Yi-Chun Du, Professor | National Cheng Kung University; Hui-Chen Su, Dr.; Wei-Siang Ciou, PhD; Yi-Jing Huang, Master; Chien-Yu Lee, BA
Competition Sponsor: Academia Sinica
Awardee Year: 2024
As society ages, elderly individuals face the challenge of swallowing difficulties, which, in severe cases, can lead to malnutrition, dehydration, and an increased risk of aspiration pneumonia, significantly raising mortality rates among the elderly. This study proposes an innovative wearable system for home-based monitoring of elderly swallowing function. The system quantifies swallowing parameters during the oral and pharyngeal phases using advanced intraoral endoscopy, multi-point tongue pressure sensors, and dual-channel technology, providing clinicians with a more comprehensive assessment basis. This home-based self-assessment system offers early detection of swallowing dysfunctions, reduces associated risks, and promotes rehabilitation tracking for the elderly. It addresses the unmet needs in current clinical practices and fulfills the market demand for home-based swallowing function self-assessment systems. The device is expected to significantly improve the objectivity and comprehensiveness of clinical assessments while mitigating the drawbacks of traditional invasive examinations and radiation exposure.