Infant feeding systems and methods

Abstract

An infant feeding device includes a barrel, a vessel, a feeding cap, and a plunger. The barrel defines a passage. The vessel defines a chamber configured to contain fluid therein. The vessel is disposed within the passage and secured to the barrel. The vessel has a filled state in which the chamber has a first volume and an empty state in which the chamber has a second volume that is smaller than the first volume. The feeding cap is secured to the barrel. The feeding cap defines a feeding orifice in fluid communication with the chamber. The plunger is disposed within the passage. The plunger is configured to expel a fluid contained within the chamber of the vessel through the feeding orifice by transitioning the vessel from the filled state to the empty state.

Description

INFANT FEEDING SYSTEMS AND METHODSCross-Reference to Related Applications

[0001] This application claims priority to, and the benefit of, U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 63 / 626,312, filed January 29, 2024. The entire contents of the above application are hereby incorporated by reference.Technical Field

[0002] The present disclosure relates to feeding systems for infants and, more specifically, oral feeding or assisted oral feeding systems for infants.Background

[0003] Many infants struggle to breast or bottle feed. Often these infants are born prematurely and the feeding struggles stem from underdevelopment, such as underdeveloped musculature to support sucking and swallowing reflexes, difficulties with coordinating movement and breath, gastrointestinal tract issues, or cardiovascular problems. Any of these issues may make conventional breast or bottle feeding difficult or even impossible. Without the ability to breast or bottle feed themselves, infants are at risk of malnourishment. Traditionally, gavage feedings are relied upon to supplement or replace breast or bottle feeding in infants unable to adequately feed themselves. Gavage feedings, typically, use enteral feeding tubes to deliver food directly into the stomach of an infant.

[0004] In instances, infants may initially be bottle fed, but may require gavage feeding after a certain amount of milk or formula has been consumed orally. The process of switching from conventional bottle feeding to gavage feeding can be cumbersome and may interrupt the continuity of a feeding session. Further, feeding sessions provide opportunities for bonding between infant and caregiver. Interrupting a breast feeding or bottle-feeding session to switch to gavage feeding may disrupt this bonding. Currently, to achieve this difficult transition, any milk or formula remaining in the bottle is typically transferred from the original, standard bottle to another bottle and drawn up by a syringe from the secondary bottle, after which the syringe is attached to enteral tubing to deliver the milk directly to the infant’s stomach. Typically, the tubing is fed through the infant’s mouth or nose, known as an orogastric tube or nasogastric tube, respectively, and into the stomach to provide direct delivery of milk. This process is unwieldy, and often necessitates putting the infant down or enlisting the help of a second person, thereby disrupting the infant’s feeding experience.

[0005] Milk may also be wasted in the process of switching to gavage feeding, as a complete transfer of the remaining milk from the original bottle to the gavage feeding device is unlikely. Thismilk loss is wasteful and may create difficulties in tracking the exact volume of milk consumed by the infant. For example, when pouring the milk to gavage, there may be spillage, resulting in loss of breast milk of unknown volume. Spillage is particularly likely when a sole nurse or caregiver attempts to hold a writhing infant during the bottle-to-gavage transfer process. To compensate for milk loss in the enteral tubing, many neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) facilities prepare more milk than needed, in order to compensate for breast milk that is wasted in the enteral tubing. Some mothers produce minimal or insufficient amounts of milk, such that any excess milk that is being made or wasted is likely detracting from the mother’s and infant’s supply. If the milk supply is too low, a milk donor may be necessary to compensate, and donor milk may be costly.

[0006] NICU facilities must also take into account that syringes, bottles, and pumps often do not have a means for measuring or determining whether residual milk remains in the syringes, bottles, or pumps. In some cases, if not measured correctly, any milk remaining in the enteral feeding tube at the completion of gavage feeding may be kept from the infant, though the feeding appears to be completed. As a result of residual milk remaining in the gavage system, the infant may have lost a portion of milk needed to meet nutritional requirements. Infants given gavage feeding often receive eight feeds per day. Over the course of these feeds, under feeding due to residual losses at each feeding could deprive the infant of substantial portions of necessary fluids and calories necessary for their development.Summary

[0007] Accordingly, a need for improved infant feeding systems was recognized, specifically oral feeding systems to feed an infant or assist an infant in feeding. Provided here are systems and methods to address these shortcomings of the art and provide other additional or alternative advantages.

[0008] In an embodiment, an infant feeding device includes a barrel, a vessel, a plunger, and a feeding cap. The barrel defines a passage. The vessel defines a chamber having a first volume. The vessel is configured to contain fluid within the chamber. The vessel is disposed within the passage and secured to the barrel. The plunger is secured to vessel and configured to move a portion of the vessel relative to the barrel such that the first volume of the chamber is reduced to a second volume. The feeding cap defines a feeding orifice in fluid communication with the chamber such that the movement of the vessel by plunger expels any fluid through the feeding orifice.

[0009] In aspects, the plunger includes a projected tip portion. The plunger may include a substantially flat tip portion. The vessel may be made of silicone.

[0010] In another embodiment, an infant feeding device includes a barrel, a vessel, a plunger, and a feeding cap. The barrel has a first end portion and a second end portion opposite the first end portion. The barrel defines a passage. The vessel has a first end segment and a second end segment opposite the first end segment. The vessel defines a chamber having a first volume. The vessel is disposed within the passage of the barrel with the first end segment secured to the first end portion of the barrel. The plunger is secured to the second end segment of the vessel. The plunger is configured to move the second end segment relative the barrel such that the chamber is transitioned from the first volume to the second volume. The feeding cap defines a feeding orifice. The feeding cap is secured to the first end portion of the barrel such that the feeding orifice is in fluid communication with the chamber and movement of the second end segment towards the first end portion of the barrel expels fluid within the chamber through the feeding orifice.

[0011] In aspects, the first volume is in the range of 25 milliliters to 200 milliliters. The second volume is capable of being substantially zero milliliters.

[0012] In another embodiment, a method of using an infant feeding device includes securing a vessel to a barrel. The vessel defines a chamber having a first volume. A distal end segment of the vessel movable relative to the barrel such that the chamber is compressible to a second volume smaller than the first volume. The method includes securing a feeding cap to the barrel. The feeding cap defines a feeding orifice through a nipple of the feeding cap. The feeding orifice is in fluid communication with the chamber. The method includes positioning a plunger within a passage defined by the barrel such that the feeding device is in a full state thereof. The method includes inserting the nipple into the mouth of an infant. The method includes applying pressure to the plunger such that the vessel moves relative to the barrel and the chamber compresses from the first volume towards the second volume and expels fluid through the feeding orifice to feed or assist feeding an infant

[0013] In aspects, the method includes replacing the feeding cap with a syringe cap configured to fluidly couple with a conventional gavage tube.

[0014] In another embodiment, an infant feeding device as shown and described herein.

[0015] In another embodiment, a method of using an infant feeding device as shown and described herein.

[0016] In another embodiment, an infant feeding system as shown and described herein.

[0017] In another embodiment, an infant feeding kit as shown and described herein.

[0018] In another embodiment, an infant feeding device includes a barrel, a vessel, a feeding cap, and a plunger. The barrel has a first end portion and a second end portion opposite the first end portion. The barrel defines a passage extending between the first end portion and the second end portion. The vessel has a first end segment and a second end segment opposite the first end segment. The vessel defines a chamber. The vessel has a filled state filled in which the chamber has a first volume an empty state in which the chamber has a second volume that is less than the first volume. The vessel is disposed within the passage of the barrel with the first end segment secured to the first end portion of the barrel. The feeding cap defines a feeding orifice. The feeding cap is secured to the first end portion of the barrel such that the feeding orifice is in fluid communication with the chamber. The plunger is secured to the send segment of the vessel. The plunger is configured to expel a fluid contained within the chamber by moving the second end segment towards the first end portion of the barrel to transition the vessel from the filled state to the empty state.

[0019] In aspects, the first volume is in a range of 25 milliliter to 200 milliliters. The second volume may be capable of being substantially zero milliliters.

[0020] In some aspects, the plunger includes a projecting tip portion. The projecting tip may be disposed within the feeding cap when the vessel is in the empty state. The feeding cap may include a nipple. The nipple may define a cavity. The projecting tip of the plunger may be received within the cavity when the vessel is in the empty state.

[0021] In certain aspects, the plunger includes a substantial flat tip portion. The barrel may have a cylindrical profile with a uniform cross-section along a length thereof defined between the first end portion and the second end portion.

[0022] In particular aspects, the infant feeding device includes a compression connector disposed between the first end portion of the barrel and the feeding cap. The compression connector may secure the feeding cap to the barrel such that the interface between the feeding cap and the first end portion is fluidly sealed. The feeding cap may be threadably secured to the first end portion of the barrel.

[0023] In aspects, the vessel is made of a flexible material. The vessel may be made of a silicone.

[0024] In another embodiment, an infant feeding device includes a barrel, a vessel, a feeding cap, and a plunger. The barrel defines a passage. The vessel defines a chamber configured to contain fluid therein. The vessel is disposed within the passage and secured to the barrel. The vessel has a filled state in which the chamber has a first volume and an empty state in which the chamber has a second volume that is smaller than the first volume. The feeding cap is secured to the barrel. The feeding cap defines a feeding orifice in fluid communication with the chamber. The plunger is disposed withinthe passage. The plunger is configured to expel a fluid contained within the chamber of the vessel through the feeding orifice by transitioning the vessel from the filled state to the empty state.

[0025] In aspects, the plunger includes a projecting tip portion. The projecting tip portion may be configured to expel substantially all of the fluid contained within the chamber of the vessel through the feeding orifice. The feeding cap may include a nipple defining a cavity. The projecting tip portion may be received within the cavity of the nipple to expel substantially app of the fluid contained within the chamber of the vessel through the feeding orifice.

[0026] In some aspects, the infant feeding device includes a compression connector configured to fill a gap defined between the feeding cap and the barrel and secure the feeding cap to the barrel such that the feeding cap and the barrel are fluidly sealed therebetween. The infant feeding device may include a vent configured to equalize pressure between the chamber and a surrounding environment.

[0027] In another embodiment, a method of using an infant feeding device includes securing a vessel to a barrel. The vessel defines a chamber having a first volume. A distal end segment of the vessel is moveable relative the barrel such the chamber is compressible to a second volume that is smaller than the first volume. The method also includes securing a feeding cap to the barrel. The feeding cap defines a feeding orifice through a nipple of a feeding cap. The feeding orifice is in fluid communication with the chamber. The method also includes positioning a plunger within a passage defined by the barrel such that the infant feeding device is in a full state thereof. The method also includes inserting the nipple into the mouth of an infant. The method also includes applying pressure to the plunger such that the vessel moves relative to the barrel and the chamber compresses from the first volume towards the second volume to expel a fluid contained therein through the feeding orifice to feed or assist feeding the infant.

[0028] In aspects, the method includes replacing the feeding cap with syringe cap configured to fluidly couple with a conventional gavage tube. Inserting the nipple in the mouth of the infant includes priming the infant feeding device before the nipple is inserted into the mouth of the infant.

[0029] Further, to the extent consistent, any of the embodiments or aspects described herein may be used in conjunction with any or all of the other embodiments or aspects described herein.Brief Description of the Drawings

[0030] Various aspects of the present disclosure are described hereinbelow with reference to the drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale. The drawings are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification.

[0031] FIG. 1 is a side view of an infant feeder in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure in an empty state thereof with a plunger in a depressed position.

[0032] FIG. 2 is a side view of the infant feeder of FIG. 1 in a fdled state thereof with the plunger moved to a withdrawn position.

[0033] FIG. 3 is side view of the infant feeder of FIG. 1 with a feeding cap thereof removed.

[0034] FIG. 4 is a side exploded view, with parts separated, of the infant feeder of FIG. 1.

[0035] FIG. 5 is a side view illustrating example feeding caps in accordance with the present disclosure operably coupled to a conventional syringe.

[0036] FIG. 6 is a side view of another example feeding cap in accordance with the present disclosure.

[0037] FIG. 7 is side view of a prior art ENFit® syringe illustrating an example syringe the feeding caps of FIGS. 5 and 6 may operably couple.

[0038] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a compression connector of the infant feeder of FIG. 1 in an uncoupled configuration thereof.

[0039] FIG. 9 is another perspective view of the compression connector of FIG. 8 in a coupled configuration thereof.

[0040] FIG. 10 is a side view of another infant feeder in accordance with the present disclosure in a filled state thereof.

[0041] FIG. 11 is a top schematic view of another infant feeder in accordance with the present disclosure.

[0042] FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a method of using an infant feeder of in accordance with the present disclosure.Detailed Description

[0043] The present disclosure will now be described more fully with reference to example embodiments thereof and with reference to the drawings in which like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding elements in each of the several views. These embodiments are described so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the disclosure to those skilled in the art. Features from one embodiment or aspect can be combined with features from any other embodiment or aspect in any appropriate combination. For example, any individual or collective features of method aspects or embodiments can be applied to apparatus, product, or component aspects or embodiments and vice versa. The disclosure may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather,these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. As used in the specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” “the,” and the like include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. In addition, while reference may be made herein to quantitative measures, values, geometric relationships or the like, unless otherwise stated, any one or more if not all of these may be absolute or approximate to account for acceptable variations that may occur, such as those due to manufacturing or engineering tolerances or the like.

[0044] As used herein, the term “clinician” refers to a doctor, a nurse, or any other care provider and may include support personnel, parents, or guardians. Throughout this description, the term “proximal” refers to the portion of the device or component thereof that is closer to a feeding orifice of an infant feeder and the term “distal” refers to the portion of the device or component thereof that is farther from the feeding orifice.

[0045] Referring now to FIGS. 1-3, an example infant feeder 10 for orally feeding infants or assisting an infant to feed orally is shown. The infant feeder 10 includes a barrel 20, a vessel 30, a plunger 40, and a feeding cap 50. The infant feeder 10 has an empty state (FIG. 1) and a filled state (FIG. 2). In the filled state, the vessel 30 defines a chamber 36 having a first volume or a filled volume VI and may be filled with breast milk or formula for feeding an infant. In the empty state, the vessel 30 is compressed such that the chamber 36 has a second volume or an empty volume V2 and forcibly expels any breast milk or formula stored within the chamber 36 from the feeding cap 50 to feed an infant or assist an infant feeding.

[0046] The barrel 20 has a proximal end portion 22, a distal end portion 24, and defines a passage 26 extending through the barrel 20 between proximal end portion 22 and the distal end portion 24. The barrel 20 may be substantially rigid and may be made from a plastic material, such as acrylic, PVC, PET, HDPE, or polypropylene. The barrel 20 may include a volume indicator 28, such as graduated markings, to provide a visual indication of the volume of milk or formula within the vessel 30. The barrel 20 may have a cylindrical profile with a uniform cross-section along its length. In some embodiments, the barrel 20 may have frustoconical profile with a tapering cross-section along its length. The barrel 20 may taper such that the cross-section nearer the proximal end portion 22 is smaller than the cross-section at the distal end portion 24. A tapered barrel 20 may aid in expelling substantially all the milk within the vessel 30 by funneling milk toward the feeding cap 50 or maintaining pressure and flow of the milk as fluid volume decreases.

[0047] The vessel 30 may be filled with breast milk or formula for feeding an infant. The vessel 30 has a proximal end segment 32, a distal end segment 34, and defines the chamber 36. The vessel30 is disposed within the barrel 20 in the passage 26. The proximal end segment 32 is removably secured to the proximal end portion 22 of the barrel 20. In some embodiments, the proximal end segment 32 threadably secures to the proximal end portion 22 of the barrel 20. In some embodiments, a retaining ring may secure the proximal end segment 32 of to the barrel 20. The distal end segment 34 of the vessel 30 may be secured to the plunger 40. In embodiments, the distal end segment 34 is unsecured to either the barrel 20 or the plunger 40. In some embodiments, the distal end segment 34 is movably secured to the barrel 20.

[0048] The vessel 30 is substantially flexible such that the distal end segment 34 of the vessel 30 is movable relative to the barrel 20 when the proximal end segment 32 of the vessel 30 is secured to the proximal end portion 22 of the barrel 20 to facilitate compression of the vessel 30 and, thus, the transition between the full state and the empty state. As the infant feeder 10 transitions from the filled state to the empty state, the volume of the chamber 36 decreases from the filled volume VI to the empty volume V2. Specifically, to transition from the filled state to the empty state, the distal end segment 34 of vessel 30 moves proximally towards the proximal end segment 32 thereby reducing the volume of the chamber 36. The vessel 30 may be made of a flexible or semi-resilient material, e.g., silicone. In embodiments, the vessel 30 may stand on its own such that the chamber 36 may be filled with milk prior to securement within the barrel 20. The vessel 30 may have a cylindrical profile with a uniform cross-section along its length. In some embodiments, the vessel 30 may have a conical or a frustoconical profile with a tapering cross-section along its length. A tapered vessel 30 may reduce residual milk remaining in the vessel 30 at the end of a feeding.

[0049] In the full state, the vessel 30 defines the chamber 36 at the filled volume VI. The vessel 30 may be formed in various sizes to define the chamber 36 such that the filled volume VI is in the range of 25 milliliters to 250 milliliters, e.g., 100 milliliters. In the empty state, the vessel 30 is compressed so that the chamber 36 is at the empty volume V2, which is less than the filled volume VI, and expels substantially all milk or formula within the chamber 36 such that the empty volume V2 may be substantially zero milliliters, as shown FIGS. 1 and 3.

[0050] In particular embodiments, the vessel 30 is securable to a breast pump to directly receive breast milk from a nursing mother. The vessel 30 may include a lid (not shown) to seal the chamber 36 for storing milk. The vessel 30 may be freezer-safe and used for long term storage of milk, for example for several weeks to several months.

[0051] Continuing to refer to FIGS. 1-3, the plunger 40 is disposed through the barrel 20, within the passage 26, and is in physical communication with the distal end segment 34 of the vessel 30 tofunction as a pressure applicator. The plunger 40 moves between a depressed position (FIG. 1) and a withdrawn position (FIG. 2). In the depressed position the plunger 40 compresses the chamber 36 to the empty volume V2. In the withdrawn position the plunger 40 allows the chamber 36 to expand to the filled volume VI. The plunger 40 may be used by a clinician to start, finish, or maintain the flow of milk during feeding. For example, some infants may struggle with starting flow from the infant feeder 10, but otherwise may be able to feed. In other instances, infants may struggle to finish the feeding and the plunger 40 may be used to finish the feeding. Still other infants may require assistance throughout the feeding.

[0052] The plunger 40 includes a tip portion 42, a rod 44, and a thumb rest 46. The tip portion 42 may be secured to the distal end segment 34 of the vessel 30. In some embodiments, the tip portion 42 may be monolithically formed with the distal end segment 34. In such embodiments, moving the plunger 40 from the depressed position to the withdrawn position may urge the chamber 36 to the filled volume VI. In certain embodiments, the tip portion 42 of the plunger 40 is not secured to the distal end segment 34 of the vessel 30 and buts against the distal end segment 34 when pressure is applied and moved toward the depressed position. The tip portion 42 may be sized and dimensioned to engage the inner walls of the barrel 20. Engagement of the tip portion 42 and the barrel 20 may provide for even pressure application to the vessel 30. In some embodiments, the tip portion 42 is compressible to cooperate with the cross-section of a barrel 20 with a tapered cross-section.

[0053] Additionally referring to FIG. 4, the tip portion 42 of the plunger 40 may be a substantially flat tip portion 42a. In embodiments, the tip portion 42 may be a projecting tip portion 42b as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. With particular reference to FIG. 3, the projecting tip portion 42b may be received in a cavity defined by the nipple 52 of the feeding cap 50. The projecting tip portion 42b may expel breast milk or formula that otherwise would remain trapped within the infant feeder 10, thereby reducing residual milk left in the infant feeder 10 and maximizing the amount of milk delivered to the infant. In some embodiments, the vessel 30 may partially invert when the infant feeder 10 is in the empty state, further reducing the chance residual milk remains in the vessel 30, as shown in FIG. 3.

[0054] The rod 44 is long enough to fully compress the vessel 30 to the empty volume V2 such that the infant feeder 10 is transitioned from the filled state to the empty state and expels substantially all the milk contained in vessel 30. The length of the rod 44 required to transition the infant feeder 10 to the empty state may be dictated by the dimensions of the barrel 20. For example, the longer the barrel 20 from proximal end portion 22 to distal end portion 24, the longer the rod 44 needed to fullycompress the vessel 30 and reach the empty state. As such, the rod 44 may be made in various lengths to accommodate barrels 20 of several lengths made to accommodate larger or smaller vessels 30. The thumb rest 46 is disposed distally on the plunger 40 and provides for even pressure application by a clinician.

[0055] Continuing to refer to FIGS. 1-4, the feeding cap 50 includes a nipple 52 defining a feeding orifice 54. The feeding cap 50 is secured to the proximal end portion 22 of the barrel 20. The nipple 52 is inserted into the mouth of an infant for feeding. The feeding orifice 54 is in fluid communication with the chamber 36 such that when pressure is applied to the vessel 30 through the plunger 40 fluid is expelled through the feeding orifice 54. The feeding cap 50 may be threadably secured to the barrel 20. The feeding cap 50 may be a conventional baby bottle feeding cap. The feeding cap 50 may reduce the chance of under feeding an infant due to residual milk losses compared to a conventional gavage feeding tube. The feeding cap 50 may have a smaller volume for milk to become trapped compared to a conventional gavage feeding tube. The feeding cap 50, being more similar to a conventional baby bottle feeding cap, may additionally make assisted feeding possible, and more comfortable, for parents to perform. Allowing parents to conduct feedings may improve the parent-infant bond at an earlier point in the infant’s development.

[0056] In embodiments, the feeding cap 50 may be replaced with a syringe cap (not shown) having a conventional syringe tip 53 (FIG. 5) configured to fluidly couple with a conventional gavage tube such as a nasogastric tube, an orogastric tube, or a gastric tube. The syringe cap may replace the feeding cap 50 in the middle of a feeding without the need to transfer milk from the infant feeder 10 to another container. This may ease the transition between bottle feeding, assisted feeding, and gavage feeding. In some embodiments, the feeding cap 50 may be replaced with an ENFit® syringe cap having an ENFit® tip 55 (FIG. 7). An infant feeding system may include the infant feeder 10, including the feeding cap 50 and the syringe cap, to allow for complete delivery of required nutrients to an infant. The infant feeding system alongside other accessories, e.g., lids for milk storage, may form an infant feeding kit. In some embodiments, the infant feeding system includes a conventional syringe pump to deliver accurate amounts of milk over predetermined feeding period. The infant feeder 10 may be attached to the syringe pump such that the syringe pump depresses the plunger 40 to deliver milk to the infant at a known rate.

[0057] Referring to FIGS. 5-7, example feeding caps 50a and 50b in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure are shown. The feeding caps 50a and 50b include a base portion 51 that is configured to receive a conventional syringe tip 53 or an ENFit® tip 55 to fluidlycouple the feeding caps 50a, 50b to the infant feeder 10 that is provided with a syringe cap as described above. In such embodiments, the infant feeder 10 includes the syringe cap and a feeding cap 50a or 50b prior to a feeding session. If the infant cannot finish the assisted feeding through the feeding cap 50a or 50, then only the feeding cap 50a or 50b need be removed to configure the infant feeder 10 to couple to a feeding tube or gavage to complete the feeding, without the need to remove feeding cap 50 and replace with the syringe cap. In certain embodiments, the feeding caps 50a, 50 may be attached to a conventional syringe or an ENFit® syringe to allow the conventional syringe to function similarly to the infant feeder 10 and allow a clinician to feed an infant or assist an infant in feeding.

[0058] The feeding cap 50a may have a nipple 52a having various lengths as shown with respect to nipples 52a' and 52a". The various lengths of the nipple 52a may assist infants at different stages of development. For example, nipple 52a" has comparatively long nipple that may be allow for positioning of the nipple 52a" deeper in the mouth or throat of an infant. The longer length of nipple 52a" may allow for milk to delivered into the upper esophagus of an infant, which may assist in feeding premature infants that have not developed the musculature to swallow milk on their own. The feeding cap 50b may have a nipple 52b that is similar to a conventional pacifier with the addition of a feeding orifice 54b. The feeding cap 50b may be used as a pacifier when not being used for feeding. Using the feeding cap 50b for both feeding and as a pacifier may sooth the infant and ease feedings.

[0059] Additionally, or alternatively, feeding an infant through the feeding cap 50, as opposed to conventional enteral feeding tubes, may reduce the chance of forcing air into the infant’s stomach. For example, the infant feeder 10 may be primed by applying pressure through the plunger 40 to expel any air in infant feeder 10 prior to commencing feeding. In contrast, conventional enteral feeding tubes may have air trapped within that cannot be expelled prior to placement through the infant’s mouth or nose and into the stomach. Air in the stomach of an infant may cause discomfort or result in excessive gastroesophageal reflux, such as a spit-up, and loss of delivered nutrients.

[0060] Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, a compression connector 80 of the infant feeder 10 in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure is shown. The compression connector 80 is configured to operably couple the infant feeder 10 with most commercially available feeding nipples. The compression connector 80 may be a flexible member that forms a seal between the feeding cap 50 and the barrel 20. In operably connecting the feeding cap 50 to the barrel 20 via the compression connector 80, the compression connector 80 is compressed and fills a gap 82 defined between the feeding cap 50 and the barrel 20 as shown in FIG. 9. Conventionally, feeding nipples are threadably secured to a bottle. The compression connector 80 may provide for connection of a conventionalfeeding nipple to the infant feeder 10 without cooperating threads on the barrel 20. In embodiments, the compression connector 80 may be fixed about the proximal end portion 22 of the barrel 20. The feeding cap 50 may be pressed over the compression connector 80 to operably couple the feeding cap 50 to the infant feeder 10. In some embodiments, the compression connector 80 is slidingly disposed about the barrel 20. In such embodiments, the feeding cap 50 may be positioned on the proximal end portion 22 of the barrel 20 and the compression connector 80 slid along the barrel 20 and into the gap 82 to operably connect the feeding cap 50 to the infant feeder 10. In particular embodiments, a plurality of the compression connectors 80 may be included in an infant feeding kit. The plurality of the compression connector 80 may have various thicknesses and diameters to accommodate and couple a variety of commercially available feeding cap 50 to the infant feeder 10.

[0061] In some embodiments, the infant feeder 10 may include a vent 90. The vent 90 may prevent a vacuum, or a partial vacuum, from forming within the vessel 30 or the nipple 52 of the feeding cap 50 caused by the sucking action of a feeding infant. The vent 90 may equalize a pressure differential formed between the surrounding environment and the chamber 36 of the vessel 30 due to the sucking action of a feeding infant. Additionally, or alternatively, the vent 90 may maintain a constant flow rate during a feeding. In some embodiments, the vent 90 may reduce gastroesophageal reflux or colic. Specifically, the vent 90 is configured to allow air to enter the chamber 36, but prevent fluid, e.g., breast milk or formula, from leaking out of the chamber 36 through the vent 90. In some embodiments, the vent 90 may be small notch defined by the barrel 20, the vessel 30, or the feeding cap 50. In such an embodiment, the vent 90 may allow air into the chamber 36 through the threaded connection between the feeding cap 50 and the barrel 20. In some embodiments, vent 90 is a one-way valve that allows air to enter the chamber 36 but prevent fluid from leaking out of the chamber 36. In certain embodiments, the vent 90 is an air permeable membrane that allows air to pass therethrough but prevents liquids from passing therethrough.

[0062] With particular reference to FIGS. 10 and 11, two other infant feeders 110 and 210, respectively, are shown. For the purposes of brevity only the differences between the infant feeder 10 and the infant feeders 110 and 210 will be discussed in detail herein below with similar elements indicated with like labels including a preceding “1” or “2”.

[0063] Now referring to FIG. 10, the plunger 140 of the infant feeder 110 is unitarily formed with the distal end segment 134 of the vessel 130. The thumb rest 146 extends laterally from the distal end segment 134 of the vessel 130 and is disposed through a slot 121 defined by the barrel 120. In such embodiments, the plunger 140 may not include a rod, e.g., the rod 44 of the plunger 40. The slot 121may function as a track to guide the infant feeder 110 between the filled state and the empty state and aid in application of even pressure to the vessel 130. In some embodiments, a second thumb rest (not shown) may extend from the plunger 140 through a second slot (not shown) opposite the thumb rest 146. The infant feeder 110 may include a clip or tether 160 may be secured to barrel 120 to attach the infant feeder 110 to the clothing of an infant or a clinician during a feeding. The infant feeder 110 that may include tip 148 that is configured to couple the infant feeder 110 to a conventional feeding tube, e.g., nasogastric tube or orogastric tube. The tip 148 may be secured at the proximal end segment 122 of the barrel 120 and in fluid communication of the vessel 130. The nipple 150 may be removed from the barrel 120 and the tip 148 may be fluidly coupled to a conventional feeding tube to complete an infant feeding or deliver any residual milk remaining in the vessel 130 after an oral feeding.

[0064] Referring to FIG. 11, the barrel 220 of the infant feeder 210 may include pressure pads 223 for a clinician to apply pressure to the vessel 230. The pressure pads 223 are flexible sections formed in the barrel 220. A clinician may apply pressure to the pressure pads 223 to start or finish milk flow through the feeding cap 250. The pressure pads 223 may be provided in lieu of the plunger 240. In some embodiments the pressure pads 223 are provided in addition to the plunger 240. The pressure pads 223 may be made of silicone.

[0065] With reference to FIG. 12, a method 1000 of using the infant feeder 10 of FIGS. 1-6 is described. The method 1000 includes the step of securing a vessel 30 to the barrel 20 and may include filling it with breast milk or formula (Step 1100). The vessel 30 may be filled with milk prior to securement to the barrel 20 or may be filled after securement to the barrel 20. To secure the vessel 30 to the barrel 20, the distal end segment 34 is lowered into the passage 26 through the proximal end portion 22 and the proximal end segment 32 is secured to the proximal end portion 22. In some embodiments, the proximal end segment 32 is lowered into the passage 26 through the distal end portion 24 and secured to the proximal end portion 22.

[0066] The method 1000 includes the step of securing a feeding cap 50 to the proximal end portion 22 of the barrel 20 (Step 1200). The feeding cap 50 may threadably secure to the barrel 20. In some embodiments, the feeding cap 50 may function as a retaining ring and secure the proximal end segment 32 of the vessel 30 to the barrel 20. In certain embodiments, the feeding cap 50 may be secured to the barrel 20 by the compression connector 80.

[0067] The method 1000 includes the step of positioning the plunger 40 in the barrel 20 near the distal end portion 24 to place the infant feeder 10 in the filled state (Step 1300). In embodiments, the plunger 40 may be secured to, or monolithically formed with, the distal end segment 34 of the vessel30. In such embodiments, the plunger 40 may be used to adjust the vessel 30 such that positioning the plunger 40 near the distal end portion 24 may retract or expand the vessel 30 to its filled volume VI and place the infant feeder 10 in the filled state.

[0068] The method 1000 includes the step of inserting the nipple 52 of the feeding cap 50 into the mouth of an infant for a feeding with the infant feeder 10 in the filled state (Step 1400). The infant feeder 10 may be primed prior to insertion into the mouth of an infant to expel air trapped within the infant feeder 10. The infant feeder 10 may be primed by applying pressure to the plunger 40 to expel trapped air.

[0069] The method 1000 includes the step of applying pressure to the plunger 40 to move the plunger 40 from the withdrawn position to the depressed position and to transition the infant feeder 10 towards the empty state and feed or assist the infant in feeding (Step 1500). Applying pressure to plunger 40 moves the distal end segment 34 proximally within the passage 26 towards the proximal end portion 22 of the barrel 20 to expel milk within the vessel 30 and reduce the volume of the chamber 36 from the filled volume VI to the empty volume V2. In some embodiments, the clinician may monitor flow rate of the feeding by monitoring the volume indicator 28 and the duration of the feeding, e.g., via a stopwatch. Monitoring the flow rate may be desirable to avoid overwhelming the infant since the milk is not deposited directly within the infant’s stomach and must flow from mouth to stomach. To control the flow rate of the feeding, the clinician may apply gentle pressure consistently to the plunger 40. Additionally, or alternatively, the clinician may gently tap the plunger 40 repeatedly throughout the feeding to depress the plunger 40 and deliver milk to the infant. In some embodiments, the infant feeder 10 may be used in conjunction with a syringe pump to deliver accurate amounts of milk over the course of feeding.

[0070] The method 1000 may optionally include the step of replacing the feeding cap 50 with the syringe cap to configure the infant feeder 10 to secure to a feeding tube for gavage feeding to finish the feeding and deliver any residual milk (Step 1600). The syringe cap may be fluidly coupled to a conventional gavage tube for gavage feeding an infant. Replacing the feeding cap 50 with the syringe cap may allow for switching between assisted oral feeding and gavage feeding.

[0071] Although the method steps are described in a specific order, it should be understood that other steps may be performed in between described steps, described steps may be adjusted so that they occur at slightly different times, or the described steps may occur in any order unless otherwise specified.

[0072] While several embodiments of the disclosure have been shown in the drawings, it is not intended that the disclosure be limited thereto, as it is intended that the disclosure be as broad in scope as the art will allow and that the specification be read likewise. Any combination of the above embodiments is also envisioned and is within the scope of the appended claims. Therefore, the above description should not be construed as limiting, but merely as exemplifications of particular embodiments. Those skilled in the art will envision other modifications within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

Claims

What is Claimed:

1. An infant feeding device comprising: a barrel having a first end portion and a second end portion opposite the first end portion, the barrel defining a passage extending between the first end portion and the second end portion; a vessel having a first end segment and a second end segment opposite the first end segment, the vessel defining a chamber, the vessel having a filled state in which the chamber has a first volume and an empty state which the chamber has a second volume that is less than the first volume, the vessel disposed within the passage of the barrel with the first end segment secured to the first end portion of the barrel; a feeding cap defining a feeding orifice, the feeding cap secured to the first end portion of the barrel such that the feeding orifice is in fluid communication with the chamber; and a plunger secured to the second end segment of the vessel, the plunger configured to expel a fluid contained within the chamber by moving the second end segment towards the first end portion of the barrel to transition the vessel from the filled state to the empty state.

2. The infant feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the first volume is in a range of 25 milliliters to 200 milliliters.

3. The infant feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the second volume is capable of being substantially zero milliliters.

4. The infant feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the plunger comprises a projecting tip portion.

5. The infant feeding device according to claim 4, wherein the projecting tip portion is disposed within the feeding cap when the vessel is in the empty state.

6. The infant feeding device according to claim 5, wherein the feeding cap includes a nipple, the nipple defining a cavity, the projecting tip portion of the plunger received within the cavity when the vessel is in the empty state.

7. The infant feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the plunger comprises a substantially flat tip portion.

8. The infant feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the barrel has a cylindrical profile with a uniform cross-section along a length thereof defined between the first end portion and the second end portion.

9. The infant feeding device according to claim 1, further comprising a compression connector disposed between the first end portion of the barrel and the feeding cap, the compression connector securing the feeding cap to the barrel such that the interface between the feeding cap and the first end portion is fluidly sealed.

10. The infant feeding device according to claim 1, where the feeding cap is threadably secured to the first end portion of the barrel.

11. The infant feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the vessel is made of a flexible material.

12. The infant feeding device according to claim 8, wherein the vessel is made of silicone.

13. An infant feeding device comprising: a barrel defining a passage; a vessel defining a chamber configured to contain fluid therein, the vessel disposed within the passage and secured to the barrel, the vessel having a filled state in which the chamber has a first volume and an empty state in which the chamber has a second volume that is smaller than the first volume; a feeding cap secured to the barrel, the feeding cap defining a feeding orifice in fluid communication with the chamber; and a plunger disposed within the passage, the plunger configured to expel a fluid contained within the chamber of the vessel through the feeding orifice by transitioning the vessel from the filled state to the empty state.

14. The infant feeding device according to claim 13, wherein the plunger comprises a projecting tip portion, the projecting tip portion configured to expel substantially all of the fluid contained within the chamber of the vessel through the feeding orifice.

15. The infant feeding device according to claim 14, wherein the feeding cap includes a nipple defining a cavity, the projecting tip portion received within the cavity of the nipple to expel substantially all of the fluid contained within the chamber of the vessel through the feeding orifice.

16. The infant feeding device according to claim 13, further comprising a compression connector configured to fill a gap defined between the feeding cap and the barrel and secure the feeding cap to the barrel such that the feeding cap and the barrel are fluidly sealed therebetween.

17. The infant feeding device according to claim 13, further comprising a vent configured to equalize pressure between the chamber and a surrounding environment.

18. A method of using an infant feeding device comprising: securing a vessel to a barrel, the vessel defining a chamber having first volume, a distal end segment of the vessel movable relative to the barrel such that the chamber is compressible to a second volume that is smaller than the first volume; securing a feeding cap to the barrel, the feeding cap defining a feeding orifice through a nipple of the feeding cap, the feeding orifice in fluid communication with the chamber; positioning a plunger within a passage defined by the barrel such that the infant feeding device is in a full state thereof; inserting the nipple into the mouth of an infant; and applying pressure to the plunger such that the vessel moves relative to the barrel and the chamber compresses from the first volume towards the second volume to expel a fluid contained therein through the feeding orifice to feed or assist feeding the infant.

19. The method according to claim 18, further comprising: replacing the feeding cap with a syringe cap configured to fluidly couple with a conventional gavage tube.

20. The method according to claim 18, wherein inserting the nipple in the mouth of the infant includes priming the infant feeding device before the nipple is inserted into the mouth of the infant.

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