Apparatus and method for determining newborn infant feeding capability

Abstract

The disclosure is directed to a method and apparatus for determining a newborn infant's capability to orally accept nourishment. In accordance with the method of the invention, a test nipple is inserted in the mouth of an infant. Further method steps comprise measuring the suction which the infant applies to the test nipple, and measuring the expression force which the infant applies to the test nipple. The infant's capability of orally accepting nourishment is then determined as a function of the measured suction and expression. In accordance with the apparatus of the invention, there is provided a test nipple, and first and second transducers adapted for coupling to the test nipple. The first transducer is operative to generate a suction-indicative electrical signal, and the second transducer is operative to generate an expression-indicative electrical signal. A timing circuit is provided for defining successive time intervals. A circuit is provided for detecting and storing the peak value of the suction-indicative electrical signal which occurs during each of the successive time intervals and for detecting and storing the peak value of the expression-indicative electrical signal which occurs during each successive time interval. The determined peak suction-indicative and expression-indicative signal values are recorded.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.