RT Journal Article
T1 Implementation of a novel continuous solid/liquid mixing accessory for 3D printing of dysphagia-oriented thickened fluids
A1 Diañez Amores, Isabel
A1 Gallegos Montes, Críspulo
A1 Brito de la Fuente, Edmundo
A1 Martinez García, Inmaculada
A1 Valencia Barragán, Concepción
A1 Sánchez Carrillo, María Carmen
A1 Franco Gómez, José María
AB This paper describes the implementation and evaluation of an accessory designed and manufactured to be adapted to a 3D printer to allow the in situ and continuous mixing of powder and liquid feeds. In particular, the capacity of this accessory to correctly mix a dysphagia-oriented commercial powder thickener with several conventional fluids (i.e. water, juice, and milk) was studied. Target thickener concentrations were defined in order to achieve mixtures with viscosities corresponding to the textures established by the National Dysphagia Diet Task Force (NDD)—nectar-like, honey-like, and spoon-thick—for thickened fluids. Both the accuracy of the solid content and the rheological response of the obtained mixtures were evaluated. Although fluctuations were observed in the concentrations of the mixtures obtained by continuous mixing with respect to the target values, the viscosities obtained were within the limits established for each of the desired textures. The thickened fluids processed using the 3D printing mixing accessory showed viscosities very similar to their hand-mixed counterparts and a higher degree of structuration, especially when printed at low mass flow rates, as well as a lower amount of entrapped air. This method of preparation allows the production of thickened fluids with more appealing shapes and colours for the long-term dysphagia management, improving the quality of life of patients with dysphagia, and promoting treatment compliance
PB Elsevier
SN 0268-005X
SN 1873-7137 (electrónico)
YR 2021
FD 2021-05
LK https://hdl.handle.net/10272/25282
UL https://hdl.handle.net/10272/25282
LA eng
DS Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de Huelva
RD 1 jun 2026