VitalStim® Therapy Equipment Overview

Learn more about the VitalStim devices

 

Once a clinic, hospital, or home care service has a VitalStim® Therapy Certified clinician on staff, that facility can obtain the equipment necessary to deliver VitalStim Therapy to dysphagia patients.

 

The VitalStim® Therapy portfolio comprises two devices: the standard, hand-held device and the clinical, Experia model.  The hand-held device features two channels with lead wire connection ports and an intensity control for each channel.  An LCD panel enables the therapist to view a therapy timer, the amplitude level set for each channel, and confirm lockout of the therapy session’s amplitude. The device is battery-operated. 

 

Custom ElectrodesCustom Electrodes

The Experia clinical device offers expanded features and functionalities.  Three different waveforms can be programmed with the Experia, including high volt pulsed current.  Patient baseline measurements and treatment targets can be established thanks to the inclusion of Surface Electromyography (sEMG) in the Experia.  This feature provides visual and auditory biofeedback during swallowing.  Enhancing the sEMG measures is Triggered Stimulation, which is triggered when the patient’s swallow, or muscle activation, reaches a preset target.  Thus, the stimulation is activated by the patient’s effort, creating a powerful and engaging feedback loop. 

 

Additionally, the Experia contains a clinical resource library of electrode placement diagrams and anatomical drawings of the swallowing structure.  Individual patient sessions can be recorded on patient data cards to form a continuum of therapy activities and goals from session to session. 

 

A key part of the VitalStim® devices is the specially-designed electrode developed specifically for the treatment of dysphagia and used with the two VitalStim devices mentioned above. This patented electrode features a conductive snap bonded to the underlying conductive substrate using a special process to ensure that the snap does not pull away from the substrate and delivery of electrical stimulation is uniform across the electrode.  The electrode assembly was designed specifically for application to the anterior neck for dysphagia therapy.

To schedule a demonstration of VitalStim® Therapy, call VitalStim at 800.506.1130.

VitalStim Handheld Instructions for Use