Chattanooga VitalStim Plus

Chattanooga VitalStim Plus – Professional Swallowing and Dysphagia Therapy

The Chattanooga VitalStim Plus is a high-quality, specialized electrostimulation and sEMG biofeedback system for professional swallowing and dysphagia therapy. The system combines neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) with surface electromyography (sEMG) to support targeted activation, training and re-education of the muscles involved in swallowing.

With up to four independent stimulation channels, sEMG biofeedback, individually adjustable treatment protocols and interactive visualizations, the VitalStim Plus offers extensive options for individually tailored dysphagia rehabilitation.

The system is intended for use by appropriately trained healthcare professionals.

Benefits and Highlights

• Specifically designed for dysphagia and swallowing rehabilitation

• Combination of VitalStim NMES, VMS and sEMG biofeedback

• 4 separate stimulation channels

• 2 sEMG channels for biofeedback and measurement of muscle activity

• sEMG-triggered stimulation for active, patient-guided therapy

• Individually adjustable VMS treatment protocols

• Real-time visual and auditory biofeedback

• Touchscreen operation with stylus

• Bluetooth screen mirroring for displaying treatment progress on a computer or tablet

• Integrated exercise videos and anatomical reference materials

• Storage and export of patient and treatment data

• Compact, portable system for professional use

VitalStim Therapy – Targeted Swallowing Rehabilitation

The specialized VitalStim waveform is designed for neuromuscular stimulation of the muscles involved in swallowing. In Co-Contraction Mode, up to four channels can stimulate simultaneously and pause together.

VitalStim is intended for the muscle re-education of the swallowing muscles in cases of dysphagia of non-mechanical origin and is used as part of a professional dysphagia therapy concept.

VMS – Individually Adjustable Stimulation

The VMS mode allows treatment to be configured with a high degree of flexibility. Parameters such as phase duration, frequency, as well as work and rest periods can be individually adjusted.

Stimulation can also be sequenced across the four channels to more closely reflect the natural sequence of the swallowing movement.

sEMG Biofeedback – Making Muscle Activity Visible and Audible

The integrated sEMG biofeedback measures electrical muscle activity and displays it on the screen in real time. Muscle activity can also be presented acoustically.

This provides patients with direct feedback on their muscle activity and allows them to actively participate in swallowing exercises. At the same time, the measurements support the documentation and assessment of treatment progress.

sEMG-Triggered Stimulation

A key feature of the VitalStim Plus is the combination of sEMG biofeedback with triggered stimulation.

The patient actively begins the exercise and attempts to reach a predefined sEMG threshold. Once the threshold is reached, the system activates the electrical stimulation. This directly combines active patient participation with electrical stimulation.

Interactive Therapy & Screen Mirroring

The VitalStim Plus supports a modern, interactive approach to therapy. The current treatment progress can be mirrored via Bluetooth to a compatible computer or tablet.

The system also includes integrated exercise videos and anatomical reference materials, which can assist therapists during treatment and provide patients with visual guidance.

Patient Data & Documentation

The system allows patient and treatment data to be stored, displayed and exported. A removable 256 MB Micro-SD card can be used to store patient data and treatment information for further documentation.

This makes the VitalStim Plus particularly suitable for professional facilities where treatment results need to be documented and treatment progress monitored over time.

Applications

The Chattanooga VitalStim Plus is specifically designed for professional dysphagia therapy and swallowing rehabilitation.

As part of appropriate therapeutic concepts, it can be used for:

• Re-education of the swallowing muscles

• Neuromuscular stimulation of the swallowing muscles

• Supporting muscle activation

• Enhancing active patient participation

• sEMG-based biofeedback therapy

• Treatment documentation and progress monitoring

The specific application, electrode placement, treatment parameters and patient selection must be determined by appropriately qualified healthcare professionals based on the clinical situation, instructions for use and intended indication.

Technical Specifications

The technical specifications are based on current Chattanooga/Enovis product documentation.

Scope of Delivery

The Chattanooga VitalStim Plus System is supplied with comprehensive accessories for professional use:

• 1 × VitalStim Plus electrostimulation and sEMG biofeedback system

• 4 × color-coded snap connection cables

• 1 × sEMG connection cable

• 1 × operator remote control / hand switch

• 1 × stand

• 1 × stylus

• 1 × protective rubber cover

• 1 × Micro-SD card

• 4 × AA alkaline batteries