Graduate Students
Céleste Mérey
M.H.Sc. Candidate
Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering (Clinical Engineering)
University of Toronto
Advisor: Dr. Tom Chau
E-mail: celeste[dot]merey[at]utoronto[dot]ca
Education and Training
BASc in Materials Science and Engineering, University of Toronto
Research title
Quantitative Classification of Swallowing Safety through Accelerometer Measurement Device
Research abstract
Dysphagia, or swallowing disorder, can severely impact the quality of life from those who suffer from it. Children with neurological impairments, such as cerebral palsy, can experience both physical and psycho-social impairments as a result of an inability to swallow.
To help combat these issues, previous studies at Bloorview Kids Rehab have led to the devleopment of the Aspirometer, a non-invasive medical device for monitoring swallowing safety in individuals with neurogenic dysphagia. This method of detection may enable clinicians to more easily monitor swallowing and thus to improve the quality of patient care and safety.
The purpose of my thesis is to investigate the Aspirometer’s potential to provide a consistent, quantitative means of monitoring swallowing and thus preventing aspiration, or choking. By mapping the aspirometer’s quantitative classification of swallows to physician descriptions of swallowing events in children with dysphagia and comparing the on-line aspiration/penetration rating of the aspirometer to real-time physician judgment within the context of the standard swallowing assessment currently in use at the clinic, I aim to co-relate the Aspirometer’s reading with real-world observations, enabling clinical use of the device.
Other interests
Celeste spends her mornings, weekends and summers training and racing in the sport of road cycling. Recently, she also started to race in track cycling and hopes Ontario will build a proper size velodrome to bring the sport closer to home.
