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An apparatus for evaluating the tongue strength of a subject during a sucking event includes an insert positioned within a nipple element to provide an output in response to deformation of the nipple element during a sucking event. The output is at least one of resistive force exerted against the su

An apparatus for evaluating the tongue strength of a subject during a sucking event includes an insert positioned within a nipple element to provide an output in response to deformation of the nipple element during a sucking event. The output is at least one of resistive force exerted against the subject's tongue and movement measurement of deformation force exerted on the nipple element during the sucking event. The apparatus is configurable to evaluate nutritive sucking (NS) or non-nutritive sucking (NNS) capabilities of the subject. The insert may be a sensing device, a compliance element, an intermediate device or a combination of these. A coupling device is configured to position the insert relative to the nipple element and/or to receive output from the insert. A method includes evaluating tongue strength of a subject during NS or NNS and using inserts providing increasing levels of resistive force to exercise the subject's tongue.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An apparatus for evaluating the movement of the tongue of a subject, the apparatus comprising: a coupling device including a sensing device and configured to be operatively attached to a nipple element;the nipple element including an inner surface defining a nipple cavity;a cantilever element con

1. An apparatus for evaluating the movement of the tongue of a subject, the apparatus comprising: a coupling device including a sensing device and configured to be operatively attached to a nipple element;the nipple element including an inner surface defining a nipple cavity;a cantilever element configured to be operatively attached to the coupling device only at one of: one side of the cantilever element; and two opposing sides of the cantilever element; such that the cantilever element is in operative communication with the sensing device;wherein the cantilever element when attached to the coupling device is positioned within the nipple cavity adjacent the inner surface of the nipple element and detached from the nipple element;wherein the cantilever element is configured to generate an output in response to deflection of the cantilever element in direct contact with the inner surface and in response to deformation of the nipple element by a deformation force exerted on the nipple element by movement of the tongue of the subject;wherein the output corresponds to the deformation force exerted on the nipple element by movement of the tongue of the subject; andwherein the output is received as input by the sensing device. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the coupling device includes a device cavity configured to receive a fluid,the device cavity is in fluid communication with the nipple cavity;the nipple element including an aperture in fluid communication with the nipple cavity such that the nipple element is configured for nutritive sucking;such that the cantilever element generates the output in response to the deformation force exerted on the nipple element by a nutritive sucking movement of the tongue of the subject; andthe output from the cantilever element corresponds to the deformation force exerted on the nipple element by the nutritive sucking movement of the tongue of the subject. 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the nipple element includes a tongue facing portion;the cantilever element is configured to generate an output in response to deflection of the cantilever element in direct contact with an inner surface of the tongue facing portion and in response to deformation of the nipple element by a deformation force exerted on the nipple element by movement of the tongue of the subject; andsuch that the deformation force exerted on the nipple element is transmitted to the cantilever element through the tongue facing portion of the nipple element. 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensing device includes a piezoelectric sensor. 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensing device includes a strain gauge. 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the cantilever element is configured to deform in response to the deformation force exerted on the nipple element; andthe output generated by the cantilever element is defined by the deformation of the cantilever element. 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensing device is configured to generate a visual indicator to indicate the deformation force exerted on the nipple element has exceeded a movement threshold. 8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the cantilever element generates a resistive force operatively exerted against the tongue of the subject in opposition to the deformation force exerted on the nipple element by movement of the tongue of the subject by direct contact of the cantilever element with the inner surface of the nipple element. 9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a compliance element at least partially contained in the nipple cavity;wherein:the nipple element defines a tongue facing portion;the compliance element is configured as a deformable element in operative contact with the tongue facing portion of the nipple element; anda resistive force is exerted by the compliance element on the tongue facing portion of the nipple and in opposition to the deformation force. 10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the compliance element is configured to increase the effective wall thickness of the nipple element. 11. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a compliance element;wherein:the compliance element is configured as a compressible element positioned in the nipple cavity; anda resistive force is exerted by the compliance element on the nipple by compression of the compressible element in opposition to the deformation force. 12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the compliance element is shaped as one of a C-shaped insert, a V-shaped insert, a conical insert; and a semi-conical insert. 13. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: an intermediate device in communication with the cantilever element and the sensing device; andwherein the output is transmitted by the intermediate device to the sensing device in response to the deformation force exerted on the nipple element. 14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the output is configured as one of an electrical signal, a magnetic signal, a sound signal, an optical signal, and a pneumatic signal. 15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the output is configured as one of a displacing force, a movement, a stress and a strain. 16. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a device cavity defined by the coupling device;a sealed chamber defined by the device cavity in fluid communication with the nipple cavity; andthe coupling device including a pressure gauge in operative communication with the device cavity and configured to measure pressure change in the sealed chamber. 17. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: the coupling device including a first end and a second end;the coupling device defining a device cavity in fluid communication with the first and second ends of the coupling device;wherein: the first end is configured to be removably connected to the nipple element such that the device cavity is in fluid communication with the nipple cavity; andthe second end is configured to be removably connected to a container defining a container cavity such that the device cavity of the coupling device is in fluid communication with the nipple cavity and the container cavity. 18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the coupling device is configured to store the output in a memory in communication with the coupling device. 19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the coupling device is configured to transmit the output from the coupling device. 20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the coupling device is configured to wirelessly transmit the output from the coupling device. 21. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising: the container sealably attached to the second end of the coupling device and configured to contain a liquid in fluid communication with the nipple element;the nipple element including an aperture in fluid communication with the nipple cavity such that the nipple element is configured for nutritive sucking;such that the cantilever element generates the output in response to the deformation force exerted on the nipple element by a nutritive sucking movement of the tongue of the subject; andwherein the cantilever element is in contact with the liquid during the nutritive sucking movement. 22. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising: the container sealably attached to the second end of the coupling device; anda pressure gauge in fluid communication with the device cavity and configured to measure a change in pressure in the nipple cavity in response to the deformation force exerted on the nipple element. 23. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the cantilever element is configured to be in contact with fluid flowing from the device cavity through the nipple cavity and aperture. 24. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the nipple element is removably attached to the coupling device; andthe cantilever element is removably attached to the coupling device. 25. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of cantilever elements;wherein: each respective one of the plurality of cantilever elements is configured to generate a respective resistive force exerted against the tongue of the subject in opposition to the deformation force exerted on the nipple element by movement of the tongue of the subject;at least one of the plurality of cantilever elements is configured to generate a resistive force which is different than the resistive force generated by another one of the plurality of cantilever elements;each respective one of the plurality of cantilever elements is configured to be removably attached to the coupling device to generate a respective resistive force corresponding to that respective cantilever element. 26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein: each respective one of the plurality of cantilever elements has a respective known compliance;the respective resistive force generated by the respective one of the plurality of cantilever elements corresponds to the respective known compliance of the respective one of the plurality of cantilever elements; andat least one of the plurality of cantilever elements has a known compliance which is different than the known compliance of another one of the plurality of cantilever elements. 27. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the coupling device is configured to display the output to a user interface in communication with the coupling device. 28. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the cantilever element is configured to generate a resistive force operatively exerted against the tongue of the subject in response to deformation of the nipple element by the deformation force exerted on the nipple element by movement of the tongue of the subject. 29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein: the cantilever element is one of a plurality of cantilever elements;wherein: each respective one of the plurality of cantilever elements is configured to generate a respective resistive force exerted against the tongue of the subject in opposition to the deformation force exerted on the nipple element by movement of the tongue of the subject;at least one of the plurality of cantilever elements is configured to generate a resistive force which is different than the resistive force generated by another one of the plurality of cantilever elements; andeach respective one of the plurality of cantilever elements is configured to be removably attached to the coupling device to generate a respective resistive force corresponding to that respective cantilever element. 30. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cantilever element is a substantially flat cantilever element. 31. An apparatus for evaluating the movement of the tongue of a subject, the apparatus comprising: a coupling device configured to be operatively attached to a nipple element;the nipple element including an inner surface defining a nipple cavity;a cantilever element configured to be operatively attached to the coupling device only at one of: one side of the cantilever element; and two opposing sides of the cantilever element; such that the cantilever element is positioned within the nipple-cavity adjacent the inner surface of the nipple element and detached from the nipple element;wherein the cantilever element is configured to generate a resistive force operatively exerted against the tongue of the subject in response to deflection of the cantilever element in direct contact with the inner surface and in response to deformation of the nipple element by a deformation force exerted on the nipple element by movement of the tongue of the subject;wherein the resistive force is generated in opposition to the deformation force exerted on the nipple element by movement of the tongue of the subject. 32. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein: the cantilever element is one of a plurality of cantilever elements;wherein: each respective one of the plurality of cantilever elements is configured to generate a respective known resistive force exerted against the tongue of the subject in opposition to the deformation force exerted on the nipple element by movement of the tongue of the subject;at least one of the plurality of cantilever elements is configured to generate a first known resistive force which is different than a second known resistive force generated by another one of the plurality of cantilever elements; andeach respective one of the plurality of cantilever elements is configured to be removably attached to the coupling device to generate the respective known resistive force corresponding to that respective cantilever element.