For a Better Swallow

Swallow Solutions announced that it was selected to receive a $75,000 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Advance Grant from the Center for Technology Commercialization at the UW Extension as a part of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation's SBIR Advance Program.

The SBIR Advance Program provides small businesses in the state of Wisconsin with financial and coaching resources as they build their applications for federal SBIR grants. Specifically, this grant will help Swallow Solutions as they write their commercialization plan for their innovative beverage products, developed by Senior Food Scientist Heather Mendenhall. 

Patients with dysphagia or other swallowing disorders often need thickened beverages to prevent dehydration and aspiration. As part of its mission, Swallow Solutions is dedicated to improve the health and quality of life of patients with swallowing disorders, and the grant works towards that end.

The need for dysphagia treatment procedures has more than quadrupled since 2008 at the Cincinnati VA Medical Center [VAMC]. Just six years ago, Cincinnati VAMC speech pathologists conducted 1,029 dysphagia assessment and treatment procedures. Last year, 4,598 procedures occurred at their facility. Recently, speech pathologists at the Cincinnati VAMC took the necessary steps to meet this demand by introducing Swallow Solutions devices into their facility.

Swallow Solutions LLC recently introduced the new SwallowSTRONG^® device (formerly MOST^®), which features an easy-to-use tablet connected to a custom mouthpiece. The new SwallowSTRONG^® tablet has a patient-friendly touch screen interface and real-time monitoring to assess tongue strength and facilitate an individualized strengthening program.

Now I eat well, I sleep well, and I can fully enjoy my time spent with friends and family.”

– Jan Blume, Dysphagia patient, Appleton, WI

Jan Blume, a school nurse in Appleton, WI, suffered a stroke in November of 2008 at age 56, leaving her unable to swallow. For two full years, Blume was on a gastrostomy tube feeding. “It’s so isolating to not swallow,” confides Blume. “It adds hours to your day. You can’t go out with friends, have a quick snack, or share a meal with family.”

With the creation of the new Fluids Division and the recent growth of Swallow Solutions, the Team will be moving offices from their current location to larger space.

The Swallow Solutions staff continues to grow, and our newest member is Senior Food Scientist Heather Mendenhall.  With her in-depth knowledge of thickening fluids and rheology, which is the study of how liquids and soft solids flow, Mendenhall will be working to develop fluids as safe and appealing beverages in the treatment of dysphagia.

Venture Management, LLC, Leads Investment in Innovative Medical Technology Company

Swallow Solutions announces mouthpiece modifications from 5-sensors to a 4-sensor design as the Madison Oral Strengthening Therapeutic (MOST) device is perfected further. This design adjustment is based on patient feedback and clinical trial data.

Project Developers: JoAnne Robbins PhD, Nicole Pulia PhD, Nasia Safdar MD, PhD and Jacqueline Hind MS

Clinicians at the William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital in Madison WI recently received a $200,000 grant from the Department of Veterans Affairs to start an innovative new clinic – the Swallow STRengthening OropharyNgeal Gustatory (Swallow STRONG) Program.

When Hurricane Sandy struck, some people grabbed their cat. Maria Folchetti reached for her MOST device along with a portable generator to accommodate for loss of power. Folchetti, who lost three quarters of her tongue to cancer, has been using the MOST device since the summer of 2012.