WO2013187763A1

WO2013187763A1 - System and method for monitoring a feeding pattern of a baby

Info

Publication number: WO2013187763A1
Application number: PCT/NL2013/050418
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jan-Hein VAN TWIST; Rositsa Petrova GENOVSKA; Norma Louise Maria DE BOER; Joris Maarten VAN GELDER
Original assignee: Patententransferium B.V.
Priority date: 2012-06-13
Filing date: 2013-06-12
Publication date: 2013-12-19

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and system for monitoring a feeding pattern of a baby, comprising a central data storage, such as a database or a cloud data storage, an application server, enabled to access the central data storage, and to disclose at least part of the data stored on the central data storage to a client device, at least a base (4) for a bottle (2) for feeding a baby, comprising measuring means (37) for determining the amount of liquid said bottle contains, and communication means, for sending measurement data to a central data storage and/or to a local receiving device.

Description

System and method for monitoring a feeding pattern of a baby

This application claims priority from Dutch patent applications NL 2010278 and NL 2008995, which are herewith incorporated by reference.

Preparing baby formula requires parents to closely follow the instructions for how much formula to prepare to ensure their baby gets the right quantity of nutrition. If parents measure correctly and track feedings, they can easily monitor their baby's appetite and weight gain. However, nowadays babies are often fed by different people and keeping track of its feedings has become a more difficult task.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide parents with a system for monitoring a feeding pattern of a baby. Our system includes a base station for a baby feeding bottle, which consists of measuring means of the liquid drank by the infant and communication means for sending this data to a local receiving device. This information is stored on a central data storage server and can be accessed through an application server (in particular, an online platform or a mobile app). The data stored can be accessed by its users and part of it could be disclosed to third parties. Furthermore the system disposes with an IR based temperature sensors to provide an indication of the temperature of the milk.

The system according to the present invention for monitoring the feeding pattern of a baby introduces a new and different concept and product category. Hence, our invention introduces an innovative system which is completely different from basic baby feeding attributes. However, there are two other alternatives of obtaining similar results, namely:

1) keeping a baby diary by taking notes and

2) Using baby apps which require manual insertion of data.

The first part of this document describes only the functionality of the baby feeding tracking system, followed by a technical product description of the electronics and the ICT platform. Functional Product description:

1) . Purchase the product

2) . Plug in the UTP connector in the router

3). Activate the product

4) . Warm the bottle, shake it and place back in the shell for temperature indication: The base station measures starting quantity (automatically or through the push of a button)

5) . Feed the baby and place the bottle back on the base station: it measures the remaining quantity and calculates the difference; the parent thus receives information on his/her app/website stating: the quantity of the feeding, the duration, the date and the time.

As an alternative, instead of determining the weight of the bottle, the weight of the baby can be measured before and after feeding it.

Functionality features App/mobile website:

- One landing page with information on the feedings for the last day;

- One page to manually insert information of feeding /formula or breastfeeding timer;

- One more interactive page where parents can see babies' consumption during the last weeks, months or the entire history.

Technical Product Description of the base station:

Electronic components

· Weighing scale

The base station is able to sense how much a baby drinks each feeding through a sensitive weighing mechanism. The starting quantity is measured when the milk is poured into the bottle and the quantity at the end is measured when the baby has been fed and the bottle is placed back on the base station.

In an embodiment a temperature compensated strain gage sensor is used:

- with a <5grams sensitivity

- a range of 0-500gr (or a bit more) - a mechanical arm to move in micrometer

• Microprocessor with memory

A microprocessor is used to collect all the relevant data of the feedings such as the quantity, the duration, the time and the date. The microprocessor needs enough memory to store at least 2 weeks of feeding data but preferably a month (quantity, date, nutritional value, time and duration of the feeding session).

Temperature sensors

The base station includes infrared temperature sensors. The advantage of these sensors is that they can be placed outside of the bottle, thus avoiding contact with the baby food.

Led lights

We will use led lights indicating if the liquid is below, above or exactly at 37-38 C.

Wireless transmitter

All of the relevant information that the base station collects is transmitted to a client device through central database and an application server. For this purpose, we could use, for example, a UTP transmitter to be plugged in a router.

Power source

It is preferable that the base station does not need recharging. If it works with a rechargeable battery, it should last at least a week but preferably a month or longer. ICT platform

The information sent from the base station will be coded in data protocols on the central data storage, and transferred to the client device through an application server. Push notifications will be made possible, such as sms of ftp. The pilot phase of the system will be followed by a second phase, including mobile apps for different phones. A scheme depicting the data flow from the base station to the end user was developed and presented in Figure 11 below. Figure 12 shows a more technical design of the system according to the present invention.

Communication options of the base station

1) . Wi-Fi component in the base station: directly communicating the data to a cloud

2) . the base station transmitting the data to a USB port connected to a pc and then gets sent from there to the cloud

3) . The base station transmitting data to a pc through Bluetooth or any other way of radio communication, to the cloud 4) . The base station communicates to the cloud through a UTP (to be plugged in a router

5) . Direct cable connection

6) . Direct telephone communication (for example, through a SIM card in the base station)

The present invention furthermore relates to a dispensing device for dispensing liquid feed, in particular a baby bottle.

Holder for baby food come in all shapes and sizes and consist in general of a beverage holder, in particular a bottle, which is closed with a removable teat. The bottle can for instance be made of a transparent plastic, wherein at the outflow opening of the bottle a provision, for instance an external screw-thread, is present for connecting the bottle to the teat. With such baby bottles a baby can be fed with liquid feed, such as baby milk or porridge, in addition to or replacing breast-feeding.

One of the objections of bottle feed is that the feed can only be used within a specific temperature range. The result is that the bottle feed has to be warmed until the feed can be offered to the user for consumption. The get the feed to the correct temperature, multiple devices are known. It is possible for instance to place the baby bottle inside a holder which is filled with water, after which the water in the holder is heated though heat-able walls of the holder. The warmed water than exchanges its heat with the feed inside the baby bottle. It is also possible to heat the content of the baby bottle using a microwave. All these devices are only suitable for domestic use, for instance because they require electric power from the household net (for instance 220 V alternating current) and/or because the dimensions are such that the devices cannot be easily transported. This means that it is difficult to get the content of the bottle to the right temperature when people are outside. Therefor parents, in practise, want to be home when the baby has to be fed, which limits the freedom of movement of the parts considerately. There is thus a need for a possibility to get bottle feed to the desired temperature, also outside, in a quick and efficient way, such that the baby can always be fed, also when the parents are not at home of not in a place with heating devices.

A further objection to bottle feed (and also of breast-feeding) is that it is difficult to get insights into the feeding pattern of the baby. Parents would like to know how much feed a baby had taken in during a certain period of time, for instance during a day or week, because they want to check whether the baby drinks enough. Sometimes people also want to know when (which time points, spread over the day) and/or how (within which time periods etc.) the feed was dispensed. People can do so by checking the graduation on the bottle at each feeding moment and note how much feed the baby has had. This process of constantly manually reading and noting the ingested amount is time consuming and prone to errors. There is thus a need for to get insight into the feeding pattern of a baby in an easier way that is less prone to errors.

It is therefor a goal of the present invention to provide a food container wherein at least one of the abovementioned objections to the prior art is reduced or eliminated.

It is also a goal of the present invention to provide a food container wherein the content can be easily heated, inside and outside of the house.

It is also a goal of the present invention to get insights in the feeding pattern of the user, especially a baby, of the container in an efficient and precise way.

According a first aspect of the present invention a dispensing device, in particular a baby bottle, is provided for dispensing liquid feed, wherein the device comprises:

- a holder for keeping the liquid feed;

an electric heating element that is arranged to heat the content of the holder; an electric power supply to supply the electric heating element

a holder part provided with a compartment wherein at least the electric power supply is provide, wherein the holder part is releasable connectable to the holder.

By integrating the heating element in the holder and/or the holder part the possibilities to be able to prepare (thus heat) the feed, everywhere and always, have been extended.

The heating element can be directly connected, for instance via a connection terminal, to a transformer which is connected to the household electric net which provides a voltage suitable for the heating element. Preferable, however, use is made of a battery which is specially arranged for the heating element (for instance a permanent battery and/or a changeable battery pack formed by multiple batteries), which is used to feed the heating element.

In an embodiment of the present invention the dispensing device comprises a holder part wherein a rechargeable battery is housed. The holder part can for instance be formed by a releasable compartment at the bottom side of the holder. The double walled bottom defines an in between space wherein the battery can be provided.

In embodiments of the present invention the holder part is provided separately from the holder and can, if for instance an electrical power supply is requires, be coupled to the holder. In coupled condition an electrical connection can for instance be formed between the battery and the heating element.

In an embodiment the heating element comprises a filament, for instance a wire which is attached to or provided in the inner wall of the holder. With this the inner wall can be heated and there though the content of the holder. In embodiments wherein the holder comprises an outer wall and an inner wall, and between the outer- and inner wall an in between space is present, the heating element van be provided in the in between space.

In other embodiments the heating element is provided in the releasable holder part. The heating element can for instance be located in a protrusion, which extends centrally, on the holder part which can be placed in a corresponding recess in the bottom of the holder, for instance by twisting or pushing.

In embodiments of the present invention an operating unit is provided in the holder, to control the heating element and/or the sensor. The operating unit is preferably connected to the control unit and the operating of the heating element and/or the sensor preferably goes though the control unit. The operating unit can for instance be a touch switch. In a particular embodiment the touch switch is provided behind the (outer) wall of the bottle. The user than only has the touch the surface of the wall at the height of the switch in order to operate it. The integrity of the bottle is hereby not compromised. The wall can remain uninterrupted. This means that the switch keeps clean and is not bothered by outside influences which as moisture infiltration.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention the holder comprises an outer holder and an exchangeable inner holder. The inner holder for instance forms the actual bottle, which is used to drink from, while the outer holder, which is at least partially arranged around the inner holder, comprises elements such as the operating unit and the heating element. The inner holder can then be cleaned well, for instance by washing it at high temperatures in a dishwasher. The feed is not in contact with the outer holder en the outer holder therefor requires a less thorough cleaning.

In certain embodiments the inner holder can be provided form fitting in the outer holder, such that an eventual heat transfer from the outer holder to the inner holder can occur efficiently.

In an embodiment of the present invention the device comprises coupling means to couple the holder part to the holder. The coupling means are preferably arranged such that they can easily couple and uncouple the holder and the holder part. The coupling means can comprises at least one pair of first magnetic elements of different polarity in the holder part and at least one pair of second magnetic elements of different polarity in the holder. The magnetic elements of first polarity in the holder part and the magnetic element of the second polarity, different from the first polarity, in the holder are arranged on corresponding positions. If the first and second magnetic elements are placed on top of each other, a firm connection between the holder en the holder part will be established by the magnetic forces. When the holder part and the holder are somewhat twisted relative to each other, the holder part will come off or stay off the holder by magnetic repulsion. This embodiment promotes that the holder is always coupled to the holder part on the desired configuration. This has a number of advantages. One of the advantages is that by the precise positioning of the holder and the holder part an electrical connection between the battery and the heating element can be formed with relatively large certainty, for instance by having the electrical contacts of the holder contact the corresponding contacts on the holder part.

According to another aspect of the invention the dispensing device for dispensing liquid feed, in particular a baby bottle, is provided, the device comprising: a holder for keeping the liquid feed;

a sensor for providing an electrical signal which is representative for the amount of liquid feed in the holder;

- and electric power supply for feeding the sensor;

a holder part provided with a compartment wherein at least the electrical power supply is provided.

In certain embodiments the sensor is arranged to determine the volume of the liquid feed present in the holder. The volume can be determined directly or indirectly. In the latter case for instance the liquid level in the holder is determined and, based on the known volume and/or shape of the holder the corresponding volume is calculated. In other embodiments other quantities can be determined, such as weight.

In an embodiment of the invention the sensor is a capacitive sensor for determining the volume of feed in the holder. The sensor can for instance comprise a height measure sensor for measuring the liquid level in the holder, such as an infrared sensor of an ultrasonic sensor.

In a further embodiment of the invention the dispensing device comprises an electrical control unit for controlling the heating element and/or the sensor. The control unit can for instance comprise a programmable microcontroller. The control unit is provided (and connected) to control at least the heating element, the sensor and/or the battery.

The control unit can be arranged in the holder (for instance in the outer holder). However, preferably the control unit is located in the holder element, especially when the electrical power supply is also located in the holder element. This has the advantage that the weight of the holder itself can be reduced.

In a further embodiment a storage medium is provided, which is located on the holder part en connected to the control unit, to store information, for example (but not limited to) information that is representative for the dispensing pattern of liquid feed.

The control unit can for instance be arranged to process the measurement signal of the sensor. The abovementioned capacitive sensor provides a measurement signal which is representative of the measurement of the volume of the liquid feed that is present in the holder at that moment. The measurement signal can be stored directly on the storage medium, but can also be processed first into volume information which is representative of the volume of liquid feed in the holder. It is that volume information then that is stored on the storage medium.

In embodiments of the invention timing means are arranged in the holder part to determine timing information. Timing information can for instance be (but not limited to) time and/or date data. Based on the timing means the control unit can determine the timing information regarding the dispensing of liquid feed from the holder. For instance, it can be determined when a holder was heated and/or how long the dispensing of feed took. The control unit can store the timing information, possibly along with the corresponding volume information, on the storage medium.

The information stored on the storage medium can preferably be read by an external processing unit, such as e laptop or desktop computer. Thereto, in some embodiments, a communication unit is provided, for instance a communication terminal such as a USB-connector, to provide the possibility for a wire connection between the control unit and the external processing unit and/or a transmitter/receiver such as a Bluetooth transmitter/receiver, to wireless send information.

In a further embodiment the device comprises a dispensing unit for providing dosed amounts of liquid feed to the user. An example of such a dispensing unit is a teat.

Further advantages, features and details of the present invention will be clarified by the following description of some preferred embodiments. In the description reference is made to figures, wherein: Figure 1 shows a schematic view of a cross section of an embodiment of a baby bottle according to the invention, placed on an embodiment of a docking station according to the invention;

Figure 2 shows a bottom view of the baby bottle of figure 1;

Figure 3 shows a front view of an embodiment of an inner bottle;

Figure 4 shows a side view of the inner bottle of figure 3;

Figure 5 shows a top view of the docking station;

Figure 6 shows a side view in perspective of a second embodiment of the baby bottle, with the electrical power supply in the coupled condition;

Figure 7 shows a side view of the second embodiment of the baby bottle, with the electrical power supply in uncoupled condition;

Figure 8 shows a partially cut-out view in perspective of the second embodiment of the baby bottle;

Figure 9 shows a partially cut-out view in perspective of the electrical power supply;

Figure 10 shows a cross section of a third embodiment of the invention;

Figure 11 shows a scheme depicting the data flow from the base station to an end user; and

Figure 12 shows a more technical design of the system according to the present invention.

Figures 1-5 show a first embodiment of the baby bottle and the corresponding docking station according to the present invention. Referring to figure 1, a feed holder 1 is shown which is made of a baby bottle 2 which is placed on a support of docking station 4 and can be coupled with that. At the top end the bottle 2 is closed by cap 3 in an ordinary way. Cap 3 comprises a connecting element 5 provided with inner screw- thread and a teat 9. The connecting element 5 can be screwed on connecting element 6 of the bottle 2, which is provided with external screw-thread. The bottle has a bottle wall 11 which is been carried out double. Wall 11 is mainly build up from an inner wall 12 and an outer wall 13, which is arranged around the inner wall. Between the inner and outer wall 12, 13 an in between space 15 is provided wherein isolating material and/or electrical components can be located. At the bottom side the part of the bottle that is to be filled is bordered by a bottom 8. Underneath the bottom 8 a further in between space (between the bottom 10 of the bottle 2 and the before mentioned bottom 8), also called compartment 14, is provided.

The bottom 10 of the compartment 14 is substantially flat such that the bottle can be placed stably on a supporting surface 23 of the docking station 4. In certain embodiments the bottle is standing on the docking station without further connecting means. In other embodiment the bottom 10 is provided with coupling means which can be used to couple bottle 2 detachable (disconnectable) to the docking station 4.

In the shown embodiment the coupling means comprise a protrusion 39 which is provided on the docking station 4, as also a corresponding recess in the bottom 10 of the holder. The coupling means further comprise two magnets 27, 28, located in the compartment 14, which can couple to corresponding metal parts 30, 31 located in the docking station 4. In coupled condition, when bottle 2 is coupled to the docking station 4 with the aid of the mentioned coupling means, a galvanic (electrically conducting) contact is made between the electrical components in the bottle and the docking sation by means of a number of supply terminals 25, 26. The supply terminals 25, 26 are also arranged as communication terminals for sending communication signals between the bottle and the docking station.

In compartment 14 and/or in between space 15 of the bottle 2 a number of electrical component are provided. Compartment 14 comprises, in the shown embodiment, a rechargeable battery 23 to provide a power supply to the other electrical components. The battery can be a permanent rechargeable battery, as well as one or more rechargeable exchangeable battery packs. The battery 23 is connected to an electronic control unit 24, a memory 29 and an operating unit. The battery is connected to the supply terminals 25, 26 at the bottom side of the bottle, such that the battery can be charged when the bottle 2 is placed on the docking station 4 and an electric contact is made between the terminals 25, 26 and the corresponding terminal 22, 33 on the docking station. The power supply of the docking station can be delivered directly through an external power supply cable 32. This cable is coupled to the household electric net in a known fashion. In certain embodiments the docking station 4 is also provided with a rechargeable battery 35. This battery 35 is provided to charge the battery 23 in the bottle when the power supply cable 32 is not connected to the net through contacts 22 and 25.

The control unit 24 is further coupled to an operating unit 37 on the topside of the bottle. The operating unit is preferably provided as e touch interface 37. The touch interface can be positioned between the inner and outer wall and can possibly be arranged partially in the outer wall 13. The touch interface acts a control to turn one or more functions of the control unit 24 on or off. The touch interface 37 also comprises a LED feedback mechanism 38. The mechanism 38 for instance emits light from varying colour and/or intensity based upon which a user can determine if a certain function is being carried out or not.

In the space 15 between the inner wall 12 and the outer wall 13 a heating element 19 is provided in the bottom part of the bottle. The heating element 19 is, in the shown embodiment, provided by a filament, which is substantially helically provided in the part of the wall 11. The heating element 19 is directly or indirectly coupled to the battery 23 and can be turn on or off by the control unit 24 to heat the content of the bottle.

Wall 11 of the bottle is almost completely transparent except there where window 16 (fig. 3) is located. Through the window 16 the user can see how much liquid is present in the bottle. In the shown embodiment window 17 is also provided with a graduation 17, based upon which the used can determine how much liquid (volume) is present in the bottle.

As shown in figure 1, in the in between space 15 along the inner wall 12 of the bottle, an elongated metal strip 36 is provided. The strip extends from the bottom side to the top side of the bottle and is part of a capacitive sensor 37. The inner wall 12 is for instance made of plastic and the strip 36 is made of a metal. This means that the metal of the strip is not in direct contact with the liquid in the bottle such that the sensor is protected against fouling. The capacitive sensor can be used to measure how much feed (in terms of volume) is present in the bottle at a given moment. The sensor 37 is connected to the control unit 24 and measurement data from the sensor can be processed by the control unit 24 and possibly be stored in memory 29.

As soon as battery 23 is charged, bottle 2 can be removed from the docking station 4 and is ready for use. When the baby requires feeding, the user fills the bottle with the desired amount of feed (liquid) en controls the touch interface 37. The touch interface light up and activates the heating element through the control unit 24.

Meanwhile the capacitive sensor 37 has determined how much liquid is in the bottle. Based on pre-stored information in memory 29 the control unit 24 can determine how the heating element 19 is going to heat up the content of the bottle 2. The control unit 24 can for instance adept the level of heating (time, power etc) based on the amount of feed determine by the sensor. The control unit 24 turn the heating element 19 off again at a certain moment. The feed in the bottle is than ready for consumption.

In a further (non-shown) embodiment of the invention one of multiple temperature sensors are arranged in the bottle. These sensors provide an electric signal which is representative for the local temperature of feed in the bottle. The temperature sensors are connected to the control unit 24 by electric wires. The control unit 24 is than arranged (for example programmed in case of a programmable unit) to supply the heating element (power, time etc), dependent on the measured temperature. In that case the feed in the bottle can be brought to the desired temperature ranged independent of the starting temperature of the feed and/or surrounding temperature.

In a further embodiment two or more temperature sensors are placed in the bottle such that the temperature can be measured on two or more different positions. The temperature sensors are for instance places on different heights in the bottle. If the control unit determines that a (too large) temperature difference is present between the different position, an alarm signal can be given such that the user knows that the bottle should be shaken. When the temperature differences are within a predetermined range the control unit gives a signal that the feed can be drank safely. The warning signal may take many forms. In a specific embodiment the control unit controls an LED or equivalent light emitting element, such that the user can see if the feed is ready for consumption.

When the baby emptied the bottle, the control unit 24 stores information in the memory 29 which is representative of the amount of liquid as determined by the sensor 37. Along information about the amount of liquid additional information can be stored, such as the date and time. This allows to later, for example by reading the memory 29, determine when the baby consumed which amounts of feed.

In certain embodiments it is possible to, after the heating element 19 heated the liquid in the bottle and the baby drank the bottle partially, perform a further

measurement of the volume in the bottle. When the difference between the original volume (based upon which the control unit 24 controlled the heating element 19), and the measured volume afterwards, the control unit 24 determines how much liquid the baby really consumed. Volume information about this second measurement and/or the calculated consumed volume, can be stored in the memory 29. This allow an accurate registration of the amount of feed that is actually consumed by the baby. This process of feeding the baby by heating the content thereof and registering the feed consumed by the baby can be repeated one or several times dependent on the state of the battery. At a certain moment battery 23 needs recharging and the bottle 2 should be places on the support surface 23 of the docking station. As soon as terminals 25, 26 at the bottom side of the bottle make contact with the terminal of the docking station, the battery 35 in the docking station will recharge the battery 23 in the bottle. It is also possible to charge battery 23 in a different way, for example through a USB port on the bottle of another connector for a wire connection. At the same time the data (information) from the memory 29 is transferred to a memory 40 on the docking station and /or to an external device attached to the docking station, through the terminals. The memory 40 (if present on the docking station) generally has a larger storage capacity compared to the storage in the bottle. In certain embodiments this memory 40 is used to store for instance volume information over a couple of days, for instance 1 or 2 weeks, such that a good view of the feeding pattern of a baby over time can be achieved.

Further, a control unit on the docking station can, based on the volume information in memory 40, determine how much feed the baby consumed during a certain period, such as 1 day or 1 week. The information stored in memory 40 can possibly, for instance as shown in figure 7, be transferred to an external processing unit such as a PC or laptop, through communication terminal 55.

In figures 6 to 9 a further embodiment of the invention is shown. This embodiment corresponds mainly to the embodiment as shown in figures 1-5, and as far as the functionality of both embodiments is the same, a further description is omitted. A difference between the first and second embodiment is that the second embodiment is provided with a separate inner bottle 42 and an outer bottle 40. The inner bottle 42 is generally cylindrically and can be pushed in a receiving space in the outer bottle 40. The inner bottle 42 can also be easily removed from the outer bottle 40 by pushing this one in upward direction (P2, figure 7).

The outer bottle 40 comprises a substantially transparent part 70 and a substantially opaque part 71. Electrical components are also placed in the opaque part 71 (and not in the transparent part 70).

As shown in figures 6-8, the opaque part 71 has a substantially cylindrical shape and is made of an outer wall 55, a sloped outer end wall 57, an inner wall 56, and an outer wall 58 at the bottom side. Within the walls 55, 56, 57, 58 an inner space 42 is provided. At the bottom side of the inner space 42 a heating element is placed. Against the inner wall 56 an elongated strip 65 is placed, which acts as a capacitor plate for the capacitive sensor. At the inner side of the outer wall 55 before mentioned touch interface is placed.

While the control unit, battery and memory where part of the bottle in the first embodiment, in the second embodiment these electrical components are arranged in a detachable (disconnectable) holder part 46 which is placed on the opaque part 71 of the bottle. The electrical components in the holder part 46 are arranged on a circuit board 38 and comprise at least a control unit 76, battery 62, memory 77 and communication terminal 55, for instance a USB connector.

In an embodiment of the invention beside the communication terminal 55 also a terminal (connector) to connect the holder part to the household electrical net is provided, by a direct connection of an indirect connection as through a (non-shown) docking station.

In figure 7 is shown that the support surface 48 of the holder part 46 is provided with a protruding part 49, pointing upward. This part 49 can be placed form fitting in a (non shown) recess on the bottom side of the outer bottle 40. The protruding part 49 and the recess make it possible to guide the bottle during its rotation to disconnect the bottle from the docking station. The protruding part 49 is further provided with contacts.

These contacts ensure that when holder part 46 is coupled an electric (galvanic) contact is made between the electrical components in the bottle, for instance the sensor 65, the control unit 64 and the heating element 60 (with corresponding wiring), and the electrical components in the holder part, such as the control unit 76, battery 62, communication terminal 55 and memory 77. The electrical connection has a dual function. On the one hand it allows to supply the heating element 60 in the bottle through the battery 62 in the holder part, such that the content of the bottle can be heated. On the other hand it allows to transfer information of the sensor in the bottle, for instance an electric measurement signal, to the control unit 76 in the holder part. In other embodiments the connection is provided separately from the electric power supply.

The control unit can process this measurement signal further, for instance by storing the information of the measurement signal in memory 77. The contacts also provide a connection between the operating unit 64 in the wall of the bottle and the control unit 76 in the holder part, such that, in coupled condition with the operating unit, the control unit is operable. The holder part 46 is arranged such (compact dimensions, light weight and/or easy to pick up) that when it is coupled to the bottle, the whole remains well transportable and manageable. When heating of the content of the bottle is no longer required or when no more volume measurements have to be performed, the presence of the holder part is no longer required. The holder part can than be easily uncoupled from the rest of the bottle. In further embodiments an additional battery is placed in the holder. The capacity of this battery is insufficient to feed the heating elements, but can be sufficient to supply one or more sensors present in the holder, such as a temperature sensor and a volume sensor, of desired power.

The coupling means of the outer bottle 40 on the holder part 46 can be similar to the coupling means as described earlier. In the shown second embodiment the coupling means are executed differently. In the second embodiment the outer bottle 40 can be coupled with the holder part 46on four positions through a coupling 50-50" '. Each of the couplings 50 comprises two magnetic elements 51, 52 of different magnetic polarity. Also at the bottom side of the bottle, especially in the end surface 58 of the outer bottle 40, pairs 65-65" ' of permanent magnets 67, 68 are provided on four locations. The polarity of these magnets is mirrored compared to the polarity of the elements 51, 52 on holder part 46.

When the elements 50 en 65 are placed on top of each other, a very firm coupling between the bottle and the holder part 46 is possible through the magnetic forces of attraction. When the outer bottle for instance is pulled upward, it is not possible or hardly possible to remove the bottle from holder part 46 by hand. However, when the bottle and holder part are twister with regard to each other, for instance by twisting the outer bottle 40 in the direction PI (figure 7), the magnetic forces of attraction diminish quickly and the bottle can be easily removed from the holder part.

In other embodiments the coupling between the holder (bottle) and holder part can be formed by a screw thread connection, for instance by a protrusion which formed centrally to the holder part which fits within a recess present centrally in the bottom of the holder. In other embodiments the holder parts can be coupled to the holder (bottle) by a vacuum coupling. Thereto a suitable operating mechanism can create a vacuum locally between the holder part and the holder to clamp the holder and the holder part together. When, via the operating mechanism, the vacuum disappears, the holder and holder parts are easily seperatable. Instead of the before mentioned communication terminal 55, for instance a USB-port, use can be made of a wireless communication, such as a wireless

receiver/transmitter in the holder part 46 and/or in the docking station, for instance a Bluetooth transmitter/receiver.

Figure 10 shows a third embodiment of the present invention. Figure 10 shows a single walled holder or bottle 62 which is provided with a dosing unit in the usual way by providing a teat. The holder (bottle) 62 can be placed on a holder part 66. The holder part 66 is preferably provided with a flat lower surface such that the whole of holder and holder parts can be placed on a flat surface. The holder itself also has a flat lower surface such that the holder can be placed on the surface in a similar manner.

In the holder part 66 not only the control unit and the storage medium are present, but also the whole sensor 67 (if present) and the whole heating element 44 (if present). The sensor is for instance an infrared sensor which can send light into the bottle by the transparent bottom 65 of the bottle 62. Depending on the reflected light the sensor can determine the liquid level in the bottle 62 at that time. The heating element 64 is, in the shown embodiment, located at the inner side of a central protrusion 65 of the holder (bottle) 62. In this embodiment the holder can be made light since most or even all electrical components are placed in the holder part.

The baby bottle according to the herein described embodiments allows to prepare a meal by heating the content of a baby bottle at all times, wherever the user may be. Further the amount of feed removed from the bottle can be determined exactly every time, such that a good view of the eating pattern of the baby is achieved. By storing the data on the eating pattern on the bottle, holder part and/or docking station, it is possible to perform an analysis of the eating pattern of the baby later.

In further embodiments of the invention the heating element can be omitted. It stays possible to perform measurements on volume and store data on that. In other embodiments the content of the bottle van be heated in the way described herein, but the volume sensor may be omitted.

Claims

1. System for monitoring a feeding pattern of a baby, comprising:

A central data storage, such as a database or a cloud data storage;

- An application server, enabled to

o access the central data storage, and to

o disclose at least part of the data stored on the central data storage to a client device;

at least a base for a bottle for feeding a baby, comprising:

o measuring means for demining the amount of liquid said bottle contains;

o communication means, for sending measurement data to a central data storage and/or to a local receiving device.

2. System according to claim 1, wherein the base further comprises at least one from the group of:

- a temperature sensor, in particular infrared;

- a strain gage weight sensor, in particular temperature compensated ;

- a heater, for heating a liquid inside the bottle;

- a temperature indicator, such as a visible indicator;

- a microprocessor, for processing measurements;

- a local data storage means, for collecting measurement data;

- a power source, such as a battery.

3. System according to claim 1 or 2,wherein the measurement data comprises at least one from the group of:

an amount of liquid in the bottle;

a time stamp of a measurement;

a nutrition value from a liquid in the bottle;

a temperature of the liquid.

4. System according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the base is integrated in the bottle.

5. System for monitoring a feeding pattern of a baby, comprising: A central data storage, such as a database or a cloud data storage;

An application server, enabled to

o access the central data storage, and to

at least a weigh for a baby, comprising:

o measuring means for demining the weight of a babe before and after feeding; o communication means, for sending measurement data to a central data storage and/or to a local receiving device.

6. System according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the application server is configured for disclosing at least part of the data stored on the central data storage to a client device via a web-page.

7. System according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the application server is configured for disclosing at least part of the data stored on the central data storage to a client device via an api for an application at the client device.

8. System according to any of the preceding claims 1-4, 6 or 7, wherein the application server is configured for disclosing at least part of the data stored on the central data storage to a client device via a push-notification such as sms or ftp.

9. System according to any of the preceding claims 1-4, or 6-8, wherein the

communication means of the bottle comprise a wired or wireless network connection, in particular one of the group of:

- a UTP connection

- a USB connection;

- WIFI;

- Bluetooth;

- an IR or radio-connection.

10. System according to any of the preceding claims 1-4, or 6-9, wherein the communication means of the bottle are configured to send measurement data directly to the central data storage.

11. System according to any of the preceding claims 1-4, or 6-10, wherein the communication means of the bottle are configured to send measurement data to an intermediate device, such as a local computer, laptop, smart-phone or tablet computer, the intermediate device being configured for forwarding the measurement data to the central data storage.

12. System according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising a client device, such as a computer or a laptop with an internet browser or a mobile communication device such as a smart-phone or a tablet-computer with a dedicated app(lication).

13. System according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the application server is configured for comparing the measurement data with predetermined data, such as prescribed nutrition data, and wherein the application server is further configured for providing a message, such as an alert or a report, based on the comparison.

14. Method for monitoring a feeding pattern of a baby, comprising:

measuring the amount of liquid in a feeding bottle;

sending measurement data to a central data storage and/or to a local receiving device;

disclosing at least part of the data stored on the central data storage to a client device.

a bottle for feeding a baby, comprising

15. Method according to claim 14, wherein disclosing at least part of the data stored the central data is performed via a push-notification such as sms or ftp.

16. Method according to claim 14 or 15, wherein the application server is configured for comparing the measurement data with predetermined data, such as prescribed nutrition data, and wherein the application server is further configured for providing a message, such as an alert or a report, based on the comparison.