Apparatus and method for measuring fluid flow to a suckling baby

• US 20050177099A1
• Filed: 02/09/2004
• Published: 08/11/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kaizen International Technologies Biotech Incorporated LLP
• Original Assignee: Kaizen International Technologies Biotech Incorporated LLP
• Inventors: Dahan, Haim Emil, Meschiany, Jose Mario, Roitman, Lipa Leon
• Granted Patent: US 7,896,835 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/76
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4288 mammary secretions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4312 Breast evaluation or disorder diagnosis A61B5/0091 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 13/00 Breast-nipple shields breast-pumps A61M1/06
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/375 with mechanical or fluidic indication
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/40 Details of construction of the flow constriction devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/72 Devices for measuring pulsing fluid flows

Abstract

A system for measuring fluid intake by a sucking baby. The system includes: a feeding pathway for fluid flow from the fluid source to the baby'"'"'s mouth, wherein the feeding pathway has a first opening in communication with the fluid source and a second opening in communication with the baby'"'"'s mouth; and an indicator pathway for indicating the amount of fluid provided to the baby'"'"'s mouth through the feeding pathway, wherein the indicator pathway has a first opening in communication with the fluid source and a second opening in communication with the baby'"'"'s mouth. The amount of fluid drawn into the indicator pathway is indicative of the amount of fluid drawn into the feeding pathway.

Claims

1. A method of measuring fluid flow from a fluid source to a baby'"'"'s mouth through a nipple comprising:

providing a feeding pathway for fluid flow from the fluid source to the baby'"'"'s mouth, wherein the feeding pathway has a first opening in communication with the fluid source and a second opening in communication with the baby'"'"'s mouth; and

providing an indicator pathway for indicating the amount of fluid provided to the baby'"'"'s mouth through the feeding pathway, wherein the indicator pathway has a first opening in communication with the fluid source and a second opening in communication with the baby'"'"'s mouth,

whereby the amount of fluid drawn into the indicator pathway is indicative of the amount of fluid drawn into the feeding pathway.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the cross-sectional area of the indicator pathway is substantially smaller than the cross-sectional area of the feeding pathway.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the length of the indicator pathway is substantially longer than the length of the feeding pathway.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a pressure delivery pathway between the baby'"'"'s mouth and the second opening of the feeding pathway and the second opening of the indicator pathway.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a plurality of indicator pathways.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the feeding pathway and the indicator pathway are integral to the nipple.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing gradiations along the indicator pathway to indicate the amount of fluid that has been provided to the baby'"'"'s mouth through the feeding pathway.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a plurality of feeding pathways to provide fluid from the fluid source to the baby'"'"'s mouth.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the fluid comprises breast milk, and wherein the feeding pathway and the indicator pathway are adapted to receive the breast milk from a mother'"'"'s breast.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the fluid source is a bottle.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a check valve in the indicator pathway to prevent the backflow of fluid.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising providing a comfort pad disposed between the mother'"'"'s breast and the indicator pathway.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising providing a milk collection reservoir, wherein the milk collection reservoir is disposed between the fluid source and the first opening of the indicator pathway such that it maintains a supply of breast milk to prevent air bubbles from entering the indicator pathway.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising providing a milk indicator reservoir, wherein the milk indicator reservoir is positioned in the indicator pathway.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the indicator pathway further comprises a detachable indicator pathway.

16. An apparatus, comprising:

a feeding pathway for fluid flow from the fluid source to the baby'"'"'s mouth, wherein the feeding pathway has a first opening in communication with the fluid source and a second opening in communication with the baby'"'"'s mouth; and

an indicator pathway for indicating the amount of fluid provided to the baby'"'"'s mouth through the feeding pathway, wherein the indicator pathway has a first opening in communication with the fluid source and a second opening in communication with the baby'"'"'s mouth,

whereby the amount of fluid drawn into the indicator pathway is indicative of the amount of fluid drawn into the feeding pathway.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the cross-sectional area of the indicator pathway is substantially smaller than the cross-sectional area of the feeding pathway.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the length of the indicator pathway is substantially longer than the length of the feeding pathway.

19. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising:

a pressure delivery pathway between the baby'"'"'s mouth and the second opening of the feeding pathway and the second opening of the indicator pathway.

20. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising a plurality of indicator pathways.

21. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the feeding pathway and the indicator pathway are integral to the nipple.

22. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising:

gradations along the indicator pathway to indicate the amount of fluid that has been provided to the baby'"'"'s mouth through the feeding pathway.

23. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising:

a plurality of feeding pathways to provide fluid from the fluid source to the baby'"'"'s mouth.

24. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the fluid comprises breast milk, and wherein the feeding pathway and the indicator pathway are adapted to receive the breast milk from a mother'"'"'s breast.

25. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the fluid source is a bottle.

26. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising:

a check valve in the indicator pathway to prevent the backflow of fluid.

27. The apparatus of claim 24, further comprising a comfort pad disposed between the mother'"'"'s breast and the indicator pathway.

28. The apparatus of claim 24, further comprising a milk collection reservoir, wherein the milk collection reservoir is disposed between the fluid source and the first opening of the indicator pathway such that it maintains a supply of breast milk to prevent air bubbles from entering the indicator pathway.

29. The apparatus of claim 24, further comprising a milk indicator reservoir, wherein the milk indicator reservoir is positioned in the indicator pathway.

30. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the indicator pathway further comprises a detachable indicator pathway.

31. A method of indicating suction from a baby'"'"'s suckling, comprising:

receiving suction from a baby'"'"'s mouth;

providing the suction to at least a first pathway and a second pathway; and

indicating in the second pathway the presence of the suction.

32. The method of claim 31, further comprising drawing fluid from a fluid source into the first pathway and the second pathway.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein indicating in the second pathway the presence of suction comprises:

indicating the presence of suction by the amount of fluid drawn into the second pathway.

34. The method of claim 33, further comprising providing gradations along the second pathway to indicate the amount of fluid drawn into the second pathway.

35. The method of claim 33, further comprising providing a color code on the second pathway to indicate the presence of fluid in the second pathway.

36. The method of claim 33, wherein the amount of fluid drawn into the second pathway is indicative of an amount of fluid drawn into the first pathway.