Swallowing simulation apparatus and method

Abstract

A swallowing simulation apparatus comprises a computer that stores swallowing simulation software that when executed results in an oral cavity model and a pseudo-food product which are analyzed in a swallowing simulation. The analysis is used to evaluate ease of eating and/or drinking.

Claims

1. A swallowing simulation apparatus, comprising; an input unit; a display unit; an evaluation result recording unit; a storage unit; and a computer storing, in a non-transitory computer readable medium, a swallowing simulator software including instructions which, when executed by the computer, the computer controls an oral cavity modeling unit, an organ property setting unit, an organ movement setting unit, a food product physical property setting unit, a movement analysis unit, and a physical property determiner, the computer controlling: the oral cavity modeling unit to form an oral cavity model formed of oral-cavity organs; the organ property setting unit to set an organ property of each of the oral-cavity organs in the oral cavity model; the organ movement setting unit to set a movement of each of the oral-cavity organs in the oral cavity model; the food product physical property setting unit to set a food product, a medicinal product, or a nonmedicinal product (hereinafter referred to as a food product or similar product) as an analysis target, and a physical property of the food product or similar product; the input unit to input a pseudo-food product to the oral cavity, the pseudo-food product being formed by modeling the food product or similar product; the movement analysis unit to analyze a movement of each of the oral-cavity organs and a behavior of the pseudo-food product while being swallowed in the oral-cavity model using a particle method; and the display unit to display an analysis result of the movement of each of the oral-cavity organs and the behavior of the pseudo-food product while being swallowed on a moving screen, the analysis result being analyzed by the movement analysis unit; wherein, under control of the computer: the organ property setting unit sets an oral cavity wall as a rigid body and a tongue as an elastic body; the organ movement setting unit sets a plurality of moving walls embedded in the tongue, the tongue being set so as to move in a peristaltic movement or a wave movement by moving the plurality of moving walls to a direction intersecting with a surface of the tongue with a predetermined period and a predetermined phase difference, and sets a soft palate, an epiglottis, and a gullet wall so as to move together with a predetermined phase difference to the peristaltic movement or the wave movement; the movement analysis unit treats the tongue and the pseudo-food product as particles; the oral cavity modeling unit forms a two dimensional oral cavity model; and the movement analysis unit analyzes the behavior of the pseudo-food product in a two dimensional space; the evaluation result recording unit records an evaluation result of easiness of eating and/or easiness of drinking of the food product or similar product based on an analysis result of the behavior of the pseudo-food product while being swallowed; the physical property determiner determines the physical property of the food product or similar product regarded as appropriate based on the evaluation result recorded in the evaluation result recording unit; and the storage unit stores, in a non-transitory computer readable medium, the oral cavity model, the organ properties, the analysis result, and the evaluation results, wherein the evaluation result includes whether the accidental swallowing or accidental ingestion risk exists or not, wherein the swallowing simulator software includes a two-dimensional particle method analysis software that changes dimensionless physical quantities of the physical property value of the fluid and time, wherein in the oral cavity model, four portions exclusively are set as the movable parts, the four portions being the tongue, the soft palate, the epiglottis, and an entrance of the gullet, wherein the movement of three or four of the moving walls embedded in the tongue is performed by changing an amplitude of oscillation of the three or four walls at the same period and shifting a phase.

2. The swallowing simulation apparatus according to claim 1; wherein the organ movement setting unit sets a movement of the soft palate and the epiglottis as a movement of a rotator where a rotational center moves.

3. The swallowing simulation apparatus according to claim 1; wherein the food product physical property setting unit sets a plurality of liquid, semisolid, or solid pseudo-food products with different physical property as an analysis target; and the movement analysis unit determines free surfaces of a plurality of the pseudo-food products and boundaries between the plurality of pseudo-food products, the movement analysis unit analyzing a gearing behavior of the plurality of pseudo-food products.

4. The swallowing simulation apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising; an evaluation unit configured to evaluate easiness of eating and/or easiness of drinking of the food product or similar product based on the behavior of the pseudo-food product while being swallowed on the moving screen; wherein the moving screen is a virtual moving screen formed at a virtual space by the swallowing simulation apparatus to simulatively display an analysis result of a movement of each of the oral-cavity organs and a behavior of the pseudo-food product while being swallowed, the analysis result being analyzed by the movement analysis unit; and the evaluation unit evaluates whether the behavior of the pseudo-food product on the virtual moving screen meets a predetermined condition or not.

5. A swallowing simulation method using the swallowing simulation apparatus according to claim 1, the method comprising; an oral cavity modeling step of forming an oral cavity model formed of oral-cavity organs by the oral cavity modeling unit of the swallowing simulation apparatus; an organ property setting step of setting an organ property of each of the oral-cavity organs in the oral cavity model by the organ property setting unit of the swallowing simulation apparatus; an organ movement setting step of setting a movement of each of the oral-cavity organs in the oral cavity model by the oral movement setting unit of the swallowing simulation apparatus; a food product physical property setting step of setting a food product or similar product as an analysis target and a physical property of the food product or similar product by the food product physical property setting unit of the swallowing simulation apparatus; an input step of inputting, through the input unit of the swallowing simulation apparatus, a pseudo-food product to the oral cavity, the pseudo-food product being formed by modeling the food product or similar product; a movement analysis step of analyzing a movement of each of the oral-cavity organs and a behavior of the pseudo-food product while being swallowed in the oral cavity model using a particle method by the movement analysis unit of the swallowing simulation apparatus; and a display step of displaying an analysis result of the movement of each of the oral-cavity organs and the behavior of the pseudo-food product while being swallowed on a moving screen, the analysis result being analyzed in the movement analysis step by the movement analysis unit of the swallowing simulation apparatus; wherein: the organ property setting step sets an oral cavity wall as a rigid body and a tongue as an elastic body; the organ movement setting step sets a plurality of moving walls in the tongue, the tongue being set so as to move in a peristaltic movement or a wave movement by moving the plurality of moving walls to a direction intersecting with a surface of the tongue with a predetermined period and a predetermined phase difference, and sets a soft palate, an epiglottis, and a gullet wall so as to move together with a predetermined phase difference to the peristaltic movement or the wave movement; the movement analysis step treats the tongue and the pseudo-food product as particles; the oral cavity modeling step forms a two dimensional oral cavity model; and the movement analysis step analyzes the behavior of the pseudo-food product in a two dimensional space; wherein the swallowing simulation method further comprises: an evaluation step of evaluating easiness of eating and/or easiness of drinking of the food product or similar product based on an analysis result of the behavior of the pseudo-food product while being swallowed; an evaluation result recording step configured to record an evaluation result of easiness of eating and/or easiness of drinking of the food product or similar product based on an analysis result of the behavior of the pseudo-food product while being swallowed; and a physical property determination step of determining a physical property of the food product or similar product regarded as appropriate based on an evaluation result evaluated in the evaluation step, wherein the evaluation result includes whether the accidental swallowing or accidental ingestion risk exists or not.

6. The swallowing simulation method according to claim 5; wherein an evaluator makes evaluations observing the moving screen on the display unit and inputs the evaluation results from the input unit.

7. The swallowing simulation apparatus according to claim 1; wherein an evaluator makes evaluations observing the moving screen on the display unit and inputs the evaluation results from the input unit.

8. A swallowing simulation apparatus, comprising; an input unit; an organ movement determiner; a display unit; an evaluation result recording unit; a storage unit; and a computer storing, in a non-transitory computer readable medium, a swallowing simulator software including instructions which, when executed by the computer, the computer controls an oral cavity modeling unit, an organ property setting unit, an organ movement setting unit, a food product physical property setting unit, a movement analysis unit, and a physical property determiner, the computer controlling: the oral cavity modeling unit to form an oral cavity model formed of oral-cavity organs; the organ movement setting unit to set a movement of each of the oral-cavity organs in the oral cavity model; the food product physical property setting unit to set a food product or similar product as an analysis target and a physical property of the food product or similar product; the input unit to input a pseudo-food product to the oral cavity, the pseudo-food product being formed by modeling the food product or similar product; the movement analysis unit to analyze a movement of each of the oral-cavity organs and a behavior of the pseudo-food product while being swallowed in the oral cavity model using a particle method; the display unit to display an analysis result of the movement of each of the oral cavity organs and the behavior of the pseudo-food product while being swallowed on a moving screen, the analysis result being analyzed by the movement analysis unit; and the organ movement determiner to determine an organ movement parameter fitting to a behavior or a symptom of an organ of diagnosed person based on the analysis result analyzed in the movement analysis unit in the organ movement parameters set in the organ movement setting unit; wherein, under control of the computer: the organ property setting unit sets an oral cavity wall as a rigid body and a tongue as an elastic body; the organ movement setting unit sets a plurality of moving walls embedded in the tongue, the tongue being set so as to move in a peristaltic movement or a wave movement by moving the plurality of moving walls to a direction intersecting with a surface of the tongue with a predetermined period and a predetermined phase difference, and sets a soft palate, an epiglottis, and a gullet wall so as to move together with a predetermined phase difference to the peristaltic movement or the wave movement; the movement analysis unit treats the tongue and the pseudo-food product as particles; the oral cavity modeling unit forms a two dimensional oral cavity model; and the movement analysis unit analyzes the behavior of the pseudo-food product in a two dimensional space; the evaluation result recording unit to record an evaluation result of easiness of eating and/or easiness of drinking of the food product or similar product based on an analysis result of the behavior of the pseudo-food product while being swallowed; the storage unit stores, in a non-transitory computer readable medium, the oral cavity model, the organ properties, the analysis result, and the evaluation results, wherein the evaluation result includes whether the accidental swallowing or accidental ingestion risk exists or not, wherein the swallowing simulator software includes a two-dimensional particle method analysis software that changes dimensionless physical quantities of the physical property value of the fluid and time, wherein in the oral cavity model, four portions exclusively are set as the movable parts, the four portions being the tongue, the soft palate, the epiglottis, and an entrance of the gullet, wherein the movement of three or four of the moving walls embedded in the tongue is performed by changing an amplitude of oscillation of the three or four walls at the same period and shifting a phase.

9. A diagnosis assistance apparatus, comprising; the swallowing simulation apparatus according to claim 8, the swallowing simulation apparatus including the evaluation result recording unit configured to record an evaluation result of easiness of eating and/or easiness of drinking of the food product or similar product based on an analysis result of a behavior of the pseudo-food product while being swallowed; a medical treatment diagnosis result database that records a diagnosis result on a patient or a person subject to checkup; and a diagnosis result comparator configured to compare a diagnosis result recorded in the medical treatment diagnosis result database with an evaluation result recorded in the evaluation result recording unit.

10. A swallowing simulation method using the swallowing simulation apparatus according to claim 8, the method comprising; an oral cavity modeling step of forming an oral cavity model formed of oral-cavity organs by the oral cavity modeling unit of the swallowing simulation apparatus; an organ movement setting step of setting a movement of each of the oral-cavity organs in the oral cavity model by the organ movement setting unit of the swallowing simulation apparatus; a food product physical property setting step of setting a food product or similar product as an analysis target and a physical property of the food product or similar product by the food product physical property setting unit of the swallowing simulation apparatus; an input step of inputting, through the input unit of the swallowing simulation apparatus, pseudo-food product to the oral cavity, the pseudo-food product being formed by modeling the food product or similar product; a movement analysis step of analyzing a movement of each of the oral-cavity organs and a behavior of the pseudo-food product while being swallowed in the oral cavity model using a particle method by the movement analysis unit of the swallowing simulation apparatus; a display step of displaying an analysis result of the movement of each of the oral-cavity organs and the behavior of the pseudo-food product while being swallowed on a moving screen, the analysis result being analyzed in the movement analysis step by the movement analysis unit of the swallowing simulation apparatus; and an organ movement determination step of determining an organ movement parameter fitting a behavior or a symptom of an organ of diagnosed person based on the analysis result analyzed in the movement analysis step in the organ movement parameters set in the organ movement setting step; wherein: the organ property setting step sets an oral cavity wall as a rigid body and a tongue as an elastic body; the organ movement setting step sets a plurality of moving walls in the tongue, the tongue being set so as to move in a peristaltic movement or a wave movement by moving the plurality of moving walls to a direction intersecting with a surface of the tongue with a predetermined period and a predetermined phase difference, and sets a soft palate, an epiglottis, and a gullet wall so as to move together with a predetermined phase difference to the peristaltic movement or the wave movement; the movement analysis step treats the tongue and the pseudo-food product as particles; the oral cavity modeling step forms a two dimensional oral cavity model; and the movement analysis step analyzes the behavior of the pseudo-food product in a two dimensional space; wherein the swallowing simulation method further comprises: an evaluation result recording step configured to record an evaluation result of easiness of eating and/or easiness of drinking of the food product or similar product based on an analysis result of the behavior of the pseudo-food product while being swallowed, wherein the evaluation result includes whether the accidental swallowing or accidental ingestion risk exists or not.

11. The swallowing simulation method according to claim 10; wherein an evaluator makes evaluations observing the moving screen on the display unit and inputs the evaluation results from the input unit.

12. The swallowing simulation apparatus according to claim 8; wherein an evaluator makes evaluations observing the moving screen on the display unit and inputs the evaluation results from the input unit.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1A describes a lattice method (conventional analysis method).

(2) FIG. 1B describes a particle method (new analysis method)

(3) FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary configuration of a swallowing simulation apparatus according to a first embodiment.

(4) FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary oral cavity model.

(5) FIG. 4 simulatively illustrates a swallowing phenomenon of water.

(6) FIG. 5 simulatively illustrates the swallowing phenomenon of an adherent bolus (assume a rice cake).

(7) FIG. 6 simulatively illustrates the swallowing phenomenon when the adherent bolus obstructing near the soft palate is rinsed with water.

(8) FIG. 7 illustrates swallowing simulation results of a jelly-like bolus.

(9) FIG. 8 simulatively illustrates the swallowing phenomenon in the case where a movement of an epiglottis is slow.

(10) FIG. 9 simulatively illustrates the swallowing phenomenon in the case where a movement of a boundary surface between a gullet and a respiratory tract is slow.

(11) FIG. 10 illustrates an exemplary processing flow of the swallowing simulation method according to the first embodiment.

(12) FIG. 11 illustrates an exemplary configuration of a swallowing simulation apparatus according to a second embodiment.

(13) FIG. 12 illustrates an exemplary processing flow of the swallowing simulation method according to the second embodiment.

(14) FIG. 13 illustrates an exemplary videofluoroscopic swallowing.

(15) FIG. 14 illustrates an exemplary myoelectric potential measurement.

(16) FIG. 15 illustrates an exemplary configuration of a swallowing simulation apparatus according to a fifth embodiment.

(17) FIG. 16 illustrates an exemplary processing flow of a diagnosis assistance according to the fifth embodiment.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

(18) The present application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2011-146780 filed on Jun. 30, 2011 in Japan. The content forms part thereof as the content of the present application. The present invention will be more completely understood by the detailed description provided hereinafter. Further areas of applicability of the invention will become more apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples indicate desired embodiments of the invention, and are provided for the purpose of illustration only because it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention from the detailed description. Applicants have no intention to present any described embodiments to the public, and among modifications and variations, the subject matter that may not be fallen within the scope of claims should also be part of the invention under the doctrine of equivalents.

(19) Embodiments of the present invention will be described hereinafter in detail with reference to the drawings. In each drawing, like numerals and symbols will be used for identical or like elements, and duplicate descriptions may not be repeated.

(20) (Particle Method)

(21) According to the embodiment, as an analysis method that allows expressing a large deformation of a liquid surface, a spray and the like, the particle method that treats liquid and solid analysis targets as particles is employed for simulations. First, the particle method will be described.

(22) FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B illustrate a difference between a lattice method, which is the conventional analysis method, and the particle method, which is a new analysis method. FIG. 1A illustrates a conceptual diagram of the lattice method while FIG. 1B illustrates a conceptual diagram of the particle method. The lattice method divides an analysis region by grid and calculates physical quantities of each grid. That is, a change in the liquid surface goes along a shape of the grid. Accordingly, an analysis of a case when the spray occurs or the liquid surface is largely deformed is difficult. In contrast to this, the particle method, especially an Moving particle-Semi-implicit (MPS) method is comparatively new analysis method, which was developed in 1995 (Koshizuka et al, Comput. Fluid Dynamics J, 4, 29-46, 1995). The particle method replaces a fluid with particles and calculates the physical quantities of each particle. As a result, a subtle change in the liquid surface can be analyzed, allowing an analysis when the spray occurs or the liquid surface is largely deformed. However, fluids and boluses in vivo have not been analyzed using the particle method up to the present. Therefore, the inventors have developed the simulation apparatus and the simulation method where the particle method is applied to estimation of behaviors of the liquid or the bolus in the living body. The following describes the embodiments.

(23) In the MPS method, as a governing equation for an incompressible flow, a conservation-of-mass formula and a conservation-of-momentum formula are established. Lagrangian derivative may be used for the time derivative in the conservation-of-momentum formula. Terms expressing movement and flow need not be denoted explicitly. A weighting function w(r) (a function of a distance r between particles, and expressed by w(r)=r.sub.E/r−1; 0≦r<r.sub.E, and w(r)=0; r.sub.E<r, being a decreasing function of the distance r between particles within a constant separation r.sub.E, being 0 with outside the constant distance r.sub.E) is introduced, and the weighting function is used for particle interaction. A Laplacian model is established on the physical quantities in the positions of each particle in the particle interaction model, and the discretization equations are solved. Solving this discretization equation in accordance with a solution method of a matrix equation, a speed is obtained. Then the position of each particle is determined.

(24) A simulator (analysis software) to perform the swallowing simulation method according to the embodiment models the oral cavity organs and analyzes the behaviors of the fluid or the bolus while passing through the oral cavity and the throat using the particle method.

(25) From the analysis results using the simulator, for example, the following are performed.

(26) (a) An estimation of risk of a swallowing an accidental swallowing or an accidental ingestion depending on the difference in a physical property value of a food product or similar product

(27) (b) An estimation of a swallowing period depending on the difference in the physical property value of the food product or similar product

(28) (c) Estimations of a force and shear stress applied to the throat wall depending on the difference in the physical property value of the food product or similar product

(29) (d) Evaluations on easiness of drinking, easiness of eating, difficulty of drinking, and difficulty of eating based on the correlations between the above described data and a sensory evaluation.

(30) The evaluations are made by the evaluator or automatically made by the swallowing simulation apparatus.

First Embodiment

(31) (Swallowing Simulation Apparatus Configuration)

(32) FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary configuration of the swallowing simulation apparatus 100A according to the first embodiment. The first embodiment describes an exemplary swallowing evaluation made by the evaluator's inputting the food product and viewing the moving image.

(33) The swallowing simulation apparatus 100A includes an oral cavity modeling unit 10, an organ property setting unit 20, an organ movement setting unit 30, a food product physical property setting unit 40, an input unit 81, a movement analysis unit 50, a display unit 82, a physical property determiner 70, a controller 90, and a storage unit 83. The oral cavity modeling unit 10 forms an oral cavity model formed of oral cavity organs. The organ property setting unit 20 sets an organ property of each of the oral cavity organs in the oral cavity model. The organ movement setting unit 30 sets a movement of each of the oral cavity organs in the oral cavity model. The food product physical property setting unit 40 sets a food product as an analysis target and a physical property of the food product. The input unit 81 inputs a pseudo food product, which is formed by modeling the food product, to the oral cavity. The movement analysis unit 50 analyzes a movement of each of the oral cavity organs and a behavior of the pseudo food product while being swallowed in the oral cavity model using a particle method. The display unit 82 displays analysis results of the movement of each of the oral cavity organs and the behavior of the pseudo food product while being swallowed analyzed by the movement analysis unit 50 on a moving screen. The physical property determiner 70 determines a physical property of a food product or similar product regarded as appropriate based on the evaluation result. The controller 90 controls the swallowing simulation apparatus 100A and each unit of the swallowing simulation apparatus 100A to have functions required for the swallowing simulation apparatus 100A. The storage unit 83 stores the oral cavity model, the organ properties, the setting conditions, the analysis results, and the evaluation results. Among these units, the oral cavity modeling unit 10, the organ property setting unit 20, the organ movement setting unit 30, the food product physical property setting unit 40, the movement analysis unit 50, the physical property determiner 70, and the controller 90 can be realized in the personal computer PC and disposed inside of the personal computer PC. The evaluator makes evaluations observing the moving screen on the display unit 82 and inputs the evaluation results from the input unit 81. The input evaluation results are recorded in the evaluation result recording unit 83B of the storage unit 83. In the present invention, an aspect where the physical property is determined by the human (for example, the evaluator) is also possible (see a fourth embodiment).

(34) FIG. 3 illustrates the exemplary oral cavity model 11. FIG. 3(a) illustrates a movable portion in the model. FIG. 3(b) illustrates a moving wall 18 (performs a peristaltic movement) portion of the tongue 15 in the model. In the embodiment, an exemplary peristaltic movement by the four moving walls 18 is illustrated. The oral cavity modeling unit 10 forms the oral cavity model 11 formed of oral cavity organs including, the oral cavity wall 12, the gullet 13 (entrance portion is illustrated), the respiratory tract 14 (entrance portion is illustrated), the tongue 15, the soft palate 16, and the epiglottis 17 and the like. The organ properties of each of the oral cavity organs (classification of rigid body, elastic body, plastic body, viscous body, powder, fluid or the like and physical property such as elastic modulus and degree of viscosity) are set by the organ property setting unit 20. For simplification, the tongue 15, the soft palate 16, the epiglottis 17, and the gullet 13 entrance are set as an elastic body while the others are set as a rigid body. The movements of the oral cavity organs (such as a reciprocation, a rotational movement, a peristaltic movement and the like) are set by the organ movement setting unit 30. For simplification, the movement of the tongue 15 is expressed by the peristaltic movement, those of the soft palate 16 and the epiglottis 17 are expressed by reciprocation at the base and rotational movement around the base, and the entrance portion of the gullet 13 is expressed by the reciprocations in the perpendicular direction to the central axis of the gullet 13. The wave movement can be used instead of the peristaltic movement.

(35) Now returning to FIG. 2, as the target for the swallowing simulation, a medicinal product, a nonmedicinal product can be used as well as a food product (“the food product, the medicinal product, or the nonmedicinal product” is referred to as a “food product or similar product”). When the food product or similar product is liquid, the food product physical property setting unit 40 sets physical properties such as a fluid volume, a degree of viscosity, a surface tension, a specific gravity and the like. When the food product or similar product is a solid, the food product physical property setting unit 40 sets physical properties such as a shape, dimensions, an elastic modulus, tensile strength, a yield point, yield point stress, shear rate dependence of degree of viscosity, dynamic viscoelasticity, static viscoelasticity, compressive stress, breaking stress, breaking strain, hardness, adhesiveness, cohesiveness and the like. When the food product or similar product is a semisolid (with plasticity but without fluidity), the food product physical property setting unit 40 sets physical properties such as an amount, a degree of viscosity, a specific gravity, a yield point, yield point stress, shear rate dependence of degree of viscosity, dynamic viscoelasticity, static viscoelasticity, compressive stress, adhesiveness, cohesiveness and the like.

(36) The input unit 81 is configured of an input device such as the computer mouse, the keyboard and the like. The input unit 81 injects a pseudo food product to be injected in the oral cavity. The computer mouse pointer, for example, is dragged in the oral cavity, an injection position of the pseudo food product in the oral cavity is, for example, set near the teeth in the oral cavity (for example, within ½ length of the pseudo food product), and time immediately after the dragging is set as injection time.

(37) The movement analysis unit 50 analyzes a behavior of the pseudo food product while being swallowed in association with movements of the oral cavity organs. The movement of the tongue 15 is expressed by the peristaltic movement or a wave movement, and the movements of soft palate 16 and the epiglottis 17 are expressed by reciprocation at the base and rotational movement around the base. The reciprocation of the gullet 13 entrance moves the food product or similar product injected in the oral cavity. The movement of the food product or similar product is analyzed using the particle method. The food product or similar product is treated as particles in any forms of solid, semisolid, and liquid.

(38) The display unit 82 displays an analysis result of the behavior of the food product or similar product on the moving screen. One exposure of the moving image can be displayed as a still image. Tracing back the time and displaying the moving images while being rewound are also possible. The storage unit 83 stores an oral cavity model, organ properties, a setting condition, an analysis result, an evaluation result and the like.

(39) The evaluation is made by the evaluator viewing the moving screen on the display unit 82. “Good”, “poor”, a rank, a score, or similar evaluation is input to a cell in an evaluation table displayed on the display unit 82, for example. The evaluation result is recorded in the evaluation result recording unit 83B. An appropriate physical property value of the food product or similar product can be obtained by making evaluation while changing the physical property value of the food product or similar product by the food product physical property setting unit 40. The physical property determiner 70 automatically determines the physical property of the food product or similar product regarded as appropriate based on the evaluation result recorded in the evaluation result recording unit 83B. The number of physical properties may be a single or plural. The appropriate physical property may be, for example, indicated by creating a map showing an appropriate range, may be indicated by classification into a plurality of levels (for example, rank A to rank C), may be indicated by plurality of points, or may be indicated by an optimum one point. When many physical properties are to be obtained, the appropriate physical property range may be obtained using multidimensional analysis of principal component.

(40) The controller 90 controls the swallowing simulation apparatus 100A and each unit of the swallowing simulation apparatus 100A to have functions required for the swallowing simulation apparatus 100A. The controller 90 includes a swallowing simulator (analysis software) in a built-in memory.

(41) (Swallowing Simulator)

(42) The swallowing simulator has been created using a general-purpose two-dimensional particle method analysis software “Physi-Cafe” (manufactured by Prometech Software, Inc.). A physical property value of a fluid and time, for example, cannot be directly input to the analysis software as a numerical value. However, dimensionless physical quantities of the physical property value of the fluid and time can be appropriately changed, featuring a high speed analysis by simplifying a qualitative analysis.

(43) FIG. 3(a) illustrates a movable portion in the oral cavity model 11. FIG. 3(b) illustrates the moving wall 18 (performs a peristaltic movement) portion of the tongue 15 in the model. In the model, for simplification, only the four portions are set as the movable parts: the tongue 15, the soft palate 16, the epiglottis 17, and an entrance of the gullet 13. A mechanism of transporting a bolus rearward by the peristaltic movement is configured as follows. The four moving walls 18 are embedded in the tongue 15, which is an elastic body. Then, the movement is performed while changing an amplitude of oscillation at the same period and shifting a phase. In this model, the four moving walls 18 are set as the elastic body. The one moving wall 18 cannot achieve the peristaltic movement, the two moving walls 18 generates an awkward movement, the three or more moving walls 18 can express a smooth peristaltic movement. The five or more moving walls 18 increase a computational load whereas makes little difference in natural movement from the case where the three or four moving walls 18 are used. Accordingly, use of the three or four pieces is preferable. Thus, a simulation operation where the elastic body (tongue) autonomously deforms is achieved. Then, a forcible deformation of the elastic body, which is extremely difficult in a usual analysis, can be expressed. This respect is distinctive in numerical analysis (simulation). Additionally, as illustrated in FIG. 3(b), the pseudo food product and the tongue 15 are all constituted by particles, regardless of whether the pseudo food product or the tongue 15 is liquid or solid.

(44) Table 1 illustrates movements of the movable parts. The main feature is that a movement amount of displacement and angle are provided by a function. In particular, use of a periodic function achieves consecutive simulations. A to D in Table 1 are moving walls and disposed in the order of A, B, C, and D from the left in FIG. 3(b).

(45) TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 THE RELATION BETWEEN MOVING PART AND MOVEMENT AMOUNT IN STANDARD MOTION MOVEMENT AMOUNT MOVING PART X DIRECTION Y DIRECTION ROTATION TONGUE A −1 * sin(t) − 0.5 2 * sin(t − 1) — B −3 * sin(t) −3 * sin(t) − 1 — C −sin(t − 1) − 1.0 −4 * sin(t − 1) — D −2.0 * sin(t) − 2.0 −2 * sin(t − 3) + 2 — SOFT PALATE −2 * sin(t) 0 0.5 * sin(t − 3) EPIGLOTTIS sin(t + 1.2) − 0.8 −sin(t + 1.2) + 1 0.8 * sin(t + 1.2) − 0.6 GULLET WALL −2 * sin(t + 1.2) −2 * sin(t + 1.2) 0

(46) The movement amount of each organ can be easily changed by changing a formula in Table 1 and a parameter of the formula. Specifically, the movement amount can be adjusted by changing an amplitude of a sine function. A speed and timing of the movement can be adjusted by changing the period and the phase. The simulator features a high degree of freedom in adjustment of each portion.

(47) (Analysis Case 1)

(48) FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary analysis of a swallowing value experiment where water (assuming a degree of viscosity of 1 mPa.Math.s) 41 is simulated. Here, a dimensionless swallowing period is denoted as t.sub.nd. The t.sub.nd is what an analysis period taken for one swallowing (25 sec) is divided by a period taken for an actual swallowing phenomenon to complete (defined that the swallowing action is completed after an elapse of 1 sec from entrance of the water 41 in the mouth in this analysis).

(49) The liquid (water) 41 that exists on the tongue 15 at t.sub.nd=0 is held between the tongue 15 and the soft palate 16 at t.sub.nd=0.24. At t.sub.nd=0.36, it is seen that the soft palate 16 moves rearward and rotates to form a space for the liquid 41 to pass through whereas the soft palate 16 obstructs the passage from the nasal cavity. At t.sub.nd=0.48, it is seen that the liquid 41 flows to the gullet 13 without entering the respiratory tract 14 lidded by the epiglottis 17. At t.sub.nd=0.6, it is seen that the water 41 does not exist around the epiglottis 17 when the epiglottis 17 rises, thus accidental swallowing and accidental ingestion do not occur. It can also be observed from this result that a complicated fluid behavior involving a free surface, which was difficult to be expressed by the analysis method (lattice method) up to the present, can be expressed by the particle method.

(50) (Analysis Case 2)

(51) FIG. 5 illustrates the simulation results of a bolus such as a rice cake 42 with high adhesiveness while being swallowed. The analysis software, which is the base of the simulator that has been developed this time, treats a physical property value, such as adhesiveness, as a relative value with a physical property value of a certain standard object, not an absolute value. Therefore, in the simulation, adhesiveness was appropriately changed (about 600 to 2300 J/m3) for analysis to the extent of adhering to a palate. The adherent bolus 42 that exists on the tongue 15 at t.sub.nd=0 adheres to the oral cavity wall 12 (hard palate) at t.sub.nd=0.24, and a rearward flow is not observed. At t.sub.nd=0.36, it is seen that the bolus 42 is stretched while adhering to the palate in spite of the peristaltic movement of the tongue 15. At t.sub.nd=0.48, it is seen that the bolus 42 adheres to the soft palate 16 and does not come out although being lidded by the epiglottis 17. Finally, even at t.sub.nd=0.6, the adherent bolus 42 firmly adheres to the soft palate 16.

(52) FIG. 6 illustrates a simulation result of a state where the adherent bolus 42 obstructs near the soft palate 16, rinse liquid (assuming water) 43 is run into the mouth, and the obstructing bolus 42 is washed away. At t.sub.nd=0.36, the rinse water 43 being run into the mouth flows to the larynx. However, even at t.sub.nd=0.48, the adherent bolus 42 remains at the epiglottis 17. Thus, it can be observed that washing away the adherent bolus 42 by one rinsing is difficult. This simulator also confirmed that, similarly to the actual phenomenon, the bolus with high adhesiveness needs to be rinsed by plural times.

(53) Thus, the simulator can couple the two or more liquid, solid, and semisolid boluses or fluids with different degree of viscosity, adhesiveness, a surface tension, or similar physical property for solution. Coupled analyses of liquid-liquid, liquid-solid, and solid-solid with free surface and different physical property have been extremely difficult up to the present. However, use of the particle method facilitates qualitative analysis.

(54) (Analysis Case 3)

(55) FIG. 7 illustrates a simulation result when the bolus 44 that can be broken under a certain amount of constant force, such as a jelly, is being swallowed. Here, hardness of the bolus 44 is expressed using a relative elastic modulus, which is a relative ratio with a standard bolus. Shapes of the boluses 44 immediately before being swallowed are all same.

(56) FIG. 7(o) illustrates a state immediately before the swallowing. FIG. 7(a) illustrates a case where the relative elastic modulus of the bolus 44 is low (relative elastic modulus=1). It can be seen that the bolus 44 deforms along the shape of the gullet 13 at the moment of entrance to the gullet 13 and then flows. FIG. 7(b) illustrates a case where the relative elastic modulus of the bolus 44 is medium (relative elastic modulus=2). FIG. 7(b) shows a moment where the bolus 44 fails to deform to the shape of the gullet 13, and the bolus 44, which is out of the gullet 13, is sandwiched between the gullet 13 and the epiglottis 17, and cut into strips. Entrance of the bolus 44, which is cut into pieces, to the respiratory tract 14 causes accidental swallowing and accidental ingestion. That is, even if the bolus 44 is soft to some extent, there is a possibility of a risk of accidental swallowing or accidental ingestion if the bolus 44 cannot deform to a size that enters the gullet 13. FIG. 7(c) illustrates a case where the relative elastic modulus of the bolus 44 is high (relative elastic modulus=4). Since the bolus 44 has high relative elastic modulus, the shape of the bolus 44 hardly deforms. Obstruction at the epiglottis 17 or a flow to the respiratory tract 14 was able to be estimated.

(57) In the actual phenomenon as well, the experience of choking accidents involving konjac jelly or similar incidents clarifies importance of a size and hardness of a product to prevent an accident of suffocation. Based on a fact that the similar trend was obtained in this simulation result, this suggests a possible use of the simulator using the particle method for the swallowing simulation of a jelly-like bolus.

(58) (Analysis Case 4)

(59) Some functional deteriorations in a human body probably cause an accidental swallowing and accidental ingestion. A human body was simulated and examined for some functional deteriorations.

(60) Table 2 illustrates simulation conditions of when a movement of the epiglottis 17 became slow. Specifically, an amplitude of movement of the epiglottis 17 was decreased (to the half) in the rotation direction.

(61) TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 THE RELATION BETWEEN MOVING PART AND MOVEMENT AMOUNT WHEN A MOVEMENT OF THE EPIGLOTTIS BECAME SLOW MOVEMENT AMOUNT MOVING PART X DIRECTION Y DIRECTION ROTATION TONGUE A −1 * sin(t) − 0.5 2 * sin(t − 1) — B −3 * sin(t) −3 * sin(t) − 1 — C −sin(t − 1) − 1.0 −4 * sin(t − 1) — D −2.0 * sin(t) − 2.0 −2*sin(t − 3) + 2 — SOFT PALATE −2 * sin(t) 0 0.5 * sin(t − 3) EPIGLOTTIS sin(t + 1.2) − 0.8 −sin(t + 1.2) + 1 0.4 * sin (t + 1.2) − 0.3 GULLET WALL −2 * sin(t + 1.2) −2 * sin(t + 1.2) 0

(62) FIG. 8 illustrates the simulation results of the case where the movement of the epiglottis 17 became slow. As seen from comparison with FIG. 4, in FIG. 4, at t.sub.nd=0.48, the epiglottis 17 completely “lids” the respiratory tract 14 to prevent a flow of the liquid 41 to the respiratory tract 14. However, it is recognized that in FIG. 8, where functional restriction is made, the epiglottis 17 does not function and most of the water 41 is accidentally ingested to the respiratory tract 14.

(63) Table 3 illustrates analysis conditions where a movement amount of the entrance portion of the gullet 13 is small. Specifically, a moving speed of the gullet wall that walls the gullet 13 and the respiratory tract 14 is set slow (to the half).

(64) TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 THE RELATION BETWEEN MOVING PART AND MOVEMENT AMOUNT WHEN A MOVEMENT AMOUNT OF THE ENTRANCE PORTION OF THE GULLET IS SMALL MOVEMENT AMOUNT MOVING PART X DIRECTION Y DIRECTION ROTATION TONGUE A −1 * sin(t) − 0.5 2 * sin(t − 1) — B −3 * sin(t) −3 * sin(t) − 1 — C −sin(t − 1) − 1.0 −4 * sin(t − 1) — D −2.0 * sin(t) − 2.0 −2 * sin(t − 3) + 2 — SOFT PALATE −2 * sin(t) 0 0.5 * sin(t − 3) EPIGLOTTIS sin(t + 1.2) − 0.8 −sin(t + 1.2) + 1 0.8 * sin(t + 1.2) − 0.6 GULLET WALL 1 * sin(t + 1.2) −1 * sin(t + 1.2) 0

(65) FIG. 9 illustrates the simulation results. As seen from comparison with FIG. 4, in FIG. 4, at t.sub.nd=0.48, the epiglottis 17 completely “lids” the respiratory tract 14 to prevent a flow of the liquid 41 to the respiratory tract 14. However, in FIG. 9, where functional restriction is made, the following can be observed. The epiglottis 17 cannot completely close the respiratory tract 14. Then the half of the water 41 flows to the respiratory tract 14, causing accidental ingestion (accidental inspiration). Thus, a functional deterioration causing an accidental swallowing and accidental ingestion can be examined simulatively with simple setting change.

(66) As described above, the simulator allows analysis of a behavior of the various food product or similar product while being swallowed. A three dimensional analysis is required for quantitative examination. However, in either two dimension or three dimension, the particle method is superior in that these swallowing phenomena are revealed. This respect is advantages in the case where the particle method is applied to the swallowing simulator.

(67) FIG. 10 illustrates an exemplary processing flow of the swallowing simulation method according to the first embodiment. First, the oral cavity model 11 formed of oral cavity organs is formed (S010: oral cavity modeling step). Next, an organ property of each of the oral cavity organs in the oral cavity model 11 is set (S020: organ property setting step). Next, a movement of each of the oral cavity organs in the oral cavity model 11 is set (S030: organ movement setting step). Next, the food product or similar product as an analysis target and a physical property of the food product or similar product are set (S040: food product physical property setting step). These setting contents can be freely selected according to the condition. The setting contents are stored to the storage unit 83. Next, the pseudo food products 41 to 44 formed by modeling the food product are input to the oral cavity (S050: input step). The pseudo food products 41 to 44 are input, for example, by dragging the cursor in the oral cavity with the computer mouse by the evaluator. Next, a movement of each of the oral cavity organs and behaviors of the pseudo food products 41 to 44 while being swallowed in the oral cavity model 11 are analyzed using the particle method (S060: movement analysis step). An MSP method, for example, can be used. Next, analysis results obtained in the movement analysis step (S060) are displayed (S070: display step). Next, easiness of eating and/or easiness of drinking of the food product are evaluated based on the analysis result of the behavior of the pseudo food product 41 while being swallowed (S080: evaluation step). Evaluation is made by the evaluator while viewing the moving screen on the display unit 82. “Good”, “poor”, a rank, a score, or similar evaluation is input to a cell in an evaluation table displayed on the display unit 82, for example. After the evaluation, the step is returned to the food product physical property setting step (S040), the physical property of the food product is changed and set, and then the subsequent steps are repeatedly performed to the evaluation step. A physical property value to be changed can be freely selected by determination of the evaluator. However, when an appropriate physical property is found at the first trial, the subsequent settings and evaluations may be omitted. Next, the physical property of the food product determined as appropriate in the evaluation step (S080) is determined (S090: physical property determination step). Here, an appropriate physical property range may be indicated, an appropriate physical property may be classified into ranks, or an optimum value may be selected.

(68) Evaluation items are, for example, as follows.

(69) (a) Whether the swallowing, the accidental swallowing or accidental ingestion risk (the food product adheres to the palate wall and difficult to be peeled off, obstructs the throat or the gullet, or enters the respiratory tract) exists or not

(70) (b) How long is the swallowing period? Is the threshold exceeded?

(71) (c) How much are stress and shear stress applied to the throat wall? Is the threshold exceeded?

(72) (d) Based on (a) to (c), considering correlativity with a sensory evaluation (tasty, exhilarating feeling, or similar feeling) whose data has been obtained separately, easiness of drinking, easiness of eating, difficulty of drinking, and difficulty of eating are evaluated comprehensively

(73) As described above, according to the embodiment, the organ properties, the movements of the oral cavity organs, and the physical property of the food product are set about the oral cavity model 11. Then, the behavior of the food product is analyzed using the particle method. This allows to analyze a phenomenon of swallowing using the swallowing simulation method that facilitates reproduction of the actual phenomenon of swallowing.

Second Embodiment

(74) In the first embodiment, an exemplary swallowing evaluation made by inputting the food product and viewing the moving image by the evaluator is described. In the second embodiment, an example where the swallowing simulation apparatus automatically inputs the food product based on the setting and automatically performs the swallowing evaluation is described. The following mainly describes the points different from the first embodiment (similarly, in the following embodiments, the points different from an antecedent embodiment are mainly described).

(75) FIG. 11 illustrates an exemplary configuration of the swallowing simulation apparatus 100B according to the second embodiment. An evaluation unit 60, the pseudo screen display unit 82A, and the food product input setting unit 45 are added in the personal computer (PC) compared with the first embodiment (see FIG. 2). The evaluation unit 60 automatically evaluates easiness of eating and/or easiness of drinking of the food product. The pseudo screen display unit 82A displays the analysis result of the behavior of the pseudo food product while being swallowed on the virtual moving screen. The food product input setting unit 45 sets an input condition of the pseudo food product. The evaluation condition storage unit 83A is added in the storage unit 83. The evaluation condition storage unit 83A stores an evaluation condition. Other configurations are same to the first embodiment.

(76) FIG. 12 illustrates an exemplary processing flow of the swallowing simulation method. A food product input setting step (S045) is added before the input step (S050) compared with the first embodiment (see FIG. 10). The food product input setting step (S045) sets the input condition of the food product. The display step (S070) for displaying the moving screen on the display unit 82 is replaced by the step for displaying the virtual moving screen on the pseudo screen display unit 82A (S075). In the evaluation step (S080), the evaluation unit 60 makes an automatic evaluation. Other steps are same to the first embodiment.

(77) In the second embodiment, an injection position and injection timing of the food product are preset to the food product input setting unit 45 (S045: food product input setting step). The injection position of the pseudo food product in the oral cavity is, for example, set near the teeth in the oral cavity (for example, within ½ length of the pseudo food product). Next, the pseudo food product is injected in the oral cavity in accordance with the setting conditions (position and timing) (S050: input step). For automatic evaluation, the evaluation condition is preliminarily stored to the evaluation condition storage unit 83A. The behaviors of the oral cavity model 11 and the pseudo food product 41 as the analysis results of the simulations are displayed on the virtual moving screen of the pseudo screen display unit 82A in the personal computer PC. The display of the pseudo screen display unit 82A is collated with the evaluation condition of the evaluation condition storage unit 83A by the evaluation unit 60. Thus, evaluation is performed.

(78) Evaluation items are, for example, as follows.

(79) (a) Whether a swallowing, an accidental swallowing or an accidental ingestion risk (the food product adheres to the palate wall or the like and difficult to be peeled off, obstructs the throat or the gullet, or enters the respiratory tract) exists or not

(80) (b) How long is the swallowing period? Is the threshold exceeded?

(81) (c) How much are stress or shear stress applied to the throat wall? Is the threshold exceeded?

(82) (d) Based on (a) to (c), considering correlativity with a sensory evaluation (tasty, exhilarating feeling, or similar feeling) whose data has been obtained separately, easiness of drinking, easiness of eating, difficulty of drinking, or difficulty of eating is evaluated comprehensively. (a) to (c) and the sensory evaluations are preliminarily converted into values, respectively. Then, the values are multiplied by a weighting factor and are summed. The total is automatically and comprehensively evaluated. (c) and the sensory evaluation may be omitted.

(83) Other configurations and processing flows are same to the first embodiment. Similarly to the first embodiment, this allows to analyze a phenomenon of swallowing using the swallowing simulation method that facilitate reproduction of the actual phenomenon of swallowing.

(84) Additionally, even the case where one of the input and the evaluation is performed by the human and the other is performed by the computer is similarly applicable and similar effects can be achieved.

Third Embodiment

(85) While in the above described embodiments, an example of evaluation by the evaluator and an example of automatic evaluation by the swallowing simulation apparatus are described, the evaluation result (partial or overall evaluation result) may be displayed on the swallowing simulation apparatus for requesting the evaluator to evaluate. Regarding a processing flow, in the evaluation step (S080) of the second embodiment, the evaluation result (partial or overall evaluation result) by the swallowing simulation apparatus is displayed on the display unit 82 together with the evaluation table. With reference to the evaluation result by the swallowing simulation apparatus, the evaluator inputs his/her evaluation result on the evaluation table. The input step (S050) may be manually input by the human or may be automatically input. Other apparatus configurations and processing flows are same to the second embodiment. Similarly to the second embodiment, the swallowing simulation apparatus and the swallowing simulation method that facilitate reproduction of the actual phenomenon of swallowing can be provided.

Fourth Embodiment

(86) In the above described embodiments, the physical property of the food product or similar product automatically determined as appropriate by the physical property determiner 70 is described as an example. In this embodiment, an exemplary determination made by the human is described. In the apparatus configuration of the embodiment, typically, the physical property determiner 70 in FIG. 2 of the first embodiment is removed. FIG. 10 can be used as an exemplary processing flow. The physical property determiner 70 may be present. In this case, the physical property determiner 70 is not used or a determination result by the physical property determiner 70 is shown to a decider (for example, the evaluator) as a reference. The physical property of the food product or similar product is determined as appropriate by the human. However, there is no difference in that the determination is made based on the evaluation result. Although, the determination is possibly slightly changed in an intellectual process, almost similar results are predicted. Other apparatus configurations and processing flows are same to the first embodiment. Similarly to the first embodiment, the swallowing simulation apparatus and the swallowing simulation method that facilitate reproduction of the actual phenomenon of swallowing can be provided. When a determination is made by the human, this applies to the second embodiment and the third embodiment similarly to the first embodiment.

Fifth Embodiment

(87) (Diagnosis Assistance)

(88) In this embodiment, an exemplary application of the swallowing simulator according to the present invention to assistance for swallowing diagnosis is described.

(89) FIG. 15 illustrates a configuration of a swallowing simulation apparatus 100C according to the embodiment. An organ movement determiner 75 and a determination organ movement condition recording unit 83E are added to, and the organ property setting unit 20 is removed from the swallowing simulation apparatus 100A according to the first embodiment (see FIG. 2). Additionally, the organ movement setting unit 30 is more frequently used. The organ movement setting unit 30 sets movement properties of each of the oral cavity organs related to the swallowing movement. For example, a rate of reaction, timing of contract and relax, contract distance, elasticity (flexibility) and the like of a genioglossus and other muscles related to the swallowing, or similar property are set as movement parameters. Then, the organ movement determiner 75 determines an organ movement parameter of each of the oral cavity organs based on simulation results, that is, the analysis results analyzed by the movement analysis unit 50. A slow traveling wave motion of the tongue, for example, takes time to reach the swallowing. A slow reaction of the epiglottis 17 possibly causes the food product or similar product to enter the respiratory tract 14 through the larynx, resulting in accidental swallowing. This allows obtaining the organ movement parameters for each of the oral cavity organs finely fitting a behavior and a symptom of each of the oral cavity organs of a patient or a person to be diagnosed for checkup. The determination organ movement condition recording unit 83E records the organ movement parameter obtained by the organ movement determiner 75.

(90) Then, based on the results of the oral cavity model 11 and the swallowing simulation, for example, whether muscle of the patient or the person subject to checkup is functionally deteriorated in the swallowing or not is diagnosed, and it comes to be useful in treatment. Since the organ function is put more importance than the physical property of the food product or similar product in diagnosis, a loop process may not be performed on the physical property and the physical property may be fixed. Such simulation apparatus can also be incorporated into the swallowing diagnosis assistance apparatus. The swallowing diagnosis assistance apparatus with medical treatment diagnosis result database that records diagnosis result on the patient or the person subject to checkup is configured, for example. The diagnosis result recorded in the medical treatment diagnosis result database is compared with the evaluation result recorded in the evaluation result recording unit 83B of the swallowing simulation apparatus 100C. This allows finding a functionally deteriorated portion of each of the oral cavity organs, thus ensuring prompt diagnosis. This comparison can be, for example, performed by a diagnosis result comparator, allowing a doctor to refer to the comparison result and update the diagnosis result. The organ property setting unit 20 may be present.

(91) FIG. 16 illustrates an exemplary processing flow of the simulation method according to the embodiment. A loop that changes the organ movement parameter is added to the swallowing simulation method according to the first embodiment (see FIG. 10). That is, after the loop process where the parameter of the physical property is changed, a loop process that changes the organ movement parameter is performed. Here, the physical property determination and the organ properties determination do not find a physical property and an organ movement appropriate for swallowing, but are used as loops that look for the organ movement parameter fitting to the symptom of the patient or the person to be diagnosed for checkup. The processing flows are terminated after simulations are performed with sequentially changed parameters and the physical property and the organ properties fitting to the behavior or the symptom of each oral cavity organ of the patient or the person to be diagnosed for checkup are found (organ movement determination step S096). It is also possible to predict the parameter after the treatment, continue the simulation, and obtain an improvement effect of treatment.

(92) (Program)

(93) The present invention is also applicable as a program readable by the computer to make the computer execute the above described swallowing simulation methods. Additionally, the present invention can be achieved as a storage medium to store the program. The program may be stored to the controller of the swallowing simulation apparatus for use, may be stored to the built-in or external storage device for use, or may be downloaded from the Internet for use.

(94) The preferred embodiments of the present invention are described above. However, the present invention should not be limited to these embodiments. Various improvements are possible without departing from the spirit and the scope of the present invention.

(95) While in the above described embodiments, for example, exemplary movements of the moving wall of the tongue, the soft palate, the epiglottis, and the gullet wall are described, the motion equation and the parameter can be freely changed. Additionally, a movement can be given to other than the above described four organs, for example, a tooth. Thus, an influence of mastication to the swallowing can be reflected. The exemplary food products are up to two. However, the three or more food products can be operated together and the behavior can be analyzed. Further, an analysis of solids with mutually different physical property value, for example, chocolate covering peanuts (solid-solid), an analysis of chocolate incorporating liqueur (solid-liquid), and also an analysis of mixed liquid of liquid (liquid-liquid) with mutually different physical property value, for example, dressing (oil and vinegar) are possible. Besides, the details can be variously changed, for example, the organs and the food products can be displayed in different colors.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

(96) The present invention is used for an analysis of a swallowing condition of a food and drink.

(97) Use of the terms “a,” “an,” “the” and similar referents used in the context in explanation of the invention (particularly in the context of claims as described below) is to be construed to cover both the singular form and the plural form, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including” and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (more specifically, meaning “including, but not limited to”) unless otherwise noted. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated herein as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (“such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language herein should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention.

(98) Preferred embodiments of the invention are described herein, including the best mode known to the present inventors for carrying out the present invention. Variations of the preferred embodiments may become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The present inventors expect skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the present inventors intend for the invention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, the invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS AND SYMBOLS

(99) 10 oral cavity modeling unit 11 oral cavity model 12 oral cavity wall 13 gullet 14 respiratory tract 15 tongue 16 soft palate 17 epiglottis 18 moving wall 19 gullet wall 20 organ property setting unit 30 organ movement setting unit 40 food product physical property setting unit 41 to 44, 49 pseudo food product 45 food product input setting unit 50 movement analysis unit 60 evaluation unit 70 physical property determiner 75 organ movement determiner 81 input unit 82 display unit 82A pseudo screen display unit 83 storage unit 83A evaluation condition storage unit 83B evaluation result recording unit 83E determination organ movement condition recording unit 90 controller 100A, 100B, 100C swallowing simulation apparatus PC personal computer t.sub.nd dimensionless swallowing period