Solid Artificial Teat for Hard Palate Pressure Stimulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pacifiers fail to provide effective relief for infants with disturbed cranial rhythmic impulses, often leading to persistent crying and somatic dysfunction, as they do not exert the appropriate force on the hard palate to stimulate cranial bones and soft tissues, and may pose choking risks.
Innovation Solution
A solid, flexible artificial teat designed to apply pressure to the hard palate, mimicking the effect of a human finger, with a solid head and angled shape to stimulate cranial rhythmic impulses and normalize cranial rhythms, featuring a flexible neck and optional cavity for enhanced mobility, and a shield for safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If a hollow teat is used in existing pacifiers, then the pacifier is easier to manufacture and less costly, but it cannot exert appropriate force on the hard palate to stimulate cranial bones and soft tissues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameter of the teat from hollow to solid, which fundamentally alters its ability to transmit force. The solid construction allows the teat to exert appropriate pressure on the hard palate during sucking, thereby stimulating cranial bones and soft tissues as required for resolving persistent crying in infants with disturbed cranial rhythmic impulses.
2Reliability
If a solid head teat is used to stimulate cranial rhythmic impulses, then the pacifier becomes more effective for soothing infants, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The teat is divided into functionally distinct segments: a solid head portion for applying force to the hard palate and stimulating cranial rhythmic impulses, and a separate shield portion for safety. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific function optimally while maintaining overall device manageability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by making only the head portion of the teat solid, while the rest of the structure (neck and shield) can be made with different material properties. This localized solid construction provides the necessary force application at the critical interface with the infant's mouth without unnecessarily complicating the entire device.
3Reliability
If the teat is made flexible to mimic human finger movement, then the pacifier becomes more effective for stimulating cranial rhythms, but the teat may be less durable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameters of the teat head to achieve appropriate flexibility. The solid head is made from materials with specific elasticity properties that allow it to be flexible enough to mimic human finger movement and stimulate cranial rhythms, while remaining durable enough to withstand repeated use without deforming or breaking.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention resides in the soothing of infants, particularly soothing from persistent crying in distressed but healthy infants using an artificial teat having a neck and a head, wherein the head is solid. The teat has particular use for the normalisation of cranial rhythmic impulses in such infants.