Validation of the IDDSI funnel for liquid flow testing.

Area of Science:

• Dietetics
• Medical Devices
• Swallowing Disorders

Background:

• The International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative (IDDSI) flow test, introduced in 2017, classifies liquid thickness using a syringe.
• Barriers to the IDDSI flow test include syringe accessibility, variations in syringe geometry, and complex sample loading.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and evaluate the IDDSI funnel, a novel device designed to overcome the limitations of the original IDDSI flow test syringe.
• To compare the performance of the IDDSI funnel against the standard BD 303134 syringe for classifying liquid thickness.

Main Methods:

• The IDDSI funnel, combining syringe geometry with a kitchen funnel, was developed for easier sample loading.
• IDDSI flow test results were compared between the BD 303134 syringe and the IDDSI funnel across various fluids and temperatures.

Main Results:

• The IDDSI funnel demonstrated excellent correspondence with the syringe reference test.
• Complete agreement in IDDSI level classifications was achieved in 92% (67/73) of test conditions.
• The mean difference in residual liquid between the devices was minimal (0.2 or 2% full scale).

Conclusions:

• The IDDSI funnel effectively addresses the accessibility and usability barriers associated with the original IDDSI flow test.
• The IDDSI funnel provides reliable and consistent results, comparable to the established syringe method for dysphagia diet standardization.