An electromagnetic breast milk flow meter with bioimpedance correction and its measurement method

Abstract

This invention discloses an electromagnetic breast milk flow meter with bioimpedance correction and its measurement method, belonging to the field of breastfeeding monitoring technology. It includes a wearable fixing module, a sealing adapter module, and a core flow detection module. The core flow detection module integrates a miniature electromagnetic flow sensor, a bioimpedance electrode, and a turbine calibration component within its metering sleeve, forming a multimodal sensing system. A spiral guide channel is provided within the fluid channel, which, in conjunction with an arc-shaped probe and flush installation, guides the milk through in a laminar flow state. This invention also discloses a measurement method that uses a 50kHz-100kHz signal emitted by the bioimpedance electrode to identify air bubbles and fat particles, corrects the electromagnetic flow data, and uses a turbine encoder for dynamic verification. This achieves high-precision multi-parameter fusion measurement of breast milk flow and features adaptive wearability, quick disassembly and cleaning, and over-range audible and visual alarm protection.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of breastfeeding equipment technology, specifically to an electromagnetic breast milk flow meter with bioimpedance correction and its measurement method. Background Technology

[0002] During breastfeeding, accurate measurement of milk intake is crucial for the health monitoring of newborns, especially premature and low-birth-weight infants, and can provide data support for medical staff to adjust feeding plans.

[0003] Existing breastfeeding measurement devices have rigid wearable designs, often using fixed-size, hard-fitting components. These are difficult to adapt to the chest spacing and breast size of mothers of different body types. After wearing, they are prone to shifting due to the baby's sucking, and may even restrict the mother's movement and the baby's sucking posture. Furthermore, the connection between the measurement components and the wearable parts is complex, making disassembly and assembly inconvenient, cleaning and maintenance difficult, and the sealing performance is poor, which can easily lead to milk leakage and affect the accuracy of measurement. Flow detection mostly relies on single sensor technology, which is susceptible to interference from air bubbles, uneven distribution of fat particles in milk, and fluid turbulence, resulting in large measurement errors. At the same time, there is a lack of effective over-range protection mechanisms, making the device's safety and durability insufficient.

[0004] In view of the above situation and to overcome the defects of the prior art, the present invention provides an electromagnetic breast milk flow meter with bioimpedance correction to solve the aforementioned technical defects. Summary of the Invention

[0005] To address the aforementioned problems, this invention provides an electromagnetic breast milk flow meter with bioimpedance correction.

[0006] The device includes a flow detection module, a sealing adapter module detachably connected to the flow detection module, and a wearable fixing module connected to the sealing adapter module. Specifically, the flow detection module includes a metering sleeve and a multimodal sensing component disposed within the metering sleeve.

[0007] Specifically, the multimodal sensing component includes a miniature electromagnetic flow sensor, a bioimpedance electrode, and a turbine calibration component, used for multi-parameter fusion measurement of breast milk flowing through the metering sleeve.

[0008] Specifically, the metering sleeve is provided with a frustum-shaped gradient fluid channel and a spiral guide groove, and a connecting frame is connected inside the metering sleeve by magnetic adsorption.

[0009] Specifically, three sets of miniature electromagnetic flow sensors are fixed inside the connecting frame. Each set of sensors contains two symmetrical arc-shaped probes. The arc of the probes fits against the inner wall of the connecting frame, and the probes are flush with the inner wall of the metering sleeve channel.

[0010] Specifically, the outer surface of the metering sleeve is provided with four bioimpedance electrodes in the area corresponding to the micro electromagnetic flow sensor.

[0011] Specifically, the bioimpedance electrodes are distributed at equal angles.

[0012] Specifically, the bioimpedance electrode is connected to the data acquisition module via flexible silver paste wires embedded in the metering sleeve.

[0013] Specifically, a mounting bracket is magnetically attached to one side of the connecting frame inside the metering sleeve.

[0014] Specifically, a turbine shaft is rotatably mounted inside the mounting bracket, and turbine blades are fixed on the surface of the shaft.

[0015] Specifically, a miniature photoelectric encoder is installed on one side of the mounting bracket, and its shaft is coaxially connected with the turbine shaft.

[0016] Specifically, the sealing adapter module includes a silicone sleeve that is threadedly connected to the fitting ring, and the silicone sleeve has a connecting groove on its front side.

[0017] Specifically, one end of the metering sleeve of the flow detection module is threadedly connected to the sealing adapter module, and the other end is connected to a bionic nipple interface.

[0018] Specifically, the connecting groove is equipped with a magnetic attraction structure for magnetic positioning with the flow detection module or silicone sleeve.

[0019] Specifically, the bottom of the connecting groove is provided with a magnetically conductive metal sheet, and the end of the sealing sleeve is embedded with a permanent magnet. The sealing sleeve and the connecting groove are connected by magnetic attraction, and the pressure of the sealing surface after magnetic attraction is not less than 0.2 kPa.

[0020] Specifically, the wearable fixing module includes two fitting rings, a connecting strap, and a wearing strap.

[0021] Specifically, the connecting loops on one side of the two fitting rings are fitted with connecting straps, and the connecting loops on the other side are fitted with wearing straps; both the connecting straps and the wearing straps are made of elastic nylon woven material.

[0022] Specifically, the metering unit is equipped with a pressure relief bypass, and a one-way pressure valve is installed at the inlet of the pressure relief bypass. A miniature piezoresistive pressure sensor is connected in series after the one-way pressure valve.

[0023] Specifically, the wearable fixing module integrates an audible and visual alarm component, which is electrically connected to a pressure sensor. When the pressure is greater than 0.3 kPa, an audible and visual alert is triggered.

[0024] Specifically, an electromagnetic breast milk feeding measurement method with bioimpedance correction.

[0025] The process includes the following steps: S1: Acquire the induced electromotive force signal generated when milk flows through a magnetic field using a miniature electromagnetic flow sensor to obtain initial instantaneous flow velocity data. S2: Emits an AC signal of 50kHz to 100kHz to the flowing milk through a bioimpedance electrode to obtain the dielectric properties data of the milk; compare this dielectric properties data with preset pure milk dielectric properties reference data, and correct the initial instantaneous flow velocity data to obtain instantaneous flow velocity calibration data. S3: Acquire the actual flow rate data of the milk using turbine blades and a miniature photoelectric encoder; compare this actual flow rate data with the instantaneous flow velocity calibration data; if the deviation exceeds a preset range, dynamically adjust the instantaneous flow velocity calibration data and output the final flow rate data.

[0026] Specifically, step S2 includes: S21: Extracting the amplitude and phase characteristics collected by the bioimpedance electrode. S22: Comparing the extracted characteristics with a preset pure milk standard impedance model. S23: If air bubbles or fat particles are found to be interfering, the corresponding abnormal data segments are removed, and the data is supplemented and corrected using a moving average method.

[0027] It should be noted that the miniature electromagnetic flow sensor can be an infusion micro-flow monitoring sensor or a cerebrospinal fluid micro-flow detection sensor used in the medical field. The infusion micro-flow monitoring sensor has an outer diameter of 8-10 mm and is compatible with infusion tubing channels. The cerebrospinal fluid micro-flow detection sensor has a minimum detectable flow rate of 0.002 m / s and can be effectively placed inside the metering sleeve for application.

[0028] Specifically, the actual sucking flow rate of breast milk is 0.01-0.1 m / s, which is much higher than the minimum detectable flow rate of 0.002 m / s of existing cerebrospinal fluid microflow detection sensors. Furthermore, through optimizations such as high magnetic density neodymium iron boron permanent magnets, arc-shaped probe design, and laminar flow guidance, the sensing sensitivity and stability at low flow rates are further improved, and it can generate an effective and accurately detectable electromagnetic induction signal.

[0029] It has the following beneficial effects:

[0030] (1) The connecting strap and wearing strap made of elastic nylon braided material, together with the connecting ear structure on both sides of the fitting ring, can be selected according to the distance between the mother's breasts. The Velcro at the end of the wearing strap can be used to achieve quick fixation. The elastic material can adapt to the deformation of the mother's movements and effectively adapt to different body size needs. The fitting ring is made of medical grade silicone material and has a built-in memory alloy elastic ring. It not only has good skin-friendliness and biocompatibility, but can also flexibly adapt to different breast sizes. With the wearing strap around the chest for auxiliary fixation, it ensures that the device is stable and reliable after wearing and will not shift due to the baby's sucking. At the same time, it avoids restricting the mother's movements and the baby's sucking posture.

[0031] (2) The gradual transition channel of the frustum inside the metering sleeve is combined with the spiral guide groove. The spiral guide groove has a gradually changing groove width, pitch and depth. Combined with the polishing treatment of the inner wall, it can guide the milk to pass through the sensing area in a laminar flow state, reducing the interference of turbulence on the detection. The arc probes of the three sets of micro electromagnetic flow sensors are flush with the inner wall of the channel, which can stably collect the flow velocity signal. At the same time, the four bioimpedance electrodes distributed at equal angles can correct the measurement deviation caused by bubbles and fat particles by detecting the dielectric properties of the milk. The subsequent combination of turbine blades and micro photoelectric encoders can dynamically verify the previous calibration data, forming a complete metering link of laminar flow guidance, multimodal sensing and dynamic calibration, ensuring the reliability of the final flow data.

[0032] (3) Through the threaded connection between the silicone sleeve and the fitting ring, the magnetic connection between the sealing sleeve and the connecting groove, and the magnetic adsorption design of the connecting frame, mounting frame and metering sleeve, the components can be quickly assembled and disassembled without special tools, greatly simplifying the cleaning and maintenance process after use; the matching design of the sealing sleeve and the fitting sleeve can achieve a tight fit with the areola area, effectively preventing milk leakage; the one-way pressure valve of the pressure relief bypass is linked with the miniature piezoresistive pressure sensor, which automatically diverts the milk when the milk flow exceeds the range, and at the same time triggers the audible and visual prompts of the buzzer and LED indicator, which not only avoids damage to the metering components due to overload, but also promptly reminds the mother to adjust the feeding posture, and the diverted milk can be collected through an external recycling bottle to reduce waste. The design of the bionic nipple interface ensures the baby's natural sucking experience, so that the metering process does not interfere with normal breastfeeding. Attached Figure Description

[0033] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on the structures shown in these drawings without creative effort.

[0034] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an electromagnetic breast milk flow meter with bioimpedance correction according to the present invention.

[0035] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the silicone sleeve, sealing sleeve, and metering sleeve structure in an electromagnetic breast milk flow meter with bioimpedance correction according to the present invention.

[0036] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the metering sleeve and biomimetic nipple interface structure in an electromagnetic breast milk flow meter with bioimpedance correction according to the present invention.

[0037] Figure 4This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of the metering sleeve in an electromagnetic breast milk flow meter with bioimpedance correction according to the present invention.

[0038] Figure 5 This is a cross-sectional view of the internal structure of the metering sleeve in an electromagnetic breast milk flow meter with bioimpedance correction according to the present invention.

[0039] Figure 6 This is a flowchart illustrating the logic judgment of the corrected flow rate value of an electromagnetic breast milk flow meter with bioimpedance correction according to the present invention.

[0040] Reference numerals: 1-fitting ring, 2-connecting strap, 3-wearing strap, 4-silicone sleeve, 5-sealing sleeve, 6-metering sleeve, 7-bionic nipple interface, 8-fitting sleeve, 9-connecting groove, 10-bioimpedance electrode, 11-connecting frame, 12-miniature electromagnetic flow sensor, 13-mounting frame, 14-turbine blade, 15-turbine shaft, 16-miniature photoelectric encoder, 17-pressure relief bypass, 18-spiral guide groove. Detailed Implementation

[0041] It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

[0042] The following detailed description of the implementation method of the present invention is in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The description is only a partial embodiment and not all embodiments. For clarity, representations and descriptions unrelated to the present invention are omitted in the drawings and description.

[0043] To provide a clearer understanding of the technical features, objectives, and beneficial effects of this invention, the following detailed description of the technical solution is provided. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a portion of the embodiments of this invention, not all of them, and should not be construed as limiting the scope of implementation of this invention. Based on the embodiments of this invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without inventive effort are within the protection scope of this invention.

[0044] Example 1

[0045] In this embodiment, as Figures 1 to 6As shown, an electromagnetic breast milk flow meter with bioimpedance correction includes two fitting rings 1 and two connecting straps 2. Each fitting ring 1 has a connecting ear on both sides, and a connecting strap 2 is positioned between the two fitting rings 1. The two ends of the connecting strap 2 are respectively connected to the connecting ear on the opposite side of the two fitting rings 1. A wearing strap 3 is also fitted onto the connecting ear on the other side of the two fitting rings 1, and one end of each wearing strap 3 is fixed with a hook side and a loop side of Velcro. The connecting strap 2 and the two wearing straps 3 are both made of elastic nylon braided material. Different lengths of the connecting strap 2 between the two fitting rings 1 are selected according to the mother's body size, so that the two fitting rings 1 can be comfortably fitted on both sides of the mother's chest. The two wearing straps 3 are connected to the back of the mother with Velcro, completing the wearing operation of the breast milk meter on the mother's body.

[0046] In this embodiment, both fitting rings 1 are made of medical-grade silicone material, and both fitting rings 1 have memory alloy elastic rings inside to adapt to different breast sizes. They will not shift due to the baby's sucking after wearing. The integrated wearing strap 3 wraps around the chest for auxiliary fixation, which ensures structural stability and does not restrict the mother's movement or the baby's sucking posture.

[0047] In this embodiment, both fitting rings 1 are threaded with silicone sleeves 4 inside, and both silicone sleeves 4 are provided with connecting grooves 9 on the front side. Both connecting grooves 9 are magnetically provided with sealing sleeves 5 inside, both sealing sleeves 5 are fixedly provided with fitting sleeves 8 inside, and both fitting sleeves 8 are provided with breast milk passage holes inside.

[0048] In this embodiment, the wearable strap 3 has a built-in flexible circuit board. The data processing module, data acquisition module, Bluetooth / NFC transmission unit and battery unit are encapsulated together in a silicone sleeve 4. The silicone sleeve 4 achieves functional linkage with the metering component through a magnetic interface, which not only ensures the integrated design of the device, but also avoids the modules being exposed and interfered with or damaged.

[0049] In this embodiment, the two fitting rings 1 are then worn on both sides of the mother's chest. One breast is selected according to the breastfeeding method. The silicone sleeve 4 and the fitting ring 1 are connected. Finally, the fitting sleeve 8 is directly attached to the areola area of ​​the breast by magnetic adsorption between one end of the sealing sleeve 5 and the inside of the connecting groove 9. The flow rate of the milk flowing out through the breast milk passage inside the fitting sleeve 8 is measured by the metering component that is set later.

[0050] In this embodiment, according to the above structural composition description, the connecting strap 2 and wearing strap 3 are made of elastic nylon braided material, and are connected to the loop structure of the fitting ring 1 with ear loops on both sides. The connecting strap 2 can be selected in different lengths according to the distance between the mother's breasts. The wearing strap 3 is quickly fixed on the back with Velcro at the end. The elastic material can adapt to the deformation of the mother's body with movement, which greatly improves the ease of wearing and body fit. The fitting ring 1 is made of medical-grade silicone material and has a built-in memory alloy elastic ring. It not only has excellent skin-friendliness and safety, but the memory alloy elastic ring can also flexibly adapt to different breast sizes. Combined with the wearing strap 3 that surrounds the chest for auxiliary fixation, it ensures that the fitting ring 1 is stable and reliable after wearing and will not be affected by the baby's sucking. The design incorporates various techniques to facilitate breastfeeding measurement. The silicone sleeve 4 and the fitting ring 1 are connected by threads, while the sealing sleeve 5 and the connecting groove 9 are connected by magnetic attraction. This allows for quick assembly and disassembly of the silicone sleeve 4, sealing sleeve 5, and other metering components, facilitating cleaning and maintenance after use. The fitting sleeve 8 can directly adhere to the areola area of ​​the breast, and together with the sealing sleeve 5, effectively prevents milk leakage. This provides a stable and reliable basis for subsequent metering components to accurately measure the flow rate of milk flowing through the breast milk passage inside the fitting sleeve 8. The overall structure balances comfort, stability, ease of use, and metering accuracy without interfering with the natural breastfeeding process, providing comprehensive assurance for breastfeeding measurement.

[0051] Example 2

[0052] In this embodiment, in order to realize the measurement operation of breast milk feeding, a metering component is also provided on the front side of the sealing sleeve 5. The metering component includes a metering sleeve 6 and a bionic nipple interface 7. One end of the metering sleeve 6 is threadedly connected to one end of the sealing sleeve 5, and the other end of the metering sleeve 6 is threadedly connected to the bionic nipple interface 7.

[0053] In this embodiment, a spiral guide groove 18 is provided at one end of the metering sleeve 6 near the sealing sleeve 5, and the internal fluid channel of the metering sleeve 6 adopts a frustum-shaped gradient channel. Specifically, the inner diameter on the side that fits the breast is 10mm, and it narrows linearly along the direction of milk flow to an inner diameter of 8mm on the side of the bionic nipple interface 7. The groove width of the spiral guide groove 18 is 2mm, the pitch is 5mm, and it completes one turn every 5mm along the length of the gradient channel. The depth of the spiral guide groove 18 decreases linearly from 2mm at the inlet end to 0.5mm at the outlet end. The inner wall of the spiral guide groove 18 is also polished to guide the milk to pass through the sensing area in a laminar flow state.

[0054] In this embodiment, the pitch (P), depth (H), and channel diameter (D) of the spiral guide groove have a fixed matching relationship. The core matching formula is P=1.5D±0.1D, H=0.15D±0.02D, and the groove width to depth ratio is fixed at 2:1. The channel diameter D is set to 8-12mm according to the range of breast milk flow rate, corresponding to a pitch P range of 12-18mm and a groove depth H range of 1.2-1.8mm. This ratio can ensure the stability of the spiral flow of fluid and minimize turbulence interference. Based on the viscosity characteristics of breast milk at 25℃ (10-30 mPa·s), the parameters of the guide channel were specifically optimized: for low-viscosity breast milk (10-15 mPa·s), a smaller pitch (P=1.5D) and a shallower channel depth (H=0.14D) were used to enhance fluid rotation stability and avoid measurement errors caused by excessive flow velocity; for high-viscosity breast milk (25-30 mPa·s), a larger pitch (P=1.7D) and a deeper channel depth (H=0.17D) were used to reduce fluid resistance and ensure uniform flow velocity; the optimization goal was to control the Reynolds number of the fluid at the outlet of the guide channel between 500-1500, placing it in the laminar-transitional flow range, balancing measurement accuracy and flow smoothness, and adapting to different viscosities of breast milk.

[0055] In this embodiment, a connecting frame 11 is magnetically attached to one side of the metering sleeve 6, and three sets of miniature electromagnetic flow sensors 12 are fixedly installed inside the connecting frame 11. Each set of miniature electromagnetic flow sensors 12 contains two symmetrically distributed arc-shaped probes. The arc of the probes is completely fitted with the inner wall of the connecting frame 11. The probes are encapsulated with neodymium iron boron permanent magnets and copper induction coils. Four bioimpedance electrodes 10 are also provided on one side of the outer surface of the metering sleeve 6, corresponding to the area of ​​the miniature electromagnetic flow sensors 12. The four bioimpedance electrodes 10 are located on the outer surface of the metering sleeve 6 and are distributed at equal angles. The bioimpedance electrodes 10 are connected to the data acquisition module through flexible silver paste wires embedded inside the metering sleeve 6.

[0056] In this embodiment, the bioimpedance electrode distinguishes between milk, bubbles, and fat deposits by applying a dual-frequency AC signal of 50kHz to 100kHz to the flowing medium, based on the difference in dielectric constant of the different media. The dielectric constant of milk is εr≈60-70, with a corresponding impedance amplitude of 10-50kΩ and a phase angle of -10° to -20°, and the dual-frequency signal response is highly consistent. The dielectric constant of bubbles is εr≈1, with an impedance amplitude >1MΩ and a phase angle close to 0°, and the high-frequency signal attenuation is significant. The dielectric constant of fat deposits is εr≈20-30, with an impedance amplitude of 50-100kΩ and a phase angle of -5° to -10°, and the low-frequency signal amplitude is higher than that of milk.

[0057] In this embodiment, the system error elimination process is as follows: First, a 1kHz low-frequency impedance signal A and a 100kHz high-frequency impedance signal B are acquired. The amplitude ratio (A / B) and phase difference (Δφ=φA-φB) of A and B are calculated. The preset threshold range for milk is A / B=0.8-1.2 and Δφ=-15° to -5°. If the measured value exceeds the threshold range, it is determined to be a non-milk medium, and the error elimination mechanism is activated. The flow data of the corresponding time period is marked as invalid. The invalid data is corrected by using the valid data before and after the linear interpolation method, and the number of eliminations is recorded for equipment self-test. If the measured value is within the threshold range, it is determined to be a valid milk signal, and the flow data directly participates in the subsequent fusion calculation.

[0058] In this embodiment, the inner wall of the connecting frame 11 and the probe of the miniature electromagnetic flow sensor 12 are flush with the inner wall of the internal channel of the metering sleeve 6, without any protruding structure, so as to avoid interfering with the flow state of the milk in the internal channel of the metering sleeve 6.

[0059] In this embodiment, a mounting frame 13 is magnetically attached inside the metering sleeve 6 and located on one side of the connecting frame 11. A turbine shaft 15 is rotatably mounted in the middle of the mounting frame 13. Several turbine blades 14 are fixedly mounted on the surface of the turbine shaft 15. A miniature photoelectric encoder 16 is also provided on one side of the mounting frame 13 and located at one end of the turbine shaft 15. The surface of the turbine blades 14 is provided with a hydrophobic coating.

[0060] In this embodiment, a pressure relief bypass 17 is provided inside the metering sleeve 6 and on one side of the mounting bracket 13, with one end of the pressure relief bypass 17 extending to the outside of the metering sleeve 6. The end of the pressure relief bypass 17 extending to the outside of the metering sleeve 6 can be inserted into a breast milk recycling bottle to avoid waste of breast milk. A one-way pressure valve is provided at the inlet of the pressure relief bypass 17, and a miniature piezoresistive pressure sensor is connected in series after the one-way pressure valve. The connecting ear loop area located on the side of the wearing strap 3 and the fitting ring 1 integrates a miniature buzzer and a red LED indicator, both of which are electrically connected to the pressure sensor. When the pressure is greater than 0.3 kPa, the buzzer sounds and the red LED indicator flashes.

[0061] In this embodiment, according to the above description of the structure, the frustum-shaped gradient channel inside the metering sleeve 6 cooperates with the spiral guide groove 18 with a groove width of 2mm, a pitch of 5mm, and a gradually changing depth. This guides the milk to flow through the sensing area in a laminar flow state. Combined with the three sets of miniature electromagnetic flow sensors 12 flush with the inner wall of the channel on the connecting frame 11 and the four bioimpedance electrodes 10 evenly distributed on the outside of the metering sleeve 6, flow velocity signals can be collected through electromagnetic induction, and interference such as bubbles can be corrected through impedance detection, significantly improving the accuracy of the metering. The turbine blades 14 on the mounting frame 13 drive the turbine shaft 15 to rotate with the flow of milk, cooperating with the miniature photoelectric encoder 16 to realize... The current flow rate dynamic calibration further ensures the accuracy of measurement. The pressure relief bypass 17 in the metering sleeve 6, through the linkage of a one-way pressure valve and a miniature piezoresistive pressure sensor, triggers the buzzer and red LED indicator at the wearable strap 3 to alarm and divert the flow when the pressure exceeds 0.3 kPa, effectively protecting the equipment without affecting the baby's sucking. In the overall structure, the close fit between the fitting sleeve 8 and the areola, and the humanized design of the bionic nipple interface 7, provide stable, accurate and safe all-round protection for breastfeeding measurement by relying on the complementary functions of each component without changing the natural breastfeeding experience, significantly improving the practical application value of the equipment.

[0062] It should be noted that, in this embodiment, the miniature electromagnetic flow sensor 12 may be an infusion micro-flow monitoring sensor or a cerebrospinal fluid micro-flow detection sensor used in the medical field.

[0063] In this embodiment, the outer diameter of the infusion microflow monitoring sensor is 8-10mm, which is compatible with the infusion tube channel. The minimum detectable flow rate of the cerebrospinal fluid microflow detection sensor is 0.002m / s, which can be effectively placed inside the metering sleeve 6 for application.

[0064] In this embodiment, the actual sucking flow rate of breast milk is 0.01-0.1 m / s, which is much higher than the minimum detectable flow rate of 0.002 m / s of existing cerebrospinal fluid microflow detection sensors.

[0065] In this embodiment, through optimizations such as high magnetic density neodymium iron boron permanent magnets, arc-shaped probe design, and laminar flow guidance, the sensing sensitivity and stability at low flow rates are further improved, and an effective and accurately detectable electromagnetic induction signal can be generated.

[0066] Example 3

[0067] Based on the structural composition descriptions in Embodiments 1 and 2 above, the measurement method of the breast milk feeding meter is specifically disclosed below:

[0068] In this embodiment, after the mother wears the measuring device on her breast, the baby sucks on the bionic nipple interface 7, and the milk flows from the fitting sleeve 8 into the channel inside the measuring sleeve 6. The milk is guided by the spiral guide groove 18 to flow in a laminar state through the sensing area. The neodymium iron boron permanent magnets of the three sets of miniature electromagnetic flow sensors 12 synchronously generate a stable magnetic field. The milk, as a conductive liquid, flows in the magnetic field and cuts the magnetic field lines, causing the arc-shaped probes of each set of miniature electromagnetic flow sensors 12 to generate induced electromotive force signals at both ends. The data processing unit synchronously collects the three sets of induced electromotive force signals, and after averaging the signals, obtains the initial data of the instantaneous flow rate of the milk.

[0069] In this embodiment, the miniature electromagnetic flow sensor 12, bioimpedance electrode 10, and miniature photoelectric encoder 16 respectively collect induced electromotive force signals, impedance response signals, and pulse signal analog signals. These signals are transmitted to the data processing unit encapsulated in the silicone sleeve 4 via flexible silver paste wires embedded in the metering sleeve and the flexible circuit board built into the wearable strap 3. The signals first enter the signal conditioning module of the data processing unit, and after filtering, amplification, and analog-to-digital conversion, they are converted into digital signals and then transmitted to the central processing unit for calculation and analysis. After the central processing unit completes data fusion, correction, and calibration, the final milk flow data, equipment operating status, and other information are synchronized to the external display terminal via the Bluetooth / NFC transmission unit to achieve real-time visualization of the data. At the same time, the data processing unit and the display screen establish bidirectional communication via the I2C / SPI bus, and the display screen can provide feedback on operation commands and equipment self-test status.

[0070] In this embodiment, while the electromagnetic sensor collects the flow velocity signal, four bioimpedance electrodes 10 in the same area emit AC signals of 50kHz to 100kHz to the flowing milk. By detecting the response parameters of the milk to the AC signal, the dielectric properties data of the milk are obtained. The data processing unit compares the real-time dielectric properties data with the preset pure milk dielectric properties reference data to determine the proportion of interfering components such as uneven distribution of bubbles and fat particles in the current milk. Then, based on the preset calibration relationship, the aforementioned instantaneous flow velocity initial data is corrected to obtain the instantaneous flow velocity calibration data after interference compensation.

[0071] In this embodiment, the miniature electromagnetic flow sensor 12, the bioimpedance electrode 10, and the miniature photoelectric encoder 16 synchronously collect data at a sampling frequency of 100Hz to achieve parallel data interaction with timestamp alignment. Data fusion adopts a weighted calculation method. Under normal operating conditions, the data weight of the miniature electromagnetic flow sensor 12 is 0.6, the data weight of the miniature photoelectric encoder 16 is 0.3, and the data weight of the bioimpedance electrode 10 is 0.1. When abnormal operating conditions are detected, the system dynamically adjusts the weight allocation, and the corrected weight of the miniature electromagnetic flow sensor 12 is not less than 0.4. When the miniature electromagnetic flow sensor 12 detects abnormal data, the judgment criteria are: the signal fluctuation amplitude exceeds ±5% and the duration is ≥10ms. The system immediately initiates the bioimpedance data correction process: First, the amplitude and phase characteristics collected by the bioimpedance electrode 10 are extracted and compared with the preset pure milk standard impedance model to accurately locate and remove the abnormal data segment corresponding to bubble interference. Then, the moving average method of 5 adjacent valid data sets is used to fill the gap in the data segment. Finally, the corrected flow data is recalibrated by combining the rotation speed data collected by the miniature photoelectric encoder 16 to ensure the accuracy of the output result. The specific logical judgment process is as follows: multi-sensor synchronous data acquisition → electromagnetic flow signal fluctuation detection → when the fluctuation is ≤±5%, normal weighted fusion calculation of flow value is performed; when the fluctuation is >±5% and lasts for ≥10ms, it is judged as bubble interference abnormality → extract bioimpedance signal characteristics → compare with milk standard impedance model → remove abnormal data segment corresponding to bubble → supplement and correct by moving average method → ​​calibrate by combining turbine encoder data → output the corrected flow value and transmit it to the display screen.

[0072] In this embodiment, the interference-compensated milk continues to flow along the fluid channel inside the metering sleeve 6 to the mounting frame 13 at the outlet end. The milk drives the turbine blades 14 inside the mounting frame 13 to rotate. The rotation of the turbine blades 14 drives the turbine shaft 15 to rotate synchronously, thereby driving the micro photoelectric encoder 16 to work. The micro photoelectric encoder 16 outputs a pulse signal corresponding to the rotational speed of the turbine blades 14 in real time. The data processing unit collects the pulse signal, obtains the real-time rotational speed data of the turbine blades 14 based on the frequency of the pulse signal, and then obtains the actual flow rate data of the milk based on the rotational speed data. Subsequently, the data processing unit compares the actual flow rate data with the flow rate data corresponding to the aforementioned instantaneous flow rate calibration data to determine the deviation between the two. Based on the deviation, the instantaneous flow rate calibration data is dynamically adjusted to finally obtain accurate milk flow rate data.

[0073] In this embodiment, during the turbine calibration data process, if the milk flow rate exceeds the preset maximum measurement range of this meter, the pressure in the fluid channel inside the metering sleeve 6 will rise to the opening pressure threshold of the one-way pressure valve. At this time, the one-way pressure valve will automatically open, and part of the milk will be diverted through the pressure relief bypass 17. At the same time, the miniature piezoresistive pressure sensor detects the pressure increase and sends a signal to the data processing unit. The data processing unit then triggers the buzzer integrated in the integrated wearable strap to emit a prompt sound, and at the same time controls the LED indicator to flash to remind the user to adjust the feeding posture.

[0074] In this embodiment, the breast milk measurement operation is performed in the manner described above. The spiral guide channel 18 within the metering sleeve 6, with its scientifically designed gradual changes in width, pitch, and depth, guides the milk through the sensing area in a laminar flow state, laying the foundation for accurate measurement. Combined with the arc-shaped probes of the three sets of miniature electromagnetic flow sensors 12, flush with the inner wall of the channel, interference with milk flow is avoided while stably acquiring induced electromotive force signals. The data processing unit averages the data to obtain initial instantaneous flow velocity data. Simultaneously, four bioimpedance electrodes 10 in the same area detect the dielectric properties of the milk by emitting specific frequency AC signals. The real-time data is compared with pure milk baseline data to correct for interference from bubbles and fat particles, significantly improving the accuracy of the flow velocity data. The interference-compensated milk drives the turbine blades 14 within the mounting frame 13 to rotate. The turbine shaft 15 drives the miniature photoelectric encoder 16 to output pulse signals. The data processing unit then processes these pulse signals... Frequency is used to obtain rotational speed and convert it into actual flow rate. After comparison with the aforementioned calibration data, dynamic adjustments are made to achieve triple data verification of electromagnetic sensing, impedance correction, and turbine calibration, ensuring the accuracy and reliability of the final milk flow rate data. When the milk flow rate exceeds the range, the pressure relief bypass 17 in the metering sleeve 6 automatically diverts the flow through a one-way pressure valve. The miniature piezoresistive pressure sensor triggers the buzzer and LED indicator at the wearing strap 3 to sound an alarm, which avoids overload damage to the metering components and does not interrupt the baby's sucking, ensuring the safety of the equipment and feeding. At the same time, the entire metering process relies on the close fit between the fitting sleeve 8 and the areola, the humanized design of the bionic nipple interface 7, and the stable wearing effect provided by the fitting ring 1 and the wearing strap 3. The metering is completed without changing the mother's natural feeding posture and the baby's sucking experience. It adapts to different sucking strengths and milk states, taking into account both the metering function and the natural needs of breastfeeding, significantly improving the practical value of the equipment and user acceptance.

[0075] Example 4

[0076] In this embodiment, a method for using an electromagnetic breast milk flow meter with bioimpedance correction is disclosed, including the following steps:

[0077] Step 1: Select the corresponding length of elastic nylon braided connecting strap 2, ensuring that both ends of the connecting strap 2 can be smoothly attached to the connecting loops on opposite sides of the two fitting rings 1; at the same time, check that the Velcro hook side and the loop side at the end of the wearing strap 3 are firmly attached and not falling off; perform medical-grade disinfection on the fitting sleeve 8, sealing sleeve 5, metering sleeve 6 and bionic nipple interface 7, which can be done by ultraviolet disinfection or wiping with medical alcohol swabs to avoid cross-infection.

[0078] Step 2: With the mother in an upright position, place the two medical-grade silicone fitting rings 1 with built-in memory alloy elastic rings on the outer sides of the breasts on both sides of the chest, so that the center of the fitting ring 1 corresponds to the nipple; put the two ends of the selected length of the connecting strap 2 into the connecting loops on the opposite side of the two fitting rings 1, and gently adjust the tightness of the connecting strap 2 to ensure that the two fitting rings 1 fit naturally against the chest skin without pressure; put the two wearing straps 3 into the connecting loops on the other side of the two fitting rings 1, wrap them around the mother's back, align the hook side of the Velcro with the loop side, and stick them together. Adjust the fixing force by pulling the wearing straps 3, so that the fitting rings 1 will not move at will and the mother does not feel tightness, thus completing the wearing and fixing of the main body of the device.

[0079] Step 3: Select the breast to be fed and measure. Screw the silicone sleeve 4 into the corresponding fitting ring 1 through the fine thread, and tighten it until the outer wall of the silicone sleeve 4 is completely fitted with the inner wall of the fitting ring 1 without any loose gaps. Hold the sealing sleeve 5 and align the end with the permanent magnet with the connecting groove 9 on the front of the silicone sleeve 4. The sealing sleeve 5 and the connecting groove 9 are tightly attracted by the magnetic attraction. At this time, the fitting sleeve 8 inside the sealing sleeve 5 should be completely fitted with the areola area of ​​the breast on that side, ensuring that the breast milk passage is directly opposite the nipple position and there are no gaps for leakage. Tightly connect one end of the measuring sleeve 6 to the end of the sealing sleeve 5 away from the fitting ring 1 through the thread. Similarly, install the bionic nipple interface 7 on the other end through the thread. During the tightening process, pay attention to keeping the internal channel of the measuring sleeve 6 unobstructed and avoid the turbine blade 14 from getting stuck due to improper installation. Start the data acquisition module, trigger the device self-test function, and confirm that the miniature electromagnetic flow sensor 12, bioimpedance electrode 10, miniature photoelectric encoder 16 and sound and light prompt unit are all working properly.

[0080] Step 4: Guide the baby to suckle through the bionic nipple interface 7. When the baby sucks naturally, the milk will flow from the nipple, through the breast milk passage of the fitting sleeve 8, and into the frustum-shaped gradient channel inside the metering sleeve 6. When the milk flows through the spiral guide groove 18, it is guided into a laminar flow state and passes through the detection areas of the micro electromagnetic flow sensor 12 and the bioimpedance electrode 10 in sequence. The device automatically completes the flow rate signal acquisition and interference correction. Then the milk drives the turbine blades 14 to rotate, and the micro photoelectric encoder 16 converts the speed signal into flow data. After dynamic calibration, accurate real-time flow data is generated and transmitted to the monitoring terminal. During feeding, if the buzzer sounds and the red LED indicator flashes, it means that the milk flow exceeds the maximum measurement range of the device. The mother needs to adjust the feeding posture in time. At this time, the pressure relief bypass 17 has automatically opened to divert the flow. The bypass extension can be connected to the breast milk collection bottle to collect the diverted milk.

[0081] Step 5: After the baby stops sucking, gently remove the bionic nipple interface 7 from the baby's mouth, turn off the data acquisition module and export the flow data of this feeding to complete data recording and archiving; unscrew the bionic nipple interface 7 and the metering sleeve 6 in sequence, gently peel the sealing sleeve 5 from the connecting groove 9 of the silicone sleeve 4, and then unscrew the threaded connection between the silicone sleeve 4 and the fitting ring 1 to disassemble the components; thoroughly clean all components that come into contact with milk after disassembly, sterilize again after removing residual milk, dry and store according to component category, and at the same time perform routine cleaning of the connecting strap 2 and the wearing strap 3 to ensure the hygiene of the equipment for the next use.

[0082] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention. It should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the forms disclosed herein and should not be construed as excluding other embodiments. It can be used in various other combinations, modifications, and environments, and can be altered within the scope of the concept described herein through the above teachings or related technologies or knowledge. Modifications and variations made by those skilled in the art that do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention should be within the protection scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. An electromagnetic breastmilk flow meter with bio-impedance correction, comprising a flow detection module, a sealing fitting module detachably connected with the flow detection module, and a wearing fixing module connected with the sealing fitting module; characterized in that, The flow detection module includes a metering sleeve (6) and a multimodal sensing component disposed on the metering sleeve (6); the multimodal sensing component includes a miniature electromagnetic flow sensor (12), a bioimpedance electrode (10), and a turbine calibration component, used for multi-parameter fusion metering of breast milk flowing through the metering sleeve (6); the metering sleeve (6) is provided with a frustum-shaped gradient fluid channel and a spiral guide groove (18), and a connecting frame (11) is magnetically attached inside the metering sleeve (6); three sets of miniature electromagnetic flow sensors (12) are fixed inside the connecting frame (11), each set of sensors containing two symmetrical arc-shaped probes, the arc of the probes fitting against the inner wall of the connecting frame (11), and the probes flush with the inner wall of the channel of the metering sleeve (6), wherein the miniature electromagnetic flow sensor (12) The sensor (12), bioimpedance electrode (10), and turbine calibration assembly are used to collect the induced electromotive force signal, impedance response signal, and pulse signal simulation signal when breast milk flows through. The initial flow rate data is obtained based on the induced electromotive force signal collected by the micro electromagnetic flow sensor (12), which includes noise caused by bubbles or fat particles. The properties of the flowing medium are identified based on the impedance response signal collected by the bioimpedance electrode (10), which distinguishes between bubbles and milk, and the abnormal data segments in the initial flow rate data are selectively removed. The turbine rotation data is obtained based on the pulse signal simulation signal collected by the turbine calibration assembly. The rotation data is used to perform final calibration on the initial flow rate data after removing abnormal data, and the accurate flow rate is output.

2. The electromagnetic breastmilk flow meter with bioimpedance correction according to claim 1, characterized in that, The outer surface of the metering sleeve (6) is provided with four bioimpedance electrodes (10) in the area corresponding to the micro electromagnetic flow sensor (12); the bioimpedance electrodes (10) are distributed at equal angles; the bioimpedance electrodes (10) are connected to the data acquisition module through flexible silver paste wires embedded in the metering sleeve (6).

3. The electromagnetic breast milk flow meter with bioimpedance correction according to claim 1, characterized in that, The metering sleeve (6) has a magnetically attached mounting bracket (13) located on one side of the connecting frame (11); a turbine shaft (15) is rotatably mounted inside the mounting bracket (13), and turbine blades (14) are fixed on the surface of the shaft; a miniature photoelectric encoder (16) is provided on one side of the mounting bracket (13), and its shaft is coaxially connected with the turbine shaft (15).

4. The electromagnetic breast milk flow meter with bioimpedance correction according to claim 1, characterized in that, The sealing adapter module includes a fitting ring (1) and a silicone sleeve (4) threadedly connected thereto. The silicone sleeve (4) has a connecting groove (9) on its front side. One end of the metering sleeve (6) of the flow detection module is threadedly connected to the sealing adapter module, and the other end is connected to a bionic nipple interface (7). The connecting groove (9) has a magnetic attraction structure for magnetic positioning with the flow detection module or the silicone sleeve (4).

5. An electromagnetic breast milk flow meter with bioimpedance correction according to claim 4, characterized in that, The bottom of the connecting groove (9) is provided with a magnetic metal sheet, and the end of the sealing sleeve (5) is embedded with a permanent magnet. The sealing sleeve (5) and the connecting groove (9) are connected by magnetic attraction, and the pressure of the sealing surface after magnetic attraction is not less than 0.2 kPa. The front of the sealing sleeve (5) is also provided with a metering component, which includes a metering sleeve (6) and a bionic nipple interface (7). One end of the metering sleeve (6) is threadedly connected to one end of the sealing sleeve (5), and the other end of the metering sleeve (6) is threadedly connected to the bionic nipple interface (7).

6. The electromagnetic breast milk flow meter with bioimpedance correction according to claim 4, characterized in that, The wearable fixing module includes two fitting rings (1), a connecting strap (2) and a wearing strap (3); the connecting ear on one side of the two fitting rings (1) is fitted with the connecting strap (2), and the connecting ear on the other side is fitted with the wearing strap (3); the connecting strap (2) and the wearing strap (3) are both made of elastic nylon woven material.

7. The electromagnetic breast milk flow meter with bioimpedance correction according to claim 1, characterized in that, The metering sleeve (6) is equipped with a pressure relief bypass (17), and a one-way pressure valve is provided at the inlet of the pressure relief bypass (17). A miniature piezoresistive pressure sensor is connected in series after the one-way pressure valve. The wearable fixing module is equipped with an audible and visual alarm component, which is electrically connected to the pressure sensor. When the pressure is greater than 0.3 kPa, an audible and visual prompt is triggered.

8. An electromagnetic breast milk feeding measurement method with bioimpedance correction, characterized in that, Applied to the measuring instrument as described in any one of claims 1-7, Includes the following steps: S1: Acquire the induced electromotive force signal generated when milk flows through a magnetic field using a miniature electromagnetic flow sensor to obtain initial instantaneous flow velocity data; S2: Emits an AC signal of 50kHz to 100kHz to the flowing milk through a bioimpedance electrode to obtain the dielectric properties data of the milk; compare the dielectric properties data with preset pure milk dielectric properties reference data, correct the initial instantaneous flow velocity data, and obtain instantaneous flow velocity calibration data; S3: Acquire the actual flow rate data of the milk through turbine blades and a miniature photoelectric encoder, compare the actual flow rate data with the instantaneous flow velocity calibration data, and if the deviation exceeds a preset range, dynamically adjust the instantaneous flow velocity calibration data and output the final flow rate data.

9. The electromagnetic breast milk feeding measurement method with bioimpedance correction according to claim 8, characterized in that, Step S2 specifically includes: S21: Extracting the amplitude and phase characteristics collected by the bioimpedance electrode; S22: Comparing the extracted characteristics with the preset pure milk standard impedance model; S23: If it is determined that there is interference from bubbles or fat particles, the corresponding abnormal data segments are removed, and the moving average method is used to supplement and correct the data.

Images