Dysphagia questiond

Could you expand on the kind of thing you are thinking of?

I feel a greater explanation and definition may be required please. Achalasia by definition is the condition and dysphagia the overarching discription of difficulty swallowing; a symptom associated with many conditions, physical, neurological and emotional.

What are you suggesting?

I am working with a team of Yale students to build an electrically stimulated device that will apply the correct amount of electrical stimulation to the larynx in order to lift up the voice box the appropriate amount and close the epiglottis in order to help prevent dysphagia at mealtime. Do you think this is something those who suffer from dysphagia would be willing to try? 

We are essentially using the same technology that current Vital Stim therapeutic approach uses by way of electrical stimulation. The difference with our device, however, is that it is patient or caretaker-operated and does not require the dysphagia patient to go to a hosipital to use.

It depends what is causing the dysphagia in the first place I feel as to how successful such a device would be. Whilst it is true that in Achalasia, nuerological impulses (and therefore parestalsis) is often absent, the actual ability to swallow in the first instant isn't always the issue.... it is then getting the food to pass down the inactive oesophagus and then to have the cardiac sphincter recognise that food needs to pass into the stomach and therefore it needs to open. In achalasia sufferers the sphincter can remain inactive, or go into spasm causing regurgitation and pain.

A  device producing an electrical impulse concentrating on the swallowing mechanism probably wouldn't help most achalasia sufferers, as this isn't usually the problem area. However, if such a device were to be applied to the cardiac sphincter, then this would become a major breakthrough for patients who suffer from this miserable and life challenging condition.   

I have oesophageal dysmotility disorder and therefore have swallowing difficulties. I have tried a device which is currently being used for migraines and works on stimulating the vagus nerve. I, however found it did not help me. What will this device work on?