Abstract: A nipple device for electronically measuring flow of milk drawn by an infant through its feeding orifices. The device measures milk flow from the differential pressure generated by the milk flow through a fluid flow resistor. The resistor may be located in the peripheral region of the base of the nipple device, and milk conveyed to and from the resistor by means of passageways in the base unit. The differential pressure generated across the resistor is measured using pressure sensors located at the periphery. The pressure sensors and associated electronic circuits may be incorporated into a flow measuring head, attachable to the base unit of the device through a standard pair of fluid ports, to which can be attached heads for other measurements of the milk properties. Other implementations provide increased accuracy for nipple devices using the pressure difference across the feeding orifices for the flow measurement.

Abstract: New devices for providing an indication to a nursing mother as to whether a baby is receiving milk during a breastfeeding session. Milk expressed from the mother's breast is caused to flow through a transparent passageway part of a nipple shield, disposed in in a position where it visible to the mother or a third party, before being supplied to a nipple of the device, from which the baby is enabled to suck. The device therefore provides an indication that the infant is receiving milk from the mother's breast. The visibility of the passageway is achieved by routing the passageway through a region of the device whose line of sight with the mother is not obscured by the baby when feeding, such as towards the periphery of the base layer of the device. The device passageway may also comprise a valve, and details of such valves are disclosed.