Pacifier receiving breath and saliva samples for providing nutritional information

• US 9,114,064 B2
• Filed: 04/29/2011
• Issued: 08/25/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Agjah Libohova, Theodosios Kountotsis
• Original Assignee: Agjah Libohova, Theodosios Kountotsis
• Inventors: Kountotsis, Theodosios, Libohova, Agjah
• Primary Examiner(s): Matthews, Christine H
• Application Number:
  US13/068,004
• Publication Number:
  US 20120277794A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,579 Days
• Field of Search: 600/532, 600/301, 600/344, 600/323, 606/234, 606/236, 340/573.1, 340/573.5
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/04 Babies, e.g. for SIDS detection
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/083 Measuring rate of metabolism by using breath test, e.g. measuring rate of oxygen consumption
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/097 Devices for facilitating collection of breath or for directing breath into or through measuring devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6802 Sensor mounted on worn items
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 17/001 Baby-comforters
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 17/10 Details; Accessories therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 17/1011 Emitting sound, e.g. having rattles or music boxes
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 17/1012 Emitting light
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 17/103 Temperature sensing means
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2200/70 Device provided with specific sensor or indicating means

Abstract

A pacifier is presented including a nipple configured to receive a plurality of breath and saliva samples from a user, a base portion configured for attachment to the nipple, and an output mechanism attached to the base portion and configured for displaying different nutritional information values. The output mechanism may include one or more removable strips. The plurality of breath and saliva samples received from the user via the nipple are analyzed for nutritional information, preferably, continuously and in real-time, and the nutritional information includes at least one of carbohydrates, fats, minerals, protein, fiber, vitamins, water, salt, sugar, sodium, antioxidants, and phytochemicals.

Claims

1. A pacifier assembly comprising:

a nipple having a proximal portion and a distal portion, the distal portion configured to receive and analyze breath samples from a user via a breath analysis module; and

a base portion attached to the proximal portion of the nipple, the base portion including a grip portion;

wherein the breath analysis module is configured to analyze the breath samples by detecting and quantifying a select number of different molecules and/or organic compounds therefrom to derive nutritional information including nutrients pertaining to a diet of the user from the received breath samples in order to determine nutritional deficiencies of the user;

wherein the base portion further includes one or more removable strips configured to display nutritional information values based on the breath samples received from the user via the nipple.

2. The pacifier assembly according to claim 1, wherein the nutritional information includes at least one of carbohydrates, fats, minerals, protein, fiber, vitamins, water, salt, sugar, sodium, antioxidants, and phytochemicals.

3. The pacifier assembly according to claim 1, wherein the breath samples are collected continuously and in real-time.

4. The pacifier assembly according to claim 1, wherein the nipple includes one or more sensors positioned thereon or embedded therein.

5. The pacifier assembly according to claim 4, wherein the one or more sensors measure at least one of pressure, humidity, temperature, oxygen levels, oxygen inhaled, oxygen exhaled, and carbon dioxide consumed.

6. The pacifier assembly according to claim 5, wherein the one or more sensors are configured to compute at least one of:

(i) a difference between the oxygen inhaled and the oxygen exhaled, (ii) the oxygen levels of each of the breath samples received from the user via the nipple, and (iii) a respiratory quotient.

7. The pacifier assembly according to claim 1, wherein the one or more removable strips include a plurality of areas each configured to indicate different nutritional information values.

8. The pacifier assembly according to claim 7, wherein the nutritional information values are indicated via different indicia, colors or patterns.

9. The pacifier assembly according to claim 1, wherein the nutritional information is wirelessly transmitted to an electronic device.

10. The pacifier assembly according to claim 1, wherein at least one chemical breath profile is created based on the number of different molecules and/or organic compounds detected and quantified.

11. The pacifier assembly according to claim 1, wherein the number of different molecules and/or organic compounds are selected by a processor based on common molecules and/or common organic compounds associated with the nutritional information.

12. The pacifier assembly according to claim 1, wherein the breath analysis module is configured to trigger a display of the nutritional information on one or more portions of the pacifier assembly.

13. The pacifier assembly according to claim 1, farther comprising a processing unit configured to process historical data associated with the breath samples received from the user and creating a user breath profile.

14. The pacifier assembly according to claim 1, wherein the nipple is a hollow structure configured for receiving, storing, and analyzing saliva in conjunction with the breath samples of the user for providing the nutritional information.

15. A pacifier comprising:

a nipple having a breath analysis module configured to analyze one or more breath samples by detecting a select number of different molecules and/or organic compounds therefrom to derive nutritional information including nutrients pertaining to a diet of a user in order to determine nutritional deficiencies of the user; and

a base portion attached to the nipple, the base portion including a grip portion and one or more removable strips configured to display nutritional information values based on the one more breath samples received from the user via the nipple;

wherein at least one chemical breath profile is created based on the number of different molecules and/or organic compounds detected.

16. The pacifier according to claim 15, wherein the number of different molecules and/or organic compounds are selected by a processor based on relationships established between the nutritional information and trigger conditions.

17. The pacifier according to claim 16, wherein the trigger conditions are one or more of the following:

hunger, thirst, dehydration, overfeeding, underfeeding, and lack of nutrients.

18. The pacifier according to claim 15, wherein the breath analysis module is configured to trigger a display of the nutritional information on one or more portions of the pacifier.

19. The pacifier according to claim 15, wherein, the breath analysis module is pre-programmed by a processor for selection of the number of different molecules and/or organic compounds for creating the at least one chemical breath profile, including the use of a combination of common and uncommon molecules and/or organic compounds.