The Provale® Cup - developed to
treat a common swallowing disorder afflicting many survivors of stroke.
The cups deliver "small swallows®"
of thin liquids with every drinking motion. This may promote safer
swallowing and may allow the user more independence by putting hydration and
nutrition within their reach.
Individuals who have had a stroke often develop a condition
called dysphagia. Dysphagia
causes difficulties in swallowing such as aspirating or inhaling liquids when
swallowing more commonly known as "going down the wrong pipe."
People with dysphagia continue to aspirate almost every time
they drink, which becomes fluid trapped in their lungs. Often this liquid
in the lungs will trigger an infection such as pneumonia. Forty thousand
people die each year from aspiration pneumonia.
Studies have shown that taking smaller sips when drinking
lessens the likelihood of aspirating. However, people who have had strokes
often have difficulty regulating the amount of liquid in a sip or drink.
The Provale Cup provides the answer by regulating the amount of
liquid in each drink or sip; allowing only small swallows with every drinking
motion.
The Provale® Cup is a limited-flow
drinking cup that delivers a fixed amount (5cc or 10cc) of liquid each
time the patient takes a drink. The plastic cups have a broad base to
prevent spilling and come complete with large handles/grips to allow patients
with poor motor coordination to easily grasp and use the cup. The cups are
reusable and dishwasher safe. The Provale®
Cup was developed with the input of over 500 healthcare professionals.
The Provale® Cup has a
patented anti-suck mechanism that prevents over delivery of fluids for
ease and safety of swallowing.
The Provale® Cups are available in
two different versions to deliver either 5cc or the 10cc The 5cc cup
has a transparent outer cup with a blue cap. The 10cc cup is transparent
with a brown cap. Both versions come with two removable, handle grips; you
can use only one or both or none of the handles; some people feel more secure
having a handle on both sides of their cup. The transparency of the cup
allow patients or Caregivers the ability of observing the amount of liquid
remaining in the cup.
An individual with dysphagia generally starts with the 5cc cup
and progresses to the 10cc cup.
The Provale® Cup provides:
-
safe delivery of water, nutritional supplements and other
thin liquids
-
accurate 5cc or 10cc "small sips" with every normal
drinking motion
-
potential elimination of the need for pre-thickened
liquids
-
good nose clearance which minimizes head tilt
-
easy disassembly and easy cleaning and is institution
dishwasher safe
-
transparent cup to easy observe the amount of remaining
liquid in the cup
-
choice of using one, two or no handles on the cup
The cup is available in either a 5cc or 10cc choice, please choose one.
Please choose carefully, this item is not returnable