DEVELOPMENT OF A SIMPLE PORTABLE VISCO/DENSITOMETER

描述（逐字从申请人的摘要）：该项目地址 没有合适的技术来测试一致性的问题 （粘度和密度）的食品流体在消费点;通过适当的 意味着便宜、卫生、易于使用和可靠。确定 在临床上，食用前食物的一致性是至关重要的。 管理言语困难（吞咽困难的一种情况）， 特别是考虑到粘度对温度的强烈依赖性。 吞咽困难影响着600万至1000万美国人，必须在一个 持续的基础。这项研究的目的是开发一种技术- 其可以在小型、廉价、便携式设备中实现， 同时测量流体的粘度和密度。实验室 在第一阶段将进行实验，以确定 超声波技术为此将设计一个原型装置， 在第二阶段的人体试验中申请人计划积极地 在第三阶段追求商业化。 拟定商业应用： 这项拟议中的技术将填补长期以来对便携式、廉价和 一种可重复使用的设备，将为估计6-10万美国人和世界各地的其他人提供服务 患有吞咽困难。 预计将销售给医院、疗养院和个人。

DESCRIPTION (Verbatim from the Applicant's Abstract): This project addresses the problem that no suitable technique exists for testing the consistency (viscosity and density) of food-fluids at the point of consumption; by suitable is meant inexpensive, hygienic easy-to-use, and reliable. Determining the consistency of foods just prior to consumption is crucial in the clinical management of dysphasia (a condition that makes swallowing difficult), particularly in view of the strong dependence of viscosity on temperature. Dysphagia affects between 6 and 10 million Americans and must be managed on a continuing basis. The objective of the research is to develop a technique - which can be implemented in a small, inexpensive, portable device - for simultaneously measuring viscosity and density of fluids. Laboratory experiments will be conducted in Phase I to establish feasibility to an ultrasonic technique for this purpose. A prototype device will be designed and tested on human subjects in Phase II. The applicants plan to aggressively pursuer commercialization in Phase III. PROPOSED COMMERCIAL APPLICATION: The proposed technology will fill a long-standing need for a portable, inexpensive and reusable device that will serve the estimated 6-10 million Americans and others world-wide who suffer from dysphagia. Sale to hospitals, nursing homes, and individuals are foreseen.