STANDARDIZED SWALLOW CHALLENGE MEDIUM
A swallow challenge medium is thixotropic for easy swallowing and to provide enough viscosity for effective challenge to peristalsis and has high ionic density for effective impedance measurements by contact with electrodes positioned in a person's esophagus or oropharynx during swallow testing. The medium also has a high surface tension so as not to adhere to or coat the electrodes or probe surfaces. These physical characteristics are stabilized and consistent enough to provide standard for esophageal and/or oropharyngeal function testing and diagnostics.
1 . A challenge medium for assessing the condition of an organ, wherein the challenge medium exhibits a viscosity of about 1,000 centipoise to about 100,000 centipoise, measured at 30 rpm using a Brookfield Viscometer, LVT model, with a number-4 spindle, and an electrical conductivity of about 2.3 mS/cm to about 11 mS/cm, wherein the.
2 . The challenge medium of claim 1 , wherein the viscosity ranges from about 5,000 to about 50,000 centipoise.
3 . The challenge medium of claim 1 , wherein the viscosity ranges from about 6,000 to about 20,000 centipoise.
4 . The challenge medium of claim 1 , wherein the electrical conductivity ranges from about 4.0 to about 7.0 mS/cm.
5 . The challenge medium of claim 1 , further being thixotropic.
6 . The challenge medium of claim 5 , exhibiting a decrease in viscosity at least by about 20-fold over a two-decade increase in the rotation velocity of the viscometer spindle.
7 . The challenge medium of claim 6 , exhibiting a decrease in viscosity at least by about 30-fold over a two-decade increase in the rotation velocity of the viscometer spindle.
8 . The challenge medium of claim 1 , further having a pH of about 3.5 to about 9.0.
9 . The challenge medium of claim 8 , having a pH of about 4.0 to about 9.0.
10 . The challenge medium of claim 9 , having a pH of about 4.5 to about 8.0.
11 . The challenge medium of claim 1 , further being substantially non-sticking to stainless steel.
12 . The challenge medium of claim 1 , comprising a thickening agent and an ion donor.
13 . The challenge medium of claim 12 , wherein the thickening agent comprise a polysaccharide.
14 . The challenge medium of claim 13 , wherein the polysaccharide comprises carrageenan.
15 . The challenge medium of claim 12 , wherein the ion donor comprises sodium chloride.
16 . The challenge medium of claim 12 , further comprising a preservative.