A Low-Cost Device for Measuring Non-Nutritive Sucking in Newborns

Area of Science:

• Neonatal care
• Pediatric devices
• Infant feeding assessment

Background:

• Non-nutritive sucking (NNS) is crucial for newborn oral feeding preparation.
• Current NNS assessments are subjective and clinician-dependent.
• Existing devices lack comprehensive NNS assessment capabilities and are costly.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and pilot test a low-cost, portable device for assessing NNS in hospitalized newborns.
• To provide an objective tool for evaluating feeding readiness in neonatal care units.

Main Methods:

• A device utilizing force-sensitive resistors and a differential pressure sensor was developed.
• Data acquisition via microcontroller and Bluetooth transmission for real-time analysis.
• Pilot testing with six preterm newborns measuring NNS intensity, bursts, and sucks per burst.

Main Results:

• The developed system reliably captured both stages of non-nutritive sucking.
• Pilot data demonstrated the system's ability to measure NNS parameters objectively.

Conclusions:

• The low-cost, portable device offers an affordable solution for objective NNS assessment.
• This technology can enhance clinical decision-making regarding infant feeding readiness and developmental progression.