A swallowing action measurement device includes a holder, a sound detector and a posture detector. The holder is fitted to a neck region of a person being measured from behind. The sound detector is held in the holder in contact with the outer side surface of the neck region close to the epiglottis, and detects sound associated with at least a swallowing action of the person being measured and outputs a measured sound signal. The posture detector detects a posture of the person being measured.

The present disclosure provides methods for receiving distinct electrical signals generated based on a body part, generating a plurality of extracted features based on the distinct electrical signals, identify clinically relevant features from the plurality of extracted features, wherein the clinically relevant features meet a threshold determined based on a clinical outcome.

Provided are an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus and a control method for an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus capable of accurately evaluating dysphagia. The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus includes: an ultrasound probe; an image formation unit that acquires an ultrasound image of a pharyngeal part of a subject in accordance with an image formation condition by transmitting and receiving an ultrasound beam using the ultrasound probe; a chewing information acquisition unit that acquires chewing information during chewing of the subject; an image formation condition adjustment unit that adjusts the image formation condition on the basis of the chewing information acquired by the chewing information acquisition unit; and a swallowing evaluation unit that evaluates swallowing of the subject, on the basis of the ultrasound image acquired by the image formation unit in accordance with the image formation condition adjusted by the image formation condition adjustment unit.

Flexible pressure sensors and wearable devices incorporating one or more flexible pressure sensors, and methods of making the same. A flexible pressure sensor includes a first layer including a plurality of pressure-sensitive microstructures, and a second layer including one or more electrode pairs, each of the one or more electrode pairs including a first electrode positioned adjacent a second electrode on the second layer. The first and second electrodes may be positioned on the second layer in a side-by-side configuration.

Wearable apparatus for monitoring various physiological and environmental factors are provided. Real-time, noninvasive health and environmental monitors include a plurality of compact sensors integrated within small, low-profile devices, such as earpiece modules. Physiological and environmental data is collected and wirelessly transmitted into a wireless network, where the data is stored and/or processed.

An EEG monitor (1) including electrodes (17) adapted for capturing EEG signals and a signal processing part (11) which is adapted for analyzing and classifying the EEG signals captured. The signal processing part (11) is adapted for identifying electrical signals captured by the electrodes (17) that are derived from muscular activity related to the process of chewing.

An integrated device for screening swallowing safety and swallowing efficiency can (i) receive first vibrational data for a first set of swallowing events executed successively by a first individual, (ii) compare at least a portion of the first vibrational data and/or at least a portion of second vibrational data derived from the first vibrational data against preset classification criteria defined for each of swallowing safety and swallowing efficiency, (iii) assign a swallowing safety probability and a swallowing efficiency probability to each of the first plurality of swallowing events, (iv) determine a swallowing safety classification based at least partially on the swallowing safety probability of each of the first plurality of swallowing events and (v) determine a swallowing efficiency classification based at least partially on the swallowing efficiency probability of each of the first plurality of swallowing events.

An oral care device for placement in the oral cavity. The oral care device may include a support component, a piezoelectric component, and/or a therapeutic element. The support component is configured for placement between one or more maxillary teeth and one or more mandibular teeth. The piezoelectric element is configured to generate an electrical current from relative movement of the maxillary teeth and the mandibular teeth. The therapeutic element is configured to release a therapeutic composition into the oral cavity at least in part in response to receiving the electrical signal. The device may include the piezoelectric component, the therapeutic element, or both.

Described here are systems and methods for four-dimensional manometry, which can include generating and displaying rendering data that simultaneously depict spacetime variations in impedance, pressure, and esophageal luminal morphology. From these data, bolus tracking and esophageal opening and velocity data can be measured and visualized without the need for additional imaging, thereby reducing a subject's exposure to otherwise necessary ionizing radiation.

A system is provided for monitoring patients with dysphagia, or swallowing impairments, that monitors muscle movement during intensive swallowing exercises to provide adjuvant visual feedback from surface electromyography.