Method and device for monitoring breastfeeding

• US 9,155,488 B2
• Filed: 08/26/2013
• Issued: 10/13/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yeda Research and Development Co. Ltd. (Weizmann Institute of Science)
• Original Assignee: Peled Arik, Yeda Research and Development Co. Ltd. (Weizmann Institute of Science)
• Inventors: Kapon, Ruti, Peled, Arik, Seifer, Shahar, Schneider, Revital
• Primary Examiner(s): Dougherty, Sean
• Assistant Examiner(s): Stout, Michael C
• Application Number:
  US13/975,400
• Publication Number:
  US 20130338528A1
• Time in Patent Office: 778 Days
• Field of Search: 600/547, 600/587
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0531 Measuring skin impedance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0535 Impedance plethysmography for measuring blood flow A61B5/0295
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4288 mammary secretions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4312 Breast evaluation or disorder diagnosis A61B5/0091 takes precedence

Abstract

A method of monitoring amount of milk consumed by an infant being breastfed by a breast is disclosed. The method comprises: determining variations in electric capacitance of the breast during breastfeeding, and correlating the electric capacitance variations to an amount of milk consumed by the infant.

Claims

1. A breastfeeding monitor system, comprising:

a measuring unit having a circuit, a plurality of electrodes and a skin conductivity enhancement material, wherein said circuit is configured for measuring a multiplication between electric resistance of a breast and electric capacitance of the breast during breastfeeding, and

a processing unit having circuit configured for determining variations in said multiplication and correlating said variations in said multiplication to an amount of milk consumed by an infant being breastfed by a breast.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of said electrodes comprises conductive bulges.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a housing, wherein said processing unit is mounted on said housing.

4. The system of claim 3, further comprising a miniature display device mounted on said housing.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein said processing unit is configured to display, using said display device, a total amount of consumed milk during a breastfeeding session.

6. The system of claim 3, wherein said processing unit is configured to display a progress of milk expression during breastfeeding using said display device.

7. The system of claim 3, wherein said processing unit is configured to display an amount of milk in said breast.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said measuring unit is configured for determining said multiplication based on a phase of a voltage sampled from a skin of the breast in response to an electrical current applied to said skin.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said measuring unit is configured for determining said multiplication based on a phase of a voltage over the skin of the breast in relation to an electrical current sampled entering said skin.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein said plurality of electrodes comprises at least four electrodes.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising a memory medium for storing history data collected in previous breastfeeding sessions, wherein said processing unit is configured for correcting said correlation using said history data.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein said skin conductivity enhancement material is a conductive fluid or a conductive gel.

13. A method of monitoring amount of milk consumed during a breastfeeding session, the method comprising:

placing on the breast a plurality of electrodes and a skin conductivity enhancement material;

using a circuit for measuring a multiplication between electric resistance of the breast and electric capacitance of a breast during breastfeeding, and

using a circuit for determining variations in said multiplication and correlating said variations in said multiplication to an amount of milk consumed by an infant being breastfed by a breast.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein at least one of said electrodes comprises conductive bulges.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein said circuit for determining said variations is mounted on a housing, and the method comprises displaying a total amount of consumed milk during the breastfeeding session using a miniature display device mounted on said housing.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising displaying, using said display device, a total amount of consumed milk during the breastfeeding session.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising displaying, using said display device, a progress of milk expression during breastfeeding.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising displaying, using said display device, an amount of milk in said breast.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein said determining said multiplication is based on a phase of a voltage over the skin of the breast in relation to an electrical current entering said breast.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said plurality of comprises at least four electrodes.

21. The method of claim 13, further comprising storing history data collected in previous breastfeeding sessions in a memory medium, wherein said correlation is corrected using said history data.