Device to enable infants with cleft palate to breast feed

摘要

A feeding apparatus includes a nipple shield, a deformable nipple defining a chamber, an inlet through which fluid can flow into the chamber, and an outlet through which fluid can exit the nipple, a first portion of the nipple having a first stiffness and a second portion of the nipple having a second stiffness that is lower than the first stiffness, the first portion disposed on a first side of a longitudinal plane bisecting the nipple and the second portion disposed on a second side of the plane, and a check valve disposed in the nipple to divide the chamber into a first portion between the check valve and the outlet, and a second portion between the check valve and the inlet, wherein the check valve is configured to admit fluid into the first portion but prevent fluid from leaving the first portion through the check valve.