Dysphagia test device, dysphagia test method, dysphagia treatment device, and stimulating current setting method

A dysphagia treatment device comprising:

• a current application unit configured to be attached to a target portion of a treated person in order to percutaneously apply current to a biological tissue of a neck including superior laryngeal nerve of the treated person;
• a processor configured to control the current application unit such that percutaneous stimulation caused by an interference wave or a pseudo interference wave is applied to the biological tissue;
• an operation unit configured to adjust the current to be applied by the current application unit, to a sensory threshold at which the treated person becomes aware of the percutaneous stimulation;
• a display unit configured to display index information based on the sensory threshold and
• a storage unit in which the index information is stored in chronological order, wherein
• the processor sets a current value for treatment to be provided to the treated person, on the basis of the sensory threshold adjusted through the operation unit,
• the sensory threshold is the smallest value of the current that allows, when the current is percutaneously applied to the neck for several seconds, the treated person to subjectively sense the percutaneous stimulation by the current,
• the index information is the sensory threshold or a current value for treatment of dysphagia, the current value being set on the basis of the sensory threshold,
• the current application unit includes electrodes which include a positive-side electrode and a negative-side electrode as a pair, the electrodes configured to be adhered to the neck of the treated person,
• the operation unit includes a key for causing the index information stored in the storage unit to be displayed, and
• the processor causes the display unit to display the index information stored in the storage unit, in response to an operation performed on the key in order to cause the index information to be displayed.

A dysphagia treatment device comprising:

• a current application unit configured to be attached to a target portion of a treated person in order to percutaneously apply current to a biological tissue of a neck including superior laryngeal nerve of the treated person;
• a processor configured to control the current application unit such that percutaneous stimulation caused by an interference wave or a pseudo interference wave is applied to the biological tissue;
• an operation unit configured to adjust the current to be applied by the current application unit, to a sensory threshold at which the treated person becomes aware of the percutaneous stimulation;
• and
• a storage unit in which the index information is stored in chronological order, wherein
• the processor sets, for the current application unit, a current value for treatment to be provided to the treated person, on the basis of the sensory threshold adjusted through the operation unit,
• the sensory threshold is the smallest value of the current that allows, when the current is percutaneously applied to the neck for several seconds, the treated person to subjectively sense the percutaneous stimulation by the current,
• the current application unit includes electrodes which include a positive-side electrode and a negative-side electrode as a pair, the electrodes configured to be adhered to the neck of the treated person,
• the processor is configured to determine the sensory threshold by varying voltages to be respectively applied by the electrodes in accordance with an operation performed on the operation unit, thereby to vary the current percutaneously applied to the biological tissue,
• the operation unit includes a key for causing the index information stored in the storage unit to be displayed, and
• the processor causes the display unit to display the index information stored in the storage unit, in response to an operation performed on the key in order to cause the index information to be displayed.