When you think of cutting-edge medical technology, a baby’s pacifier probably does not come to mind. However, Florida State University and Powers Device Technologies announced today the development and commercialization of an innovative, yet simple, medical device for infants born prematurely. The problem is that premature babies often do not develop a skill known as “non-nutritive sucking,” which is critical for breathing, feeding, self-comforting, and growing both physically and neurologically. This behavior begins developing when the fetus is at the 28 week stage, though continues to develop throughout to week 34; hence when a baby is born prematurely, it may not have developed proper form for a breathe-suck-swallow reflex.
The device, known as the Pacifier Activated Lullaby (PAL), is essentially a pacifier that plays music when the baby is sucking on it properly. According to the press release:
Research studies have shown that PAL can reduce the length of a premature infant’s hospital stay by an average of five days…PAL uses a specially wired pacifier and speaker to provide musical reinforcement every time a baby sucks on it correctly. The musical lullabies are gentle and pleasant to the baby, making them want to continue the sucking motion so they can hear more of the lullaby…PAL has undergone extensive testing, received a U.S. patent and been approved by the Food and Drug Administration…As premature birth rates continue to rise (up 36 percent since the 1980s), PAL demonstrates how the power of music is being harnessed to help premature infants overcome their developmental challenges.
Check out the video below to see a quick demo:
Press release: NEW MEDICAL DEVICE HELPS PREMATURE BABIES ONE LULLABY AT A TIME…
Product page: Pacifier Activated Lullaby (PAL®)…
Flashback: Pacifiers That Do More…