Soft skin-interfaced mechano-acoustic sensors for real-time monitoring and patient feedback on respiratory and swallowing biomechanics

Abstract

Swallowing is a complex neuromuscular activity regulated by the autonomic nervous system. Millions of adults suffer from dysphagia (impaired or difficulty swallowing), including patients with neurological disorders, head and neck cancer, gastrointestinal diseases, and respiratory disorders. Therapeutic treatments for dysphagia include interventions by speech-language pathologists designed to improve the physiology of the swallowing mechanism by training patients to initiate swallows with sufficient frequency and during the expiratory phase of the breathing cycle. These therapeutic treatments require bulky, expensive equipment to synchronously record swallows and respirations, confined to use in clinical settings. This paper introduces a wireless, wearable technology that enables continuous, mechanoacoustic tracking of respiratory activities and swallows through movements and vibratory processes monitored at the skin surface. Validation studies in healthy adults (n = 67) and patients with dysphagia (n = 4) establish measurement equivalency to existing clinical standard equipment. Additional studies using a differential mode of operation reveal similar performance even during routine daily activities and vigorous exercise. A graphical user interface with real-time data analytics and a separate, optional wireless module support both visual and haptic forms of feedback to facilitate the treatment of patients with dysphagia.

Batch Fabrication of Paper-Based Waterproof Flexible Pressure Sensors Enabled by Roll-to-Roll Lamination

“…This capability is attributed to the sensor’s high sensitivity and its conformal attachment to the wrist surface. Furthermore, the detection of swallowing signals is also a valuable health reference Figure b shows the swallowing signal captured by the sensor.…”

“…Furthermore, the detection of swallowing signals is also a valuable health reference. 51 Figure 4b shows the swallowing signal captured by the sensor. The first and second signals represent the normal swallowing signals of saliva.…”

Advances for Dysphagia in the Digital Age: Integrative Imaging and Wearable Technologies

“…However, these sensors have a mostly rigid form (which is not ideal for the curvilinear surface of the submental region), allow measurement on one muscle location per sensor (e.g., measurements from one side of the neck) or require multiple sensors to be used at once to cover the orofacial or submental areas, and overall remain costly. Some of the newer highly flexible wearable sensors that have emerged are designed for large areas of the body (e.g., chest or legs) [81] or are multi-sensors that remain experimental [82]. Further, despite commercialization efforts of several of these technologies, their efficacy in diagnosing or treating swallowing function remains understudied.…”

Incorporating Wireless Strategies to Wearable Devices Enabled by a Photocurable Hydrogel for Monitoring Pressure Information

“…Therefore, they have tremendous utility in health, ranging from enhancing our understanding of adult physiology to monitoring vital signs during intensive neonatal care. [ 18–20 ] Moreover, passive wireless devices are rapidly emerging as alternatives to conventional battery‐powered devices, as they can be engineered to consume lower power, possess smaller sizes, promise to enhance user mobility, and reduce the need for user intervention. [ 21–24 ] Hitherto, they have been applied for wireless measurement of pressure, temperature, humidity, and specific components in sweat, which is promising for environmental monitoring, implantable medicine, and so on.…”