Measurement of tongue–artificial nipple contact pressure during infant sucking

Abstract

To clarify the motor function of the infant tongue during sucking, we developed an artificial nipple that contained multiple small built‐in force sensors integrated with a PC‐based system which is capable of measuring tongue–artificial nipple contact pressures in real time. The force sensor is a cantilever structure with a small, thin stainless steel beam where an all‐purpose foil strain gauge is attached to the surface of the beam. An artificial nipple made of an elastomer containing these sensors is connected through an amplifier and an A/D converter to a PC via a USB port. Using this system, measurements were taken in three infants whose oral feeding was well established and in one infant of low birth weight. The results from each force sensor showed a pressure waveform of a nearly simple harmonic motion that indicated a peristalsis‐like movement of the tongue; the sucking frequency was found to be about two times per second. In addition, in the low‐birth‐weight infant, the pressure changed as the infant grew. © 2012 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Mimicking the Impact of Infant Tongue Peristalsis on Behavior of Solid Oral Dosage Forms Administered During Breastfeeding

“…Compression setting 1 and rotation setting 2 (C1R2) and compression setting 2 and rotation setting 1 (C2R1) may mimic the tongue pressure exerted at the apical portion of the tongue during breastfeeding, reported clinically as 108-222 KPa 6 . Compression setting 2 and rotation setting 2 (C2R2) may mimic that of the posterior portion of the tongue since this as has been measured by Niikawa et al 6 . to range from 231-294 KPa.…”

“…Based on clinical measurements by Niikawa et al., 6 the sensor measurements indicate that the various settings each were exerting pressures on the sensor separately physiologically relevant for tongue strength of young infants. Pressure is shown to vary due to tongue contact location, infant age, and infant birth-weight.…”

“…Placement of the tip of the device containing the tablet on this stronger, posterior portion of the tongue 15 is expected on account of natural breast placement in the mouth with the nipple in the pharyngeal space, a region where the tongue is shown to exert higher pressures on the nipple 6 . Future characterization and optimization of the NSDS should consider the target infant population's tongue motions during breastfeeding to ensure appropriate dosage of active pharmaceutical ingredients during use.…”

“…The infant's behavior varies between nutritive and nonnutritive breastfeeding, but in both cases, motion of the tongue is coordinated with creation of an intraoral vacuum formed by the orientation of the infant's mouth 3, 4, 5. Peristaltic motion of the tongue has been documented by Niikawa et al 6 . who observed phase differences in pressure measurements taken in vivo using an artificial nipple loaded with force sensors.…”

Measurement of Force Applied by Infant Tongue to Three Types of Artificial Nipple: Investigation of Dynamic Actions in Relation to the Shape and Size of the Artificial Nipple

“…These studies revealed that the tongue tends to form a bulge and moves from the tip to the root in a wave-like manner. In this study, to assess the tongue movements, including the above-mentioned peristalsis-like movement, we measured the contact force between the tongue-and an artificial nipple using cantilever force sensors ('Artificial Nipple A' described below) [8][9][10]. As a result of the research so far, we have obtained the output waveforms of phase differences, which showed the peristalsis-like movement, as well as about two periods of sucking per second as in visual observation studies.…”