University of Virginia Patent Foundation

Marcelle Huizenga

Silvia Blemker

Katrina Shah

Katherine R Knaus

Kathleen Borowitz

Thanh Tran

Catherine Pelland

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.

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Arlington, VA, United States of America

Marcelle Huizenga