access icon openaccess Electrical bioimpedance measurement as a tool for dysphagia visualisation

A non-invasive and portable bioimpedance method and a device for detecting superior to inferior closure of the pharynx during swallowing have been developed. The 2-channel device measures electric impedance across the neck at two levels of the pharynx via injected currents at 40 and 70 kHz. The device has been trialled on both healthy and dysphagic subjects. Results from these trials revealed a relationship (r = 0.59) between the temporal separation of the second peaks in the bioimpedance waveforms and descending pressure sequence in the pharynx as measured by pharyngeal manometry. However, these features were only clearly visible in the bioimpedance waveforms for 64% of swallows. Further research is underway to improve the bioimpedance measurement reliability and validate waveform feature correlation to swallowing to maximise the device's efficacy in dysphagia rehabilitation.

Inspec keywords: medical disorders; electric impedance measurement; biomedical measurement; bioelectric phenomena

Other keywords: 2-channel device; swallowing; bioimpedance measurement reliability; descending pressure sequence; waveform feature correlation; pharyngeal manometry; frequency 40 kHz; frequency 70 kHz; dysphagic subjects; pharynx closure; electrical bioimpedance measurement; dysphagia rehabilitation; injected currents; portable bioimpedance method; bioimpedance waveforms; dysphagia visualisation; neck

Subjects: Bioelectric signals; Impedance and admittance measurement; Bioelectricity; Electrodiagnostics and other electrical measurement techniques

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http://iet.metastore.ingenta.com/content/journals/10.1049/htl.2014.0067
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