Method of monitoring intake of breast milk by an infant
AssigneeBritta Christiansen
InventorVolkan Görkem Büyükyildiz
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Problem: While a comparison of pre-nursing to post-nursing weight of the breastfed child tends to yield imprecise results, the extraction of breast milk into a container may impair some of the benefits commonly associated with breastfeeding, for example, improved maternal bonding as well as oral and cognitive development of the infant. Solution: Method of monitoring intake of breast milk by an infant in a collar (10), comprising: transmitting light from light sources (L1-L4) through the infant's esophagus, receiving the transmitted light at photosensors (P) preferably arranged diametrically opposite the light sources (L1-L4) with respect to the esophagus, and, based on the light received, determining the intake, for example, in terms of volume, mass, or energy.
Claims20
A method of monitoring intake of breast milk by an infant in a collar, comprising:
- calculating an intake in terms of volume, mass, or energy, from a flow rate of milk through a cross-sectional area of an infant's esophagus, characterized in transmitting light from light sources through the esophagus,
- receiving the transmitted light at photosensors, and,
- based on the light received, determining the intake by estimating the flow rate by means of absorption spectroscopy.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.