Preliminary Validation of SimulScan in obtaining Swallowing Biomechanics compared to Traditional Videofluoroscopic methods

Motivation: Swallowing disorders (dysphagia) are common, highly heterogeneous, and remain relatively poorly understood and treated. This is because current imaging diagnostics, e.g., videofluoroscopy (VFSS), are limited to assessing biomechanics, missing the neural mechanisms of the condition. We developed SimulScan to evaluate central and peripheral swallow contributions simultaneously. Goal(s): To validate SimulScan against VFSS in obtaining swallowing biomechanical measurements. Approach: We used a MATLAB tracking tool, Computational Analysis of Swallowing Mechanics to analyze swallow biomechanics collected via both modalities and a matrix correlation analysis was conducted. Results: A correlation of 0.664 was found, indicating comparable biomechanical information obtained via the two methods. Impact: SimulScan captures biomechanical information comparable to traditional VFSS, while also allowing for the simultaneous examination of the neural mechanisms underlying these mechanisms, paving the way for targeted, physiology-based interventions for patients with dysphagia.