SwalTech: Restoring swallowing with biofeedback tools

Difficulty swallowing, known as dysphagia, can result from stroke, Parkinson's disease, traumatic brain injury, head and neck cancer, and developmental conditions. Beyond its health impacts, dysphagia can affect confidence, independence, and participation in everyday life.

Research led by Professor Maggie-Lee Huckabee at the University of Canterbury’s (UC) Rose Centre for Stroke Recovery and Research has focused on developing more effective approaches to swallowing rehabilitation and improving outcomes for patients.

The research led to the development of BiSSkiT (Biofeedback in Strength and Skill Training), a research tool that uses biofeedback to help patients improve swallowing function.

Building on this work, Maggie-Lee co-founded, with UC alumni Steve Wakefield, SwalTech (Swallowing Technologies Ltd) to commercialise the technology. The result is BiSSkApp (Biofeedback in Strength and Skill Application), a digital rehabilitation platform that enables patients to practise swallowing exercises with real-time visual feedback. 

Patients wear a sensor beneath the chin that measures muscle activity during swallowing. The information is displayed on a tablet screen, allowing users to see and adjust their swallowing movements through guided practice.

Unlike approaches focused solely on muscle strengthening, BiSSkApp supports skill-based rehabilitation that helps patients relearn and refine swallowing behaviours.

The technology enables clinicians to establish treatment plans and then monitor progress remotely while patients continue therapy at home. This supports more intensive rehabilitation, improves access to care, and makes more efficient use of clinical resources.

Since its commercial launch in 2025, the technology has been adopted by public and private healthcare providers across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand.

The goal of the research extends beyond clinical outcomes.

For many people, regaining the ability to eat and drink safely means reconnecting with family, friends, and everyday social activities. Early patient and clinician feedback indicates improvements in swallowing function, confidence, and independence. 

SwalTech demonstrates how university research can be translated into technologies that deliver real-world health benefits.

The company continues to work closely with UC's Rose Centre, where ongoing research, clinical evaluation, and patient insights help drive future product development and innovation. 

Talk to Professor Maggie-Lee Huckabee about swallowing rehabilitation, dysphagia, stroke recovery, and digital health technologies. Contact the Commercialisation Team to explore licensing, partnership, and investment opportunities in in health innovation, rehabilitation, and medical technology.