Methods for assessing swallowing motor function

An apparatus for enabling an assessment of swallowing motor function in a subject, the apparatus including:

• a processor;
• a memory;
• and
• software resident in memory accessible to the processor, the software executable by the processor to carry out a series of steps including:
• (a) accept, as an input, intraluminal impedance measurements and pressure measurements obtained from the pharynx, the esophagus or a combination of the pharynx and esophagus of a subject during clearance of a bolus from the mouth, the throat or a combination of the mouth and throat of the subject;
• (b) combine and analyse the intraluminal impedance and pressure measurements to derive a value for one or more pressure-flow variables in the pharynx, the esophagus or a combination of the pharynx and esophagus of the subject, said combining and analyzing including:
• (i) using the intraluminal impedance measurements to generate an impedance waveform during clearance of the bolus, and using the pressure measurements to generate a pressure waveform during clearance of the bolus;
• and
• (ii) using the intraluminal impedance waveform to plot a pressure measurement during clearance of the bolus, or using the pressure waveform to plot an intraluminal impedance measurement during clearance of the bolus;
• or
• (iii) using the intraluminal impedance waveform to plot a pressure measurement during clearance of the bolus and using the pressure waveform to plot an intraluminal impedance measurement during clearance of the bolus;
• wherein a value for at least one of the pressure-flow variables is derived from identifying the nadir of the impedance waveform (NadImp), and wherein the NadImp is a time marker to plot intraluminal distension pressure;
• (c) perform a comparison between the value of the one or more pressure-flow variables with a predetermined pharyngeal, esophageal or combined pharyngeal and esophageal reference value for the one or more pressure-flow variables;
• and
• (d) provide, as an output, an assessment of swallowing motor function in the subject on the basis of the comparison.

A computer readable media including a set of instructions in the form of a computer software program, the instructions being executable by a processing device on-board a programmed computer, wherein execution of the instructions causes the programmed computer to:

• (a) accept, as an input, intraluminal impedance measurements and pressure measurements obtained from the pharynx, the esophagus or a combination of the pharynx and esophagus of a subject during clearance of a bolus from the mouth, the throat or a combination of the mouth and throat of the subject;
• (b) combine and analyse the intraluminal impedance and pressure measurements to derive a value for one or more pressure-flow variables in the pharynx, the esophagus or a combination of the pharynx and esophagus of the subject, said combining and analyzing including:
• (i) using the intraluminal impedance measurements to generate an impedance waveform during clearance of the bolus, and using the pressure measurements to generate a pressure waveform during clearance of the bolus;
• and
• (ii) using the intraluminal impedance waveform to plot a pressure measurement during clearance of the bolus, or using the pressure waveform to plot an intraluminal impedance measurement during clearance of the bolus;
• or
• (iii) using the intraluminal impedance waveform to plot a pressure measurement during clearance of the bolus and using the pressure waveform to plot an intraluminal impedance measurement during clearance of the bolus;
• wherein a value for at least one of the pressure-flow variables is derived from identifying the nadir of the impedance waveform (NadImp), and wherein the NadImp is a time marker to plot intraluminal distension pressure;
• (c) perform a comparison between the value of the one or more pressure-flow variables with a predetermined pharyngeal, esophageal or combined pharyngeal and esophageal reference value for the one or more pressure-flow variables;
• and
• (d) provide, as an output, an assessment of swallowing motor function in the subject on the basis of the comparison.