IoT Sucking Pressure Trainer for Premature Infants
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current devices lack an IoT-based system to provide real-time data of non-nutritive sucking events to healthcare practitioners and synchronized stimuli like music and haptic feedback for premature infants, which is essential for training their mouth muscles to ensure proper feeding and nutrition.
Innovation Solution
An IoT-based system comprising a trainer device with a medical-grade silicone probe connected to a pressure transducer, transmitting sucking pressure data to a server and smartphone app, which plays music or provides haptic feedback when the pressure exceeds a set threshold, allowing healthcare practitioners to customize stimuli based on infant response.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If physically large consumer appliances and instruments are used to measure non-nutritive sucking pressure, then the measurement capability is achieved, but the device becomes bulky and impractical for portable use
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the measurement function into separate components: a small portable probe for measuring sucking pressure, a separate processing unit, and a smartphone for data display and stimulus delivery. This segmentation allows each component to be miniaturized and optimized independently, resolving the contradiction between measurement capability and device portability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary smartphone application that acts as a mediator between the pressure measurement probe and the stimulus delivery system. The smartphone receives pressure data from the probe, processes it, and delivers appropriate stimuli, eliminating the need for large integrated appliances while maintaining full functionality.
2Loss of information
If existing devices are used to assess non-nutritive sucking events, then measurement is provided, but real-time data transmission to healthcare practitioners and synchronized stimulus delivery is not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements real-time feedback by continuously monitoring sucking pressure, comparing it against threshold values, and immediately delivering synchronized stimuli through the smartphone. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures that healthcare practitioners receive real-time data and that stimuli are delivered at the precise moment of infant sucking, resolving the contradiction between real-time information transmission and system complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed music loop is played as stimulus, then the device is simple to operate, but it cannot adapt to individual infant preferences or healthcare practitioner customization needs
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from static fixed music loops to dynamic stimulus delivery by allowing healthcare practitioners to customize stimulus parameters in real-time based on individual infant responses. The smartphone app enables flexible configuration of music tracks, timing, and intensity, making the system adaptable while maintaining ease of use through intuitive interfaces.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively trains premature infants to control their mouth muscles, ensuring optimal nutrition and reducing the risk of malnutrition-related disabilities and deaths by providing personalized and real-time feedback.
Implementation Method 1
a probe made of medical-grade silicone is used, which is connected to a pressure transducer. When an infant sucks onto the probe, the sucking pressure is measured and converted to digital form using the pressure transducer
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is an IoT enabled, portable, multiple stimuli reinforced non-nutritive Sucking Training System, Method and Device that implements a function that measures suction pressure of a non-nutritive sucking event produced by a pre-mature infant; then converts the measured pressure value using transducer to digital form; then transmits the pressure value in digital form using IoT (Internet-of-Things) controller to a server and/or to an app and/or a software installed on a smartphone device. The app and/or software installed on the smartphone device which receives the pressure measurement uses an algorithm to produce a stimulus such as music and/or haptic feedback for the pre-mature infant, to train the premature infant to suck optimally; thereby improving self-feeding capability of the premature infant.