JP2007021190A

JP2007021190A - Artificial nipple

Info

Publication number: JP2007021190A
Application number: JP2006165330A
Authority: JP
Inventors: Shu Nakamura; 周中村
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-05-17
Filing date: 2006-05-17
Publication date: 2007-02-01

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an artificial nipple which a baby is less unwilling to use by making it have a touch and a friction closer to that of a mother's real nipple on the baby's tongue. <P>SOLUTION: The surface micro-shape of this artificial nipple, designed to make it feel closer to the human skin, is provided with narrow channels running various directions in a way that its pattern has micro projections shaped like a triangle or polygon that are arranged in order when seen from above, or has small protrusions and small dimples that are extensively arranged. Thereby, it can give a similar touch and friction on the baby's tongue to that of the mother's real nipple, while keeping its flexibility, increasing flexibility and making plasticity compatible therewith. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

本発明は、乳児が嫌がる事の少ない人工乳首に関する。 The present invention relates to an artificial nipple that infants are less likely to dislike.

乳児には完全母乳保育が理想的ではあるが、諸事情により多くの場合、母乳と人口乳のボトル哺乳が併用されている。しかし、乳児が人工乳首を嫌がり、ボトル哺乳が困難な場合も少なからずある。 Complete breastfeeding is ideal for infants, but in many cases, breastfeeding and bottled milk of artificial milk are used in combination. However, there are many cases where infants dislike artificial nipples and bottle feeding is difficult.

舌の触覚は非常に優れており、二点識別能は指先より優れている。一方、味覚の方は乳児の場合未発達であり、舌の知覚において触覚が占める割合が高い。 The tactile sensation of the tongue is very good, and the two-point discrimination ability is better than the fingertip. On the other hand, the sense of taste is undeveloped in the case of infants, and the proportion of tactile sensation is high in the perception of the tongue.

人工乳首は母乳首に近づけるよう様々なものが作られてきた。人工乳首の素材は主にシリコーンゴム、イソプレンゴム、天然ゴムであり、形状や硬さや内容物の出具合を工夫されているが、いずれも表面は平滑なものである。一方、母乳首はそのようなツルツルとした触感とはまったく異なる。触感（舌ざわり）の表現は難しいが、母乳首は凸凹があり表面摩擦も大きい。湿潤な状態でも母乳首表皮は摩擦力が高いが、シリコーンは口にふくんで濡れるとさらに摩擦力が大きく低下する。以上、重要な因子である触感（舌ざわり）が大きく異なる。 Various artificial nipples have been made to approach the mother nipple. The material of the artificial nipple is mainly silicone rubber, isoprene rubber, and natural rubber, and the shape, hardness, and appearance of the contents are devised, but all have a smooth surface. On the other hand, the mother's nipple is completely different from such a smooth texture. Although it is difficult to express the tactile sensation (feeling of the tongue), the mother's nipple has irregularities and large surface friction. Even in the wet state, the nipple epidermis has a high frictional force, but when silicone gets wet in the mouth, the frictional force further decreases. As described above, tactile sensation (texture) which is an important factor is greatly different.

さらに乳児は乳を吸っているというより、舌を蠕動させしごくようにしているため、舌と口蓋により乳首をしっかり把持しなくてはならない。その際、摩擦の大きな母乳首では舌がかりが良いためより自然に飲めるが、ツルツルした人工乳首では舌がかりが悪く、それも乳児に不快感を与えると考えられる。 In addition, infants must grip their nipples firmly with their tongue and palate because they are swallowing and squeezing rather than sucking. At that time, a mother's nipple with a large amount of friction can drink more naturally because the tongue is good, but a smooth artificial nipple has a poor tongue and is thought to be uncomfortable for the infant.

ヒトの表皮表面には細い溝が縦横に走り、それに区切られて盛り上がった三角形の皮丘がある。触感（舌ざわり）は非常に微妙で多くの因子が関係しており再現するのは困難であるが、形態をできるだけ似せる事が触感を近づける方法の一つである。 On the surface of the human epidermis, there are thin ridges that run vertically and horizontally, and are separated from each other. The tactile sensation (feeling of the tongue) is very subtle and involves many factors and is difficult to reproduce. However, making the form as similar as possible is one way to make the tactile sensation closer.

以上のことを鑑み、本発明の目的は表面微小形状による舌ざわりや舌がかりに注目して乳児の嫌がることの少ない人工乳首を提供することである。 In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide an artificial nipple that is less likely to be disliked by infants by paying attention to the texture and tongue contact due to the minute surface shape.

人工乳首表面に微小な凹凸形状を広範に施す。 A minute uneven shape is applied extensively on the surface of the artificial nipple.

その凹凸の形は種々のものが考えられるが、ヒトの表皮を模して、細い溝が多方向に走り、それにより上方から見ると三角形や四角形等の多角形をした微小***が並んでいるパターンとする。 Although the shape of the irregularities can be various, thin grooves run in many directions, imitating the human epidermis, so that when viewed from the top, polygonal ridges such as triangles and rectangles are lined up A pattern.

人工乳首を口にふくんだ時のツルツルとした平滑感をなくし、また、舌がかりをよくすることで、乳児が嫌悪感を引き起こさないようになる。 Eliminates the smooth and smooth feeling of an artificial nipple when it is put in the mouth, and improves the tongue contact so that the infant does not cause disgust.

多方向に走る溝構造により人口乳首の可塑性を維持しながら柔軟性を増す事ができる。 The groove structure that runs in multiple directions can increase flexibility while maintaining the plasticity of the artificial nipple.

以下、本発明の実施形態を図１、２に基づいて説明する。 Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

図１に示すように、人工乳首のシリコーン表面に三方向に走る細い溝が並び、それにより上方から見ると一辺１ミリメートル程度の三角形の微小***が互い違いに並んでいるようなパターンを広範に設ける。 As shown in FIG. 1, narrow grooves running in three directions are arranged on the silicone surface of an artificial nipple so that a wide pattern is formed in which triangular ridges with a side of about 1 mm are alternately arranged when viewed from above. .

図２に示すように、その溝の断面形状が角張らず、深部になるほど幅が小さくなるようにすることで、食物遺残が少なくなるようにする。 As shown in FIG. 2, the cross-sectional shape of the groove is not angular, and the width becomes smaller as it becomes deeper, so that the food residue is reduced.

マクロな形態については、ここでは特定するものではない。 The macro form is not specified here.

人口乳首の表面パターンの上面拡大図である。 It is an upper surface enlarged view of the surface pattern of an artificial nipple. 人口乳首の表面パターンの断面拡大図である。 It is a cross-sectional enlarged view of the surface pattern of the artificial nipple.

Claims

人工乳首の表面微小形状において、平滑ではなく小さな凹凸パターンを広範に設けた人工乳首。 Artificial nipples that are not smooth but have a small uneven pattern on the surface of the artificial nipple.

人口乳首の表面微小形状を、細い小溝もしくは細い線状小***が、単もしくは複数の方向に並んでいるパターンを広範に設けた人工乳首。 Artificial nipple with a wide pattern of artificial nipples with fine grooving or thin linear ridges lined up in one or more directions.

人口乳首の表面微小形状を、小突起もしくは小ディンプルが並んでいるパターンを広範に設けた人工乳首。 Artificial nipples with a wide pattern of artificial nipples with a fine pattern of small protrusions or small dimples.