Patent Publication Number: US-2004040556-A1

Title: Baby pacefier with gentle supplemental oxygen feed

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] 1. Field of the Invention  
       [0002] The present invention relates generally to the field of devices that provide supplemental oxygen to premature babies and other infants requiring such. More specifically the present invention relates to a baby pacifier for insertion into the mouth of a baby for gently feeding supplemental oxygen supplied from an external oxygen source through an external oxygen supply conduit to the baby&#39;s mouth and nose areas of the baby&#39;s head. The baby pacifier preferably includes a peripheral oxygen deflector that extends generally radially outwardly for deflecting supplemental oxygen emitted from the oxygen delivery holes toward the baby&#39;s mouth and nose areas. The baby pacifier preferably includes a medication administering sponge to which a medication solution may be added such that when supplemental oxygen passes therethrough, the medication solution is gradually evaporated delivering medication vapors to the baby&#39;s nose area.  
       [0003] The baby pacifier includes a housing that housing includes a front surface adapted to be symmetrically disposed about the baby&#39;s head at the mouth and nose areas, and a resilient nipple. The nipple has a bulbous portion and a dependent stem, the stem being attached centrally to the front surface with the nipple extending therefrom. The housing has an interior chamber into which supplemental oxygen is directed through an oxygen inlet opening of a barbed elbow or stem into the interior chamber. The oxygen inlet opening is coupled to the external oxygen source using an external oxygen supply conduit. A plurality of oxygen delivery holes are generally symmetrically spaced laterally about the baby&#39;s mouth and nose area. The oxygen delivery holes extend from the interior chamber through the housing about the baby&#39;s mouth and nose areas to allow supplemental oxygen to flow outwardly from the interior chamber. The nipple pacifies the baby during suckling while centering the baby pacifier about the baby&#39;s head at the mouth and nose areas. The oxygen delivery holes regulate the flow of supplemental oxygen which is gently delivered to the baby&#39;s nose area for breathing without requiring invasive oxygen delivery tubes whenever the nipple is in the baby&#39;s mouth. The interior chamber and oxygen delivery holes assure an equal distribution of supplemental oxygen from the external oxygen source is conveyed to the nose and mouth areas of the baby.  
       [0004] 2. Description of the Prior Art  
       [0005] Babies and other infants (hereinafter all referred to as babies) are increasingly surviving premature births with immature organ formation due to advances in modern medical technology. One of the organs which is particularly fragile in such premature babies are the lungs, which fully mature only late in a pregnancy. Such premature babies may be placed on positive pressure ventilators that assist the lungs in breathing, but ventilators can also damage to the tiny alveoli of the baby&#39;s lungs. This may require further supplemental oxygen therapy once the premature baby&#39;s lungs develop enough that the ventilator can be discontinued, such as placement of the baby in oxygenated incubators or that oxygen hoods be placed around their heads. This limits the accessibility to the baby and does not provide supplemental oxygen when the baby must be removed from the incubator or hood for feeding, changing, and medical examination.  
       [0006] Oxygen cannulae placed in the baby&#39;s nostrils and face masks have been used to provide supplemental oxygen during such periods of removal. However, providing supplemental oxygen to an baby is difficult because the baby often struggles when the cannulae or face mask are secured around the baby&#39;s face. Cannulae may also transmit undesirable pressure to the baby&#39;s lungs causing lung damage. Furthermore, while it is desirable to place a nipple in the baby&#39;s mouth when changing the baby and during medical examination to calm the baby, this may cause the baby to have greater difficulty exhaling due to the increased lung pressure caused by the oxygen cannulae. A smooth, constant flow of supplemental oxygen directed in front of the baby&#39;s nose area is the ideal and safest way to administer supplemental oxygen while the baby is nursing.  
       [0007] There have been developed various oxygenating devices for administering supplemental oxygen, some of which include a nipple. Others are adapted to connect to external nipples such as on a nursing bottle. An oxygenating pacifier is disclosed in Press, U.S. Pat. No. 5,375,593 issued on Dec. 27, 1994. Press discloses a pacifier for connection to an external oxygen source, having a nipple, a mouth plate, a housing assembly, and a pair of nasal cannulae coupled to one another extending upwardly out of the housing. The nasal cannulae are positioned such that the nasal cannulae are automatically directed to the baby&#39;s nostrils whenever the baby has the nipple in mouth. In one embodiment a bladder is interposed between the nasal cannulae and the external oxygen source for more even distribution of supplemental oxygen from the external oxygen source. In another embodiment the nasal cannulae split in a “T” or a “Y” connection directly coupled to the external oxygen source. The pacifier has the same problems discussed above for pacifiers used with cannulae.  
       [0008] Battaglia et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,569,461 issued on Jun. 2, 1987 reveals a device for administrating supplemental oxygen to babies during nursing. The device includes an oxygen flow-directing member of a half-funnel shape which includes an inlet opening for connection to an oxygen supply tube, an internal plate having a plurality of holes for supplemental oxygen flow regulation, and a semicircular outlet. The flow-directing member is attachable in one configuration to the neck of a standard nursing bottle using a foam collar with adhesive tabs. The flow-directing member may pivot forward and backward about a pair of rivets connected to the foam collar for directing the supplemental oxygen flow upon the nursing baby&#39;s nostrils. In another configuration, the flow-directing member is attachable to a woman&#39;s breast using an adhesive pad. A single rivet secures the flow-directing member to the adhesive pad for adjustable direction of the supplemental oxygen flow upon the nursing baby&#39;s nostrils. In each configuration, supplemental oxygen is dispensed in the vicinity of the baby&#39;s nose and the flow-directing member is pivotable to vary the direction of the supplemental oxygen flow. However, the device requires attachment to a bottle or to the nursing mother&#39;s breast to operate. It is not designed to provide supplemental oxygen to the baby other than during nursing.  
       [0009] It is another object of the present invention to provide an baby oxygenation device that provides equal low pressure distribution of supplemental oxygen to each nostril of the child.  
       [0010] It is thus an object of the present invention to provide an baby oxygenation device which may administer medications with the supplemental oxygen.  
       [0011] It is a still further object of the present invention to provide an baby oxygenation device which is readily accepted by the baby without a struggle.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0012] The present invention accomplishes the above-stated objectives, as well as others, as may be determined by a fair reading and interpretation of the entire specification.  
       [0013] A baby pacifier is provided for insertion into the mouth of a baby for gently feeding supplemental oxygen supplied from an external oxygen source through an external oxygen supply conduit to the baby&#39;s mouth and nose areas of the baby&#39;s head including a housing and a nipple. The housing includes a front surface adapted to be symmetrically disposed about the baby&#39;s head at the mouth and nose areas. The housing has an interior chamber into which supplemental oxygen is directed through an oxygen inlet opening disposed through the housing into the interior chamber and arranged to be coupled to the external oxygen source using the external oxygen supply conduit. A plurality of oxygen delivery holes are generally symmetrically spaced laterally about the baby&#39;s mouth and nose area and which extend from the interior chamber through the housing about the baby&#39;s mouth and nose areas to allow supplemental oxygen to flow outwardly from the interior chamber. The nipple has a bulbous portion and a dependent stem, the stem being attached centrally to the front surface with the nipple extending therefrom. The nipple pacifies the baby during suckling while centering the baby pacifier about the baby&#39;s head at the mouth and nose areas such that the oxygen delivery holes regulate the flow of supplemental oxygen which is gently delivered to the baby&#39;s nose area for breathing without requiring invasive oxygen delivery tubes whenever the nipple is in the baby&#39;s mouth. The interior chamber and oxygen delivery holes assure an equal distribution of supplemental oxygen from the external oxygen source is conveyed to the nose and mouth areas of the baby. The baby pacifier may have a housing which comprises respective front and rear housing halves which connect together to form the interior chamber. The housing may includes a peripheral oxygen deflector that extends generally radially outwardly from the housing adapted for deflecting supplemental oxygen emitted from the oxygen delivery holes toward the baby&#39;s mouth and nose areas. The baby pacifier may include a medication administering sponge that is positionable within the interior chamber, to which a medication solution may be added such that when the supplemental oxygen passes therethrough, the medication solution is gradually evaporated prior to passing through the oxygen delivery holes delivering medication vapors to the baby&#39;s nose area. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0014] Various other objects, advantages, and features of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following discussion taken in conjunction with the following drawings, in which:  
     [0015]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of the baby pacifier with gentle oxygen feed, as attached to an oxygen delivery tube.  
     [0016]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the baby pacifier but without the oxygen delivery tube.  
     [0017]FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view substantially as in FIG. 2, showing the front and rear housing halves separated, with the barbed elbow for delivering supplemental oxygen to the interior chamber and the oxygen delivery holes leading from the interior chamber.  
     [0018]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of the baby pacifier with gentle oxygen feed which includes a peripheral oxygen deflector.  
     [0019]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the baby pacifier from another angle.  
     [0020]FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view substantially as in FIGS. 4 and 5, showing the front and rear housing halves separated, with the barbed elbow for delivering supplemental oxygen to the interior chamber and the oxygen delivery holes leading from the interior chamber.  
     [0021]FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a third preferred embodiment of the baby pacifier with gentle oxygen feed which delivers medication with the supplemental oxygen.  
     [0022]FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the baby pacifier, showing the upper and lower housing that disconnects from the upper housing to access the sponge which contains medication solution.  
     [0023]FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view substantially as in FIGS. 7 and 8, showing the interior chamber that contains the sponge.  
     [0024]FIG. 10 is a bottom perspective view of the baby pacifier, the lower housing being removed, showing the oxygen delivery holes which extend from the interior chamber.  
     [0025]FIG. 11 is a side perspective view of the baby pacifier in partial longitudinal cross-section, showing the interior chamber of the nipple, the sponge within the interior chamber of the housing, the oxygen delivery holes which extend from the interior chamber through the upper housing, the threaded connection of the lower housing to the upper housing, the stopper for closing the interior chamber of the housing, and the stem for attaching an oxygen delivery tube.  
     [0026]FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view in partial longitudinal cross-section substantially as in FIG. 11, showing medication solution being added to the sponge in the interior chamber of the housing from a squeeze bottle. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
     [0027] As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein, however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure.  
     [0028] Reference is now made to the drawings, wherein like characteristics and features of the present invention shown in the various FIGURES are designated by the same reference numerals.  
     First Preferred Embodiment  
     [0029] Referring to FIGS.  1 - 3 , a first preferred embodiment of the baby pacifier with gentle oxygen feed  20  is disclosed. The baby pacifier  20  includes a hollow housing  22  comprised of respective front and rear housing halves  23  and  26  which connect together to form an interior chamber  29 , and a resilient nipple  32 . Front and rear housings  23  and  26  are preferably injection molded from a rigid or semi-rigid plastic such as nylon, polypropylene, polyethylene, or polyvinyl chloride. Nipple  32  is preferably molded from soft latex rubber or a similar non-toxic resilient material. Front housing  23  includes a front wall  35  of a generally oval shape, with respective annular peripheral inner and outer walls  38  and  41  rearwardly dependent therefrom forming an annular space  44  therebetween. Rear housing  26  includes a rear wall  47  of a generally oval shape, with respective annular peripheral inner and outer walls  50  and  53  forwardly dependent therefrom. When assembled together, outer walls  41  and  53  abut with inner wall  50  closely fitting within annular space  44  providing a seal and to key rear housing  26  to front housing  23 . Front and rear housings  23  and  26  connect together using a pair of screws  56  that extend through respective clearance holes  59  through rear housing  26  and thread into respective threaded holes  62  in front housing  23 . Alternatively, mating pins and holes or similar devices may be used. A plurality of oxygen delivery holes  65 ,  68 , and  71  respectively extend through front wall  35 , inner wall  38 , and outer wall  41  to allow supplemental oxygen to flow outwardly from interior chamber  29 . A plurality of reinforcement ribs  74  extend from front wall  35 . Nipple  32  includes a bulbous portion  77  with a central outlet hole  80 , and a dependent stem  83  that define an interior chamber  86 . Stem  80  snugly fits over a tube  89  that extends outwardly from front housing  23  interconnecting the interior chambers  29  and  86 , and outlet hole  80 . Supplemental oxygen is introduced into the interior chamber  29  from an oxygen supply device (not shown), through an oxygen delivery tube  92  connected to a barbed end  95  of a tubular elbow  98  of rear housing  26  which connects to interior chamber  29  at a fixed end  101 .  
     [0030] The baby pacifier  20  is used by connecting the oxygen delivery tube  92  from the oxygen supply device to the barbed end  95  of the tubular elbow  98 , and placing the nipple  32  into the baby&#39;s mouth. The supplemental oxygen circulates within the interior chamber  29 , and gently flows outwardly through the oxygen delivery holes  65  and  71  at low pressure. The supplemental oxygen flow is evenly distributed throughout all of the oxygen delivery holes  65  and  71  to form a “cloud” of oxygenated air at the baby&#39;s nose area which places no additional pressure on the baby&#39;s lungs over ambient. The baby is quieted and contented by sucking on the nipple  32  while the supplemental oxygen is gently supplied.  
     Second Preferred Embodiment  
     [0031] Referring to FIGS.  4 - 6 , a second preferred embodiment of the baby pacifier with gentle oxygen feed  104  is disclosed. The baby pacifier  104  includes a hollow housing  106  comprised of respective front and rear housing halves  107  and  110  which connect together to form an interior chamber  113 , and the resilient nipple  32 . Front and rear housings  107  and  110  are preferably injection molded from a rigid or semi-rigid plastic such as nylon, polypropylene, polyethylene, or polyvinyl chloride. Front housing  107  includes a front wall  114  of a generally oval shape, having a curved central portion  116  and respective outwardly disposed flat wing portions  119  and  122 . An annular peripheral outer wall  125  is rearwardly dependent from front wall  114 . Front housing  107  further includes a peripheral oxygen deflector  128  that extends radially from front wall  114 , of a half-tube cross-section, that includes respective curved upper and lower central portions  131  and  134 , and respective flat wing portions  137  and  140 . Rear housing  110  includes a rear wall  143  of a generally oval shape, with an annular peripheral stepped outer wall  146  dependent therefrom comprising respective rearward and forward peripheral walls  149  and  152  interconnected by a connecting wall  155 . When assembled together, the forward peripheral wall  152  closely fits about the peripheral outer wall  125  of the front housing  107 , which includes a front edge  158  that is curved to match front wall  114 , to seal and key rear housing  110  to front housing  107 . Front and rear housings  107  and  110  connect together using a pair of screws  159  that extend through respective clearance holes  161  through rear housing  110  and thread into respective threaded holes  164  in front housing  107 . Alternatively, mating pins and holes or similar devices may be used. A plurality of oxygen delivery holes  167  extend through the annular peripheral outer wall  125  to allow supplemental oxygen to flow outwardly from interior chamber  113 . The stem  83  of nipple  32  snugly fits over a tube  170  that extends outwardly from front housing  107  interconnecting the interior chambers  113  and  86 , and outlet hole  80 . Supplemental oxygen is introduced into the interior chamber  113  from an oxygen supply device (not shown), through an oxygen delivery tube (not shown) connected to a barbed end  173  of a tubular elbow  176  of rear housing  110  which connects to interior chamber  113  at a fixed end  179 .  
     [0032] The baby pacifier  20  is used by connecting the oxygen delivery tube  92  from the oxygen supply device to the barbed end  173  of the tubular elbow  176 , and placing the nipple  32  into the baby&#39;s mouth. The supplemental oxygen circulates within the interior chamber  113 , and gently flows outwardly through the oxygen delivery holes  167  at low pressure. The supplemental oxygen flow is evenly distributed throughout all of the oxygen delivery holes  167  to form a “cloud” of oxygenated air at the baby&#39;s nose area, which is further contained by the peripheral oxygen deflector  128 . No additional pressure is placed on the baby&#39;s lungs over ambient. The baby is quieted and contented by sucking on the nipple  32  while the supplemental oxygen is gently supplied.  
     Third Preferred Embodiment  
     [0033] Referring to FIGS.  7 - 12 , a third preferred embodiment of the baby pacifier with gentle oxygen feed  182  is disclosed. The baby pacifier  182  includes an integral upper housing  185  and resilient nipple  188 , a lower housing  191 , and a cylindrical medication administering sponge  194 . Upper housing  185 , nipple  188 , and lower housing  191  are preferably injection molded from a resilient material such as rubber or a similar non-toxic resilient material. Alternatively, upper and lower housings  185  and  191  may be molded from a harder plastic such as nylon, polypropylene, polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, or other such material, and the nipple  32  attached to upper housing  185  in a similar manner to baby pacifiers  20  and  104 . Spongel 94  is preferably made of an open cell polyurethane foam or similar non-toxic material. Absorbent paper materials or the like may also be used. Housing  185  includes a front portion  195  of a generally oval shape, and a rear portion  197  of a rounded rectangular shape. Front portion  195  has a curved front surface  200  and a flat rear surface  203 . Front surface  200  includes a concave central portion  206  and a pair of outwardly disposed wing portions  209  and  212  having respective end depressions  215  and  218 . A pair of strap connection slots  219  and  220  extend through the respective wing portions  209  and  212  at the end depressions  215  and  218 . The strap connection slots  219  and  220  may be used to attach an adjustable strap (not shown) to retain the pacifier  182  to the baby&#39;s mouth area should the baby not retain it by sucking. A vertical bore  221  extends through rear portion  197 , having a small inlet bore  224  and a large sponge receiving bore  227  into which an upper portion  228  of sponge  194  closely fits, with a lower portion  230  of sponge  194  extending downwardly therefrom. A plurality of oxygen delivery holes  233  extend longitudinally forwardly from bore  221  through front portion  195  of upper housing  185  to allow supplemental oxygen to flow outwardly from bore  221 . A stopper  236  is integrally molded to rear portion  197  through a connecting strap  239  to allow selective closing of the inlet bore  224 .  
     [0034] Lower housing  191  is of an annular, slightly downwardly tapered shape, having a body  242  and a downwardly dependent stem  245  having a barbed free end  246 . A vertical bore  248  extends through body  242 , having a large sponge receiving bore  251  into which the lower portion  230  of sponge  194  closely fits, and a small inlet bore  254  which extends through stem  245 . Bores  221  and  248  comprise an interior chamber  255 . Lower housing  191  removably connects to upper housing  185  through mating externally and internally threaded portions  257  and  260  thereof. A resilient seal (not shown) may be included between the upper and lower housings  185  and  191  for positive gas and liquid sealing therebetween. Alternatively, the upper and lower housings  185  and  191  may be permanently affixed together to contain sponge  194  such as by using heat fusion or adhesives. Nipple  188  is similar to nipple  32 , having a bulbous portion  263 , and a dependent stem  266  that define an interior chamber  269 . Stem  266  extends from the central portion  206  of upper housing  185 , being integrally molded therewith. Supplemental oxygen is introduced into the interior chamber  255  from an oxygen supply device (not shown), through an oxygen delivery tube (not shown) connected to the barbed free end  246  of stem  245 .  
     [0035] The baby pacifier  182  is used by removing the stopper  236  from the inlet bore  224 , and soaking the sponge  194  using a squeeze bottle  272 . The body  275  of bottle  272  is squeezed with the stem  278  disposed above the inlet bore  224  such that a medication solution  281  flows onto sponge  194 . The oxygen delivery tube  92  from the oxygen supply device is then connected to the barbed end  246  of the tubular stem  245 , and the nipple  188  placed into the baby&#39;s mouth. The supplemental oxygen circulates within the interior chamber  255  through and about the sponge  194  to evaporate some of the medication solution  281 , and gently flows outwardly through the oxygen delivery holes  233  at low pressure. The supplemental oxygen flow is evenly distributed throughout all of the oxygen delivery holes  233  to form a “cloud” of medicated oxygenated air at the baby&#39;s nose area. No additional pressure is placed on the baby&#39;s lungs over ambient. The baby is quieted and contented by sucking on the nipple  188  while the supplemental oxygen is gently supplied.  
     [0036] While the invention has been described, disclosed, illustrated and shown in various terms or certain embodiments or modifications which it has assumed in practice, the scope of the invention is not intended to be, nor should it be deemed to be, limited thereby and such other modifications or embodiments as may be suggested by the teaching herein are particularly reversed especially as they fall within the breadth and scope of the claims here appended.