One Health,
Game Changing Innovations
Creating a new standard of aerodigestive care with precision diagnostics and treatments for humans and animals.
Aerodigestive Health Problems
Aerodigestive health is directly linked to survivability and quality of life for humans and animals.
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Swallowing (Dysphagia): Swallowing impairment leading to malnutrition, dehydration, and/or aspiration pneumonia
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Breathing (Dyspnea): Struggle to breath
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Speaking (Dysarthria): Impaired vocal communication
Aerodigestive Tract Vulnerabilities
The aerodigestive tract includes organs and tissues shared by the respiratory tract and the upper part of the digestive tract (e.g., lips, mouth, tongue, throat, vocal folds, and windpipe) that are essential for swallowing, breathing, and speaking. For reasons that remain largely unknown, this tract is particularly vulnerable to:
Neurological Conditions
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Stroke
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ALS
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Parkinson's Disease
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Multiple Sclerosis
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Progressive Supranuclear Palsy
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Alzheimer's Disease
Childhood Genetic Disorders
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Prader-Willi Syndrome
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Batten Disease
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Fragile X Syndrome
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Down Syndrome
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Muscular Dystrophy
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Pompe Disease
Head & Neck Cancer
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Tumors in and around the throat, larynx, nose, sinuses, and mouth
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Associated treatment interventions (e.g., surgical removal, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy
Importantly, companion animals (e.g., dogs, cats, horses, etc.) can also develop many of these same or similar health conditions as people and are therefore likewise vulnerable to aerodigestive health problems.
Clinical Problems Abound
Too much subjectivity and variation
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Diagnosis of aerodigestive disorders is largely based on clinician subjectivity and patient/caregiver report of symptoms due to the lack of objective diagnostic tools. This can lead to unwanted variation in diagnosis and treatment between providers.
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Moreover, treatment is largely symptom-based rather than preventative or curative because the underlying cause of aerodigestive disorders in humans and companion animals remains poorly understood for each medical condition.
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Hence, there is a major clinical need for innovative, objective, and standardized aerodigestive diagnostic tools and targeted treatments which span human and veterinary medicine.
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Blueprint for Success
Innovation
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Medical Devices
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Diagnostic Tools
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Targeted Treatments
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Minimal to Non-Invasive Approaches
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Methods and Workflows
Objectivity
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Computer-Based Tools
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Functional Biomarkers
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Earlier Disease Detection
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Monitoring Disease Progression
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Quantifying Response to Treatment
Standardization
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Methods
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Protocols
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Reproductive Results
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Clinical and Research Settings
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Data Management
Targeted Innovations
AHC is evaluating prospective aerodigestive health technologies for potential commercialization.
One AHC technology that is changing video fluoroscopy swallow studies (VFSS) involving companion pets for the better is FluoroKennel.
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FluoroKennel is a patented and smartly designed kennel that provides a natural alternative to lateral/sternal recumbency and restraint techniques during fluoroscopic imaging. Free-standing, self-feeding, less handling, and less anxiety set FluoroKennel apart from other fluoroscopic assessment methods for aerodigestive/ swallowing disorders in companion animals.