Integrated Instrumentation System and Method for Assessing Feeding Readiness and Competence in Preterm Infants

An apparatus for assessing feeding readiness and competence in preterm infants comprising:

• a first sensor for connecting to an infant for detecting suck;
• a second sensor for connecting to an infant for detecting swallow;
• a third sensor for connecting to an infant for detecting breathe;
• first amplification, sampling and digitizing means for analog-to-digital conversion of a signal from the first sensor;
• second amplification, sampling and digitizing means for analog-to-digital conversion of a signal from the second sensor;
• third amplification, sampling and digitizing means for analog-to-digital conversion of a signal from the third sensor;
• and
• digital storage means for saving original raw digital files from the first, second, third, and fourth amplification, sampling and digitizing means, said digital storage means extracting and storing individual digitized suck, swallow, and breath signals, the sampled data being separated and extracted and stored as individual files in the digital storage means.