Patent ID: 8251927

Claim:
A computer-implemented system for analyzing a swallowing process and an oropharyngeal motor response in humans, the computer implemented system comprising: an exposure unit for exposing a head and neck area of an individual to external stimuli; a data capture unit for capturing data from the individual's response to the external stimuli; a data digitization unit for digitizing the captured data; a digitized data processing unit for processing the digitized data; a memory unit for storing the digitized data and the processed data; a processed data display unit for displaying the processed data; wherein the digitization unit, the memory unit and the processed data display unit are controlled by a computer program; wherein the captured data includes a continuous data sequence; wherein the processing unit qualitatively and quantitatively analyzes and measures the captured data with respect to temporal and spatial reference systems, including measuring one or several events or points in the swallowing process time during the data sequence with respect to the initial reference instant (T=0), including the instant of inhalation of a substance to the respiratory tract and at least the moments of opening and closing of the glossopalatine seal, of the velopharyngeal seal, of the laryngeal vestibule and of the upper oesophageal sphincter, said swallowing process and an oropharyngeal motor response being represented by the continuous data sequence; and wherein the continuous data sequence display unit includes a display and a processing unit which displays the continuous data sequence at a rate equal to the actual rate of the swallowing process and an oropharyngeal motor response or at a rate which is the result of multiplying the actual rate by a coefficient selectable by the user.