Objective: This work introduces a bio-inspired breastfeeding simulator (BIBS), an experimental apparatus that mimics infant oral behavior and milk extraction, with the application of studying the breastfeeding mechanism in vitro. Methods: The construction of the apparatus follows a clinical study by the authors that collects measurements of natural intra-oral vacuum, the pressure from infant's jaw, tongue and upper palate, as well as nipple deformation on the breast areola area. The infant feeding mechanism simulator consists of a self-programmed vacuum pump assembly simulating the infant's oral vacuum, two linear actuators mimicking the oral compressive forces, and a motor-driven gear representing the tongue motion. A flexible, transparent and tissue-like breast phantom with bifurcated milk duct structure is designed and developed to work as the lactating human breast model. Bifurcated ducts are connected with a four-outlet manifold under a reservoir filled with milk-mimicking liquid. Piezoelectric sensors and a CCD (charge-coupled device) camera are used to record and measure the in vitro dynamics of the apparatus. Results: All mechanisms are successfully coordinated to mimic the infant's feeding mechanism. Suckling frequency and pressure values on the breast phantom from the experimental apparatus are in good agreement with the clinical data. Also, the change in nipple deformation captured by BIBS matches with those from in vivo clinical ultrasound images. Significance: The fully-developed breastfeeding simulator provides a powerful tool for understanding the bio-mechanics of breastfeeding and formulates a foundation for future breastfeeding device development.

中文翻译：

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仿生母乳喂养模拟器 (BIBS)：研究婴儿喂养机制的工具

目的：本工作介绍了一种仿生母乳喂养模拟器（BIBS），这是一种模拟婴儿口腔行为和吸奶的实验装置，用于研究体外母乳喂养的机制。方法：该装置的构建遵循作者的一项临床研究，该研究收集了自然口腔内真空、婴儿下颌、舌头和上颚的压力以及乳房乳晕区域的乳头变形的测量值。婴儿喂养机制模拟器由一个模拟婴儿口腔真空的自编程真空泵组件、两个模拟口腔压缩力的线性致动器和一个代表舌头运动的电机驱动齿轮组成。一个灵活的，设计和开发具有分叉乳管结构的透明组织状乳房模型，用作哺乳期人体乳房模型。分叉的管道与装满牛奶模拟液体的储液器下方的四出口歧管相连。压电传感器和 CCD（电荷耦合器件）相机用于记录和测量仪器的体外动力学。结果：所有机制均成功协调以模拟婴儿的喂养机制。来自实验装置的乳房模型的吸吮频率和压力值与临床数据非常吻合。此外，BIBS 捕获的乳头变形的变化与体内临床超声图像的变化相匹配。意义：