Swallowing Motion Analysis Using Distance and Sound Signals

The patent replaces the mechanical X-ray illumination device with a wireless sensor system that uses electromagnetic signals (accelerometers and microphones) to detect swallowing motions. This substitution eliminates the need for large X-ray equipment while maintaining measurement accuracy through sophisticated signal processing algorithms that analyze motion patterns and acoustic characteristics.

The patent creates a digital copy of the swallowing motion through sensor data acquisition and processing. Instead of using physical X-ray imaging, the system captures motion information via accelerometers and acoustic information via microphones, then processes these signals to generate a virtual representation of swallowing dynamics that can be analyzed without radiation exposure.

The patent introduces acoustic waves and electromagnetic signals as intermediaries to detect swallowing motions. Instead of relying on direct visual observation through an endoscope that is blocked by pharyngeal wall closure, the system uses microphones to capture acoustic signals and accelerometers to detect motion, serving as mediators that can penetrate the pharyngeal barrier and provide information about swallowing dynamics without requiring direct line-of-sight visualization.

The patent replaces the mechanical endoscopic visualization system with a wireless sensor system that uses acoustic and inertial measurement technologies. This substitution allows the system to detect swallowing motions through acoustic signals and motion patterns rather than relying on direct optical visualization, thereby overcoming the limitation of pharyngeal wall closure that blocks the endoscopic view.

The patent segments the swallowing motion evaluation into distinct functional components: distance measurement using accelerometers, sound measurement using microphones, and integrated analysis using a processing unit. Each sensor type captures specific aspects of swallowing dynamics, and the processing unit integrates these segmented measurements through algorithmic analysis to determine swallowing motions, thereby managing system complexity through modular functional division.

The patent employs a multi-functional sensor system where accelerometers serve dual purposes (detecting both distance motion and orientation changes) and microphones capture both acoustic signals and vibration information. This multi-functionality allows the system to extract multiple types of swallowing motion information from a single integrated sensor array, reducing the need for separate specialized sensors and simplifying the overall device architecture.