乳児の吸啜時における舌運動計測システム

摘要

In this study, a cantilever structured small pressure sensor was developed to measure the tongue contact pressure on an artificial nipple as an infant is sucking. The small pressure sensors include a strain gauge. Pressure was measured by the strain on the stainless steel cantilever caused by contact of the tongue with a pressure transducer block. The artificial nipple for pressure measurement was in the form of a resin plate with two or three sensors located longitudinally and covered by an artificial silicon nipple, which allowed measurement of pressures at the tip and root of the nipple. Measurements were obtained on a 3086g female infant, and the pressure fluctuations could be observed easily. As a result, the output signal wave was obtained from all pressure sensors.%乳児の吸畷時における舌運動については，未だ不明な点が多い.本研究では，小型圧力センサを複数内蔵した人工乳首を開発し，舌運動の計測システムを構築した.また，圧力センサは舌尖部から舌根部が接触する人工乳首の正中線上に2個および3個配置した2種類のセンサユニットを開発した.今回の計測にあたり，在胎週数40週，出生体重3086gの女児1名を対象として生後7日から28日にかけて実際に計測を行った.計測の結果，すべての圧力センサから出力信号の波形が観測でき，それぞれの圧力センサから出力される倍号が最大値に達した時刻に差があり，人工乳首の根元から先端の順で圧力が加わっていることが確認された.