METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR A NON-NUTRITIVE SUCK ENTRAINMENT PULSE GENERATOR

• US 20100075285A1
• Filed: 09/22/2009
• Published: 03/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cardinal Health 200 LLC (Cardinal Health, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: KC BioMedix, Inc.
• Inventors: Litscher, Mike, Stalling, David L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,545,230 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 434/258
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/038 Measuring oral pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 17/001 Baby-comforters
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 17/10 Details; Accessories therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/06 Milking pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/0697 having means for massaging the breast
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0087 of the piston-cylinder type using hydraulic piston-cylinder type force resistors A63B21/0083
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4045 Reciprocating movement along, in or on a guide weights moving along or in guiding means A63B21/06; for cardio-training A63B22/201
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/12 specially adapted for children
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/56 Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/02 Testing, calibrating or measuring of equipment
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/62 Inflatable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/032 for insertion in the mouth
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0087 Electric or electronic controls for exercising apparatus of groups A63B21/00 - A63B23/00, e.g. controlling load
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 19/255 using analogue/digital converters of the type with counting of pulses during a period of time proportional to voltage or current, delivered by a pulse generator with fixed frequency

Abstract

This document discusses, among other things, method and apparatus for a non-nutritive suck (NNS) entrainment pulse generator. An embodiment includes a valve assembly in communication with a first pressure and a second pressure to change a pressure of a baglet. A controller can switch the valve assembly to selectively couple the first and second pressures to the baglet to produce a series of pressure pulses within the baglet. In an embodiment, the pulse generator is substantially self-contained. In an embodiment, the valve assembly includes a reciprocating piston assembly to generate the series of pressure pulses. In an embodiment, the NNS entrainment pulse generator is portable.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a baglet;

a valve assembly in communication with the baglet and with a first pressure and a second pressure, the valve assembly programmable to communicate the first pressure and the second pressure to the baglet to provide pressure changes to the baglet; and

a controller coupled to the valve assembly, the controller configured to produce a series of pressure pulses within the baglet.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising a pump coupled between a first chamber and a second chamber, the pump configured to reduce pressure in the first chamber and increase pressure in the second chamber to provide the first pressure in the first chamber and the second pressure in the second chamber, wherein the second pressure is greater than the first pressure.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, including a first sensor coupled to the first chamber and a second sensor coupled to the second chamber, wherein the controller is configured to control the first pressure and the second pressure using the first sensor, the second sensor and the pump.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the valve assembly includes:

a first pressure valve configured to controllably couple and decouple the first chamber to the baglet; and

a second pressure valve configured to controllably couple and decouple the second chamber to the baglet.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, including a vent configured to controllably couple the first chamber with atmospheric pressure.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, including an adjustment valve coupled between the first chamber and the second chamber, wherein the adjustment valve is configured to adjust pressure of the first chamber or the second chamber.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, including a first transducer coupled to the controller and the baglet, the first transducer configured to sense the pressure within the baglet.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the valve assembly includes a reciprocating piston assembly, the reciprocating piston assembly comprising:

a cylinder having a first end and a second end;

a first piston slideably disposed within the cylinder near the first end; and

a second piston slideably disposed within the cylinder near the second end,

wherein the first piston and the second piston are configured to move in a reciprocating motion.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the valve assembly includes a valve coupled to the cylinder, the valve configured to switch the first and second pressure to the cylinder to move the first and second pistons in the reciprocating motion.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the first pressure is atmospheric pressure and the second pressure is a positive pressure source relative to atmospheric pressure.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the first pressure is atmospheric pressure and the second pressure is a negative pressure source relative to atmospheric pressure.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, including a rechargeable power source configured to power the controller in a standalone mode.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is portable.

14. A method comprising:

switching a valve assembly to a first state to generate a positive pressure pulse in a baglet;

switching the valve assembly to a second state to generate a negative pressure pulse in the baglet; and

repeating the switching of the valve assembly to the first state and the second state to generate a series of pressure pulses in the baglet.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein:

switching the valve assembly to a first state includes controllably coupling a positive pressure source directly to the baglet to generate the positive pressure pulse in the baglet; and

switching the valve assembly to a second state includes controllably coupling a negative pressure source directly to the baglet to generate the negative pulse in the baglet.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein repeating the switching includes producing a pressure pulse waveform comprising pressure pulses having a frequency of about 1.8 Hertz.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein switching a valve assembly to a first state includes:

controllably coupling a first pressure to a first port of a cylinder, the cylinder housing a first piston and a second piston;

controllably coupling a second pressure to a second port of the cylinder;

moving the first and second pistons in a first motion, away from each other, using the first pressure and the second pressure; and

generating the positive pressure in the baglet using the first motion of the first and second pistons.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein switching a valve assembly to a second state includes:

controllably coupling the first pressure to the second port of the cylinder;

controllably coupling the second pressure to the first port of the cylinder;

moving the first and second pistons in a second motion, toward each other, using the first pressure and the second pressure; and

producing the negative pressure in the baglet using the second motion of the first and second pistons.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein controllably coupling the first pressure includes controllably coupling a positive pressure to the first port.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein controllably coupling the second pressure includes controllably coupling a negative pressure to the second port.