A swallowing rehabilitation training device

Abstract

The present application relates to swallowing rehabilitation technical field, disclose a kind of swallowing rehabilitation training device, including oral cavity wearing component, including retaining mouthpiece and sequentially arranged on retaining mouthpiece in the direction of sagittal axis multiple air bags;Air path component, including multiple independent air paths corresponding with multiple air bags one-to-one communication;Control component, including controller and multiple pressure control valves, each pressure control valve is set in corresponding independent air path, each pressure control valve is connected with controller, the present application overcomes the defect that existing equipment can only static fixed-point pressurization, air bag independent work cannot time sequence linkage, make patient training action fit natural swallowing mechanism, can be targeted to exercise the movement ability of tongue ordered push bolus, effectively reconstruct swallowing time sequence coordination, improve the effectiveness of swallowing disorder rehabilitation training.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of swallowing rehabilitation technology, and more specifically to a swallowing rehabilitation training device. Background Technology

[0002] Dysphagia is a common complication in patients with stroke, traumatic brain injury, and neurological disorders. It is mainly manifested as insufficient coordination of tongue movement, weak oral bolus transfer, disordered swallowing sequence, and delayed initiation of pharyngeal reflex, which seriously affects patients' eating safety and quality of life.

[0003] Currently, some swallowing rehabilitation training devices employ a multi-airbag zoned structure for zoned tongue training. These devices include multiple airbags, which use pressure sensors to collect tongue pressure and airbag internal pressure. A controller can independently control the pressure of any single airbag and offers multiple modes, including active training, self-feedback training, and passive training, enabling pressure training for different areas of the tongue. Other devices use a single airbag structure placed inside the oral cavity. A pressure chip detects the pressure exerted by the tongue and lip muscles on the airbag and can perform compression massage on these muscles.

[0004] However, the existing devices can only achieve static zonal pressurization or fixed-point pressure maintenance at the contact position between the tongue and the air bladder. Each air bladder works independently and cannot control multiple air bladders to move in sequence according to a specific time sequence to simulate the physiological process of dynamically pushing the food bolus from the tip of the tongue through the hard palate to the soft palate along the sagittal axis. This results in the disconnect between the patient's training movements and the real swallowing mechanism, and the swallowing timing coordination is difficult to be effectively reconstructed. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In view of this, the present invention provides a swallowing rehabilitation training device to solve the problems that existing swallowing rehabilitation training devices cannot control multiple airbags to move sequentially in time, cannot simulate the dynamic pushing process of the food bolus from the tip of the tongue to the soft palate along the sagittal axis, the training mode is disconnected from the real swallowing physiological mechanism, and it is difficult to effectively rebuild the patient's swallowing timing coordination.

[0006] This invention provides a swallowing rehabilitation training device, comprising: An oral wearable component includes a retainer and a plurality of airbags arranged sequentially on the retainer along the sagittal axis. The airway assembly includes multiple independent airways that are connected to each of the multiple airbags in a one-to-one correspondence. The control component includes a controller and a plurality of pressure control valves, each of the pressure control valves being disposed in a corresponding independent air path and each of the pressure control valves being connected to the controller; The controller controls multiple pressure control valves to inflate multiple airbags sequentially from the front to the back of the mouth along the sagittal axis. In two adjacent airbags, the previous airbag maintains pressure when the latter airbag begins to inflate, and the previous airbag depressurizes when the latter airbag reaches the target pressure.

[0007] Beneficial effects The swallowing rehabilitation training device provided by this invention arranges multiple airbags sequentially along the sagittal axis on a fixed dental brace, and equips each airbag with an independent air path and a corresponding pressure control valve. A controller uniformly regulates each pressure control valve, driving multiple airbags to inflate sequentially from the front to the back of the oral cavity. Adjacent airbags achieve a coordinated sequential action: when the next airbag starts inflating, the previous airbag maintains pressure, and when the next airbag reaches the target pressure, the previous airbag depressurizes. This simulates the real physiological process of swallowing, where the food bolus is dynamically moved from the tip of the tongue through the hard palate to the soft palate. This overcomes the shortcomings of existing devices that can only apply pressure statically at a fixed point and whose airbags work independently without sequential coordination. It allows patients' training movements to conform to the natural swallowing mechanism, enabling targeted training of the tongue's ability to orderly push the food bolus, effectively rebuilding swallowing timing coordination, and improving the effectiveness of swallowing disorder rehabilitation training.

[0008] Optionally, the plurality of air bladders are configured as six, and the six air bladders are fixed sequentially from front to back on the palatal surface of the retention brace along the length direction of the retention brace. The six air bladders are respectively located in the tongue tip area, the prepalatal area, the anterior hard palate area, the middle hard palate area, the posterior hard palate area, and the adjacent soft palate area.

[0009] Optionally, the oral wearing component further includes: Multiple flexible pressure sensors are provided, each of which is disposed on the wall surface of each airbag for contact with the back of the tongue. Each flexible pressure sensor is connected to the controller and is used to collect tongue pressure signals.

[0010] Optionally, the control component further includes: A displacement sensor having a first mounting portion for fixing to the outside of the patient's larynx, the displacement sensor being connected to the controller and used to acquire larynx displacement signals; An acoustic vibration sensor has a second mounting portion for fixing to the outside of the patient's neck. The acoustic vibration sensor is connected to the controller and is used to collect cough acoustic vibration signals. The controller determines the patient's condition based on the tongue pressure signal, the laryngeal displacement signal, and the cough acoustic vibration signal.

[0011] Optionally, the airbag includes a rigid base and a flexible silicone contact layer, the rigid base and the flexible silicone contact layer are disposed opposite to each other and enclose to form a sealed inflation cavity, and the independent air passage is opened inside the rigid base and the port is located on the surface of the rigid base facing the sealed inflation cavity.

[0012] Optionally, each of the airbags has a mounting base protruding from the side of the rigid base facing the retention aligner, and each mounting base is embedded inside the retention aligner, with the independent air passage passing through the mounting base.

[0013] Optionally, each of the independent air passages is embedded inside the retaining crown. Each independent air passage has a first end and a second end. The first end extends out of the retaining crown and is connected to the corresponding pressure control valve, and the second end is connected to the corresponding airbag.

[0014] Optionally, the control component further includes: An air pump having an air supply port connected to the air inlet of each of the pressure control valves; A touch screen display, which is connected to the controller.

[0015] Optionally, the controller is adapted to control the multiple airbags arranged along the sagittal axis to inflate sequentially from the front to the back of the mouth, wherein, for any adjacent preceding and following airbags, the preceding airbag maintains pressure when the following airbag begins to inflate, and the preceding airbag depressurizes when the following airbag reaches the target pressure.

[0016] Optionally, the retention brace is conformally fitted to the anatomical shape of the patient's hard palate. And / or, the retention crown has a limiting groove disposed along the edge of the dental arch. Attached Figure Description

[0017] To more clearly illustrate the specific embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the specific embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained from these drawings without creative effort.

[0018] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a swallowing rehabilitation training device according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the retention dental crown according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 This is an exploded structural diagram of the oral cavity wearing component according to an embodiment of the present invention; Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures: 1. Oral fitting components; 11. Retention brace; 12. Airbag; 121. Rigid base; 122. Flexible silicone contact layer; 123. Sealed inflation chamber; 13. Flexible pressure sensor; 2. Controller; 3. Air pump; 4. Touch screen display. Detailed Implementation

[0019] 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, not all embodiments. 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.

[0020] The following is combined with Figures 1 to 3 The following describes embodiments of the present invention.

[0021] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a swallowing rehabilitation training device is provided, comprising: The oral cavity fitting component 1 includes a retaining dental crown 11 and a plurality of airbags 12 arranged sequentially on the retaining dental crown 11 along the sagittal axis. The airway assembly includes multiple independent airways that are connected one-to-one with the multiple airbags 12; The control component includes a controller 2 and multiple pressure control valves, each pressure control valve being located in a corresponding independent air path and connected to the controller 2. The controller 2 controls multiple pressure control valves to inflate multiple airbags 12 sequentially from the front to the back of the mouth along the sagittal axis. In two adjacent airbags 12, the previous airbag 12 maintains pressure when the latter airbag 12 begins to inflate, and the previous airbag 12 depressurizes when the latter airbag 12 reaches the target pressure.

[0022] It should be noted that the sagittal axis extends along the front and back of the human oral cavity, corresponding to the front and back axis of the midsagittal plane of the human body. Within the oral cavity, it extends from the front of the oral cavity where the tip of the tongue is located, through the hard palate region, and finally to the back of the oral cavity where the soft palate is located.

[0023] The swallowing rehabilitation training device provided in this embodiment arranges multiple airbags 12 sequentially along the sagittal axis on the retaining brace 11, and configures each airbag 12 with an independent air path and a corresponding pressure control valve. The controller 2 uniformly regulates each pressure control valve, driving the multiple airbags 12 to inflate sequentially from the front of the oral cavity to the back of the oral cavity. The adjacent airbags 12 achieve a linkage sequence of actions, where the previous airbag 12 maintains pressure when the next airbag 12 starts inflating, and the previous airbag 12 depressurizes when the next airbag 12 reaches the target pressure. This simulates the real swallowing physiological process of the food bolus dynamically moving from the tip of the tongue through the hard palate to the soft palate. It overcomes the shortcomings of existing devices that can only apply pressure at a static point and the airbags 12 can only work independently without sequential linkage. This allows the patient's training movements to conform to the natural swallowing mechanism, and can specifically train the tongue's ability to orderly push the food bolus, effectively rebuilding the swallowing timing coordination and improving the effectiveness of swallowing disorder rehabilitation training.

[0024] Furthermore, the multiple air bladders 12 are configured as six, and the six air bladders 12 are fixed sequentially from front to back on the palatal surface of the retention crown 11 along the length direction of the retention crown 11. The six air bladders 12 are respectively located in the tongue tip area, the prepalatal area, the anterior hard palate area, the middle hard palate area, the posterior hard palate area, and the adjacent soft palate area.

[0025] Specifically, the number of air bladders 12 is limited to six. The six air bladders 12 are installed sequentially from front to back on the palatal surface of the retention brace 11 along its length. Their spatial positions correspond to the tongue tip area, prepalatal area, anterior hard palate area, middle hard palate area, posterior hard palate area, and adjacent soft palate area, respectively. They are arranged along the sagittal axis of food bolus movement during swallowing, matching the anatomical positions that the tongue contacts sequentially during food bolus delivery, thus providing a hardware layout basis for segmented sequential inflation and deflation actions.

[0026] In simple terms, the six-zone 12-balloon layout can provide precise segmented coverage of the food bolus transport pathway in the oral cavity, fully replicating the entire range of tongue movement in pushing the food bolus. This avoids the defects of insufficient 12-zone swallowing motion simulation, such as discontinuities and incomplete area coverage. Combined with the 12-balloon sequential linkage control strategy, it can guide patients to exert force in each anatomical area in an orderly manner, precisely training the rhythm of the tongue's continuous food bolus movement from front to back. This is more conducive to correcting swallowing timing disorder symptoms and improving the simulation and training effect of rehabilitation training.

[0027] Of course, the number of airbags 12 is not limited to six. In other optional implementations, the number of airbags 12 can be flexibly replaced with four, five, seven or eight according to the oral anatomy size, the severity of swallowing disorders and the needs of rehabilitation training gradients for different patients. Each airbag 12 is still evenly or non-uniformly arranged from front to back along the sagittal axis of the palatal surface of the retention brace 11, corresponding to cover the core swallowing area of ​​the oral cavity from the tip of the tongue to the soft palate. The flexible setting of the number of airbags 12 can adapt to different usage scenarios of refined zone training or routine basic training, and is suitable for different groups of people such as children, adults and those with larger or smaller oral sizes, without affecting the core control logic of the sequential inflation and deflation of multiple airbags 12, effectively improving the versatility and adaptability of the device.

[0028] Furthermore, the oral wearing component 1 also includes: Multiple flexible pressure sensors 13 are respectively disposed on the wall surface of each airbag 12 for contact with the back of the tongue. Each flexible pressure sensor 13 is connected to the controller 2 and is used to collect tongue pressure signals.

[0029] It should be noted that this device has two core training modes: a passive pushing mode and an active resistance mode. The passive pushing mode is dominated by system pressure, which is applied sequentially. The pressure wave generated by the sequential progression of the airbag 12 is used to carry out basic push training, which is suitable for patients with weak tongue muscles who need to establish memory of standard swallowing sequence. The active resistance mode increases the target pressure and guides the patient's tongue to actively exert force against the resistance of the airbag 12 for resistance training. When the detected tongue pressure is greater than 15 kPa, the device automatically reduces the pushing speed by 30%, which is suitable for patients with some muscle strength who need to strengthen their tongue muscles.

[0030] It should be noted that a closed-loop control circuit is formed by controller 2, pressure control valve, and flexible pressure sensor 13. Different consistency simulation parameters are set for different bolus shapes: thin liquids use an aeration flow rate of 5 mL / s and a target pressure of 12 kPa to achieve rapid aeration and short-term pressure stabilization; thick liquids use an aeration flow rate of 2.5 mL / s and a target pressure of 18 kPa to achieve medium-speed aeration and moderate pressure stabilization; and mushy foods use an aeration flow rate of 1 mL / s and a target pressure of 25 kPa to achieve slow aeration and longer-term pressure stabilization. The system can simulate different bolus transport resistances by adjusting the proportional valve opening, aeration flow rate, and aeration duration. At the same time, a pressure linkage strategy is set. When the detected tongue pressure is greater than 15 kPa, the bolus pushing speed is automatically reduced by 30%, which is close to the actual swallowing force characteristics.

[0031] This device features three bolus consistency simulation sub-modes: dilute, concentrated, and paste-like. These sub-modes can be freely combined with the two main modes to simulate the pushing resistance of different boluses by adjusting the aeration flow rate, target pressure, and stabilization time. The dilute mode uses a high aeration flow rate and target pressure for rapid aeration and short-term stabilization; the concentrated mode uses an aeration flow rate of 2.5 mL / s and a target pressure of 18 kPa for medium-speed aeration and moderate stabilization; and the paste mode uses an aeration flow rate and target pressure of 25 kPa for slow aeration and a longer stabilization time.

[0032] It should be noted that multiple flexible pressure sensors 13 are correspondingly attached and fixed to the wall surfaces of each airbag 12 that contact the back of the tongue. The sensors are electrically connected to the controller 2 of the device via circuitry. During the patient's swallowing rehabilitation training, the muscles on the back of the tongue contact and compress with the walls of each airbag 12. Each flexible pressure sensor 13 can independently and in real time collect tongue compression pressure signals from different oral cavity regions and transmit the collected simulated tongue pressure signals to the controller 2 in real time, providing data support for the device's timing control, pressure adjustment, and training data monitoring.

[0033] It should be noted that the tongue pressure signal is collected in real time by the flexible pressure sensor 13. If the tongue pressure drops by no less than 80% within 0.5 seconds, it is considered abnormal.

[0034] In a straightforward manner, by arranging flexible pressure sensors 13 on the tongue-back contact surface of each airbag 12, real-time tongue pressure data from different swallowing regions, such as the tongue tip and various palate areas, can be collected. This differs from traditional devices that can only collect the internal air pressure of the airbag 12. It can directly provide feedback on the actual force exertion, position, and timing of the patient's tongue muscles. The controller 2 can dynamically adjust the inflation pressure and inflation / deflation timing of each airbag 12 based on the real-time tongue pressure signal to achieve adaptive training. At the same time, it can monitor the patient's training status in real time, judging whether the patient's swallowing force is standardized and whether the timing is disordered. This not only improves the accuracy and fit of the device training but also records training data, providing a reliable basis for rehabilitation effect evaluation and personalized training program adjustment, thereby enhancing the pertinence and intelligence of swallowing rehabilitation training.

[0035] It should be noted that the number of flexible pressure sensors 13 is consistent with the number of airbags 12, and can also be set to six. The six flexible pressure sensors 13 are installed in close contact with the center of the tongue back contact surface of the six airbags 12, respectively covering the tongue back force area of ​​the tongue tip area, the prepalatal area, the anterior hard palate area, the middle hard palate area, the posterior hard palate area, and the soft palate adjacent area. The sensors are arranged close to the flexible inner wall of the airbag 12, without adding extra foreign body sensation in the oral cavity, and can be directly aligned with the main force contact points of the tongue in each area, realizing independent and fixed-point tongue pressure signal acquisition for each training area.

[0036] Furthermore, the control components also include: The displacement sensor has a first mounting part for fixing to the outside of the patient's larynx. The displacement sensor is connected to the controller 2 and is used to acquire larynx displacement signals. The acoustic vibration sensor has a second mounting part for fixing to the outside of the patient's neck. The acoustic vibration sensor is connected to the controller 2 and is used to collect cough acoustic vibration signals. The controller 2 determines the patient's status based on the tongue pressure signal, the laryngeal displacement signal and the cough acoustic vibration signal.

[0037] Specifically, displacement sensors monitor laryngeal elevation movements to identify insufficient elevation amplitude or duration; acoustic sensors collect neck acoustic and vibration signals to capture cough signals exceeding thresholds. Controller 2 integrates multi-source signals to determine anomalies. Upon identifying risks such as choking, muscle spasms, or failed laryngeal elevation, it immediately implements full-area depressurization, shuts down air pump 3, activates audible and visual alarms, and displays a risk warning on the touchscreen to ensure the safety of rehabilitation training.

[0038] Specifically, the control component further incorporates two types of monitoring sensors: a displacement sensor and an acoustic vibration sensor. The displacement sensor, mounted on the outer skin of the patient's larynx via a first mounting part, corresponds to the area of ​​vertical movement of the thyroid cartilage. It can capture the longitudinal displacement amplitude and timing of the larynx's rise and fall during swallowing in real time, continuously collecting dynamic displacement signals of the larynx. The acoustic vibration sensor, mounted on the outer skin of the patient's anterior neck via a second mounting part, corresponds to the surface area of ​​the pharyngeal airway. It can pick up acoustic vibration information such as coughing and abnormal swallowing sounds generated during patient training, collecting cough acoustic vibration signals in real time. Both types of sensors are electrically connected to the controller 2, synchronously transmitting the collected larynx displacement signals, cough acoustic vibration signals, and tongue pressure signals collected by the aforementioned flexible pressure sensor 13 to the controller 2, providing multi-dimensional data sources for the comprehensive judgment of the patient's swallowing and abnormal states.

[0039] In a way that is easy to understand, the addition of a laryngeal displacement sensor and a neck acoustic vibration sensor overcomes the limitations of traditional swallowing training devices that rely solely on a single tongue pressure signal for monitoring. Through a non-invasive dual-sensor structure deployed on the body surface, it simultaneously acquires three core swallowing parameters: tongue force exertion, laryngeal movement, and abnormal airway vibration. Controller 2 can perform multi-dimensional fusion analysis by combining tongue pressure signals, laryngeal displacement signals, and cough acoustic vibration signals to determine whether the patient's swallowing force sequence is standard, whether the laryngeal elevation movement is adequate, and whether abnormal states such as choking or aspiration risk occur during training. This achieves synchronous monitoring of swallowing movements inside the oral cavity and the coordinated swallowing movements outside the pharynx, enabling a comprehensive and high-precision assessment of the patient's actual swallowing state, timely avoidance of training risks, and providing comprehensive and reliable data support for the dynamic adjustment of personalized rehabilitation training parameters and the evaluation of swallowing disorder rehabilitation effects. This enhances the safety, scientific rigor, and intelligent monitoring level of the device's training.

[0040] Furthermore, the airbag 12 includes a rigid base 121 and a flexible silicone contact layer 122. The rigid base 121 and the flexible silicone contact layer 122 are arranged opposite to each other and enclose to form a sealed inflation cavity 123. An independent air passage is opened inside the rigid base 121 and the port is located on the surface of the rigid base 121 facing the sealed inflation cavity 123.

[0041] It should be noted that each airbag 12 of the present invention adopts a double-layer composite structure, specifically including a rigid base 121 and a flexible silicone contact layer 122. The rigid base 121 and the flexible silicone contact layer 122 are arranged opposite to each other, and their edges are sealed together to form a complete and sealed inflation cavity. Among them, the independent air passage for connecting the air supply is opened inside the rigid base 121. The air passage vent is opened on the inner surface of the rigid base 121 facing the sealed inflation cavity 123, so that the independent air passage is connected to the inflation cavity inside the airbag 12. The inflation gas can directly enter the inflation cavity through the embedded air passage. Relying on the rigid base 121 to provide structural support, and in conjunction with the flexible silicone contact layer 122, a flexible contact with the skin on the back of the tongue is achieved, ensuring the stable operation of the airbag 12 during inflation, depressurization and contraction.

[0042] In essence, the airbag 12 employs a composite structure of a rigid base 121 and a flexible silicone contact layer 122. The rigid base 121 provides stable structural support and a fixed reference for the airbag 12, preventing overall deformation, displacement, and collapse during inflation. This ensures the accuracy of the sagittal axis arrangement of each airbag and guarantees the stability of sequential training. Simultaneously, the embedded airway design is hidden within the rigid base 121, eliminating external tubing protrusions, reducing the feeling of a foreign object in the mouth, and resulting in a simple and neat structure. The flexible silicone contact layer 122 directly contacts the tongue dorsum, is soft and skin-friendly, and highly malleable, allowing it to closely conform to the curved surface of the tongue. This not only evenly transmits inflation pressure, ensuring accurate tongue pressure measurement, but also prevents the rigid structure from directly compressing the oral mucosa, effectively improving patient training comfort and device safety.

[0043] In other alternative embodiments, the rigid base 121 can be replaced with rigid medical plastic, lightweight resin, or other medical rigid materials with high strength and deformation resistance, depending on actual usage requirements. The flexible silicone contact layer 122 can be replaced with medical flexible rubber, soft gel, or other biocompatible flexible materials. Meanwhile, the independent air passage is not limited to a built-in structure; it can also adopt an embedded pre-embedded pipeline, a side-connected air nozzle, or other ventilation structure, as long as the air passage is sealed and connected to the sealed inflation chamber 123. Without changing the core functions of the airbag 12's double-layer composite molding and stable inflation and pressure application, it can flexibly adapt to different processing techniques and medical adaptation requirements, thus broadening the device's production adaptability and application scenarios.

[0044] Furthermore, each airbag 12 has a mounting base protruding from the side of its rigid base 121 facing the retaining brace 11, and each mounting base is embedded inside the retaining brace 11, with an independent air passage passing through the mounting base.

[0045] Specifically, each airbag 12 has an integrally protruding mounting base on its rigid base 121 facing away from the flexible silicone contact layer 122 and towards the retaining brace 11. The mounting base and the rigid base 121 are integrally molded, resulting in higher structural strength and better overall integrity. Each mounting base is embedded into the retaining brace 11 for embedded fixation, ensuring that each airbag 12 is securely mounted at its preset mounting point along the sagittal axis, avoiding loosening or displacement issues caused by external adhesive or snap-on installations. Simultaneously, an independent air passage connecting the airbag 12's inflation chamber is vertically oriented within the mounting base, allowing external airflow to pass through the retaining brace 11, through the mounting base, and directly into the airbag 12's sealed inflation chamber 123. This concealed air passage layout ensures smooth airflow and complete concealment within the structure.

[0046] In a straightforward manner, by integrating an installation base into the bottom of the rigid base 121 and embedding it within the retention brace 11, a secure and embedded fit between the airbag 12 and the retention brace 11 can be achieved. This enhances the installation stability and positional accuracy of the airbag 12, effectively preventing the airbag 12 from shifting, tilting, or falling off due to tongue compression or oral movements during patient training. It also ensures the accuracy of the arrangement of the six airbags 12 along the sagittal axis of swallowing, ensuring that the sequential inflation training movements replicate the real swallowing path. Simultaneously, the independent airway through the installation base allows for completely concealed internal airways, eliminating the traditional exposed external tubing structure, reducing protruding structures inside the oral cavity, minimizing the patient's foreign body sensation, and resulting in a simpler and more organized overall structure. This provides more stable ventilation and further enhances the comfort, stability, and overall structural integrity of the device.

[0047] Furthermore, each independent air passage is embedded inside the retaining sleeve 11. Each independent air passage has a first end and a second end. The first end extends out of the retaining sleeve 11 and is connected to the corresponding pressure control valve, and the second end is connected to the corresponding airbag 12.

[0048] It should be noted that multiple independent air paths are set up and all are embedded inside the retention brace 11 for integrated concealed deployment. Each independent air path is independent of each other and does not communicate with each other. Each independent air path is distinguished by a first end and a second end. The first end extends through the outside of the retention brace 11 and is used to seal and connect with the corresponding pressure control valve in the control component to receive and regulate the air pressure. The second end is directly connected to the sealed inflation chamber 123 of the corresponding airbag 12. This allows each pressure control valve to independently control the inflation, pressure holding and depressurization of a single airbag 12 through its dedicated built-in independent air path, achieving completely independent correspondence of air pressure regulation for each airbag 12 and ensuring the controllability and synchronization of the sequential linkage of multiple airbags 12.

[0049] Furthermore, the control components also include: Air pump 3 has an air supply port, which is connected to the air inlet of each pressure control valve. Touch screen 4 is connected to controller 2.

[0050] Specifically, the device features a visual feedback training mechanism. The touchscreen display 4 shows the six-zone airbag arrangement 12, which can be synchronously driven by dynamic pressure waves to move a bird animation along the swallowing path, intuitively guiding patients to establish the correct swallowing sequence. The device supports free switching between modes: the passive push mode is pressure-driven and sequentially pressurizes, suitable for basic push-type training; the active resistance mode increases the target pressure, guiding patients to actively exert force against the resistance of the airbag 12, suitable for advanced resistance training, achieving adaptive training for different rehabilitation stages.

[0051] Specifically, the air pump 3 serves as the unified air source for the entire pneumatic system. The air supply port of the air pump 3 is centrally connected to the air inlet of each pressure control valve through pipelines, providing a stable and continuous air supply to all independent air circuits and corresponding airbags 12. Each pressure control valve can independently allocate the output air pressure of the air pump 3 and individually control the air pressure input and release of each airbag 12. The touch screen 4 is electrically connected to the controller 2 and serves as the human-machine interface terminal of the device. It can realize operation functions such as training mode selection, pressure parameter setting, timing program adjustment, and training start and stop control. At the same time, it receives tongue pressure signals, throat displacement signals, sound vibration signals, and working status data of each airbag 12 from the controller 2 in real time, and completes the data visualization display.

[0052] In a straightforward manner, by setting up a centralized air pump 3 structure, a stable and unified air source can be provided for the multi-bag 12 sequential training system, ensuring the air pressure stability of each bag 12 during inflation and deflation, avoiding air pressure deviation and timing asynchrony problems caused by independent air supply to the multi-bag 12, and effectively ensuring the accuracy of swallowing dynamic simulation training; coupled with a touch screen 4 linked to the controller 2, the operation process of the device is simplified. Medical staff and patients can intuitively and conveniently set personalized training parameters and switch training modes, while also being able to view various monitoring data and working status in real time during the training process, realizing visualization of the training process and adjustable parameters, greatly improving the ease of operation and intelligence of the device, and making it easier to adapt to the personalized rehabilitation training needs of different patients.

[0053] Furthermore, the controller 2 is adapted to control the multiple airbags 12 arranged along the sagittal axis to inflate sequentially from the front to the back of the oral cavity, wherein any adjacent front airbag 12 and rear airbag 12, when the rear airbag 12 begins to inflate, the front airbag 12 maintains pressure, and when the rear airbag 12 reaches the target pressure, the front airbag 12 depressurizes.

[0054] In an easy-to-understand way, the controller 2 has a preset dedicated timing control logic. During operation, the controller 2 controls multiple airbags 12 arranged along the sagittal axis of the oral cavity to start inflating sequentially from the front to the back of the oral cavity, according to the physiological law of normal human swallowing and food bolus transfer. During the switching between any two adjacent sets of front and rear airbags 12, the front airbag 12 always maintains the current target pressure and holds the pressure stably when the rear airbag 12 starts to inflate. After the rear airbag 12 inflates and rises to the preset target pressure value and completes the simulated state of food bolus support in that area, the controller 2 immediately controls the front airbag 12 to quickly depressurize and reset. Through the progressive linkage control method of front pressure holding, rear pressure rise, and pressure release after reaching the target position, the dynamic continuous process of the tongue gradually pushing and relaying food bolus from front to back during real swallowing is replicated.

[0055] Furthermore, the retention brace 11 is designed to conform to the anatomical shape of the patient's palate.

[0056] In a straightforward manner, the retention brace 11 is designed to conform to the anatomical shape of the patient's palate, enabling it to fit snugly against the curved surface of the patient's palate. This improves the fit and retention stability of the oral cavity fitting component 1, effectively preventing issues such as brace slippage, lifting, and incomplete fit during training. It also ensures that each airbag 12 always corresponds to the preset anatomical position for training in the tongue tip area and palate area, guaranteeing accurate application of the timing dynamic training. Simultaneously, the conformal fitting structure provides even force and comfortable fit, reducing oral pressure and foreign body sensation during prolonged wear. It adapts to the differences in palate anatomy among different patients, enhancing the comfort and versatility of the device and ensuring the stable and reliable conduct of rehabilitation training.

[0057] Furthermore, the retention crown 11 has a limiting groove provided along the edge of the dental arch.

[0058] Specifically, the outer edge of the retention brace 11 is integrally formed with a limiting slot along the edge of the human dental arch contour. The limiting slot has a groove structure that fits the shape of the tooth crown. When worn, it can be locked onto the outer and inner sides of the crown of the patient's upper teeth. It uses the overall contour of the dental arch to achieve all-round wrapping and limiting. Together with the conformal fitting structure between the retention brace 11 and the palate, it completes the overall positioning and installation of the oral cavity wearing component 1, and provides all-round constraint and limiting of the front-back, left-right and up-down displacement of the retention brace 11.

[0059] In a way that is easy to understand, by setting a limiting slot at the edge of the dental arch of the retention brace 11, the brace can be reliably locked and fixed using the patient's own teeth. Compared with the method of simply relying on the palate to fix it, the wearing stability and anti-displacement ability of the retention brace 11 are improved. It can effectively resist the external force generated by repeated pressure from the tongue and oral muscle movements, and completely avoid the situation of the brace loosening, shifting, or falling off during training. It ensures that each airbag 12 always corresponds to the position of each swallowing training zone in the oral cavity, ensuring the accuracy and stability of the multi-airbag 12 sequential dynamic training. At the same time, the slot limiting installation method is compatible with the conventional dental arch shape, making it convenient to wear and remove, further improving the overall practicality and training reliability of the device.

[0060] This document provides a method for using a swallowing rehabilitation training device. During use, the retention brace 11 is first secured to the patient's maxillary teeth via the limiting slots, ensuring that each airbag 12 corresponds sequentially along the sagittal axis to the tongue tip area, prepalatal area, anterior hard palate area, middle hard palate area, posterior hard palate area, and adjacent soft palate area. Displacement sensors and acoustic sensors are fixed to the outer sides of the patient's larynx and neck, respectively. The device is activated via the touchscreen display 4, and training parameters such as target pressure and inflation / deflation timing are set. The controller 2 drives the air pump 3 to supply air and controls multiple airbags 12 according to preset logic. Inflation proceeds sequentially from the front to the back of the oral cavity. Adjacent airbags 12 perform a sequential action of inflating the next airbag 12, maintaining pressure in the previous airbag 12, and depressurizing the previous airbag 12 after the next airbag 12 reaches the target pressure. During the training process, the flexible pressure sensor 13 collects tongue pressure signals in real time, while the displacement sensor and acoustic vibration sensor simultaneously collect laryngeal displacement signals and cough acoustic vibration signals. The controller 2 integrates various signals to monitor the patient's swallowing effort and identify dangerous situations such as choking. After the training is completed, the training data can be retrieved and viewed through the touch screen 4 to complete the swallowing timing rehabilitation training.

[0061] This invention provides a control method for a swallowing rehabilitation training device. Upon startup, the device first selects the training mode and positions the retaining brace 11, confirming the proper installation of the oral cavity fitting component 1 and the external sensors for the larynx and neck. Then, it controls the inflation of the foremost airbag 12 to simulate the initial baseline positioning of the bolus. Next, it executes the sequential push control logic, maintaining the current airbag 12 at a stable pressure while inflating the adjacent rear airbag 12. Once the rear airbag 12 reaches the target pressure, it depressurizes the foremost airbag 12, causing the pressure area to gradually move backward, replicating the bolus transport process. Finally, it selects a thin flow rate according to the rehabilitation training needs. The system simulates consistency parameters corresponding to thick liquids, concentrated liquids, or pastes. During training, it can switch between passive push mode and active resistance mode as needed. In passive push mode, the system pressure drives the sequential pressurization to provide push training, while in active resistance mode, the target pressure is increased to guide the patient's tongue to actively exert force for resistance training. Throughout the training, the system continuously performs multi-sensor anomaly recognition and full-domain pressure relief protection, continuously monitoring tongue pressure, laryngeal displacement, and cough vibration signals. Once dangerous conditions such as choking are detected, safety protection actions are immediately triggered. After training, a visual feedback display is completed, the control system is reset, and it awaits the start of the next round of rehabilitation training.

[0062] Although embodiments of the invention have been described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, those skilled in the art can make various modifications and variations without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and such modifications and variations all fall within the scope defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A swallowing rehabilitation training device, characterized in that, include: The oral fitting assembly (1) includes a retaining brace (11) and a plurality of airbags (12) arranged sequentially on the retaining brace (11) along the sagittal axis. The airway assembly includes multiple independent airways that are connected one-to-one with the multiple airbags (12); The control component includes a controller (2) and a plurality of pressure control valves, each of the pressure control valves being disposed in a corresponding independent air path and each of the pressure control valves being connected to the controller (2); The controller (2) controls multiple pressure control valves to inflate multiple airbags (12) sequentially from the front to the back of the oral cavity along the sagittal axis. In two adjacent airbags (12), the previous airbag (12) maintains pressure when the latter airbag (12) begins to inflate, and the previous airbag (12) depressurizes when the latter airbag (12) reaches the target pressure.

2. The swallowing rehabilitation training device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The plurality of air bladders (12) are configured as six, and the six air bladders (12) are fixed to the palatal surface of the retaining crown (11) from front to back along the length direction of the retaining crown (11). The six air bladders (12) are respectively located in the tongue tip area, the prepalatal area, the anterior hard palate area, the middle hard palate area, the posterior hard palate area and the adjacent soft palate area.

3. The swallowing rehabilitation training device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The oral wearable component (1) also includes: Multiple flexible pressure sensors (13) are provided, each of which is disposed on the wall surface of each airbag (12) for contact with the back of the tongue. Each of the flexible pressure sensors (13) is connected to the controller (2) and is used to collect tongue pressure signals.

4. The swallowing rehabilitation training device according to claim 3, characterized in that, The control component also includes: A displacement sensor having a first mounting part for fixing to the outside of the patient's larynx, the displacement sensor being connected to the controller (2) and used to acquire larynx displacement signals; The acoustic vibration sensor has a second mounting part for fixing to the outside of the patient's neck. The acoustic vibration sensor is connected to the controller (2) and is used to collect cough acoustic vibration signals. The controller (2) determines the patient's status based on the tongue pressure signal, the laryngeal displacement signal and the cough acoustic vibration signal.

5. The swallowing rehabilitation training device according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that, The airbag (12) includes a rigid base (121) and a flexible silicone contact layer (122). The rigid base (121) and the flexible silicone contact layer (122) are arranged opposite to each other and enclose to form a sealed inflation cavity (123). The independent air passage is opened inside the rigid base (121) and the port is located on the surface of the rigid base (121) facing the sealed inflation cavity (123).

6. The swallowing rehabilitation training device according to claim 5, characterized in that, Each of the airbags (12) has a rigid base (121) with a mounting base protruding on the side facing the retaining brace (11). Each mounting base is embedded inside the retaining brace (11), and the independent air passage passes through the mounting base.

7. The swallowing rehabilitation training device according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that, Each of the independent air passages is embedded inside the retaining sleeve (11). Each independent air passage has a first end and a second end. The first end extends out of the retaining sleeve (11) and is connected to the corresponding pressure control valve. The second end is connected to the corresponding airbag (12).

8. The swallowing rehabilitation training device according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that, The control component also includes: An air pump (3) has an air supply port, which is connected to the air inlet of each of the pressure control valves. A touch screen (4) is connected to the controller (2).

9. The swallowing rehabilitation training device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The controller (2) is adapted to control the multiple airbags (12) arranged along the sagittal axis to inflate sequentially from the front to the back of the oral cavity, wherein any adjacent preceding airbag (12) and following airbag (12) maintain pressure when the following airbag (12) begins to inflate, and depressurizes when the following airbag (12) reaches the target pressure.

10. The swallowing rehabilitation training device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The retention brace (11) is designed to fit the anatomical shape of the patient's hard palate. And / or, the retaining crown (11) has a limiting groove provided along the edge of the dental arch.

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