Abstract: An apparatus including artificial nipple for feeding a baby who has a cleft in its palate region. The artificial nipple includes a palate region to define a region facing the baby's palate during use, and the nipple having a tongue region to define a region facing the baby's tongue during use. The palate region is less compliant than the tongue region to both mimic the hard palate and reduces unwanted movement of the nipple, making it easier for the infant to use his or her tongue to expel fluid from the nipple. The tongue region includes a feeding slit, which maybe U or V shaped, from which liquid maybe discharged without risking nasal congestion. The tongue region may further include a soft protrusion, that assists the peristaltic like tongue movement helping the baby feed, and may extend laterally to reduce the risk of nasal congestion.

Abstract: An apparatus including artificial nipple for feeding a baby who has a cleft in its palate region. The artificial nipple includes a palate region to define a region facing the baby's palate during use, and the nipple having a tongue region to define a region facing the baby's tongue during use. The palate region is less compliant than the tongue region to both mimic the hard palate and reduces unwanted movement of the nipple, making it easier for the infant to use his or her tongue to expel fluid from the nipple. The tongue region includes a feeding slit, which maybe U or V shaped, from which liquid maybe discharged without risking nasal congestion. The tongue region may further include a soft protrusion, that assists the peristaltic like tongue movement helping the baby feed, and may extend laterally to reduce the risk of nasal congestion.

Abstract: Some aspects of the present disclosure relate to identifying and profiling muscle patterns. In one embodiment, a method includes acquiring image data associated with a selected muscle or group of muscles of one or more subjects and determining, based on the image data, muscle volume of the selected muscle or group of muscles. The method also includes calculating, based on the muscle volume and the height and mass of the one or more subjects, a height-mass normalized muscle volume for the selected muscle or group of muscles, and determining a deviation of the height-mass normalized muscle volume of the selected muscle or group of muscles from a mean value of muscle volume associated with a corresponding reference muscle or reference group of muscles. The method also includes identifying, based on the deviation, a muscle abnormality or absence of a muscle abnormality in the selected muscle or group of muscles.