Methods of using an enhanced therapeutic stimulus for non-nutritive suck entrainment system

Abstract

The present invention relates to methods of using a therapeutic system. In particular, the present invention relates to procedures and methods of using a system having hardware, software, and appliance components for assessing and entraining a non-nutritive suck (NNS) pattern in a patient. The methods include configuring the hardware and software systems to receive data from an orofacial stimulation appliance and to generate a precise therapeutic pulse profile that is actuated as a tactile stimulus. The methods also include collecting data using the orofacial stimulation appliance and delivering the tactile stimulus via the orofacial stimulation appliance to entrain an organized NNS pattern.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for using a non-nutritive suck appliance assembly in communication with a non-nutritive suck application system, the method comprising:
 at a user interface generated for display on a display device of the non-nutritive suck application system:
 selecting the patient's name from a displayed list of patients generated by the non-nutritive suck application system, the non-nutritive suck application system having memory and executing a non-nutritive suck application on at least one processor; 
 selecting an assessment mode of the non-nutritive suck application; 
 selecting a displayed “new assessment” control button 
 selecting an assessment session to be performed at the user interface; and, 
 configuring the assessment session at the user interface; 
   calibrating an orofacial stimulator appliance of the non-nutritive suck appliance assembly to perform the selected assessment session;   positioning the patient to encourage a rooting response to the orofacial stimulator appliance;   starting the assessment session;   inserting the orofacial stimulator appliance into the patient's mouth;   holding the orofacial stimulator appliance to maintain contact with the patient's mouth during the assessment session;   removing the orofacial stimulator appliance from the patient's mouth at the conclusion of the assessment session; and,   providing summary remarks regarding the assessment session at the user interface.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein calibrating the orofacial stimulator appliance comprises mounting a pacifier onto an end of the orofacial stimulator appliance. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the assessment session is started by selecting a “start assessment” control button at the user interface. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the assessment session is started by depressing a button on the orofacial stimulator appliance. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the summary remarks comprise data regarding a state of alertness for the patient. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 providing power to the non-nutritive suck application system; 
 providing power to the non-nutritive suck appliance assembly; 
 verifying a charge of a battery back-up unit; and 
 logging in to the non-nutritive suck application. 
 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 adding a new patient to the displayed list of patients, wherein adding a new patient comprises: 
 selecting an “add new patient” control button at the user interface; 
 entering new patient data at the user interface; and, 
 selecting a “save” control button to save the new patient data in the memory of the non-nutritive suck application. 
 
     
     
         8 . A method for using a non-nutritive suck appliance assembly in communication with a non-nutritive suck application system, the method comprising:
 at a user interface generated for display on display device of the non-nutritive suck application system:
 selecting the patient's name from a displayed list of patients at a user interface generated by the non-nutritive suck application system, the non-nutritive suck application system having memory and executing a non-nutritive suck application on at least one processor; 
 selecting a therapy mode of the non-nutritive suck application; 
 selecting a displayed “new therapy” control button; and, 
 configuring a therapy protocol to be performed; 
   calibrating an orofacial stimulator appliance of the non-nutritive suck appliance assembly to perform the selected therapy protocol;   positioning the patient to encourage a rooting response to the orofacial stimulator appliance;   starting the selected therapy protocol;   inserting the orofacial stimulator appliance into the patient's mouth;   holding the orofacial stimulator appliance to maintain contact with the patient's mouth during the therapy protocol;   removing the orofacial stimulator appliance from the patient's mouth at the conclusion of the therapy protocol; and,   providing summary remarks regarding the therapy protocol at the user interface.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein calibrating the orofacial stimulator appliance comprises:
 inserting a therapy insert into a receiver tube of the orofacial stimulator appliance; and,   mounting a pacifier onto an end of the orofacial stimulator appliance.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising measuring a frequency and an amplitude of at least one pacifier displacement with a laser micrometer. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the therapy protocol is started by selecting a “start therapy” control button at the user interface. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the therapy protocol is started by depressing a button on the orofacial stimulator appliance. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the summary remarks comprise data regarding a state of alertness for the patient. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising:
 providing power to the non-nutritive suck application system; 
 providing power to the non-nutritive suck appliance assembly; 
 verifying a charge of a battery back-up unit; and 
 logging in to the non-nutritive suck application. 
 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising:
 adding a new patient to the displayed list of patients, wherein adding a new patient comprises:
 selecting an “add new patient” control button at the user interface; 
 entering new patient data at the user interface; and, 
 selecting a “save” control button to save the new patient data in the memory of the non-nutritive suck application. 
 
 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the summary remarks comprise data regarding a state of alertness for the patient. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the step of holding the orofacial stimulator appliance to maintain contact with the patient's mouth during the therapy protocol further comprises:
 at the non-nutritive suck application system, generating a therapeutic pressure pulse profile signal comprising a base frequency signal further comprising two or more pressure pulses, wherein each pressure pulse causes a displacement of a pacifier surface contacted by the lip and the mouth of the patient, wherein each of the two or more pressure pulses has a square wave profile and are separated by an interval between 500 milliseconds and 650 milliseconds in duration.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the therapeutic pressure pulse profile signal comprises at least six pressure pulses in succession contacted with the patient for at least two minutes, at least twice a day.