A planar finite element model of bolus containment in the oral cavity

摘要: As individuals age, one of the objective changes that occurs in oropharyngeal swallow is development a delay between bolus entry into pharynx and initiation airway protection mechanisms. For longer delays, this phenomenon sometimes referred to as ''premature spillage,'' it has been suggested such spillage, which risk factor for dysphagia, may be associated with pre-swallow lingual gestures, or ''tongue pumping.'' The goal current study was develop simplified two-dimensional computational model oropharynx simulate containment Newtonian fluid within oral cavity response given pattern gestures different viscosities. An arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian simulation performed using commercial finite element software package, LS-Dyna. It found motion, higher viscosity boluses, consistent those offered therapeutically, were able contained simulated while lower would ''spilled,'' suggesting potential mechanisim by thickened liquids reduce aspiration. Although data must validated more realistic, three-dimensional geometric information wider range rheologies, they represent an exciting first step towards realistic modeling flow.