Method and system for evaluating feeding performance of individual neonates

Abstract

A method and system for computing a relative score indicative of an individual infant's feeding performance based, at least in part, upon a comparison of one or more feeding factor measurements of the individual infant with a corresponding database metric that is derived from a population-based sample of infants, where the comparison optionally provides a statistical association between normative metric values and adverse outcomes recorded for the same population-based sample and, thereby, a means for assessing the tested infant's risk for said adverse outcomes.

1 - 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . A method for assessing a medically relevant condition of an infant comprising:
 receiving an input of digitized data corresponding to measurements of at least one feeding factor generated during at least one feeding session for an individual infant;   calculating a value for a feeding parameter from said digitized data;   corresponding said value to a risk outcome metric to derive a referenced risk outcome score; and   providing said referenced risk outcome score as a user-recognizable output.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein said feeding parameter is derived by performing a composing function on an aggregation of a feeding factor event and its related features. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein said feeding parameter is selected from the group consisting of time of number of sucks, average pressure peaks for all suck events, average number of sucks per sucking burst, total burst time as a percentage of the observation interval, mean variance and coefficient of variation of time intervals between sucking pressure peak and peak inspiration, and breathing rate during sucking bursts. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein said risk outcome metric comprises a feeding parameter value obtained from each infant of those included in a population-based sample of infants. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25  wherein said sample of infants is comprised of individual infants having a corrected gestational age at birth and corrected gestational age at time of testing, within one week of the respective ages of said individual infant. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 22  wherein said digitized data is compiled data. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 22  wherein said receiving involves a transmission of said digitized data from a digital data storage medium. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 22  wherein said receiving involves transmission of said digitized data from a measuring device in real-time. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 22  wherein said transmission involves wirelessly transferring said digitized data from a storage medium or measuring device. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 22  wherein said calculating and corresponding are performed by a microprocessor. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 22  wherein said user-recognizable output is a visual or textual display. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 22  wherein said user-recognizable output is an electronic signal recognizable by an electronic device selected from the group consisting of computer, data recorder, and computerized database. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 22  wherein said receiving, calculating, corresponding, and providing are performed by a handheld device comprising at least one instrument for measuring one or more values of an attribute under observation and an analog-to-digital convertor for converting said values into digitized data. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 22  wherein said medically relevant outcome is selected from the group consisting of hospital readmission, emergency room admission, emergency room observation, non-routine assessment by a pediatrician, need for feeding therapy, high degree of parental anxiety about infant feeding performance, delayed cognitive and psychomotor developmental, feeding problems associated with transition from fluid to semi-solid or solid forms of nutrition, failure to thrive, diagnosis and/or prognosis of a disease, and diagnosis of a bodily injury. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35  wherein said feeding parameter metric and said risk outcome metric comprise a referring operation directed to said feeding parameter data derived from a population-based sample of infants comprises infants. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36  wherein said medically relevant condition is a prognosis of abnormal mental and/or psychomotor development of said individual infant at corrected gestational age of about six to about 12 months. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 35  wherein said individual infant has postconceptional age from about 34 weeks to about 42 weeks. 
     
     
         39 . A system for assessing a medically relevant condition of an infant comprising:
 a. a database comprising at least one risk outcome metric;   b. a data interface for receiving digitized data corresponding to measurements of at least one feeding factor generated during at least one feeding session of an individual infant;   c. a microprocessor in electronic communication with said data interface and said database, wherein said microprocessor is programmed to (i) calculate at least one value for at least one feeding parameter from said digitized data; (ii) correspond said value to said at least one risk outcome metric to derive at least one referenced risk outcome score; and   d. at least one output device selected from the group consisting of visual display, printer, output data port, RF transmitter, and digital medium storage device, wherein said output device is in electronic communication with said microprocessor.