with several spherical protrusions.

10. The swallowing training device for improving a patient's swallowing function according to claim 9, characterized in that, The slide rods (703) are symmetrically distributed on both sides of the sliding cavity (701) in the width direction; and the distance between two adjacent slide rods (703) in the width direction of the sliding cavity (701) is greater than the aperture of the auxiliary channel (102); the top of the pressing block (7) has an open groove along the axis of the upper shell.

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