ARK's Cip-Kup™ is an innovative drinking cup that facilitates easier drinking for beginners and individuals with oral motor difficulties. This special cup is equipped with a unique valve that controls the direction of the fluid. The fluid flows up into the straw, but does not flow back down. By gently squeezing the drink bottle until the fluid reaches the top of the straw and then releasing, the fluid stays in the straw. This significantly reduces the effort required to drink. A full straw also reduces the amount of air ingested, thus users experience less coughing and choking while consuming more fluids. It is particularly recommended for individuals who have aspiration issues or difficulties in generating and maintaining suction.
The kit includes: 1 flexible drink bottle with a screw cap, 10 standard drinking straws, a 20 cm long tubing straw (a reusable, chewable, and durable alternative to straws), 1 select-flow valve (can be trimmed to increase flow and further reduce the effort required to drink), and a 1.9 cm yellow Lip Blok (prevents biting the straw or inserting it too far into the mouth).
The drink bottle is made in Germany and all other parts in the USA. The product meets FDA standards and is free of lead, phthalates, PVC, BPA, and latex. The drink bottle measures approximately 6.3 x 6.3 x 12.7 cm and holds about 295 ml. It is dishwasher safe and not recommended for carbonated beverages. It is particularly suitable for thin liquids such as water, milk, and juice without pulp. For thickened liquids, a 'nectar' consistency works well, and with a trimmed valve, even 'honey' consistency is possible, although more difficult to suck through the straw. 'Pudding' consistency does not work, as it is too thick to drink through even a regular straw without a valve. The product is compatible with most standard straws with a diameter of 0.25 inches for future use.
ARK's Cip-Kup™ is particularly useful in elderly care, especially for people with swallowing problems or dementia, such as Lewy body dementia. It is also extremely valuable for children and adults with various conditions such as Cerebral Palsy, Kabuki Syndrome, Small Teeth Syndrome, and Down Syndrome, to help them drink independently and improve their oral motor skills.
