A baby bottle, an insert for a baby bottle, a baby bottle including an insert, and a method of feeding an infant that serves to pace the infant's feeding rhythm. Generally, these devices and methods will be of use for a preterm infant who lacks coordination of the suck-swallow-breathe synchrony, but can also be used with full term infants who can benefit from rigid control of the flow of milk from a bottle, this includes, but is not limited to, infants with gastroesophageal reflux who can require pacing of feeds to allow for gastric emptying. The device generally cues the infant to swallow and breathe after each 1-4 sucks by stopping the flow of the fluid from the bottle after the infant has sucked sufficiently or a predetermined period of time has passed. Once the baby breathes or a period of time passes, the bottle resets for the next repetition. The device also serves to consistently slow the flow of milk during oral feeding.

There is provided a smart baby bottle for preventing tooth decay in infants, including a first compartment containing a first liquid (such as milk), a second compartment containing a second liquid (such as water), and an electrical two-way solenoid valve for controlling a flow of the second liquid from the second compartment into the first compartment. The baby bottle also includes a pacifier which can be mounted interchangeably to both compartments as needed. The solenoid valve receives electrical signals from a plurality of electrical sensors. The electrical two-way solenoid valve automatically opens and allows flow of water from the second compartment into the first compartment, when milk contained in the first compartment is completely finished by an infant. Hence, the infant's teeth are rinsed with the water subsequent to milkthereby reducing tooth decay in infants considering that there will be reduced exposure to liquids containing sugar.

The present invention relates to a feeding bottle device (100) comprising at least one air vent valve (140) for allowing the passage of air from outside the feeding bottle device (100) to within a container volume (125) when the feeding bottle device (100) is assembled, a confined volume forming component (150) for defining a confined volume (155) within a container volume (125) of a container component (120) of the feeding bottle device (100), wherein the confined volume (155) is configured to provide a controlled opening (165) for air entering through the air vent valve (140) into the container volume (125), and an optional duct forming component (170) for forming a guidance duct (175) from the at least one air vent valve (140) to the confined volume (155). The feeding bottle device (100) reduces the risk of colic-like symptoms for an infant.

A container for feeding a patient includes a deformable receptacle having a cavity for holding a flowable food product and a rigid cover attachable to the upper end of the deformable receptacle. The rigid cover may have a male feeding tube connector that is uniquely connectable to a female feeding tube connector of a feeding tube or may have a female feeding tube connector that is uniquely connectable to a male feeding tube connector of a syringe. With the male and female feeding tube connectors connected, the deformable receptacle and the feeding tube or syringe are in fluid tight fluid communication to allow the flowable food product to be forced out of the opening of the deformable receptacle and into the feeding tube or syringe when the deformable receptacle is squeezed.

A feeding device includes a fluid reservoir and a nipple configured to be attached to the fluid reservoir. The nipple includes a base portion and a teat portion, where the base portion and the teat portion together define an interior space of the nipple. The nipple also includes a removable flow valve configured to be positioned within the interior space of the nipple and an internal cavity between the removable flow valve and a wall of the nipple. The removable flow valve includes a central opening and at least one valve protrusion extending from a surface of the flow valve into the internal cavity. The removable flow valve is configured to adjust a flow rate of a fluid from the fluid reservoir into the internal cavity.

A feeding device includes a fluid reservoir and a nipple configured to be attached to the fluid reservoir. The nipple includes a base portion and a teat portion, where the base portion and the teat portion together define an interior space of the nipple. The nipple also includes a removable flow valve configured to be positioned within the interior space of the nipple and an internal cavity between the removable flow valve and a wall of the nipple. The removable flow valve includes a central opening and at least one valve protrusion extending from a surface of the flow valve into the internal cavity. The removable flow valve is configured to adjust a flow rate of a fluid from the fluid reservoir into the internal cavity.

A pacifier weaning apparatus is provided that includes a shell or shell assembly providing a housing, and a nipple configured to protrude from the housing. The nipple includes a first end adapted to be held by the housing, and an opposing, sucking end adapted for insertion into a user's mouth. The nipple also defines a first chamber and an expandable, second chamber that are both open at the first end and extend in a direction from the first end to the sucking end, and the first chamber being open and the second chamber being closed at the sucking end. And the pacifier weaning apparatus includes an airflow-control component configured to regulate either or both a break pressure at or above which airflow through the first chamber is permitted, or a rate of airflow through the first chamber.

A feeding device includes a fluid reservoir and a nipple configured to be attached to the fluid reservoir. The nipple includes a body portion defining a compartment configured to contain a liquid so as to mimic a feel of a mother's breast. The body portion comprises a nipple tip comprising a fluid outlet. The nipple includes a base member attached to the body portion, the base member including an attachment portion configured to attach the nipple to the fluid reservoir. The base member comprises a fluid inlet in fluid communication with the fluid reservoir. The nipple includes a fluid passageway extending through the compartment from the fluid inlet to the nipple tip, where the fluid passageway allows fluid to flow from the fluid reservoir to the fluid outlet. A valve member positioned on the base member adjusts a flow rate of fluid from the fluid reservoir into the fluid passageway.

A hydration system comprising: a fluid reservoir comprising a means for reversibly mounting the hydration system to a structure; a supply tube fluidly coupled to the reservoir at its distal end; a reversibly compressible chamber fluidly coupled to the supply tube; a mouthpiece proximate to or at a proximal end of the collapsible chamber; and at least two valves that regulate the flow of fluid through the hydration system, wherein a distal valve is positioned at a distal end of the chamber or along the supply tube and closes in response to compression of the chamber to reduce backflow of fluid into the reservoir during compression, and a proximal valve is positioned at the mouth piece, biased closed for regulating the delivery of fluid out of the mouthpiece and prevents or reduces air induction into the mouthpiece.

A baby bottle, an insert for a baby bottle, a baby bottle including an insert, and a method of feeding an infant that serves to pace the infant's feeding rhythm. Generally, these devices and methods will be of use for a preterm infant who lacks coordination of the suck-swallow-breathe synchrony, but can also be used with full term infants who can benefit from rigid control of the flow of milk from a bottle, this includes, but is not limited to, infants with gastroesophageal reflux who can require pacing of feeds to allow for gastric emptying. The device generally cues the infant to swallow and breathe after each 1-4 sucks by stopping the flow of the fluid from the bottle after the infant has sucked sufficiently or a predetermined period of time has passed. Once the baby breathes or a period of time passes, the bottle resets for the next repetition. The device also serves to consistently slow the flow of milk during oral feeding.