Myofunctional pacifier

Abstract

A pacifier (1, 30, 40), used as a portable soothing means for a child, has an elastomeric hollow body (4, 44) and a plastic base (5), wherein: the pacifier (1, 30, 40) has an adjusting valve (7, 34) and an open-loop and / or closed-loop control device (22), the open-loop and / or closed-loop control device (22) being designed to open the adjusting valve (7, 34) in order to adjust the internal pressure of the elastomeric hollow body (4, 44).

Description

[0001] Myofunctional pacifier

[0002] The present invention relates to a pacifier according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0003] Myofunctional disorders can be traced back to various causes. To prevent these disorders from becoming more severe, early training, preferably in infancy, is recommended. The disadvantages of this approach include the low learning capacity of infants and / or the low acceptance of medical devices.

[0004] Pacifiers are typically not myofunctional training devices. They have a hollow body, usually made of silicone, that babies suck on. Pacifiers with valves are known, as can be seen from the following state of the art.

[0005] DE 299 01 270 U1 discloses a valve arranged between a suction piece and a hollow element. The valve closes an intake or discharge opening. It is manually operated.

[0006] CH 637 896 A and DE 199 51 846 A1 each disclose a baby bottle equipped with a suction aid. This suction aid is incorrectly referred to in CH 637 896 A as a pacifier, although it is not a pacifier but merely a drinking aid that utilizes the baby's sucking reflex.

[0007] EP 3 565 622 A1 discloses a pacifier as an inhalation aid with a valve in the form of a passage for discharging an aerosol.

[0008] EP 3 052 071 B1 discloses a pacifier with an air flow component.

[0009] CH 679 009 A discloses a pacifier with air tubes for connection to the nose and a valve on these rubber tubes.

[0010] EP 1 789 006 B1 discloses a mouthpiece of an inhalation device in the form of a pacifier, whereby the inhalation device as a whole is not a portable pacifier.

[0011] The majority of valves used in pacifiers are manually operated or mechanically operated valves, such as those used in inhalation devices. Mechanically operated valves open automatically under pressure to release the aerosol.

[0012] Based on this preliminary consideration, it is now the object of the present invention to provide a pacifier as a myofunctional training device for compensating for a tongue misalignment, which has a high level of acceptance among toddlers and infants.

[0013] The invention solves this problem by the features of claim 1. The basic idea is to achieve optimal tongue positioning in a pacifier by varying the pacifier's internal pressure. Mechanically actuated valves, as described in the prior art, generally do not have a control and / or evaluation device for specifically adjusting the internal pressure. Rather, these valves serve to divert breathing air, aerosol, or the like, from the pacifier without requiring a specific adjustment of the internal pressure.

[0014] A pacifier according to the invention, on the other hand, is designed as a portable pacifier for a child. The pacifier according to the invention is preferably not a drinking bottle attachment for baby bottles or an inhalation device with a stationary ventilator. Such pacifiers serve to hold a medium and not to soothe the child.

[0015] The pacifier comprises a hollow elastomer body and a plastic base. The pacifier also comprises an adjustment valve and a control and / or regulating device. The opening and closing of the adjustment valve is preferably controlled by the control and / or regulating device. This opening, partial opening, or closing serves to adjust the internal pressure of the hollow elastomer body.

[0016] Although valves are occasionally controlled by pacifier-shaped attachments, for example in inhalation devices, the control of the valve is not used to set an internal pressure, but rather to discharge the aerosol or breath independently of the pressure.

[0017] Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the subclaims.

[0018] To better distinguish it from state-of-the-art bottle attachments or device attachments, the plastic base, except for the adjustment valve, is designed to be completely closed at the interface or transition to the elastomer hollow body. Individual wings of the shield of the plastic base can have larger openings for a better grip by the infant. This skeletonized version of a pacifier, a modification of the version shown in Figs. 1 and 2, is shown in Fig. 5.

[0019] The pacifier has a pressure sensor, preferably a MEMS-based pressure sensor, for determining an expanded, compressed and / or partially compressed state of the elastomer hollow body.

[0020] The pacifier may have an inflation module for setting an overpressure in the elastomer hollow body in combination with the adjustment valve.

[0021] The pacifier may alternatively or additionally have a device for building up a restoring force for building up an internal pressure in combination with the adjustment valve.

[0022] The aforementioned device can in particular have at least internal ribs, internal walls and / or a compressible body for building up the restoring force.

[0023] The pacifier can also have a stimulation device for stimulating the lips, preferably a vibration module, which is particularly preferably arranged in an extraoral area of ​​the pacifier. A tongue misalignment can also lead to uneven development of the lip muscles. The pacifier according to the invention can not only counteract the underlying tongue misalignment, but also simultaneously allows training of the lip muscles and thus a simultaneous correction of secondary effects of the tongue misalignment.

[0024] Advantageously, the pacifier also includes a measuring device for detecting the position of the tongue in an intraoral area of ​​the pacifier, preferably a piezo element and / or one or more strain gauges. This allows for checking whether the tongue is positioned centrally or off-center relative to the pacifier. This enables precise tongue positioning and the initiation of countermeasures in the event of incorrect positioning and / or analysis of the training outcome of therapy with the pacifier according to the invention.

[0025] The pacifier may have one or more devices for supplying power to at least the control and / or regulating device and, if applicable, the other electronic components of the pacifier. This power supply may, in particular, comprise a battery supply or a rechargeable battery. The pacifier may have one or more sensors for monitoring a child's health status and / or for determining a medical condition, wherein the sensor is selected from one or more of the following sensors:

[0026] I electrochemical sensors, preferably capacitive sensors, conductive sensors and / or conductivity sensors,

[0027] II Biosensors and / or

[0028] III pH sensors.

[0029] Temperature sensors are not suitable for accurately determining a state of health, as an infant or toddler can have an elevated body temperature for very different reasons.

[0030] However, additional temperature measurement makes sense, as many of the aforementioned sensors are subject to temperature-dependent measurement determination. An actual value / set value comparison should ideally be performed taking the child's current body temperature into account.

[0031] The pacifier may also have a transmitting and / or receiving module for communication with an external mobile device.

[0032] The control and / or regulating device can furthermore have a data memory on which one or more person-specific data sets are stored as target values, on the state of health, on the muscle condition, in particular on the muscle tone, of the lips and / or on the tongue position.

[0033] The invention is explained in more detail below using several exemplary embodiments and with the aid of the attached figures. It shows:

[0034] Fig. 1 first schematic representation of a first embodiment of a pacifier according to the invention; and

[0035] Fig. 2 second representation of the pacifier of Fig. 1;

[0036] Fig. 3 shows a schematic representation of a second embodiment of a pacifier according to the invention; Fig. 4 shows a schematic representation of a third embodiment of a pacifier according to the invention; and

[0037] Fig. 5 schematic representation of a fourth embodiment of a pacifier according to the invention.

[0038] Fig. 1 shows a pacifier 1 in a typical design having both an intra-oral area 2 and an extra-oral area 3. A dividing line 8 is drawn as a fictitious separation between the two areas. This line is typically formed by the lips and is not rigid, but can vary with a certain degree of fluctuation.

[0039] The pacifier 1 has, in the intraoral area 2, an elastomer hollow body 4 with a bubble-shaped cavity and a tapered neck, which extends beyond the dividing line 8 into a shield-shaped plastic base 5, preferably made of hard plastic. The elastomer hollow body 4 can preferably comprise a silicone or be made of a silicone.

[0040] The plastic base 5 can be a thermoplastic, in particular, although a duroplastic is also conceivable. The shield shape provides a stop against the child's mouth and prevents, among other things, swallowing the pacifier. Furthermore, the pacifier 1 can have a handle 6, which is movable, in particular pivotable, or rigidly mounted on the plastic base.

[0041] The pacifier 1 has one or more vibration modules 11 for lip stimulation in the extraoral area 3, in or on the plastic base 5, preferably on a surface facing the intraoral area. This module stimulates the lip muscles through vibrations. The vibration module 11 is shown only schematically. In Figs. 3 and 4, individual or a plurality of vibration modules 25 are provided, which extend in an arc along the inside of the shield shape. These enable particularly advantageous, broad-area lip stimulation.

[0042] The pacifier 1 also has a schematically indicated inflation module 10. This can be, for example, a device with a gas cartridge that introduces air into the elastomer hollow body 4. For pressure control, the pacifier 1 has, preferably in the area of ​​the plastic base 5, a pressure sensor, particularly preferably a MEMS pressure sensor, and an adjustment valve 7, the opening state of which can be adjusted via a control and / or regulating device 9, either as a function of time or as a function of the determined pressure in the elastomer hollow body 4. The control and / or regulating device 9 can preferably have a transmitting and / or receiving module, a data memory, and a microcontroller. Individual target values, e.g. for the optimal internal pressure, the blow-off frequency, or the intensity of lip stimulation, are stored in the data memory.By comparing the actual and target values, an evaluation of the position or the optimal inflation volume or the optimal stimulation can be carried out.

[0043] These individual target values ​​can be determined automatically, e.g. through image analysis, or can be set by a doctor or a medical assistant.

[0044] The transmitting and / or receiving module can communicate with an external mobile device 13, e.g., a cell phone, a tablet, a computer, or the like. Fig. 1 shows the pacifier 1 in the inflated state 100. The inflated pacifier is shaped such that the child's tongue is specifically directed into a position on the roof of the mouth. The pacifier 1 can, in particular, also have chambers that can be specifically filled with air, preferably at a predefined pressure.

[0045] This allows the pacifier to be inflated in different zones, allowing for more targeted tongue positioning while avoiding misalignments.

[0046] Fig. 2 shows pacifier 1 in the deflated state at 200. In this state, the pacifier is perceived as less annoying. The constant tongue positioning can be perceived as annoying over time. Alternating between states 100 and 200 simultaneously and additionally stimulates the child's sucking reflex.

[0047] Fig. 3 shows a further embodiment of a pacifier 30, wherein the elements identical to Figs. 1 and 2 have the same reference numerals as in Figs. 1 and 2. While the pacifier 1 of Figs. 1 and 2 shows a device in which the adjusting valve 7 sets an overpressure. In Fig. 3, the pacifier 30 has an adjusting valve 34 for adjusting a pressure within the pacifier 30, which in this case also includes the setting of a negative pressure.

[0048] Elastomer hollow body 4 has a compressible body 24, e.g. made of an elastomer foam, for example made of sponge rubber, at least in the intra-oral area. The compressible body can be compressed, e.g., by the child's teeth, tongue, or sucking reflex as a whole. As a result, the compressible body 24 builds up a restoring force on the elastomer hollow body 4. If this elastomer body 4 is under negative pressure, it cannot unfold, or at least not completely, despite the restoring force of the compressible body. As a result, this pacifier can also switch between an expanded state 100 and a compressed state 200, analogous to Figs. 1 and 2. In the variant of Fig. 3, however, an inflation module can be omitted. The opening of the adjustment valve 34 can be effected by a control and / or regulating device 22 which is connected to the adjustment valve 34 via a signal line 28, 29.The structure and function of the control and / or regulating device 22 can be provided analogously to Fig. 1 and 2.

[0049] Furthermore, the pacifier 30 can have a pressure sensor 23 for determining the internal pressure in the elastomer hollow body 4, which is arranged in Fig. 3 between the adjustment valve 34 and the control and / or regulating device 22. This determines the current state of the pacifier 30 by determining the internal pressure. This can be a MEMS-based pressure sensor.

[0050] The control and / or regulating device 22 can be connected via a further signal line 26 to a power source for supplying energy to the electronic components of the pacifier 30. The aforementioned signal lines 26-29 can also simultaneously serve as power lines.

[0051] The pacifier 30 also includes a vibration module 25. In the case of Fig. 3, the vibration module has an arcuate contour to stimulate the lip muscles more effectively. Alternatively, a plurality of vibration modules can be arranged in an arc along the plastic base 5. The connecting modules 25 are connected to one another via signal lines 33.

[0052] A piezoelectric element 31 can be embedded in the compressible body 24. If local pressure is exerted on the body 24, this pressure is transferred to the piezoelectric element. This element is divided into zones 32a, 32b, 32c. If increased pressure is applied to a specific zone, a signal is transmitted via the signal line 33 to the control and / or regulating device 22. Based on the pressure exerted primarily by the tongue, the control and / or regulating device 22 can determine the position of the pacifier 30 in the mouth and issue a recommendation for repositioning the pacifier 30 and / or adjust the volume of the elastomer hollow body 4.

[0053] This makes the pacifier 30 intelligent in a certain sense and can recommend a position and / or perform a position adjustment by adjusting its own volume, in particular of the elastomer hollow body. Fig. 4 shows another variant of a pacifier 40 according to the invention within the scope of the present invention. The variants in Fig. 4 differ in the design of the pacifier in the interoral area 2. As an alternative to pressure measurement, the condition of the elastomer hollow body 4 can also be measured using one or more strain gauges 48, 49.

[0054] In Fig. 4, at least two strain gauges are provided, which can determine a local state of expansion of the elastomer hollow body 4. This makes it possible, for example, to determine the position of the tongue (more in the area of ​​the first or the second strain gauge). Strain gauges generate a signal upon deformation, particularly during stretching or compression.

[0055] Determining the tongue position can be used not only to guide a temporary correction of the pacifier's contour, but also for long-term measurement, for example, to determine the success of a therapy. If the tongue is in the optimal position more and more frequently over time, the use of the pacifier 40 has been successful.

[0056] In contrast to Fig. 3, in which a restoring force is generated by a foam body, in the variant of Fig. 4, a restoring force is generated via inner walls and / or inner ribs 45, 46 of the elastomer hollow body 44, which counteract deformation, e.g., under negative pressure. To optimally counteract deformation in the longitudinal and transverse directions, the inner walls and / or inner ribs are provided in different directions, in particular both in the longitudinal and transverse directions, relative to the insertion direction of the pacifier 40.

[0057] The hollow elastomer body 44 itself can also be designed as a piezoelectric element by incorporating flexible coatings or films, so that the surface of the hollow elastomer body can detect local pressure. A corresponding surface-modified silicone is known, for example, from EP 3 186 300 B1.

[0058] Due to the provided electronics and power supply, e.g., batteries, the invention can be combined with other sensors and thus expanded to include additional functions. In particular, capacitive sensors, conductive sensors, conductivity sensors, electrochemical sensors, and / or biosensors can be used to monitor the child's health. While temperature sensors used in pacifiers are already known, a rise in a child's temperature can have numerous causes, such as prolonged crying, teething, or the like. Alternatively or in addition to temperature sensors, the above sensors enable the detection of inflammation. For example, it has been shown that conductivity and saliva composition generally change in the presence of inflammation.Thus, measuring saliva using one or more of the aforementioned sensors enables a much more reliable diagnosis of diseases.

[0059] In particular, the combination of temperature measurement and the use of at least one other of the aforementioned sensors 47 enables the determination of diseases, since the temperature of the respective medium is usually also important for the evaluation of the sensor data.

[0060] The sensor 47 has supply nozzles 51 for completely wetting the available electrode 52. The measured data are transmitted via a signal line 50 to the control and / or regulating device 22.

[0061] In particular, based on the data of the strain gauges 48 and 49, an adjustment of the opening of the adjustment valve 34 may be made.

[0062] Reference symbol

[0063] 1 pacifier

[0064] 2 Interoral area

[0065] 3 Extraoral area

[0066] 4 elastomer hollow bodies

[0067] 5 plastic bases

[0068] 6 Handle

[0069] 7 Adjustment valve

[0070] 8 dividing line

[0071] 9 Control and / or regulating device

[0072] 10 Inflation module

[0073] 11 Vibration module

[0074] 13 mobile device

[0075] 22 Control and / or regulating device

[0076] 23 Pressure sensor

[0077] 24 Compressible body

[0078] 25 Vibration module

[0079] 26 Signal line

[0080] 27 Signal line

[0081] 28 Signal line

[0082] 29 Signal line

[0083] 30 pacifiers

[0084] 31 Piezo element

[0085] 32a Zone (piezo element)

[0086] 32b Zone (piezo element)

[0087] 32c Zone (piezo element)

[0088] 33 Signal line

[0089] 34 Adjustment valve

[0090] 40 pacifiers

[0091] 44 elastomer hollow bodies

[0092] 45 inner ribs

[0093] 46 inner ribs

[0094] 47 Sensor for determining diseases

[0095] 48 strain gauges

[0096] 49 strain gauges

[0097] 50 signal line

[0098] 51 Supply nozzles 52 Electrode

[0099] 100 inflated or expanded state

[0100] 200 uninflated or compressed state

Claims

Patent claims 1. Pacifier (1, 30, 40), as a portable pacifier for a child, with an elastomer hollow body (4, 44) and a plastic base (5), wherein the pacifier (1, 30, 40) has an adjusting valve (7, 34) and a control and / or regulating device (22), characterized in that the control and / or regulating device (9, 22) is designed to open the adjusting valve (7, 34) for adjusting the internal pressure of the elastomer hollow body (4, 44).

2. Pacifier according to claim 1, characterized in that the plastic base (5), apart from the adjusting valve (4, 44), is designed to be closed at the end in the region of the interface with the elastomer hollow body (4, 44).

3. Pacifier according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the pacifier (1, 30, 40) has a pressure sensor (23), preferably a MEMS-based pressure sensor, for determining an expanded, compressed and / or partially compressed state of the elastomer hollow body (4, 44).

4. Pacifier according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pacifier (1) has an inflation module (10) for setting an overpressure in the elastomer hollow body (4).

5. Pacifier according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pacifier (30, 40) has a device for building up a restoring force.

6. Pacifier according to claim 5, characterized in that the device has at least inner ribs (45, 46), inner walls and / or a compressible body (24) for building up the restoring force.

7. Pacifier according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pacifier (1, 30, 40) has a stimulation device for stimulating the lips, preferably a vibration module (11, 25), which is particularly preferably arranged in an extraoral region of the pacifier (1, 30, 40).

8. Pacifier according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pacifier (1, 30, 40) has a measuring device for detecting the position of a tongue in an intraoral area of the pacifier, preferably a piezo element (31) and / or one or more strain gauges (48, 49).

9. Pacifier according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pacifier (1, 30, 40) has one or more devices for supplying energy to at least the control and / or regulating device and, if applicable, the other electronic components of the pacifier.

10. Pacifier according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pacifier (1, 30, 40) has one or more sensors (47) for monitoring a state of health and / or for determining a state of illness of the child, wherein the sensor (47) is selected from one or more of the following sensors: I electrochemical sensors, preferably capacitive sensors, conductive sensors and / or conductivity sensors, II Biosensors and / or III pH sensors.

11. Pacifier according to claim 10, characterized in that the pacifier (1, 30, 40) has an additional temperature sensor.

12. Pacifier according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pacifier (1, 30, 40) has a transmitting and / or receiving module for communication with an external mobile device (13).

13. Pacifier according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control and / or regulating device (9, 22) has a data memory on which one or more person-specific data sets are stored as target values, on the state of health, on the muscle condition, in particular on the muscle tone, of the lips and / or on the tongue position of the child.

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