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Description:
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Thermal stimulation is a common clinical technique used in the treatment of dysphagia . Historically , a cold laryngeal mirror , or other type of cold probe , was used to stroke one or both of the anterior faucial pillars several times prior to the swallow . Recently , a new device , the AliMed® Ice Finger™ , was introduced for thermal stimulation , which offered the swallowing therapist a better -constructed device that allowed for more flexibility during thermal stimulation .
The purpose of this bench study was to report safety and temperature data regarding the AliMed® Ice Finger™ , as this type of data does not yet exist . This type of research was important as it may aid swallowing therapists , commonly speech -language pathologists , in making judgments regarding the safety of their patients when using the Ice FingerTM . This data was also important because it would aid in determining which thermal stimulation device holds cold temperature across a significant period of time . Four major experiments were carried out to determine the safety and temperature characteristics of the AliMed® Ice Finger™ . Durability was measured across varying temperature conditions , sites of force application , and cleaning methodologies . Cold temperature retention was measured across varying storage methodologies . The sterilization properties of the Ice Finger™ were also determined by culturing various Ice Fingers™ from three different cleaning methods .
Out of 260 Ice Fingers™ tested for durability , 3 ruptured (i .e . , one included in the solid frozen group at Pi and two included in the repeated use group cleaned with mild detergent ) . Ice Fingers™ stored in a cup of ice retained the coldest temperatures for a longer period of time , but Ice Fingers™ in all three temperature storage conditions stayed below body temperature and in the range of oral cold receptor stimulation . None of the fifteen cultured Ice Fingers™ from the three different cleaning methodologies demonstrated any growth , even after 48 hours .
The results of this study indicated that the Ice Finger™ was a safe and durable device for use in the management of dysphagia patients . The results also indicated that the Ice Finger™ retained cold temperatures sufficient for stimulating cold receptors during thermal stimulation . |