Modular Oropharyngeal Exercise Device for Home Therapy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional oropharyngeal exercise devices are costly, cumbersome, and lack customization, limiting patients' ability to perform isometric and dynamic exercises effectively outside of a speech pathologist's office, especially for those with mobility issues or on a fixed income.
Innovation Solution
A portable oropharyngeal exercise device kit with interchangeable parts, including a housing, complete spring, and mouthpiece, allowing for customizable resistance and exercise types, enabling patients to perform isometric and dynamic exercises at home with ease.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional Iowa Oral Performance Instrument is used, then oropharyngeal strength can be improved, but the device is costly, bulky, and lacks customization options
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into separate modular components: mouthpieces, springs (resistance elements), and housing. Each component can be independently selected and combined, allowing customization of resistance levels and exercise types while maintaining a compact, portable form factor that contradicts the bulky traditional device design.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing is designed to accommodate multiple types of springs with different resistance levels and multiple mouthpiece types, allowing a single device to perform various oropharyngeal exercises. This multi-functionality replaces the need for multiple specialized devices, reducing overall complexity and portability burden.
2Measurement precision
If traditional stationary measurement devices are used, then progress can be measured, but the devices are expensive, bulky, and require speech pathologist office settings
Solution Approach 1:
The device includes built-in measurement capabilities that allow patients to self-monitor their progress at home without requiring expensive specialized equipment or professional office settings. The progress gauge provides immediate feedback, enabling patients to track their own improvement in oropharyngeal strength and range of motion.
3Strength
If high-tech expensive isometric exercise device is purchased, then oropharyngeal strength can be built, but health insurance coverage is limited and patients on fixed income cannot afford it
Solution Approach 1:
The device uses simple, inexpensive components such as springs and mouthpieces that can be easily manufactured and replaced. This cost-effective approach makes the device affordable for patients on fixed income and potentially coverable by health insurance, unlike expensive high-tech alternatives.
4Adaptability or versatility
If traditional oropharyngeal exercise device is used, then isometric movements can be performed, but the device does not allow dynamic exercises and becomes less challenging over time
Solution Approach 1:
The device enables both isometric and dynamic exercises through its modular design. Patients can perform static holds as well as movements through range of motion, and can progress from simpler isometric exercises to more challenging dynamic exercises as they improve, maintaining long-term exercise effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The device allows adjustment of resistance parameters by changing springs and modification of exercise parameters by changing mouthpieces. This enables progressive overload and continuous challenge as patients improve, preventing plateau effects that occur with fixed traditional devices.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The device provides a cost-effective, customizable, and portable solution for building oropharyngeal strength and coordination, allowing patients to continue their treatment regimen outside the clinic with affordable and simple methods, accommodating various resistance levels and exercise types.
Implementation Method 1
a complete spring that attaches to the housing through a housing shaft opening
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatuses and methods for an oropharyngeal exercise device. The oropharyngeal exercise device has interchangeable parts comprising complete mouthpieces, complete springs, a housing, a progress gauge, and a stopper. The oropharyngeal exercise device and its interchangeable parts are organized and stored in a standardized kit. The kit allows a patient to take the exercise device on the go and makes home-health treatment of oropharyngeal disorders easier and more accessible. Patients can customize the exercise type and resistance. A variety of mouthpieces also allows patients to perform not only isometric exercises, but also perform dynamic exercises to increase flexibility and range of motion.