Feeding Nozzle Spoon With Lip Stimulation for Continuous Feeding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing feeding methods, such as using forks or spoons, can be difficult for young children and individuals with Alzheimer's disease, requiring repeated stimulation to open their mouths for each bite, and are not suitable for administering solid foods or medications.
Innovation Solution
A feeding nozzle with a spoon and a handle that includes lip-stimulating features, such as ribs, nubs, or grooves on the outer surface or edge of the bowl, facilitating mouth opening and allowing continuous feeding without repeated stimulation, and can be connected to a flexible pouch for easy food or medication delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a spoon or fork is used for feeding, then the feeding utensil can handle solid foods, but it requires repeated stimulation to open the mouth for each bite
Solution Approach 1:
The feeding device applies preliminary action by incorporating lip-stimulating features (ribs, nubs, or grooves) on the bowl's outer surface and edge that automatically stimulate the lips when the spoon approaches or contacts them. This preliminary stimulation triggers the mouth-opening reflex before food delivery, eliminating the need for repeated manual stimulation attempts for each bite.
2Ease of operation
If a bottle is used for feeding, then continuous feeding without repeated stimulation is achieved, but it is only suitable for liquid or very fluid foods
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the continuous feeding capability of a bottle with the solid food handling capability of a spoon. The device combines a spoon bowl for solid food containment with a connected conduit system that allows continuous product supply from a reservoir, thereby achieving both continuous feeding operation and adaptability to solid, semi-solid, and liquid food types.
Solution Approach 2:
The feeding device achieves universality by being capable of handling multiple food types (solid, semi-solid, and liquid) through the combination of a spoon bowl for solid foods and a conduit system that can deliver various consistencies. The lip-stimulating features work universally across different feeding scenarios and food types.
3Ease of operation
If a bottle is used for feeding, then continuous feeding is possible, but it does not provide the sensations of normal eating for adults
Solution Approach 1:
The device merges the spoon form factor that provides normal eating sensations with the continuous feeding capability of a bottle. The spoon bowl maintains contact with the lips and provides tactile stimulation similar to normal eating, while the connected conduit system enables continuous food delivery without requiring repeated insertion and removal actions.
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~7
AI summary
The nozzle (1) has a conduit e.g. hollow tube (8), whose end (11) includes connecting units constituted of an interior threading (14), for connecting the conduit to product supplying units constituted of a flexible pocket and a supplying source. Another end (12) is arranged for pouring a product into a bowl (2) to supply the product to the end (11). The bowl is carried by the end (12) of the conduit, where the conduit includes a short handle (3) with a gripping cover (9) formed around the conduit.