Eating is more than just taking in nutrients. For many people, it is a joy, and sharing food or drinks is a natural way to connect with others.
When illness or aging makes swallowing difficult, that joy can fade.
If this happens to ourselves or our loved ones, most of us still hope to “eat by mouth if possible” and to help our family do the same.
To make that possible, appropriate support is essential.
In addition to selecting food that is easy to swallow, the type of spoon also plays an important role.
In this article, I introduce the K-Spoon, a care spoon designed with dysphagia in mind, drawing on insights from its patent specification and my own experience.
Note: This article is based on the author’s personal views and independent research.
It does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information.
Product purchases or use should always be at your own judgment and responsibility.
Some product links in this article may be affiliate links (PR).
The Swallowing Process
Swallowing used to be explained in three stages, but it is now often described in a five-stage model that includes the phases before and after the actual swallow.
- Cognitive (recognition) stage
Food is recognized by the senses, and the person decides how to eat it. In dementia, difficulties can include not recognizing food, not knowing how to eat, or continuously bringing food to the mouth. - Oral preparatory stage
Food enters the mouth, is chewed, and mixed with saliva to form a bolus (a small lump of chewed food). - Oral stage
The tongue propels the bolus from the mouth to the pharynx (throat). - Pharyngeal stage
The bolus moves from the pharynx to the esophageal inlet (the entry to the esophagus). This is when the swallow reflex occurs. - Esophageal stage
The bolus is carried to the stomach by peristalsis (wave-like movement of the esophagus).
Types of Dysphagia
Dysphagia refers to a problem in one or more of the swallowing stages.
Major causes include:
- Structural (organic) causes: abnormalities of anatomy, such as congenital anomalies (e.g., cleft lip)
- Functional causes: impaired movement or sensation, such as cerebrovascular (stroke-related) or neuromuscular diseases, or aging
- Psychogenic causes: factors such as depression
What Makes the K-Spoon Different
The K-Spoon was developed for people with dysphagia and for caregivers.
（This link directs to a Japanese website.）
I learned about it when my mother’s neurodegenerative condition made self-feeding difficult and swallowing slower, with frequent coughing.
Her physician provided a sample, and in our case, mealtime assistance felt noticeably smoother with this spoon.
Here are the features described in the patent specification and what I observed in practice.
A Design That Supports the Swallow Reflex
At one end of the handle, there is a part designed to gently contact a specific oral site related to the swallow reflex.
By touching that area, the spoon is designed to support initiation of a swallow.
This site, known as the K-point, is located behind the lower molars (back teeth) and can be difficult to reach.
The K-Spoon’s slim, smoothly curved profile makes it easier to access this area.
Features for Safer Eating
The bowl (food-holding part) is smaller, flatter, and thinner than a typical spoon.
This design offers several practical benefits:
- Helps control bite size, reducing choking and aspiration risk
- Prevents lifting the chin too high during assistance, which can make swallowing unsafe
- Allows thin slicing of jelly, which can be swallowed more safely than crushed jelly for people with reduced swallowing function
- When tongue movement is weak, the spoon can be inverted to place food on the posterior tongue
The overall finish is smooth—both on the surface and in cross-section—to reduce irritation of the oral mucosa.
For people who can self-feed, a larger version—the K+ Spoon—is also available, featuring a slightly bigger bowl.
（This link directs to a Japanese website.）
Easy to Hold and Assist
The handle is long enough for a caregiver to hold near the tip, allowing them to help adjust portion size and pace together with the user.
What Is the K-Point?
The K-point refers to an area on the inner side of the posterior margin of the retromolar trigone (the region just behind the last lower molar).
If you press this area with a fingertip, it feels distinctly different—often unpleasant—compared with surrounding tissue.
During oral care for those who cannot open their mouth on request, stimulating the K-point can help the mouth open.
This site was discovered through clinical practice by Professor Chieko Kojima (formerly of Seirei Christopher University).
It was named after her initial—“K”—hence the K-point.
Professor Kojima found this phenomenon while assisting a patient with dysphagia after subarachnoid hemorrhage.
When the tip of a spoon touched a certain intraoral area, the patient’s mouth opened, followed by chewing and swallowing movements.
Later studies showed that this response appears in pseudobulbar palsy and is related to the release of cortical inhibition.
A similar reflex is also seen in newborns, confirming it as a primitive reflex.
This reaction does not occur in healthy adults.
The stimulation technique using this area is known as the K-method, and clinical reports have described improvements in swallowing function.
In my own experience caring for my mother, I use the opposite end of the K-Spoon to touch the K-point so she opens her mouth, then place food on her tongue.
Using a finger can be difficult and may risk being bitten, but the K-Spoon slides in smoothly and feels safer to handle.
In our case, this approach reduced my workload, and her swallowing seemed smoother.
How to Purchase
The K-Spoon is available from online retailers.
（This link directs to a Japanese website.）
According to its patent specification, it was designed for mass production and affordability so that more people can access it.
The typical price is around 1,000yen.
While this is higher than a regular household spoon, it is reasonably priced for a dysphagia-support tool.
Since it can be purchased individually, it is easy to try for home users or small facilities.
Closing Thoughts
The K-Spoon is one option that may help both people with dysphagia and those who support them.
Through my mother’s case, I personally felt its usefulness.
When someone cannot open their mouth, it is easy to feel that eating is no longer possible.
This spoon was designed with that reality in mind and can serve as a practical tool within comprehensive care.
By reading the patent, I was able to understand the design concept and functional intent behind this product.
Today, I use my combined background in nursing and patent analysis to write about medical and care products and to support market-entry and localization projects.
If you are interested in collaboration or distribution opportunities, please contact me through the form on my blog.
Disclaimer: This article is provided for informational purposes only and does not guarantee accuracy.
Product purchases or use should be made at your own judgment and responsibility.
References
- Toshiaki Aoyama (2017), Marugoto Zukai: Setsushoku-Enge Care, Shorinsha.
- JP 2005-211639 (A), “Measures for Dysphagia,” Aoyoshi Seisakusho Co., Ltd., 2005-08-11.
- Chieko Kojima (2013), “Proposals on Attitudes Toward Clinical Research—Reflections Based on an Approach for Patients with Eating/Swallowing Disorders,” Journal of Rehabilitation Science.
- Kango-roo image: https://www.kango-roo.com/ki/image_1179/
コメント