Automated Oral Feeding Stimulation System for Neurological Assessment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Premature infants and patients with neurological disorders face challenges with oral feeding due to underdeveloped or unorganized nutritive suck patterns, and existing manual stimulation methods are inconsistent and difficult to assess effectively, leading to prolonged hospital stays and increased stress for families.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising hardware and software that assesses and develops oral feeding capabilities by stimulating the central pattern generator and trigeminal nerve using specific wave patterns, including a bi-directional square wave pattern and pneumatic pulse generator, to provide precise tactile stimuli and biofeedback for improving suck patterns and muscle strength.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual stimulation is used to assess and treat oral feeding capabilities, then therapists can provide tactile stimulus to patients, but the amount of motion and rhythm varies from therapist to therapist requiring extensive training
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical stimulation system with an automated mechanical stimulation device. The device uses a motor-driven arm to deliver consistent tactile stimuli to the patient's mouth, eliminating the variability inherent in manual therapist application. The system incorporates sensors and control algorithms to maintain precise motion amplitude and frequency, ensuring reliable and repeatable stimulation without requiring extensive therapist training.
2Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If manual stimulation is used to assess oral feeding capabilities, then therapists can observe patient responses, but it is difficult to determine if the stimulation is beneficial due to undesirable motor actions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates multiple sensors that detect patient motor responses during stimulation and provide real-time feedback to the control system. Force sensors measure the magnitude and direction of patient motor actions, while motion sensors track jaw and tongue movements. The control algorithm processes this feedback data to distinguish between desirable sucking motions and undesirable responses such as jaw clenching or tongue thrusting, enabling objective assessment of stimulation effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces computational algorithms as an intermediary between the stimulation device and the therapist. These algorithms process raw sensor data about patient motor responses, filter out noise and undesirable actions, and present processed information about beneficial sucking patterns. This intermediary layer transforms difficult-to-interpret raw motor data into clear indicators of stimulation effectiveness.
3Productivity
If premature infants receive manual stimulation therapy, then their oral feeding capabilities may be improved, but they remain in the hospital for prolonged periods of time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables continuous or near-continuous stimulation therapy by automating the delivery process. The device can provide consistent tactile stimuli throughout waking hours without the interruptions inherent in manual therapy schedules. The system maintains optimal stimulation parameters continuously, maximizing the rate of oral feeding skill development and reducing the time required for premature infants to achieve adequate feeding capabilities for discharge.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a therapeutic system and methods of using the therapeutic system. In particular, the present disclosure relates to a system for improving an oral feeding ability of a patient including an assessment device to contact a patient and collect data related to an oral feeding ability of the patient, a computing device containing a processor to execute an assessment and therapy application, and the assessment and therapy application to receive the data related to the oral feeding ability, predict one or more areas of neurological muscle activity that need further development, and develop a neurological therapy treatment for improving the one or more areas of neurological muscle activity that need further development.