Relieve the suffering for people with dysphagia

American experts have built a device that can support the eating of those with choking swallowing.

Illustration. (Source Cnet).

You may have heard less about oropharyngeal dysphagia, but this is a relatively common and very serious symptom, which can lead to dehydration, pneumonia, malnutrition, depression and death. death. In the United States alone, about 16.5 million people suffer from it, according to Gizmag (Australia).

The term ' almost choking swallow ' is used to describe dysphagia, which may be a result of stroke, neck and head cancer, head injury, old age and diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. . Invasive surgical techniques are the primary treatment, but effective . when they are not.

Now, however, surgeons at the University of California at Davis have pioneered a new method: using a simple, tiny device placed in the throat, and patients can Control this device by hand whenever they want to swallow.

Professor Peter Belafsky spent five years researching and manufacturing this device, taking the idea from his daughter's ear ring . The device includes an external pin plug of the patient's neck skin, which is attached to a titanium rod through the skin and neck tissue. The stick is connected to a disc the size of a postage stamp attached to the neck cartilage.

When the patient wants to put food or water down his throat, they pull up the latch with his hand, causing the patient's larynx to move forward and his esophagus opens.

So far this new device is being tested on Daniel Fiandra, a Uruguayan doctor who cannot eat or drink in any other way than using catheters for the past 2 years. After transplanting Dr. Fiandra in August and monitoring his progress, Professor Belafsky recently announced that his device worked successfully.

Professor Belafsky said: ' Most doctors often do not think about the complex physical processes of chewing and swallowing. But now, I strongly believe that a tiny biomedical device can help improve the quality of life of those suffering from almost choking swallowing .

According to CNET , the University of California has applied for a patent for the technology. The researchers' next step will be to get permission from the US Food and Drug Administration to conduct clinical trials in the country, and finding funding for these tests is now a concern. Professor Belafsky's head.