Research, Funding, and Awards

  • Participants Needed to Test Oral Pressures

    Participants are needed to suck on an infant bottle to test changes in mouth
    pressure. Participants would participate in 3 sessions over a 3-4 week period. The
    session would measure pressure changes within your mouth while you suck water
    from an infant bottle. We will measure at least 5 locations within your mouth
    using the Millar Mikro-Tip (MMT) catheter sensors. Millar Mikro-Tip (MMT)
    catheters are 1 F (0.33 mm) in diameter and have been approved by the FDA to
    measure changes in cardiovascular and airway pressures.
    During testing, one sensor will be secured with dental paste at the roof of your
    mouth and remain there to act as a control during testing. A second sensor will be
    secured with dental paste on the outside of your inside and outside on your #12
    tooth. The wire may be secured with paper tape for stability on your cheek. After
    the sensors are attached you will be asked to suck one infant nipple attached to a
    bottle filled with water for 60 seconds.
    After 60 seconds, the sensor will be moved to the #14 inside and outside of #14
    tooth and you will be asked to repeat sucking on the bottle. The sensors may be
    moved to another tooth location to measure a larger area of pressure changes
    within the mouth. You may be asked to apply 1cm X 1cm non-toxic silver
    reflective face paint on your right cheek.
    This is being done to determine the pressure differences in the adult mouth at the
    cheek, tongue and the roof of the mouth.
    Testing will occur in a private room in the School of Nursing Biobehavioral Lab in
    Arjona Hall or Storrs Hall, at a time of your convenience. The day of the lab testing
    visit you will be contacted in the morning via text to verify that you are available
    to come to the lab and to be screened for COVID-19. Each lab visit will take an
    hour of your time. Compensation for your participation will be a $20 gift card for
    each of the 3 lab visits for a total of $60 gift cards.
    For more information about participating in research, please contact Ruth Lucas
    by calling 860- 486-4918 or emailing ruth.lucas@uconn.edu.
    Thank you.
    Principal Investigator: Ruth Lucas For more information, contact: Ruth Lucas at
    ruth.lucas@uconn.edu

    H19-110 approved 4-17-2025

    For more information, contact: Ruth Lucas at ruth.lucas@uconn.edu