PURPOSE: Assessment of swallowing dysfunction, particularly the risk of aspiration, is extremely important to clinicians because it provides crucial information for preventing morbidity and mortality from dysphagia. The purpose of this study was to describe a magneto-impedance sensor-aided screening system (MISS) for assessing swallowing function and clarify its effectiveness with the repetitive saliva-swallowing test (RSST). METHODS: An MI sensor attached to the skin over the sternum detected the distance from a magnet attached to the skin over the thyroid cartilage during swallowing as the change of magnetic fields. The MISS was validated by videofluoroscopic and videoendoscopic observations. Further, the swallowing behavior of 93 individuals was assessed by using the MISS and then analyzed with the RSST. Swallowing behavior can be recorded and investigated objectively by signal inspection in the MISS compared with the conventional methods. The MISS is a simple and straightforward method for recording and safe because of dry swallow. The MISS system was validated by using simultaneous recordings with videofluoroscopic or videoendoscopic examinations, and compared with the conventional RSST method. CONCLUSIONS: The MISS combined with the RSST is an effective screening test for swallowing function.
PURPOSE: Assessment of swallowing dysfunction, particularly the risk of aspiration, is extremely important to clinicians because it provides crucial information for preventing morbidity and mortality from dysphagia. The purpose of this study was to describe a magneto-impedance sensor-aided screening system (MISS) for assessing swallowing function and clarify its effectiveness with the repetitive saliva-swallowing test (RSST). METHODS: An MI sensor attached to the skin over the sternum detected the distance from a magnet attached to the skin over the thyroid cartilage during swallowing as the change of magnetic fields. The MISS was validated by videofluoroscopic and videoendoscopic observations. Further, the swallowing behavior of 93 individuals was assessed by using the MISS and then analyzed with the RSST. Swallowing behavior can be recorded and investigated objectively by signal inspection in the MISS compared with the conventional methods. The MISS is a simple and straightforward method for recording and safe because of dry swallow. The MISS system was validated by using simultaneous recordings with videofluoroscopic or videoendoscopic examinations, and compared with the conventional RSST method. CONCLUSIONS: The MISS combined with the RSST is an effective screening test for swallowing function.