JP4233075B2 - Artificial nipple - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an artificial nipple used by, for example, infants when breastfeeding.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A conventional artificial nipple is attached to, for example, a baby bottle, and is used for an infant or the like to drink milk stored in the baby bottle.
Such an artificial nipple is configured as shown in FIG. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the artificial nipple 10. That is, the artificial nipple 10 is formed of silicon rubber, and has a hollow portion A in which milk or the like flows from a baby bottle or the like. The silicon rubber portion is formed of a nipple body 11 and a nipple 12.
The nipple trunk portion 11 includes a base portion 11a to be attached to the baby bottle or the like and a nipple trunk portion main body 11b corresponding to a part of the mother's breast. The teat 12 is provided with an opening 12a from which milk or the like is ejected. Such an artificial nipple 10 is attached to a baby bottle or the like (not shown), and the milk or the like contained in the baby bottle is drunk through the artificial nipple 10.
[0003]
FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a state where the infant 20 is drinking milk or the like in a baby bottle (not shown) using the artificial nipple 10. As shown in the drawing, the infant 20 presses the nipple 12 of the artificial nipple 10 against the sucking cavity 22 in the upper palate 21 by the peristaltic movement of the tongue 23 of the infant.
At this time, the pressure in the sealed space B formed by the soft palate 24, the tongue 23, and the papilla 12 is close to 0 (zero). Thereafter, the tongue 23 moves while keeping hermetically sealed on the back side (space C side) of the oral cavity by the peristaltic motion, whereby the suction force due to the negative pressure in the sealed space B is strengthened. At this time, the tongue 23 forming the sealed space B is separated from the upper palate 21 so as to communicate with the space C, whereby milk or the like in the artificial nipple 10 is ejected from the opening 12a of the teat 12; It will be guided in the direction of the epiglottis 26.
By generating pressure in the oral cavity in this manner, the infant 20 drinks milk or the like in a baby bottle connected to the artificial nipple 10.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in recent years, as a result of research on what kind of movement (feeding exercise) is performed in the oral cavity of the infant 20 when the infant 20 drinks milk or the like, the following facts are revealed for the first time. became.
That is, when the infant 20 drinks the milk in the baby bottle with the artificial nipple 10 or the mother's breast milk, it was observed by echo how the artificial nipple 10 or the mother's nipple deformed. As a result, when the infant 20 holds the artificial nipple 10, the nipple and the areola corresponding to the nipple 12 of the artificial nipple 20 of the mother's nipple are extended by peristally moving the tongue 23. I understood it.
In this extension, there was a tendency that the lower side of FIG.
This has been found by feeding the infant 20 a baby bottle containing milk with an artificial nipple 10 and mother's breast milk, and measuring the stretched state of the artificial nipple 10 and the mother's nipple during the feeding exercise.
By the way, since the artificial nipple 10 is used by being attached to a baby bottle containing milk or the like and given to an infant instead of the mother's breast milk, the artificial nipple 10 is as close as possible to the mother's nipple. However, from the above research results, the conventional artificial nipple 10 is not approximated because the portion corresponding to the nipple or areola of the mother's nipple, particularly the portion where the tongue 23 abuts, does not extend. There was a problem.
[0005]
In view of the above points, an object of the present invention is to provide an artificial nipple that is more similar to a mother's nipple.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to the invention of claim 1, the object is an artificial nipple having a nipple torso and a nipple that protrudes from the nipple torso, wherein the nipple and / or the nipple torso Of these, when the user holds the artificial nipple, the portion that comes into contact with the user's tongue is provided with a thin portion that is easier to extend than other portions, and this thin portion is arranged in the longitudinal direction of the artificial nipple. Along the rigid portion that is thicker than the thin portion, and is formed at a predetermined interval, and when the user holds the artificial nipple among the nipple and / or the nipple trunk, The thickness of the wall surface of the portion that comes into contact with the user's baby socket is achieved by an artificial nipple that is thicker than the thickness of the wall surface of the portion that comes into contact with the user's tongue .
According to the above-described configuration, the portion of the nipple and / or the nipple trunk that comes into contact with the user's tongue when the user holds the artificial nipple is thinner than the other portions. Since the portion is provided, the thin portion formed in the portion that is preferably extended is extended by the tongue. Further, since the thin portion is formed at a predetermined interval along the longitudinal direction of the artificial nipple through a rigid portion having a thickness greater than that of the thin portion, the tongue is pressed against the artificial nipple. Even if it adds, it can prevent beforehand that an artificial nipple is crushed by this rigid part.
Moreover, according to the said structure, when the user adds this artificial nipple among the said nipple and / or the said nipple trunk | drum, the thickness of the wall surface of the part of the side contact | abutted to a user's suckling cavity is increased. Since the wall thickness of the wall portion of the portion that comes into contact with the user's tongue is formed so as to fit the shape of the user's sucking cavity, the peristaltic motion by the user's tongue is performed. However, the wall surface of the portion on the side where the user's baby swab abuts does not deform so much and is securely placed in the user's baby swallow or the like, so that the nipple is prevented from coming off the baby swallow.
[0013]
Preferably, according to the invention of claim 2 , in the configuration of claim 1 , the width of the thin portion in the longitudinal direction of the artificial nipple is that of the upper portion that is on the side in contact with the sucking cavity of the user. It is an artificial nipple that is formed to become narrower toward the wall surface.
[0014]
According to the above configuration, since the width of the thin portion with respect to the longitudinal direction of the artificial nipple is formed so as to become narrower toward the wall surface of the portion that comes into contact with the sucking cavity of the user, the thin wall with low rigidity is formed. The area of the portion gradually decreases as it goes toward the wall surface of the portion that comes into contact with the sucker socket of the user. Therefore, the portion having a low rigidity is gradually shifted to a portion having a high rigidity.
[0015]
Preferably, according to the invention of claim 3 , in the configuration of claim 1 or claim 2 , the artificial nipple faces the sucking cavity on the wall surface of the portion in contact with the sucking cavity of the user. It is an artificial nipple provided with a bent portion for bending.
[0016]
According to the above-described configuration, since the artificial nipple is bent toward the sucking cavity on the wall surface of the part that comes into contact with the sucking cavity of the user, Even if the thickness of this part is increased and it becomes difficult to deform, the bent part is bent, so that the teat of the artificial nipple is directed toward the sucking cavity and more accurately abuts on the sucking cavity. Will be.
[0017]
Preferably, according to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the configuration of the third aspect , the bent portion is an artificial portion formed on the inner side of the wall surface of the portion that comes into contact with the user's suckling cavity. Become a nipple.
[0018]
According to the above configuration, since the bent portion is a groove portion formed inside the wall surface of the portion that comes into contact with the user's suckling cavity, the portion of the groove portion is bent, so that the teat of the artificial nipple The portion is directed toward the sucking cavity and is more accurately abutted against the sucking cavity.
[0019]
Preferably, according to the invention of claim 5 , in the configuration of claim 3 , the bent portion is an artificial portion formed on the outside of the wall surface of the portion that comes into contact with the user's suckling cavity. Become a nipple.
[0020]
According to the above configuration, the bent portion is a groove portion formed on the outside of the wall surface of the portion that comes into contact with the user's suckling cavity. The portion is directed toward the sucking cavity and is more accurately abutted against the sucking cavity.
[0021]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 10.
The embodiments described below are preferable specific examples of the present invention, and thus various technically preferable limitations are given. However, the scope of the present invention is particularly limited in the following description. As long as there is no description of the effect, it is not restricted to these aspects.
[0022]
FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an artificial nipple 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the artificial nipple 100 has a substantially bowl-shaped nipple trunk portion 110 corresponding to the mother's breast, and a nipple 120 corresponding to the mother's nipple provided continuously therewith. .
Further, a base portion 112 that is a collar portion for connecting to a baby bottle body (not shown) is provided on the lower side of the nipple trunk portion 110 in the figure. The base portion 112 is provided with a vent 112a so that the pressure in the bottle does not change from the outside air even if the contents of the baby bottle are reduced.
A nipple opening 121 is provided at the tip of the nipple 120. The teat opening 121 communicates with the beverage space D formed by the teat body 110 and the teat 120 of the artificial teat 100.
[0023]
The wall surface that is the hatched portion of the artificial nipple 100 forming the beverage space D is made of, for example, silicone. The nipple 120 and the nipple torso 110 formed of silicone have an upper part 111 that is a side that comes into contact with the user's suckling cavity and a lower part 113 that is a side that comes into contact with the user's tongue.
The upper portion 111 is the left half of FIG. 1, and the lower portion 113 is the right half of FIG.
For example, six thin portions 122 that are grooves are formed on the inner surface of the lower portion 113. And the thickness of this thin part 122 is the thinnest part, for example, is about 1.2 mm. Further, the width of the thin portion 122 (vertical direction in the figure) is formed so as to gradually become narrower toward the upper portion 111.
On the other hand, the thin portions 122 formed at six places are formed so as to gradually become thicker from the thinnest portion, and reach the rigid portion 123. Here, the thickness of the rigid portion 123 is, for example, about 1.9 mm. Accordingly, the boundary portions between the thin portions 122 and the rigid portions 123 are configured to be gentle, and are arranged so as to form a waveform as shown in FIG.
[0024]
By forming the thin portion 122 into a wave shape in this way, the thickness of the thin portion 122 and the rigid portion 123 gradually changes gradually. Therefore, the rigidity of the wall surface of the lower portion 113 of the artificial nipple 100 is gradually changed.
For this reason, it is possible to prevent a part of the artificial nipple 100 from being easily crushed by the lateral pressure in FIG.
The upper portion 111 has a very different configuration from the lower portion 113 of the artificial nipple in which the thin portion 122 is formed as described above.
That is, the wall surface of the upper portion 111 is formed thicker than the wall surface of the lower portion 113. The thickness is about 2.2 mm, for example.
Therefore, higher rigidity is ensured than the rigid portion 123 provided in the lower part 111 during the infant feeding movement described later.
One bent portion 111 a is provided in the vicinity of the boundary between the nipple 120 and the nipple trunk 110 inside the wall surface of the upper portion 111. The bent portion 111 a is thinner than the surrounding wall surface, and the shape thereof is substantially the same as the thin portion 122 provided in the lower portion 113.
With this bent portion 111a, the artificial nipple 100 bends in the left direction in the figure, and the nipple 120 comes into firm contact with the user's suckling cavity, as will be described later.
[0025]
The artificial nipple 100 configured as described above is attached to a baby bottle (not shown) containing, for example, milk, which is a beverage, via the base portion 112, and the milk in the baby bottle is bottled in the baby bottle. It is configured to be guided to the beverage space D of the artificial nipple 100 through the mouth.
Then, the milk guided to the beverage space D is discharged from the teat opening 121 of the teat 120 to the outside of the artificial teat 100.
Such an artificial nipple 100 is used when a mother uses a baby bottle or the like to supply artificial milk to an infant or the like instead of own breast milk, and thus approximates to the mother's breast and nipple as shown in FIG. It has a shape.
[0026]
The artificial nipple 100 according to the present embodiment is configured as described above, but is used as follows.
First, the artificial nipple 100 is attached to, for example, a baby bottle that contains milk or the like. The mother holds the baby bottle, and the artificial nipple 100 is inserted into the oral cavity of the infant, whereby milk is given to the infant.
FIG. 2 is a view showing a state in which the mother or the like has inserted the artificial nipple 100 into the oral cavity of the infant 200 and the infant 200 holds the artificial nipple 100 in this manner. In FIG. 2, the baby bottle and the like are omitted, and only the artificial nipple 100 is shown.
At this time, the mother or the like inserts the artificial nipple 100 into the oral cavity of the infant 200 so that the lower portion 113 of the artificial nipple 100 is disposed on the tongue 230 side of the infant 200. In other words, the tongue 230 of the infant 200 is placed at a position where the later-described peristaltic motion of the infant 200 can be performed with respect to the thin portion 122 disposed on the lower portion 113 of the artificial nipple 100.
On the other hand, the upper portion 111 of the artificial nipple 100 is disposed at a position corresponding to the baby mouth 200 from the sucking cavity 220 to the upper palate 210 and from the alveolar ridge 280 to the lip 270.
[0027]
In this manner, with the infant 200 holding the artificial nipple 100, the distal end portion of the nipple 120 of the upper portion 111 of the artificial nipple 100 is brought into contact with the distal end of the sucking cavity 220 of the infant 200. At this time, the artificial nipple 100 is pressed upward in the figure by the tongue 230 of the infant 200.
That is, the upper part 111 of the artificial nipple 100 in FIG. 2 is fixed to the part from the baby socket 220 to the upper palate 210 and the alveolar ridge 280 to the lip 270 of the infant 200.
At this time, since the upper portion 111 of the artificial nipple 100 is formed so that the wall thickness is thick and the rigidity is increased to some extent as described above, the upper portion 111 is deformed to fit the shape of the sucking cavity 220, Above, it will be securely placed between the breast cavity 220 and the lips 270.
By the way, when the infant 200 drinks milk or the like through the artificial nipple 100, the infant 200 performs a sucking movement by the peristaltic movement of the tongue 230 as shown in FIGS.
FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 illustrate continuous images taken by using an ultrasonic tomography apparatus in the oral cavity where the infant 200 is performing a nursing exercise.
In FIG. 3 (a), the infant 200 performing a feeding exercise has a depression called a feeding cavity 220. The sucking cavity 220 has only a period during which the infant 200 feeds for breastfeeding, and disappears after growing.
[0028]
The mother's nipple enters this cavity 220 in the oral cavity of the infant 200. In this state, the tongue 230 of the infant 200 hits the nipple from below in the oral cavity, and the side surface of the tongue 230 rises and comes into close contact so as to wrap the nipple.
Then, as shown in FIGS. 3B and 3C, the front of the tongue 230 rises and pushes the nipple from the bottom, and this movement gradually moves as shown in FIGS. 4A to 4C. It will move like a wave backwards.
In this process, the tongue 230 performs a peristaltic motion from the front to the back, and the nipple is squeezed from the root toward the tip, and the nipple extends to hit the tip of the sucking cavity 220. A closed space E is formed between the nipple, the tongue 230 and the upper jaw.
The closed space E shown in FIG. 4B becomes smaller as the nipple etc. extends, and preferably the nipple etc. extends until the closed space E disappears. As a result, the pressure of the closed space E approaches 0 (zero), and then, by the peristaltic movement of the tongue 230, only the tongue 230 moves to the back while the closed space E is sealed, so that the closed space E is closed. The volume of the space E increases and the suction force due to the negative pressure increases. When this closed space E is opened by the increased suction force, the breast milk is vigorously ejected in the direction of the epiglottis 260 (see FIG. 2) of the infant 200, and by swallowing the ejected breast milk, the breast feeding exercise Will end.
[0029]
In this way, the infant 200 performs the peristaltic motion of the tongue 230, extends the mother's nipple, seals the closed space E, reduces the volume, and continues the peristaltic motion while keeping the volume closed. The negative pressure is effectively generated. By effectively generating negative pressure in this way, it is intended to further encourage the ejection of breast milk and to drink breast milk more effectively.
[0030]
Also in the artificial nipple 100 according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, seven thin portions 122 are provided in the nipple 120 and the lower portion 113 of the nipple trunk portion 110, and the infant 200 is provided for the thin portion 122. Since the tongue 230 of the child is peristaltic, the thin-walled portions 122 at these six locations extend, and the nipple 120 and the lower portion 113 of the nipple trunk 110 extend within the oral cavity of the infant 200.
At this time, since a plurality of thin portions 122 are provided from the nipple 120 to the nipple trunk 110 at predetermined intervals, they extend more evenly over the nipple 120 and the nipple trunk 110.
On the other hand, the nipple 120 of the artificial nipple 100 and the upper part 111 of the nipple trunk 110 are formed so that the wall thickness is thick and the rigidity is increased to some extent, so that it fits into the sucking cavity 220. In this way, it is firmly disposed between the breast cavity 220 and the lip 270, and the papillary 120 is not detached from the breast cavity 220 even by the peristaltic movement of the tongue 230.
FIG. 5 shows this state. FIG. 5 is a view of the state of the artificial nipple 100 performing a feeding exercise as seen from the feeding bottle side.
As shown in FIG. 5, the upper portion 111 of the artificial nipple 100 is in a state of being in firm contact with the baby socket 220 or the like, and is not crushed by the peristaltic movement by the tongue 230 of the infant 200, and the baby socket 220. It is stable without coming off.
[0031]
On the other hand, the lower portion 113 of the artificial nipple 100 is formed with a wall surface thinner than the upper portion 111, and the thin portion 122 is provided at six positions at a predetermined interval. It will extend toward the back.
Further, since the bent portion 111a is provided in the upper portion 111 of the artificial nipple 100, when the artificial nipple portion 100 is pushed from below by the peristaltic movement of the infant 200 by the tongue 230 as described above, the bent portion 111a. Thus, the artificial nipple 100 is bent upward in FIG. 2, and the teat 110 is more firmly brought into contact with the sucking cavity 220.
FIG. 6 shows this state. As shown in FIG. 6, the artificial nipple 100 in the broken line portion before the start of the sucking exercise is pushed from below by the peristaltic motion by the tongue 230 of the infant 100 and is deformed upward by bending at the bending portion 111a ( Solid line part).
By the way, the thin portion 122 described above is formed in a corrugated shape, and the thickness of the thin portion 122 and the rigid portion 123 is gradually changed gradually. Therefore, as shown in FIG. A part of the artificial nipple 100 is prevented from being easily crushed by the vertical pressure in the figure.
[0032]
As shown in FIG. 7, the closed space E formed by the artificial nipple 100, the tongue 230, the upper palate 210, and the like becomes smaller than that in FIG. It will be.
As a result, the closed space E having a smaller volume (preferably, the closed space E is extinguished) is closed by the peristaltic motion of the tongue 230 as shown in FIG. Thereafter, by moving the tongue 230 further back, negative pressure is generated, and the milk in the artificial nipple 100 is ejected in the direction of the arrow in FIG. And if the initial volume of the closed space E of FIG. 7 is small, this amount of milk ejection will increase accordingly.
At this time, the upper portion 111 of the artificial nipple 100 is fitted into the sucking cavity 220 as described above and is firmly in contact therewith, and the tip of the teat 120 is firmly held at the deepest part of the sucking cavity 220. Yes. Therefore, the lower part 113 of the artificial nipple 100 is extended by the peristaltic movement of the tongue 230 of the infant 200, and the above-described closed space E can be further reduced.
[0033]
Accordingly, in the artificial nipple 100 of the present embodiment, the lower portion 113 of the artificial nipple 100 is further extended, and the upper portion 111 is firmly held against the breast cavity 220 or the like, so that it is closer to the actual mother's nipple. Will work.
For this reason, the above-mentioned closed space E can be made smaller, and a larger amount of milk can be ejected from the artificial nipple 100 by the opening.
Thereby, the infant 200 can drink milk more smoothly and more appropriately.
Furthermore, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the boundary between the thin portion 122 and the inner surface 123 of the artificial nipple gently forms a waveform, so that the artificial nipple 100 formed of silicon rubber In manufacturing, it is easy to remove from the mold and it is easy to manufacture.
In this embodiment, an example in which the artificial nipple 100 is applied to a baby bottle containing milk has been shown. However, the artificial nipple 100 according to the present invention is not limited to this, and the infant 200 is a liquid beverage such as juice. It is clear that the present invention can also be applied when drinking in a container other than a baby bottle.
[0034]
Moreover, in this Embodiment, although the thin part 122 is provided in the artificial nipple 100 in six places, it is clear that it may provide not only this but how many places.
[0035]
In each of the above-described embodiments, the plurality of thin portions 122 and the like are formed as the extending portions. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the thin portions may be formed in a spiral shape. Moreover, you may use a softer material as a thin part.
Furthermore, each configuration of each of the embodiments can be omitted, or can be changed to any other combination not described above.
[0036]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, an artificial nipple that is more similar to a mother's nipple can be provided.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an artificial nipple according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing a state of the artificial nipple of FIG. 1 in the oral cavity of an infant.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a continuous image obtained by imaging an intraoral state in which an infant is performing a nursing exercise using an ultrasonic tomography apparatus.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating another continuous image obtained by imaging an intraoral state where an infant is performing a nursing exercise using an ultrasonic tomography apparatus.
FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the state of an artificial nipple viewed from the side of a baby bottle during a feeding exercise.
FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing a state of a bent portion of an artificial nipple during a feeding exercise.
7 is a schematic view showing a state in which the artificial nipple of FIG. 1 is extended in the oral cavity of an infant.
FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing a state in which the artificial nipple of FIG. 1 spouts milk in the oral cavity of an infant.
FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional artificial nipple.
FIG. 10 is a view showing a state where an infant is using a conventional artificial nipple.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Artificial teat 110 ... Nipple trunk | drum 111 ... Upper part 111a ... Bending part 112 ... Base part 112a ... Vent 113 ... Lower part 120 ... Nipple 121 ... Nipple opening 122 ... Thin part 200 ... Infant 210 ... Upper palate 220 ... Mammalian fossa 230 ... Tongue 260 ... Epiglottis 270 ... Lip 280 ... Alveolar ridge D ... Beverage space

Claims (5)

An artificial nipple having a nipple torso and a nipple that protrudes from the nipple torso, and when the user holds the artificial nipple out of the nipple and / or the nipple torso In addition, a thin portion that is easier to extend than other portions is provided in the portion that comes into contact with the user's tongue, and this thin portion is a rigid portion that is thicker than the thin portion along the longitudinal direction of the artificial nipple. Is formed at a predetermined interval ,
When the user holds the artificial nipple among the nipple and / or the nipple torso, the wall thickness of the portion of the nipple that comes into contact with the sucking cavity of the user is in contact with the tongue of the user. An artificial nipple characterized in that the artificial nipple is formed thicker than the wall thickness of the contacting portion . The width of the thin portion in the longitudinal direction of the artificial nipple, to claim 1, characterized in that it is formed to be narrower toward the wall surface of the upper portion of the side that contacts the mammal fossa of the user The described artificial nipple. Wherein the wall abutting the side portions mammal fossa of the user, according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the bent portion for artificial nipple is bent toward the baby fossa is provided Artificial nipples. The artificial nipple according to claim 3 , wherein the bent portion is a groove portion formed inside a wall surface of a portion on the side that comes into contact with the sucking cavity of the user . The artificial nipple according to claim 3 , wherein the bent portion is a groove portion formed on the outer side of a wall surface of a portion that comes into contact with the user's suckling cavity .

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