Portable NNS Pulse Generator for Infant Suck Coordination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Premature infants often exhibit oromotor dyscoordination, leading to disorganized suck patterns, which can delay neurological development, sensorimotor skills, and cognitive functions due to the loss of in-utero neurological development opportunities and medical complications.
Innovation Solution
A non-nutritive suck entrainment pulse generator that uses a valve assembly and controller to produce series of pressure pulses, enabling the development of organized non-nutritive suck patterns through a portable, self-contained apparatus that can be used at home or in hospitals, utilizing a pneumatically actuated pacifier assembly with vacuum and positive pressure sources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a non-nutritive suck entrainment pulse generator is made portable and self-contained, then ease of operation and home use are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the pressure source, valve assembly, controller, and pacifier assembly into a single integrated portable unit. The pressure source includes both positive and negative pressure capabilities in one device, with valves that can selectively connect to either pressure source or atmosphere. This merging of functions into one self-contained system enables portability and home use while managing the complexity through unified design.
Solution Approach 2:
The pacifier assembly serves multiple functions: it can deliver positive pressure pulses, negative pressure pulses, or remain open to atmosphere based on valve control. The same pacifier assembly is used for both feeding and therapy applications, making it a universal device that can be used at home without requiring separate equipment for different purposes.
2Reliability
If pressure pulses are delivered continuously to establish organized suck patterns, then therapeutic effectiveness is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system delivers pressure pulses in a periodic, intermittent manner rather than continuously. The controller activates the pressure source in controlled cycles, delivering positive and negative pressure pulses at specific intervals. This periodic action maintains therapeutic effectiveness by providing consistent stimulation patterns while significantly reducing energy consumption compared to continuous operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The device includes a battery-powered controller that can operate autonomously without external power sources during use. The system self-regulates the delivery of pressure pulses based on programmed parameters, eliminating the need for continuous external monitoring or power supply, thereby reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining reliable therapy delivery.
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 device helps in establishing organized suck patterns, facilitating timely and consistent therapy delivery, reducing hospital traffic, and enhancing neurological development by modulating the central pattern generator in the brain, thus aiding in overall development and reducing medical complications.
Implementation Method 1
A controller, coupled to the valve assembly, provides a series of pressure pulses within a baglet
Implementation Method 2
The reciprocating pistons are driven using a vacuum source and atmospheric pressure
Data Source
AI summary
This document discusses, among other things, method and apparatus for a non-nutritive suck (NNS) entrainment pulse generator. An embodiment includes a valve assembly in communication with a first pressure and a second pressure to change a pressure of a baglet. A controller can switch the valve assembly to selectively couple the first and second pressures to the baglet to produce a series of pressure pulses within the baglet. In an embodiment, the pulse generator is substantially self-contained. In an embodiment, the valve assembly includes a reciprocating piston assembly to generate the series of pressure pulses. In an embodiment, the NNS entrainment pulse generator is portable.