We describe a novel device and method for real-time measurement of lingual-palatal pressure and automatic identification of the oral transfer phase of deglutition. Clinical measurement of the oral transport phase of swallowing is a complicated process requiring either placement of obstructive sensors or sitting within a fluoroscope or articulograph for recording. Existing detection algorithms distinguish oral events with EMG, sound, and pressure signals from the head and neck, but are imprecise and frequently result in false detection. We placed seven pressure sensors on a molded mouthpiece fitting over the upper teeth and hard palate and recorded pressure during a variety of swallow and non-swallow activities. Pressure measures and swallow times from 12 healthy and 7 Parkinson's subjects provided training data for a time-delay artificial neural network to categorize the recordings as swallow or non-swallow events. User-specific neural networks properly categorized 96 % of swallow and non-swallow events, while a generalized population-trained network was able to properly categorize 93 % of swallow and non-swallow events across all recordings. Lingual-palatal pressure signals are sufficient to selectively and specifically recognize the initiation of swallowing in healthy and dysphagic patients.

Objectives/Hypothesis. To determine whether respiratory compromise from bilateral vocal fold impairment (paralysis) can be objectively alleviated by reinnervation and pacing.Methods. A patient with paramedian vocal folds and synkinesis had a tracheotomy for stridor after bilateral laryngeal nerve injury and Miller Fisher syndrome. One posterior cricoarytenoideus (PCA) received a nerve-muscle pedicle fitted with a perineural electrode for pacemaker stimulation. The airway was evaluated endoscopically and by spirometry for up to 1 year.Results. Bilateral vocal fold patency during quiet breathing was reversed to active vocal fold adduction during tracheal occlusion. Peak inspiratory flows (PIFs) were significantly higher (P < .001) after reinnervation. PIFs and glottic apertures increased further under stimulation (42 Hz, 1-4 mA, 42-400 lsec). although the differences were not significant.Conclusions. Based on our preliminary data, PCA reinnervation and pacing offer promise for amelioration of respiratory compromise after paradoxical adduction in bilateral vocal fold impairment.

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> Parkinson’s disease (PD) is poorly quantified by patients outside the clinic, and paper diaries have problems with subjective descriptions and bias. Wearable sensor platforms; however, can accurately quantify symptoms such as tremor, dyskinesia, and bradykinesia. Commercially available smartwatches are equipped with accelerometers and gyroscopes that can measure motion for objective evaluation. We sought to evaluate the clinical utility of a prescription smartwatch-based monitoring system for PD utilizing periodic task-based motor assessment. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> Sixteen patients with PD used a smartphone- and smartwatch-based monitoring system to objectively assess motor symptoms for 1 week prior to instituting a doctor recommended change in therapy and for 4 weeks after the change. After 5 weeks the participants returned to the clinic to discuss their results with their doctor, who made therapy recommendations based on the reports and his clinical judgment. Symptom scores were synchronized with the medication diary and the temporal effects of therapy on weekly and hourly timescales were calculated. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Thirteen participants successfully completed the study and averaged 4.9 assessments per day for 3 days per week during the study. The doctor instructed 8 participants to continue their new regimens and 5 to revert to their previous regimens. The smartwatch-based assessments successfully captured intraday fluctuations and short- and long-term responses to therapies, including detecting significant improvements (<i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.05) in at least one symptom in 7 participants. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> The smartwatch-based app successfully captured temporal trends in symptom scores following application of new therapy on hourly, daily, and weekly timescales. These results suggest that validated smartwatch-based PD monitoring can provide clinically relevant information and may reduce the need for traditional office visits for therapy adjustment.

Our preliminary data on selective ILM manipulation offer promise for improved dynamic control of faulty laryngeal contraction patterns.