A Fiber-Optic Non-Invasive Swallowing Assessment Device Based on a Wearable Pressure Sensor.

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Sensor Technology
• Physiology

Background:

• Swallowing disorders affect many individuals, particularly older adults.
• Accurate assessment of laryngeal movement during swallowing is crucial for diagnosis.
• Current assessment methods can be invasive or lack detailed physiological data.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a wearable swallowing assessment device.
• To utilize a novel fiber-optic pressure sensor for detecting laryngeal movement.
• To investigate age-related differences in swallowing function.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a wearable hetero-core fiber-optic pressure sensor.
• Attachment of the sensor to the neck to monitor laryngeal movement during swallowing.
• Acquisition and analysis of swallowing waveforms from subjects aged 30-60.

Main Results:

• The sensor demonstrated high sensitivity (0.592 dB/kPa) and linearity (R² = 0.995).
• The device accurately captured subtle laryngeal movements and characteristic swallowing waveforms.
• Statistically significant differences in swallowing times and functions were observed across age groups (p < 0.05).

Conclusions:

• The wearable fiber-optic pressure sensor is a sensitive and accurate tool for swallowing assessment.
• The device can effectively identify age-related declines in swallowing function.
• This technology offers a promising non-invasive method for evaluating swallowing physiology.