Dysphagia Test Device Using Percutaneous Interference Wave Stimulation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for diagnosing and treating dysphagia lack a simple and effective way to evaluate the presence, degree, and improvement of dysphagia, as they do not adequately utilize sensory thresholds for percutaneous stimulation.

Innovation Solution

A dysphagia test and treatment method using percutaneous stimulation with interference waves or pseudo interference waves, where electrodes are applied to the neck to determine a sensory threshold, allowing for evaluation and treatment adjustment based on individual patient responses.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If percutaneous stimulation with interference waves is applied to determine sensory threshold, then dysphagia evaluation accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedysphagia evaluation accuracyVSAvoidstimulation device complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The stimulation device is divided into multiple independent electrode pairs, where each pair can be controlled separately with different frequencies. This segmentation allows the system to generate interference waves through combination of simpler individual electrode outputs, improving measurement precision while keeping each electrode unit relatively simple

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The device applies periodic stimulation pulses at specific frequencies (e.g., 10-100 Hz treatment frequency with 1-1000 ms output followed by 1-1000 ms stop) to elicit sensory responses. This periodic action enables accurate determination of sensory thresholds through rhythmic stimulation patterns that enhance detectability of patient responses

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

2Reliability

If individualized sensory threshold measurement is performed, then treatment effectiveness is improved, but time consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment effectivenessVSAvoidtest duration

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary sensory threshold measurement before actual treatment to establish individualized baseline values. This preliminary action enables subsequent treatment to be immediately optimized for each patient without requiring repeated measurements during treatment sessions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The device incorporates real-time feedback mechanisms where patient responses to stimulation are monitored and used to automatically adjust stimulation parameters. This feedback loop accelerates the threshold determination process while ensuring accurate individualized calibration for effective treatment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS10518087B2Dysphagia test device, dysphagia test method, dysphagia treatment device, and stimulating current setting method

Publication Date: 2019.12.31 J CRAFT CO LTD

AI summary

A dysphagia treatment device includes: a current application unit configured to be attached to a target portion of a treated person in order to percutaneously apply current to a biological tissue of the neck including superior laryngeal nerve of the treated person; a control unit configured to control the current application unit such that percutaneous stimulation caused by an interference wave or a pseudo interference wave is applied to the biological tissue of the neck including the superior laryngeal nerve; an operation unit configured to adjust the current to be applied by the current application unit, to a sensory threshold at which the treated person becomes aware of the percutaneous stimulation; and a display unit configured to display index information based on the sensory threshold.