Method of assessing a condition using sucking patterns

• US 20100016675A1
• Filed: 07/18/2008
• Published: 01/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Inventors: Cohen, Jason C.
• Application Number:
  US12/218,935
• Publication Number:
  US 20100016675A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/300
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/038 Measuring oral pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6896 Toys

Abstract

A method of assessing a condition includes comparing a sucking pattern for a target infant with a sucking pattern associated with the condition. A method of monitoring progress of a treatment includes comparing the rhythmic sucking percentage for a target infant before treatment for a condition with the rhythmic sucking percentage for the infant after treatment of the condition to assess the effectiveness of the treatment. A method of monitoring progress of a treatment includes using sucking patterns to compare an infant'"'"'s rate of progress at a given point in time to a population'"'"'s rate of progress at the same point in time.

Claims

1. A method of assessing a condition in a target infant comprising,

acquiring a first sucking pattern associated with the condition;

acquiring a second sucking pattern for the target infant;

comparing the second sucking pattern with the first sucking pattern; and

determining if the second sucking pattern is consistent with the first sucking pattern.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first sucking pattern is an aggregate pattern derived from a population of infants expressing the condition.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the second sucking pattern is an aggregate pattern derived from the target infant on two or more occasions.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first and the second sucking pattern is acquired with a pacifier adapted to measure at least one of intensity, frequency, pauses, number of sucks per envelope, or envelope function of the sucking patterns.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the second sucking pattern is acquired in the target infant'"'"'s residence and the comparing step and the determining steps are performed by a computer adapted to receive data from the pacifier.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the condition is colic or cognitive alertness.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the determining step is a subjective evaluation performed by a trained technician.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the determining step is an objective evaluation based, at least in part, on pattern analyzing software, artificial intelligence, or neural networks.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the second sucking pattern is acquired in a clinic and the comparison is performed in a clinic.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the second sucking pattern is acquired in a first location and the comparing step is performed at a second location different than the first location.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the first location is the infant'"'"'s residence and wherein the second location is a clinic.

12. A method of monitoring progress of a treatment of a target infant having a condition comprising,

acquiring a first sucking pattern for the target infant over a first period of time;

calculating a first rhythmic sucking pattern percentage for the first period of time;

acquiring a second sucking pattern for the target infant over a second period of time after the treatment of the target infant for the condition;

calculating a second rhythmic sucking pattern percentage for the second period of time;

comparing the first rhythmic sucking pattern percentage to the second rhythmic sucking pattern percentage; and

assessing the effectiveness of the treatment.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising

acquiring a third sucking pattern for the target infant over a third period of time after a second treatment of the target infant for the condition, wherein the second treatment is different than the first treatment,

calculating a third rhythmic sucking pattern percentage for the third period of time;

comparing the third rhythmic sucking pattern percentage to the second rhythmic sucking pattern or the first rhythmic sucking pattern; and

determining the effectiveness of the first treatment relative to the second treatment.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein at least one of the first sucking pattern, second sucking pattern, or third sucking pattern are electronically stored and electronically transmitted to a medical professional.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein the condition is colic or cognitive alertness.

16. A method of monitoring progress of a treatment of a target infant having a condition comprising,

acquiring a first sucking pattern for the target infant over a first period of time;

calculating a first rhythmic sucking pattern percentage for the first period of time;

acquiring a second sucking pattern for the target infant over a second period of time after a first treatment of the target infant for the condition;

calculating a second rhythmic sucking pattern percentage for the second period of time;

calculating a first rate of progress for the target infant at a first point in time;

acquiring a second rate of progress as a function of time from a population having the condition and the treatment;

comparing the first rate of progress to the second rate of progress at the first point in time; and

assessing the progress of the first infant relative to the population at the first point in time.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the second rate of progress is an aggregate rate of progress as a function of time from a population of infants known to have the condition and the treatment.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein the condition is colic.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein the first sucking pattern is acquired with a pacifier adapted to measure at least one of intensity, frequency, pauses, number of sucks per envelope, or envelope function of the first sucking pattern.

20. The method of claim 16 wherein the comparing or assessing steps are a subjective evaluation performed by a trained technician, an objective evaluation based in part on pattern analyzing software, or combinations thereof.