A wearable swallowing rehabilitation training device, system and method

Abstract

The application discloses a wearable swallowing rehabilitation training device, a control system and a training method, relates to the technical field of swallowing rehabilitation medical equipment, and comprises a flexible wearing assembly and a replaceable oral training assembly. The flexible wearing assembly and the replaceable oral training assembly are connected through a plug-in quick release structure. The flexible wearing assembly comprises a head-wearing band, a U-shaped mandibular support and a neck fixing belt. The bottom of the U-shaped mandibular support is provided with a connecting piece. The connecting piece is provided with a plug-in clamping groove in the middle. The plug-in clamping groove is internally integrated with a sealed air path interface and a plurality of elastic sensing butt joint probes. The plug-in quick release structure of the flexible wearing assembly and the replaceable oral training assembly is adopted. An integrated flexible support structure formed by the head-wearing band, the U-shaped mandibular support and the neck fixing belt improves wearing stability and the comfort of long-time wearing. Meanwhile, the oral training assembly can be independently replaced, which helps to reduce the cross-infection risk.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of swallowing rehabilitation medical equipment technology, specifically to a wearable swallowing rehabilitation training device, control system, and training method. Background Technology

[0002] Dysphagia is a common complication in people with stroke, those undergoing radiotherapy and chemotherapy for head and neck tumors, and those experiencing physiological decline in the elderly. It can easily lead to secondary problems such as aspiration, lung infection, and malnutrition, seriously affecting patients' health and quality of life. Decreased tongue muscle strength, reduced pharyngeal sensation, and delayed swallowing reflex are the core pathological manifestations of dysphagia. Clinical rehabilitation often improves patients' swallowing function through interventions such as tongue muscle strengthening training and pharyngeal sensory stimulation.

[0003] Existing swallowing rehabilitation training equipment is mainly divided into two categories: intraoral training instruments and surface stimulation devices. Regarding intraoral training instruments, some tongue muscle training devices are handheld, requiring manual handling by the patient or medical staff. These devices are prone to displacement during training, lack stability, and are difficult to monitor continuously and in real-time. While some fixed training devices have pressure acquisition capabilities, they are mostly integrated structures, and the oral contact components cannot be quickly disassembled and replaced, posing a potential risk of cross-infection and making them unsuitable for patients with different oral cavity sizes. Furthermore, existing tongue pressure acquisition devices mostly perform single-point or overall pressure detection, failing to differentiate the pressure distribution in the tip, middle, and root of the tongue, making it difficult to accurately identify tongue position changes and to provide targeted assessments of local tongue muscle strength.

[0004] At the level of surface stimulation devices, existing pharyngeal vibration stimulation devices mostly exist in the form of independent patches or handheld therapeutic devices, which cannot form a linkage control with intraoral training devices. The stimulation modes are relatively simple, usually only outputting surface vibrations with fixed parameters, and cannot match the stimulation timing in real time according to the patient's active training movements, making it difficult to form effective sensory feedback reinforcement. In addition, most devices only target stimulation to a single area of ​​the pharynx, lacking targeted stimulation to swallowing-related muscle groups such as the masseter muscle and submandibular muscles, thus having limited effect on improving sensory input in multiple areas of the oral cavity and pharynx.

[0005] In addition, most current swallowing rehabilitation training devices lack systematic quantitative assessment capabilities. The evaluation of training effectiveness relies heavily on the subjective observation and clinical experience of rehabilitation physicians, lacking objective quantitative indicators such as tongue muscle strength level, effective training count, and muscle group activation status. This is not conducive to accurately tracking the patient's functional recovery progress and also brings inconvenience to the dynamic adjustment of training programs. Some devices equipped with data acquisition functions also generally suffer from high misjudgment rates of tongue protrusion movements and limited data dimensions, failing to provide sufficient and reliable data support for rehabilitation assessment.

[0006] Therefore, developing a swallowing rehabilitation training program that combines wearing stability, hygiene, multimodal training, and quantitative assessment is a technical problem that urgently needs to be solved in this field. Summary of the Invention

[0007] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the technical solution provided by the present invention is: a wearable swallowing rehabilitation training device, comprising a flexible wearable component and a replaceable oral training component, wherein the flexible wearable component and the replaceable oral training component are connected by a plug-in quick-release structure. The flexible wearable component includes a headband, a U-shaped chin support, and a neck strap. The bottom front end of the U-shaped chin support is provided with a connector, and the middle of the connector is provided with a plug-in slot. The plug-in slot integrates a sealed air passage interface and multiple sets of elastic sensing docking probes. The replaceable oral training component is an independent modular structure, including an occlusal base and an air-filled tongue training platform extending horizontally inward from the center of the occlusal base; a plug adapted to the insertion slot is centrally located on the outer side of the occlusal base, and an air connector and sensor contacts are integrated inside the plug; when the plug is pushed in along the insertion slot and engaged, the air connector and air interface are automatically sealed and connected, and the sensor contacts and sensor docking probes are connected one-to-one; The airbag-type tongue training platform is a hollow, sealed, flexible airbag structure. Passive thin-film pressure sensing contacts are pre-embedded in the tongue tip area, the middle area of ​​the tongue body, and the tongue root area inside the airbag. Each pressure sensing contact is tightly attached to the inner wall of the airbag.

[0008] Preferably, the two ends of the headband are respectively connected to the upper parts of the two sides of the U-shaped chin support, and the two ends of the headband are provided with length adjustment areas, and Velcro is used as the connection and adjustment structure of the length adjustment areas; the inner front part of the headband is provided with a breathable memory foam cushioning pad; the outer layer of the U-shaped chin support is made of medical-grade flexible silicone, and a medical-grade polycarbonate support frame is embedded inside; the two sides of the neck fixation strap are respectively provided with rearward extending adjustment fixation straps, and the ends of the two adjustment fixation straps are provided with an adjustable closure structure with Velcro fasteners.

[0009] Preferably, the occlusal base is a U-shaped structure adapted to the shape of the human oral cavity, with an outer layer of food-contact grade medical flexible silicone and an inner layer of thin sheet-like rigid support skeleton; the upper and lower surfaces of the occlusal base are provided with arc-shaped occlusal grooves that match the shape of the human dental arch; the buccal outer wall and inner wall of the occlusal base are respectively provided with integrally formed hemispherical flexible stimulation protrusions; the vibration on the U-shaped mandibular support can be transmitted to the occlusal base through the support skeleton and the plug-in connection structure, and act on the flexible stimulation protrusions.

[0010] Preferably, the inner side of the U-shaped chin rest is embedded with a first micro-vibration motor corresponding to the surface projection position of the masseter muscle and submandibular muscle group on both sides of the human body; the inner side of the neck fixation strap is embedded with a second micro-vibration motor corresponding to the surface projection position of the piriform recess on both sides of the human body; the inner sides of the U-shaped chin rest and the neck fixation strap are also embedded with surface electromyographic electrodes made of silver chloride material, which are used to collect surface electromyographic signals of the mylohyoid muscle and the sternocleidomastoid muscle.

[0011] Preferably, the present invention also discloses a swallowing rehabilitation training control system, including an external main control box and the aforementioned wearable swallowing rehabilitation training device; the external main control box is connected to the wearable swallowing rehabilitation training device through a data transmission line, and the external main control box integrates a main control unit, a pressure acquisition module, an air pump drive module, and a vibration drive module, and a human-computer interaction module is provided on the surface of the main control box; the pressure acquisition module is connected to each pressure sensor contact point through a sensor docking probe, and has a built-in multi-channel signal amplification circuit and analog-to-digital conversion circuit, used to synchronously acquire real-time pressure data at three points: the tip of the tongue, the middle of the tongue, and the root of the tongue, and transmit the processed digital signal to the main control unit; The air pump drive module is connected to the air interface through an air hose, thereby forming a closed air path with the airbag-type tongue training platform. The air pump drive module has a built-in miniature silent air pump, a proportional solenoid valve and a high-precision pressure sensor, which are used to accurately control the inflation rate, deflation speed and internal pressure maintenance of the airbag. The vibration drive module is electrically connected to all the micro vibration motors, supporting independent control of each vibration motor, and is used to adjust the vibration frequency, vibration intensity and start / stop sequence of each motor respectively. The human-computer interaction module adopts a touch LCD screen and integrates parameter setting, real-time monitoring, and data query functions. The main control unit is electrically connected to the pressure acquisition module, the air pump drive module, the vibration drive module, and the human-machine interaction module, respectively. As the core control and data processing unit of the system, it is used to identify the tongue position and count the tongue extension movements based on the acquired pressure data, and to control the orderly operation of various rehabilitation training modes.

[0012] Preferably, the main control unit has a built-in tongue position determination module and a tongue extension counting module; The tongue position determination module is used to determine the tongue position in real time based on the pressure ratio of the three regions of the tongue tip, middle, and root: when the pressure ratio of the tongue tip region is greater than 60% of the total pressure, it is determined to be a tongue protrusion position; when the pressure ratio of the tongue root region is greater than 50% of the total pressure, it is determined to be a tongue retraction position; and the rest of the states are determined to be a tongue middle position. The tongue extension counting module is used to determine valid tongue extension actions based on the temporal characteristics of tongue position changes and a preset pressure threshold, and to distinguish and count the number of valid and invalid actions: when the pressure in the tip of the tongue rises to the preset threshold and the pressure in the root of the tongue drops to less than 30% of the baseline value, it is determined that the tongue extension action has started; if the tongue extension state is maintained for a duration of not less than 0.3s, and the pressure in the tip of the tongue subsequently falls back below the threshold and the pressure in the root of the tongue returns to the baseline range, it is determined to be a valid tongue extension, and the valid count is incremented by one; actions that do not meet the duration or pressure change conditions are determined to be invalid actions and counted separately.

[0013] Preferably, the present invention also discloses a swallowing rehabilitation training method, implemented based on the above-mentioned swallowing rehabilitation training control system, comprising the following steps: S1. Assembly and Wearing: Select a replaceable oral training component that fits the patient's oral cavity size. Align the plug on the outside of the occlusal base with the insertion slot at the front of the U-shaped mandibular support and push it horizontally until the buckle is engaged. This will automatically complete the airway sealing and sensor signal conduction. The patient wears the flexible wearable component and adjusts the length of the headband and neck strap to a comfortable fit. The occlusal base is placed in the oral cavity, with the upper and lower teeth correspondingly biting in the arc-shaped occlusal groove. The tongue is naturally placed above the airbag-type tongue training platform. This completes the wearing preparation. S2. Parameter Configuration: Enter the patient's basic information through the human-computer interaction module, select the corresponding training mode according to the rehabilitation assessment results, and set the training parameters; after the parameter configuration is completed, the system performs a pre-self-check to confirm that the airway sealing, sensor signals and vibration function are normal, and enters the training state. S3. Training Execution and Monitoring: After training is started, the air pump drive module first controls the airbag tongue training platform to inflate to the set working pressure and maintain stability; during training, the pressure acquisition module collects pressure data at three points in real time at the set sampling frequency and transmits it to the main control unit; the main control unit calculates the pressure ratio of each area in real time, identifies the position of the tongue, counts the number of effective tongue extensions and ineffective extensions, and controls each micro vibration motor to output vibration stimulation with corresponding parameters according to the current training mode; S4. Training Termination and Data Output: When the preset training termination conditions are met, the system automatically controls the airbag to depressurize rapidly, stops all vibration stimulation, generates a training report for this session, and stores the training data.

[0014] Preferably, the training modes in step S3 include tongue muscle strength training mode, passive sensory stimulation mode, and comprehensive training mode: In the S3.1 tongue muscle strength training mode, the air bladder maintains a set constant pressure, and the patient actively performs reciprocating training of tongue protrusion and retraction. The system records the number of tongue protrusions, pressure peaks, and pressure maintenance duration data in real time. In the S3.2 passive sensory stimulation mode, the airbag performs pulse inflation and deflation at a preset frequency to form rhythmic tongue pressure stimulation, while multiple micro vibration motors output vibration stimulation synchronously according to preset parameters; In the S 3.3 comprehensive training mode, active tongue extension training and passive stimulation are carried out alternately. The system automatically matches the timing of stimulation output according to the patient's tongue extension rhythm, and triggers vibration stimulation synchronously at the moment the patient completes the tongue extension action.

[0015] Preferably, in step S4, if the airbag pressure exceeds the safety limit, the pressure data fluctuates abnormally, or the patient triggers the emergency deflation button during the training process, the system immediately performs rapid decompression and pauses the training. The generated training report includes training duration, total number of tongue extensions, effective number of extensions, effectiveness rate, muscle strength assessment indicators, and stimulation parameter information. It also supports historical training data query, trend analysis, and report export.

[0016] The advantages of this invention compared to the prior art are: (1) The present invention adopts a plug-in quick-release structure of flexible wearable components and replaceable oral training components. The integrated flexible support structure composed of headband, U-shaped chin support and neck fixation strap adapts to the physiological contour of human head and neck, improving wearing stability and comfort during long-term wear. At the same time, the oral training components can be replaced independently, supporting single-person use or disposable use, which helps to reduce the risk of cross-infection. The plug-in structure can simultaneously realize airway sealing and sensor signal conduction, making operation convenient.

[0017] (2) The present invention can construct a multimodal synergistic stimulation system. Through the U-shaped chin support and the multiple sets of micro vibration motors on the neck fixation belt, directional vibration stimulation can be output to the mandibular muscle group and the corresponding area of ​​the pharynx respectively. At the same time, the vibration can be transmitted to the flexible stimulation protrusions in the oral cavity to form tactile stimulation to the buccal mucosa and the side of the tongue. Combined with the pressure training of the airbag tongue training table, it can simultaneously achieve muscle activation, sensory sensitivity improvement and tongue muscle strength enhancement, covering multi-dimensional rehabilitation needs.

[0018] (3) The present invention adopts a three-zone pressure sensing layout of tongue tip, tongue middle and tongue root, combined with tongue position determination logic and effective tongue extension counting algorithm, which can identify the tongue position in real time, distinguish between effective and ineffective training actions, provide objective quantitative data for rehabilitation assessment, help reduce the bias of subjective assessment, facilitate rehabilitation physicians to track the patient's functional recovery and dynamically adjust the training plan.

[0019] (4) The present invention sets up multiple training modes. The tongue muscle strength training mode can support patients to actively train their tongue muscles. The passive sensory stimulation mode is suitable for patients with weak muscle strength who cannot complete active training. The comprehensive training mode can synchronously trigger stimulation output according to the rhythm of the patient's tongue extension to form sensory feedback reinforcement. Different modes can be adapted to patients with different degrees of impairment and rehabilitation stages, and have a wide range of applications.

[0020] (5) The present invention is equipped with multiple safety protection mechanisms, which can respond to abnormal airbag pressure, abnormal fluctuations in sensor data and emergency operations by users, quickly depressurize the airbag and suspend training, which helps to improve the safety of equipment use. Attached Figure Description

[0021] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the front structure of the wearable swallowing rehabilitation training device in this invention.

[0022] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the rear structure of the wearable swallowing rehabilitation training device in this invention.

[0023] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the replaceable oral training components of the wearable swallowing rehabilitation training device of the present invention.

[0024] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the insert and remove slot of the wearable swallowing rehabilitation training device in this invention.

[0025] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the air circuit connector of the wearable swallowing rehabilitation training device in this invention.

[0026] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the architecture of the wearable swallowing rehabilitation training system in this invention.

[0027] Figure 7 This is a flowchart illustrating the wearable swallowing rehabilitation training method of the present invention.

[0028] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the counting process of the wearable swallowing rehabilitation training method in this invention. Detailed Implementation

[0029] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. The components of the embodiments of the present invention described and shown in the accompanying drawings can generally be arranged and designed in various different configurations.

[0030] In the description of the embodiments of the present invention, it should be noted that if terms such as "center," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "inner," and "outer" indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, or the orientation or positional relationship commonly used when the product of the invention is in use, they are only for the convenience of describing the present invention and 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, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of the present invention. Furthermore, terms such as "first," "second," and "third" are only used to distinguish descriptions and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0031] Furthermore, the use of terms such as "horizontal," "vertical," and "sag" does not imply that the component must be absolutely horizontal or suspended, but rather that it can be slightly tilted. For example, "horizontal" simply means that its direction is more horizontal relative to "vertical," and does not mean that the structure must be completely horizontal, but can be slightly tilted.

[0032] In the description of the embodiments of the present invention, "multiple" means at least two.

[0033] In the description of the embodiments of the present invention, it should also be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "set," "install," "connect," and "link" 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 the present invention according to the specific circumstances. Example

[0034] Combined with appendix Figure 1-8 The wearable swallowing rehabilitation training device in this embodiment is divided into two parts: a flexible wearable component 1 and a replaceable oral training component 2. The two are connected by a plug-in quick-release structure, which takes into account both wearing stability and hygiene.

[0035] The flexible wearable component 1 consists of a headband 101, a U-shaped chin support 102, and a neck strap 103, which together form an integrated flexible support and fixation structure that conforms to the physiological contours of the human head and neck. The two ends of the headband 101 are respectively connected to the upper sides of the U-shaped chin support 102. The headband has length adjustment areas 104 at both ends. In this embodiment, the length adjustment areas 104 use Velcro as the connection and adjustment structure to accommodate different head circumferences. A cushioning pad 3 is provided on the inner front side of the headband 101. The pad is made of breathable memory foam to distribute pressure on the forehead and improve comfort during extended wear.

[0036] The U-shaped chin support 102 adopts a composite structure with a flexible shell and an embedded rigid support frame. The outer layer is made of medical-grade flexible silicone, which fits closely to the skin of the chin. The inner layer is embedded with a medical-grade polycarbonate support frame to ensure the overall structural strength and prevent excessive deformation during wear. A connector 4 is provided at the bottom front end of the U-shaped chin support 102. The connector 4 has a plug-in slot 401 in the middle. The slot integrates a sealed air passage interface 402 and an elastic sensing docking probe 403. The inner side of the U-shaped chin support 102 is embedded with a first micro vibration motor 5 corresponding to the surface projection positions of the masseter muscles and submandibular muscles on both sides of the human body. It can output low-frequency vibration stimulation in a directional manner to activate the related muscles of the chin.

[0037] The neck fixation strap 103 has two rearwardly extending adjustable fixation straps 105 on both sides. The ends of the two adjustable fixation straps 105 have adjustable closure structures. In this embodiment, a Velcro fastener structure is used, allowing for flexible adjustment of tightness according to the patient's neck circumference to achieve a stable fit. The inner side of the neck fixation strap 103 corresponds to the surface projection position of the bilateral piriform recesses of the human body, and a second micro-vibration motor 6 is embedded therein. This motor can output surface vibration stimulation to the corresponding area of ​​the pharynx, improving pharyngeal sensory input. Furthermore, surface electromyographic electrodes are embedded on the inner sides of the U-shaped chin rest 102 and the neck fixation strap 103. The electrodes use silver chloride electrode pads, which can collect surface electromyographic signals of muscle groups such as the mylohyoid muscle and sternocleidomastoid muscle in real time, to assist in assessing muscle activation status and training effects.

[0038] The replaceable oral training component 2 is an independent modular structure that can be selected according to the patient's oral cavity size, supporting single-person use or disposable use, effectively avoiding cross-infection. The replaceable oral training component 2 includes an occlusal base 201 and an air-cushioned tongue training platform 202 that extends horizontally inward from the middle of the occlusal base 201.

[0039] The occlusal base 201 is a U-shaped structure adapted to the shape of the human oral cavity. The outer layer is made of food-contact grade medical flexible silicone, and the interior is embedded with a thin sheet-like rigid support skeleton to maintain shape stability. The upper and lower surfaces of the occlusal base 201 are provided with arc-shaped occlusal grooves 203 that match the shape of the human dental arch. The patient can achieve stable positioning of the component in the oral cavity by occluding the upper and lower teeth, without the need for additional auxiliary fixation structures. The outer side of the occlusal base 201 is centrally located with a buckle that matches the insertion and removal slot 401 on the connector 4. The buckle integrates an air circuit connector 204 and a sensor contact 205. When the plug is pushed into the insertion and removal slot 401 and locked in place, the air circuit connector 204 and the air circuit interface 402 automatically seal and connect, and the sensor contact 205 and the sensor docking probe 403 are connected accordingly, simultaneously completing the one-click docking of the air circuit and the sensor circuit. The operation is simple and the connection is reliable.

[0040] The outer and inner buccal walls of the occlusal base 201 are respectively provided with integrally formed flexible stimulation protrusions 206, which are hemispherical silicone protrusions. The vibration generated by the first micro-vibration motor 5 on the U-shaped mandibular support 102 can be transmitted to the occlusal base 201 through the support frame and the plug-in connection structure, and finally act on the flexible stimulation protrusions 206 to form tactile stimulation on the buccal mucosa, the lateral part of the tongue and other parts of the oral cavity, thereby enhancing oral sensory input and improving the sensitivity of swallowing reflex.

[0041] The airbag-type tongue training platform 202 is a hollow, sealed, flexible airbag structure, integrally molded from medical-grade silicone, possessing excellent biocompatibility and elastic deformation capabilities. The outer surface of the airbag is provided with fine anti-slip textures 207, increasing friction with the tongue surface and preventing slippage during training. Inside the airbag-type tongue training platform 202, passive thin-film pressure sensing contacts 208 are pre-embedded in the tongue tip, middle, and root regions, each tightly fitted to the inner wall of the airbag. The pressure applied by the tongue is evenly transmitted to the contact surface through the airbag wall, accurately collecting pressure distribution data from different areas of the tongue, providing a data foundation for tongue position recognition and muscle strength assessment.

[0042] The swallowing rehabilitation training control system of this embodiment includes an external main control box 7 and the aforementioned wearable swallowing rehabilitation training device. The external main control box 7 transmits data to the wearable swallowing rehabilitation training device through a data transmission line. The external main control box 7 integrates a main control unit, a pressure acquisition module, an air pump drive module, and a vibration drive module. A human-computer interaction module 8 is provided on the surface of the main control box 7.

[0043] The pressure acquisition module is connected to each pressure sensing contact 208 via the sensing docking probe 403. It has a built-in multi-channel signal amplification circuit and analog-to-digital conversion circuit, which can simultaneously acquire real-time pressure data at three points: the tip of the tongue, the middle of the tongue, and the root of the tongue, and transmit the processed digital signal to the main control unit.

[0044] The air pump drive module is connected to the air interface 402 via an air hose, thereby forming a closed air path with the airbag-type tongue training platform 202. The air pump drive module has a built-in miniature silent air pump, a proportional solenoid valve and a high-precision pressure sensor, which can accurately control the inflation rate, deflation speed and internal pressure maintenance of the airbag, and supports multiple working modes such as constant pressure maintenance and pulse inflation and deflation.

[0045] The vibration drive module is electrically connected to all the micro vibration motors, supporting independent control of each vibration motor. The vibration frequency, vibration intensity and start / stop sequence of each motor can be adjusted to achieve multi-part, differentiated vibration stimulation output.

[0046] The human-computer interaction module 8 uses a touch LCD screen and integrates functions such as parameter setting, real-time monitoring, and data query. It is used to input basic patient information, select training modes, configure training parameters, and display data such as tongue position status, training progress, and pressure curve in real time.

[0047] The main control unit is electrically connected to the pressure acquisition module, the air pump drive module, the vibration drive module, and the human-machine interaction module, respectively. As the core control and data processing unit of the system, it is used to identify the tongue position and count the tongue extension movements based on the acquired pressure data, and to control the orderly operation of various rehabilitation training modes.

[0048] The main control unit has a built-in tongue position determination module and a tongue extension counting module. The tongue position determination module is used to determine the tongue position in real time based on the pressure ratio of the three regions of the tongue tip, middle, and root: when the pressure ratio of the tongue tip region is greater than 60% of the total pressure, it is determined to be an extended tongue position; when the pressure ratio of the tongue root region is greater than 50% of the total pressure, it is determined to be a retracted tongue position; and the rest of the states are determined to be a middle tongue position.

[0049] The tongue extension counting module is used to determine valid tongue extension actions based on the temporal characteristics of tongue position changes and preset pressure thresholds, distinguishing and counting valid and invalid instances: when the pressure in the tongue tip area rises to the preset threshold and the pressure in the tongue root area drops to less than 30% of the baseline value, it is determined that a tongue extension action has started; if the tongue extension state is maintained for a duration of not less than 0.3s, and the subsequent tongue tip pressure falls back below the threshold and the tongue root pressure recovers to the baseline range, it is determined to be a valid tongue extension, and the valid count is incremented by one; actions that do not meet the duration or pressure change conditions are determined to be invalid actions and counted separately, which can effectively avoid miscounting and ensure the accuracy of training data.

[0050] The swallowing rehabilitation training method in this embodiment is based on the above-mentioned control system and specifically includes the following steps: S1. Assembly and Wearing Select a replaceable oral training component 2 that fits the patient's oral cavity size, align the plug on the outside of the occlusal base 201 with the insertion slot 401 at the front end of the U-shaped mandibular support 102 and push it horizontally until the buckle is engaged, automatically completing the airway sealing connection and sensor signal conduction connection.

[0051] The patient wears the flexible wearable component 1, adjusts the length of the headband 101 and neck fixation strap 103 to a comfortable fit, and ensures that the U-shaped mandibular support 102 fits tightly against the mandibular contour; places the occlusal base 201 in the oral cavity, with the upper and lower teeth correspondingly occluding in the arc-shaped occlusal groove 203, and the tongue naturally placed in the pneumatic tongue training device. Above Platform 202, preparations for wearing the protective gear are complete.

[0052] S2, Parameter Configuration The system inputs basic information such as the patient's name, age, and swallowing disorder grade through the human-computer interaction module. Based on the rehabilitation assessment results, the corresponding training mode is selected, and parameters such as pressure threshold, target number of training sessions, training duration, vibration frequency and intensity are set. After the parameters are configured, the system performs a pre-self-check to confirm that the airway sealing, sensor signals and vibration function are normal, and then enters the training state.

[0053] S3, Training Execution and Monitoring After training begins, the air pump drive module first controls the airbag-type tongue training platform 202 to inflate to the set working pressure and maintain stability. During training, the pressure acquisition module collects pressure data at three points in real time at a set sampling frequency and transmits it to the main control unit; the main control unit calculates the pressure ratio of each area in real time, identifies the position of the tongue, counts the number of effective tongue extensions and ineffective extensions, and controls each micro vibration motor to output vibration stimulation with corresponding parameters according to the current training mode.

[0054] The training modes in this embodiment include tongue muscle strength training mode, passive sensory stimulation mode, and comprehensive training mode: -In the tongue muscle strength training mode, the air bladder maintains a set constant pressure, and the patient actively performs reciprocating training of tongue protrusion and tongue retraction. The system records data such as the number of tongue protrusions, pressure peak, and pressure maintenance duration in real time to assess changes in tongue muscle strength. - In passive sensory stimulation mode, the airbag performs pulse inflation and deflation at a preset frequency to form rhythmic tongue pressure stimulation. At the same time, multiple micro vibration motors output vibration stimulation synchronously according to preset parameters. Through multimodal sensory input, the swallowing reflex sensitivity is improved. It is suitable for patients with poor muscle strength who are unable to complete active training. - In the comprehensive training mode, active tongue extension training and passive stimulation are carried out alternately. The system automatically matches the timing of stimulation output according to the patient's tongue extension rhythm, and triggers vibration stimulation synchronously at the moment the patient completes the tongue extension action, forming sensory feedback reinforcement and improving the training effect.

[0055] S4. Training Termination and Data Output When the preset training duration or target number of training sessions is reached, the system automatically controls the airbag to depressurize rapidly, stops all vibration stimulation, generates a training report, and stores the training data.

[0056] During training, if the airbag pressure exceeds the safety limit, the pressure data fluctuates abnormally, or the patient triggers the emergency deflation button, the system will immediately perform rapid depressurization and pause the training to ensure safe use.

[0057] The generated training report includes information such as training duration, total number of tongue extensions, effective number of extensions, effectiveness rate, muscle strength assessment indicators, and stimulation parameters. It supports historical training data query, trend analysis, and report export, making it easier for rehabilitation physicians to track patients' functional recovery and dynamically adjust training programs.

[0058] The present invention and its embodiments have been described above. This description is not restrictive, and the accompanying drawings are only one embodiment of the present invention; the actual structure is not limited thereto. In conclusion, if those skilled in the art are inspired by this description and design similar structures and embodiments without departing from the spirit of the invention, such designs should fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A wearable swallowing rehabilitation training device, characterized in that, It includes a flexible wearable component and a replaceable oral training component, which are connected by a plug-in quick-release structure; The flexible wearable component includes a headband, a U-shaped chin support, and a neck strap. The bottom front end of the U-shaped chin support is provided with a connector, and the middle of the connector is provided with a plug-in slot. The plug-in slot integrates a sealed air passage interface and multiple sets of elastic sensing docking probes. The replaceable oral training component is an independent modular structure, including an occlusal base and an air-filled tongue training platform extending horizontally inward from the center of the occlusal base; a plug adapted to the insertion slot is centrally located on the outer side of the occlusal base, and an air connector and sensor contacts are integrated inside the plug; when the plug is pushed in along the insertion slot and engaged, the air connector and air interface are automatically sealed and connected, and the sensor contacts and sensor docking probes are connected one-to-one; The airbag-type tongue training platform is a hollow, sealed, flexible airbag structure. Passive thin-film pressure sensing contacts are pre-embedded in the tongue tip area, the middle area of ​​the tongue body, and the tongue root area inside the airbag. Each of the pressure sensing contacts is tightly attached to the inner wall of the airbag.

2. The wearable swallowing rehabilitation training device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The headband has two ends connected to the upper sides of the U-shaped chin support, and the ends of the headband have length adjustment areas, with Velcro used as the connection and adjustment structure for the length adjustment areas; the inner front of the headband has a breathable memory foam cushioning pad; the outer layer of the U-shaped chin support is made of medical-grade flexible silicone, with a medical-grade polycarbonate support frame embedded inside; the neck strap has two rearward-extending adjustment straps on both sides, and the ends of the two adjustment straps have an adjustable closure structure with Velcro fasteners.

3. The wearable swallowing rehabilitation training device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The occlusal base is a U-shaped structure adapted to the shape of the human oral cavity. The outer layer is made of food-contact grade medical flexible silicone, and the interior is embedded with a thin sheet-like rigid support skeleton. The upper and lower surfaces of the occlusal base are provided with arc-shaped occlusal grooves that match the shape of the human dental arch. The buccal outer wall and inner wall of the occlusal base are respectively provided with integrally formed hemispherical flexible stimulation protrusions. Vibrations on the U-shaped mandibular support can be transmitted to the occlusal base through the support skeleton and the plug-in connection structure, and act on the flexible stimulation protrusions.

4. The wearable swallowing rehabilitation training device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The inner side of the U-shaped chin rest corresponds to the surface projection position of the masseter muscle and submandibular muscle group on both sides of the human body, and a first micro vibration motor is embedded therein; the inner side of the neck fixation strap corresponds to the surface projection position of the piriform recess on both sides of the human body, and a second micro vibration motor is embedded therein; the inner sides of the U-shaped chin rest and the neck fixation strap are also embedded with surface electromyographic electrodes made of silver chloride, which are used to collect surface electromyographic signals of the mylohyoid muscle and the sternocleidomastoid muscle.

5. A swallowing rehabilitation training and control system, characterized in that, The device includes an external main control box and a wearable swallowing rehabilitation training device as described in any one of claims 1-4. The external main control box is connected to the wearable swallowing rehabilitation training device via a data transmission line. The external main control box integrates a main control unit, a pressure acquisition module, an air pump drive module, and a vibration drive module. A human-computer interaction module is provided on the surface of the main control box. The pressure acquisition module is connected to each pressure sensor contact point via a sensor docking probe. It has a built-in multi-channel signal amplification circuit and an analog-to-digital conversion circuit, which are used to simultaneously acquire real-time pressure data at three points: the tip of the tongue, the middle of the tongue, and the root of the tongue, and transmit the processed digital signal to the main control unit. The air pump drive module is connected to the air interface through an air hose, thereby forming a closed air path with the airbag-type tongue training platform. The air pump drive module has a built-in miniature silent air pump, a proportional solenoid valve and a high-precision pressure sensor, which are used to accurately control the inflation rate, deflation speed and internal pressure maintenance of the airbag. The vibration drive module is electrically connected to all the micro vibration motors, supporting independent control of each vibration motor, and is used to adjust the vibration frequency, vibration intensity and start / stop sequence of each motor respectively. The human-computer interaction module adopts a touch LCD screen and integrates parameter setting, real-time monitoring, and data query functions. The main control unit is electrically connected to the pressure acquisition module, the air pump drive module, the vibration drive module, and the human-machine interaction module, respectively. As the core control and data processing unit of the system, it is used to identify the tongue position and count the tongue extension movements based on the acquired pressure data, and to control the orderly operation of various rehabilitation training modes.

6. The swallowing rehabilitation training control system according to claim 5, characterized in that, The main control unit has a built-in tongue position determination module and a tongue extension counting module; The tongue position determination module is used to determine the tongue position in real time based on the pressure ratio of the three regions of the tongue tip, middle, and root: when the pressure ratio of the tongue tip region is greater than 60% of the total pressure, it is determined to be a tongue protrusion position; when the pressure ratio of the tongue root region is greater than 50% of the total pressure, it is determined to be a tongue retraction position; and the rest of the states are determined to be a tongue middle position. The tongue extension counting module is used to determine valid tongue extension actions based on the temporal characteristics of tongue position changes and a preset pressure threshold, and to distinguish and count the number of valid and invalid actions: when the pressure in the tip of the tongue rises to the preset threshold and the pressure in the root of the tongue drops to less than 30% of the baseline value, it is determined that the tongue extension action has started; if the tongue extension state is maintained for a duration of not less than 0.3s, and the pressure in the tip of the tongue subsequently falls back below the threshold and the pressure in the root of the tongue returns to the baseline range, it is determined to be a valid tongue extension, and the valid count is incremented by one; actions that do not meet the duration or pressure change conditions are determined to be invalid actions and counted separately.

7. A swallowing rehabilitation training method, implemented based on the swallowing rehabilitation training control system described in claim 5 or 6, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: S1. Assembly and Wearing: Select a replaceable oral training component that fits the patient's oral cavity size. Align the plug on the outside of the occlusal base with the insertion slot at the front of the U-shaped mandibular support and push it horizontally until the buckle is engaged. This will automatically complete the airway sealing and sensor signal conduction. The patient wears the flexible wearable component and adjusts the length of the headband and neck strap to a comfortable fit. The occlusal base is placed in the oral cavity, with the upper and lower teeth correspondingly biting in the arc-shaped occlusal groove. The tongue is naturally placed above the airbag-type tongue training platform. This completes the wearing preparation. S2. Parameter Configuration: Enter the patient's basic information through the human-computer interaction module, select the corresponding training mode according to the rehabilitation assessment results, and set the training parameters; after the parameter configuration is completed, the system performs a pre-self-check to confirm that the airway sealing, sensor signals and vibration function are normal, and enters the training state. S3. Training Execution and Monitoring: After training is started, the air pump drive module first controls the airbag tongue training platform to inflate to the set working pressure and maintain stability; during training, the pressure acquisition module collects pressure data at three points in real time at the set sampling frequency and transmits it to the main control unit; the main control unit calculates the pressure ratio of each area in real time, identifies the position of the tongue, counts the number of effective tongue extensions and ineffective extensions, and controls each micro vibration motor to output vibration stimulation with corresponding parameters according to the current training mode; S4. Training Termination and Data Output: When the preset training termination conditions are met, the system automatically controls the airbag to depressurize rapidly, stops all vibration stimulation, generates a training report for this session, and stores the training data.

8. The swallowing rehabilitation training method according to claim 7, characterized in that, The training modes in step S3 include tongue muscle strength training mode, passive sensory stimulation mode, and comprehensive training mode: In the S3.1 tongue muscle strength training mode, the air bladder maintains a set constant pressure, and the patient actively performs reciprocating training of tongue protrusion and retraction. The system records the number of tongue protrusions, pressure peaks, and pressure maintenance duration data in real time. In the S3.2 passive sensory stimulation mode, the airbag performs pulse inflation and deflation at a preset frequency to form rhythmic tongue pressure stimulation, while multiple micro vibration motors output vibration stimulation synchronously according to preset parameters; In the S3.3 comprehensive training mode, active tongue extension training and passive stimulation are carried out alternately. The system automatically matches the timing of stimulation output according to the patient's tongue extension rhythm, and triggers vibration stimulation synchronously at the moment the patient completes the tongue extension action.

9. The swallowing rehabilitation training method according to claim 7, characterized in that, In step S4, if the airbag pressure exceeds the safety limit, the pressure data fluctuates abnormally, or the patient triggers the emergency deflation button during the training process, the system will immediately perform rapid decompression and pause the training. The generated training report includes training duration, total number of tongue extensions, effective number of extensions, effectiveness rate, muscle strength assessment indicators, and stimulation parameter information. It also supports historical training data query, trend analysis, and report export.

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