Method to enhance swallowing safety and appeal of beverages for treating dysphagia based on rheological and sensory parameters

Abstract

An edible composition of matter having an apparent viscosity of from about 150 cP to about 2000 cP at about 30 s−1; a yield stress of from 0 Pa to about 20 Pa at 1 s −1 ; and a flow index of from about 0.2 to about 0.6. The composition may include an imaging agent. The compositions are useful for providing sustenance to dysphagic subjects and for evalualuating dysphagia.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An edible composition of matter having an apparent viscosity of from about 150 cP to about 2000 cP at about 30 s −1 ; a yield stress of from 0 Pa to about 20 Pa at 1 s −1 ; and a flow index of from about 0.2 to about 0.6. 
     
     
         2 . The edible composition of  claim 1 , wherein the apparent viscosity is from about 200 cP to about 2000 cP, the yield stress is from 0 to about 15 Pa, and the flow index is from about 0.3 to about 0.5. 
     
     
         3 . The edible composition of  claim 1 , wherein the apparent viscosity is from about 250 cP to about 1800 cP, the yield stress is from 5 to about 14 Pa, and the flow index is from about 0.3 to about 0.5. 
     
     
         4 . The edible composition of  claim 1 , wherein the apparent viscosity is from about 250 cP to about 1800 cP, the yield stress is from 0 to about 2 Pa, and the flow index is from about 0.3 to about 0.5. 
     
     
         5 . The edible composition of  claim 1 , wherein the apparent viscosity is from about 200 cP to about 500 cP, the yield stress is from 0 to about 2 Pa, and the flow index is from about 0.3 to about 0.5. 
     
     
         6 . The edible composition of  claim 5 , wherein the apparent viscosity is from about 250 cP to about 400 cP. 
     
     
         7 . The edible composition of  claim 5 , wherein the apparent viscosity is from about 270 cP to about 330 cP. 
     
     
         8 . The edible composition of  claim 1 , wherein the apparent viscosity is from about 1200 cP to about 1800 cP, the yield stress is from 5 to about 14 Pa, and the flow index is from about 0.3 to about 0.5. 
     
     
         9 . The edible composition of  claim 8 , wherein the apparent viscosity is from about 1250 cP to about 1700 cP. 
     
     
         10 . The edible composition of  claim 8 , wherein the apparent viscosity is from about 1400 cP to about 1600 cP. 
     
     
         11 . The edible composition of any one of  claims 1  to  10 , further comprising an imaging agent. 
     
     
         12 . The edible composition of  claim 11 , wherein the imaging agent comprises a radio-opaque imaging agent. 
     
     
         13 . A composition as claimed in any of  claims 1 - 12  for use in a method of providing sustenance to a dysphagic subject. 
     
     
         14 . A composition as claims in any of  claims 1 - 12  for use in an in vivo method for evaluating a human subject for dysphagia.