Method and Apparatus for Prescribing and Preparing a Reproducible and Customized Dysphagia Diet

摘要

A method for comprising the steps of performing a swallowing evaluation upon a patent to determine whether the patient suffers from dysphagia; selecting a quantifiable food characteristic that can be objectively measured; preparing multiple foods having different values of unit measure for a quantifiable food characteristic; using a first apparatus for measuring the quantifiable food characteristic of each of the multiple prepared foods; administering to the patient each of the multiple prepared foods having different values for the quantifiable food characteristic; observing the patient's ability to swallow each of the multiple foods having a different value for the quantifiable food characteristic; determining a safe range of values for the quantifiable food characteristic based on the patients ability to swallow each of the multiple foods; prescribing a customized dysphagia diet comprising the safe range of values for the quantifiable food characteristic for designating foods acceptable for consumption by the dysphagia patient; preparing food for consumption for the patient pursuant to the customized dysphagia diet, wherein the quantifiable food characteristic of the prepared food falls within the range of unit measure of the prescribed customized dysphagia diet; and using a second apparatus, having a similar design to the first apparatus, for measuring the quantifiable food characteristic of the food prepared for consumption by the patient pursuant to the customized dysphagia diet.