Smart bottle to detect swallowing problems in premature babies
Official title: A Novel Non-Invasive Method of Dysphagia Detection in Preterm Infants: Bottle Finalization & Validation
Funded at Nuborn Medical, INC. · NIH-11175450 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A special smart bottle helps spot swallowing and feeding problems in premature infants so doctors can act sooner.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Nuborn Medical, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Eden Prairie, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 16, 2020 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $761,233 |
| NIH project number | 5R42HD104305-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11175450 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are premature infants (born before 37 weeks) who are bottle‑feeding or starting oral feeds and who are suspected of having swallowing or feeding difficulties.
✕Less likely to help
Full‑term infants with normal feeding, infants who are exclusively tube‑fed with no oral feeding attempts, or babies already clearly diagnosed and treated for swallowing disorders may not benefit directly from this testing.
What this research studies
If my baby was born early and has trouble feeding, this project uses a smart bottle that measures sucking and swallowing without any tubes or X‑rays. The device records objective signals during bottle feeds to reveal hidden swallowing problems that clinical observation can miss. Researchers will finalize the bottle's design and compare its readings to accepted clinical tests to make sure it works reliably. The goal is to give NICU teams a non‑radiation option to guide feeding plans and therapy.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the smart bottle could help diagnose swallowing problems earlier, reduce exposure to radiation, and shorten hospital stays by guiding timely feeding care.
How similar studies have gone: Some early device‑based and sensor approaches have shown promise for measuring infant feeding behaviors, but using a validated smart bottle as a clinical diagnostic tool is a relatively new approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Nuborn Medical, INC.
Eden Prairie, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mcgrattan, Katlyn Elizabeth — Nuborn Medical, INC.
- Study coordinator: Mcgrattan, Katlyn Elizabeth
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Non-Invasive Dysphagia Detection for Preterm Infants
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.