Apparatuses for detecting and/or diagnosing swallowing disorders

An apparatus for testing a patient, the apparatus comprising:

• a disposable sensor base comprising a first side and a second side, the disposable sensor base comprising a sensor interface having a directionally-keyed mating surface, the sensor interface comprising a slit in the sensor base that comprises one or more notched portions, the directionally-keyed mating surface configured to impose orientational constraint;
• and
• a sensor comprising
• a handle portion,
• a support portion comprising one or more projections configured to cooperate with the one or more notch portions when the sensor is inserted into the interface, and
• electronics configured to collect data sensed by the sensor, the disposable sensor base is sized and shaped to contact the patient such that during the testing the first side contacts the patient and is distanced from the sensor, and the second side mates with the sensor and is distanced from the patient.

A method for detecting a swallowing disorder, the method comprising:

• using an apparatus for testing a patient, the apparatus comprising
• a disposable sensor base comprising a first side and a second side, the disposable sensor base comprising a sensor interface having a predetermined shape and a directionally-keyed mating surface, the sensor comprising a slit in the sensor base that comprises one or more notched portions, the directionally-keyed mating surface configured to impose orientational constraint, and a sensor comprising a handle portion configured to be gripped and handled during assembly of the apparatus, the handle portion having a shape that corresponds to the predetermined shape of the sensor interface, and a support portion comprising one or more projections, the support portion configured to be received by the directionally-keyed mating surface when the sensor is inserted into the sensor interface, the one or more projections configured to cooperate with the one or more notch portions when the sensor is inserted into the interface, the disposable sensor base is sized and shaped to contact the patient such that during the testing the first side contacts the patient and is distanced from the sensor, and the second side mates with the sensor and is distanced from the patient;
• attaching the apparatus to an individual's neck;
• and
• sensing, with the sensor, a physiological occurrence during an individual's swallow.