Handheld Pacifier Sensor for Neonatal Feeding Assessment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for assessing orofacial activity in neonates, particularly those born prematurely or with disease conditions, are cumbersome and lack precision, requiring extensive training and often involve bulky equipment, making it difficult to objectively determine readiness for oral feeding and risking patient injury.
Innovation Solution
A handheld, cordless device that uses transducers to sense pacifier displacement and oral cavity pressure, converting these signals into digital data for analysis, providing a portable and automated system to assess non-nutritive suck patterns and offer precise tactile stimulation to aid in training infants for feeding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual detection methods are used to assess orofacial activity, then the assessment can be performed without specialized equipment, but the measurement precision and reliability are reduced due to variance in detection between therapists
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical detection by therapists with electronic transducers that convert orofacial movements into electrical signals. This substitution eliminates human variability in detection while maintaining simplicity through the use of basic sensor technology integrated into a portable device.
Solution Approach 2:
The device enables self-assessment capability where the system automatically detects, processes, and analyzes orofacial activity without requiring external therapeutic intervention. The automated analysis provides consistent measurements independent of therapist skill level or variability.
2Measurement precision
If wired devices connected to computers are used for assessment, then measurement precision can be improved, but the device complexity and portability are reduced requiring relocation of patient or equipment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the assessment system into portable modular components including transducers, signal processing electronics, and display elements that can be separated and reconfigured. This segmentation allows the device to be easily transported and deployed at the patient's location without requiring relocation of bulky equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces wired mechanical connections with wireless electronic communication between sensor components and the processing unit. This eliminates physical cables and connectors, enabling cordless operation and easier movement of the device throughout the clinical environment.
3Reliability
If extensive training is provided to therapists for manual assessment, then reliability of assessment can be improved, but the loss of time and productivity are increased
Solution Approach 1:
The device performs automated detection and analysis of orofacial activity, eliminating the need for extensively trained therapists to perform manual assessment. The system self-calibrates and self-analyzes the data, providing reliable results immediately without requiring specialized training or lengthy assessment procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The device provides real-time feedback on orofacial activity measurements, allowing immediate assessment of feeding readiness. This instant feedback eliminates the delay associated with manual assessment and extensive training requirements, improving both reliability and clinical workflow efficiency.
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 allows for accurate assessment of an infant's readiness to feed, reducing the risk of aspiration and injury by providing objective, portable, and low-cost analysis of orofacial activity, enabling effective training and monitoring of feeding skills.
Implementation Method 1
The one or more transducer sense a pacifier's displacement caused by the patient and oral cavity pressure caused by the patient. The one or more transducer generate an electrical signal in response to at least one compression of the pacifier and the oral cavity pressure.
Data Source
AI summary
A handheld device detects and measures orofacial activity, including oral cavity pressure and one or more compressions, deformations, displacements, or deflections of a pacifier engaged to the device. The compressions, deformations, displacements, or deflections of the pacifier refer to changes in the shape of the pacifier, caused by patient, relative to an initial state of the pacifier. The device translates the oral cavity pressure and compressions into an electrical signal, digitizes the electrical signal, and performs analytical processing of the digitized signal to extract physiological artifacts salient to the patient's ability to orally feed using a software application executing on a processor within the device. The device automates and simplifies the assessment of a patient's readiness to orally feed by presenting graphical and numeric scores for organization and effort of non-nutritive suck.