A negative pressure generating device applied to a breast pump, a breast pump and a noise reduction method

Abstract

This disclosure provides a negative pressure generating device for a breast pump, a breast pump, and a noise reduction method thereof. Relating to the field of maternal and infant product technology, the negative pressure generating device for a breast pump is connected to the breast pump's main body. The main body has a diaphragm air chamber, within which a suction diaphragm is disposed, dividing the diaphragm air chamber into a negative pressure chamber and a milk collection chamber. The negative pressure generating device includes: a vacuum pump, connected to the negative pressure chamber, for providing negative pressure to the diaphragm air chamber; a solenoid valve, connected to the negative pressure chamber through a flow channel, the solenoid valve being connected to the outside and capable of controlling the opening and closing of the flow channel to the outside; and a silencing mechanism disposed in the flow channel for reducing the noise generated during the operation of the negative pressure generating device. The silencing mechanism of this disclosure can reduce product noise.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This manual relates to the field of maternal and infant products technology, and in particular to a negative pressure generating device, a breast pump, and a noise reduction method for use in a breast pump. Background Technology

[0002] Breast pumps, as essential maternal and infant products for breastfeeding women, assist in milk expression by simulating an infant's sucking motion and have become a key device in modern childcare. Their core power system typically consists of a vacuum pump, solenoid valve, suction diaphragm, and one-way valve. During operation, it generates periodic negative pressure through the contraction and expansion of the air chamber to achieve continuous milk expression. However, the pneumatic components are prone to generating significant noise during high-speed airflow switching, especially in wearable products, where noise directly impacts user privacy and experience.

[0003] Existing noise reduction solutions for breast pumps generally suffer from technical contradictions: to reduce airflow noise, traditional designs often use resistive silencers to extend the airflow path, but excessive flow resistance leads to a decrease in the suction diaphragm's recovery rate, significantly reducing pumping efficiency; conversely, reducing flow resistance results in poor noise reduction, especially at high speeds where the airflow impact noise generated by the opening and closing of the solenoid valve is quite high (even exceeding 65 decibels), failing to meet the requirement for quiet use. Furthermore, some products achieve noise reduction by thickening sound insulation materials, but this increases the size and weight of the device, contradicting the trend towards portability.

[0004] To address the aforementioned issues, there is an urgent need to develop a breast pump structure that combines low airflow resistance with high noise reduction performance. By optimizing the airflow design and acoustic damping technology, operating noise can be reduced (e.g., controlled below 45 decibels) while ensuring milk expression efficiency, thus overcoming the technical bottleneck of existing products where noise and efficiency are difficult to balance. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This specification provides a negative pressure generating device for use in breast pumps, a breast pump, and a noise reduction method, which can solve the problems existing in related technologies.

[0006] In a first aspect, this disclosure provides a negative pressure generating device for use in a breast pump, which is connected to the milk pumping body of the breast pump. The milk pumping body has a diaphragm air chamber, and a suction diaphragm is provided in the diaphragm air chamber. The suction diaphragm divides the diaphragm air chamber into a negative pressure chamber and a milk collection chamber. The negative pressure generating device includes a vacuum pump, a solenoid valve, and a silencer mechanism.

[0007] The vacuum pump is connected to the negative pressure chamber to provide negative pressure to the diaphragm gas chamber; the solenoid valve is connected to the negative pressure chamber through the flow channel, and the solenoid valve is connected to the outside and can control the opening and closing of the flow channel and the outside; the silencing mechanism is set in the flow channel to reduce the noise generated during the operation of the negative pressure generating device.

[0008] Compared to traditional breast pumps that rely solely on a single vacuum pump to repeatedly start and stop to regulate negative pressure, this negative pressure generating device uses a vacuum pump in conjunction with a solenoid valve to achieve negative pressure regulation. The vacuum pump can maintain a continuous and stable standby operation, eliminating the need for frequent start-stop cycles that trigger the motor rotor's start-stop impact. This fundamentally reduces the mechanical vibration noise generated by the repeated start-stop cycles of the vacuum pump. Combined with the silencing mechanism installed in the flow channel, it can further weaken the airflow whistling generated when the air enters and exits the flow channel, significantly reducing the overall operating noise of the breast pump. This prevents noise from disturbing infants during use and improves the user experience in scenarios such as nighttime feeding.

[0009] The negative pressure generating device disclosed herein can quickly adjust the negative pressure of the negative pressure chamber by switching on and off the solenoid valve. Compared with the method of controlling negative pressure by starting and stopping the vacuum pump, the response speed is faster and it can more accurately match the negative pressure change pattern required at different stages of lactation, simulating the rhythm of a baby's natural sucking. This can not only ensure lactation comfort and avoid nipple swelling and damage caused by constant suction, but also effectively improve lactation efficiency and shorten the milking time.

[0010] According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the noise reduction mechanism includes a noise reduction filter membrane disposed on the air inlet in the flow channel; Alternatively, the noise reduction filter can be installed inside the flow channel; Alternatively, noise reduction filters can be installed at the flow opening of the solenoid valve.

[0011] The above structure can directly intercept and absorb turbulence and impact noise generated when airflow passes through the flow path by placing the noise-reducing filter membrane at the air inlet of the flow channel, the inside of the flow channel, or the flow opening of the solenoid valve.

[0012] On the one hand, the porous mesh structure of the noise reduction filter membrane can break up the concentrated vortex of high-speed airflow, decompose the large-size sound wave energy into small-size energy and gradually dissipate it, avoid the airflow directly impacting the valve body or flow channel wall to generate resonance noise, and weaken the sound energy from the source of noise generation. On the other hand, this setup does not require significant modifications to the existing solenoid valve's overall structure, nor does it increase the solenoid valve's size. It can be installed using only the existing flow channel or opening space, adapting to the integration needs of solenoid valves of different specifications. At the same time, it does not excessively obstruct the normal flow of air. While ensuring that the solenoid valve's response speed and flow capacity meet the working requirements, it effectively reduces airflow noise during the opening and closing process of the solenoid valve and the stable airflow stage, improving the user comfort of gas equipment and pneumatic control equipment using this solenoid valve and reducing noise pollution in the working environment.

[0013] According to some embodiments of this disclosure, the solenoid valve includes a retractable closure post capable of opening or closing the air inlet, and a noise-reducing filter membrane covering the inside or outside of the air inlet. Alternatively, the noise-reducing filter membrane can be integrally molded around the air inlet and cover the air inlet.

[0014] By setting a retractable sealing column at the air inlet in conjunction with a noise-reducing filter membrane, the sealing column can precisely control the opening and closing of the air inlet, achieving stable regulation of the inflation pressure and avoiding turbulent noise caused by sudden airflow during the opening and closing of traditional valve cores. On the other hand, the noise-reducing filter membrane covering or integrally formed on the air inlet can uniformly rectify the airflow passing through the air inlet, breaking up the vortex structure that generates vibration noise in the airflow. At the same time, it can also filter particulate impurities mixed in the air source, preventing impurities from entering the valve body and causing valve core jamming and seal wear, effectively extending the service life of the solenoid valve.

[0015] According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the silencing mechanism includes a muffler disposed between a solenoid valve and a vacuum pump; Alternatively, the silencer can be placed on the side of the solenoid valve away from the vacuum pump.

[0016] By installing silencers in the corresponding gas paths, the aerodynamic noise generated by airflow pulsation and gas path pressure difference during the operation of the vacuum pump can be effectively attenuated, reducing the overall operating noise of the sampling device and optimizing the acoustic environment of the experimental or working environment. At the same time, the silencers can smooth the airflow impact in the gas path, reduce gas path vibration, and prevent vibration from being transmitted to the core sampling components, affecting the stability of the sampling flow rate, improving the control accuracy of VOCs sampling concentration, and ensuring the repeatability and reliability of the sampling results.

[0017] According to some embodiments of this disclosure, the noise reduction mechanism includes a noise reduction filter membrane and a muffler, wherein the noise reduction filter membrane covers the air inlet on the flow channel; The silencer is located between the solenoid valve and the vacuum pump; Alternatively, the silencer can be placed on the side of the solenoid valve away from the vacuum pump.

[0018] By covering the air inlet of the flow channel with a noise-reducing filter membrane, the airflow pulsation can be filtered and buffered in the initial stage of airflow entering the flow channel. This can not only disperse the airflow turbulence and reduce the jet noise generated by the high-speed airflow, but also prevent impurity particles carried by the airflow from entering the flow channel, avoiding impurity blockage that affects the on / off accuracy of the gas path structure and improving the stability of gas path operation. By installing a silencer between the solenoid valve and the vacuum pump, or on the side of the solenoid valve away from the vacuum pump, the mechanical vibration noise and airflow pulsation noise generated by the operation of the vacuum pump and the opening and closing of the solenoid valve can be specifically reduced for different gas path layouts.

[0019] According to some embodiments of this disclosure, the air inlet is located at the connection between the flow channel and the solenoid valve; the air inlet is located at the connection between the flow channel and the solenoid valve: the intake airflow acts directly on the connection gap, and the air pressure strengthens the seal in real time, preventing the outside air from seeping in and interfering with the stability of the airflow under negative pressure conditions; at the same time, it removes the heat generated by the solenoid valve, reduces the coil temperature rise, delays component aging, and improves long-term reliability; it can also shorten the intake trigger path, and the intake pressure acts on the valve core more quickly, reducing action delay and improving the system response speed.

[0020] Alternatively, the air inlet can be located in the area where the flow channel connects to the muffler. With the air inlet positioned at this connection, the incoming airflow directly sweeps away the muffler's filter element, promptly removing accumulated impurities and condensate from its surface. This prevents filter blockage and increased exhaust back pressure, maintaining silencing effect and unobstructed exhaust flow, extending maintenance cycles and service life. This air inlet position also creates a positive pressure barrier at the connection point, preventing oil fumes and moisture from seeping into the flow channel through gaps, avoiding moisture damage to the sound-absorbing material, and ensuring long-term stable silencing performance. Furthermore, the airflow is evenly distributed and pressure-stabilized by the muffler before entering the flow channel, reducing airflow pulsation, preventing pressure fluctuations from interfering with subsequent airflow paths, improving system stability, and reducing overall machine operating noise.

[0021] According to some embodiments of this disclosure, the noise-reducing filter membrane is fixedly connected to the solenoid valve by at least one of snap-fitting, embedding, ultrasonic welding, or bundling.

[0022] These fixed connection methods ensure the stability and reliability of the noise-reducing filter membrane during use, preventing it from detaching or shifting due to airflow impact or frequent use of the breast pump. Furthermore, the multiple connection methods provide more options for product manufacturing and assembly, allowing for flexible adjustments based on actual production needs and cost considerations.

[0023] According to some embodiments of this disclosure, the noise-reducing filter membrane is fixedly connected to the solenoid valve by a snap-fit ​​mechanism; the outlet end of the solenoid valve is sleeved within the flow channel, and an annular groove is provided on the outer periphery of the outlet end; the noise-reducing filter membrane covers the outlet end and extends to wrap around the annular groove, and at least one elastic sealing ring can be filled in the annular groove; the elastic sealing ring snaps onto and presses against a portion of the noise-reducing filter membrane within the annular groove; or The noise-reducing filter membrane is fixedly connected to the solenoid valve by embedding; the outlet end of the solenoid valve is sleeved inside the flow channel, and the outlet end has a detachable structure. The noise-reducing filter membrane covers the port of the outlet end and is embedded in the periphery of the outlet end; or The noise-reducing filter membrane is fixedly connected to the solenoid valve by ultrasonic welding; the mating surfaces of the solenoid valve body and the edge of the noise-reducing filter membrane are ultrasonically welded; or The noise-reducing filter membrane is fixedly connected to the solenoid valve by binding. The outlet end of the solenoid valve is sleeved in the flow channel. The noise-reducing filter membrane wraps around the port of the outlet end. The edge of the noise-reducing filter membrane extends to the inner wall of the flow channel and the outer peripheral surface of the outlet end. The outer walls of the flow channel and the outlet end are equipped with binding components.

[0024] These diverse fixing methods not only enhance the stability of the connection between the noise-reducing filter membrane and the solenoid valve, but also fully consider the needs of different production environments and cost budgets. The snap-fit ​​method, through the design of the elastic sealing ring, ensures both sealing performance and easy disassembly and replacement; the embedding method integrates the noise-reducing filter membrane and the solenoid valve, reducing connecting parts and improving the overall structural compactness; the ultrasonic welding method uses the heat generated by high-frequency vibration to fuse the membrane edge with the valve body, achieving a seamless connection and improving the strength and durability of the connection; the binding method, with its simplicity and ease of implementation, is suitable for production scenarios with strict cost requirements.

[0025] Regardless of the method used, the noise-reducing filter membrane can be ensured to play a stable noise-reducing role during the operation of the breast pump, providing users with a quieter and more comfortable breast pumping experience.

[0026] According to some embodiments of this disclosure, a plurality of annular slots are provided at intervals, and the plurality of annular slots are arranged in a stepped manner, with at least one elastic sealing ring provided in each annular slot.

[0027] The aforementioned stepped arrangement of multiple annular slots can further enhance the sealing performance between the noise reduction filter membrane and the air outlet of the solenoid valve.

[0028] The multiple elastic sealing rings can form multiple sealing lines to effectively prevent gas leakage and ensure that gas can only enter the flow channel after being dispersed and evenly distributed through the noise reduction filter membrane.

[0029] According to some embodiments of this disclosure, at least one silencer is provided on the flow channel.

[0030] The aforementioned silencer can further reduce noise, especially high-frequency noise. Specifically, the silencer can be integrated into the flow channel, utilizing the combination of porous sound-absorbing material and expansion chamber inside the silencer to attenuate high-frequency noise in the airflow through multiple paths; at the same time, a modular installation method can be adopted to facilitate flexible configuration of the number and position according to different noise reduction needs, avoiding complex modifications to the original flow channel structure and ensuring the smoothness of the airflow path and the compactness of the structure.

[0031] According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the muffler includes a muffler housing and a muffler body disposed within the muffler housing; The noise-reducing filter membrane and the silencing body are connected in series in the flow channel between the solenoid valve and the diaphragm air chamber. The noise-reducing filter membrane is located closer to the solenoid valve, and the silencing body is located closer to the diaphragm air chamber.

[0032] This series configuration utilizes the different noise reduction characteristics of the noise-reducing filter membrane and the silencing body. The noise-reducing filter membrane first pre-treats the air entering the flow channel, dispersing the airflow velocity, reducing gas turbulence, and lowering noise caused by uneven airflow velocity. Subsequently, the airflow enters the silencing body, where its special structure further eliminates gas turbulence and converts the sound energy in the airflow into heat energy, achieving a deeper level of noise reduction.

[0033] According to some embodiments of this disclosure, the silencing body is a resin sintered body with a loose porous structure, used to eliminate gas turbulence after passing through the noise reduction filter membrane.

[0034] The aforementioned resin sintered body can contain a large number of interconnected micropores to form a complex flow channel network. When airflow passes through, multiple reflections, refractions, and interference phenomena occur within the pores. This multi-dimensional sound wave interaction can effectively disrupt the energy propagation path of noise.

[0035] According to some embodiments of this disclosure, at least one end of the muffler is provided with a noise-reducing filter membrane.

[0036] The noise reduction effect is further enhanced by equipping at least one end of the aforementioned muffler with a noise-reducing filter membrane. Before the airflow enters the muffler, the noise-reducing filter membrane pre-treats the airflow, effectively dispersing high-speed particle groups in the airflow and preventing the formation of turbulent core areas due to excessively high local airflow velocities. The airflow treated by the noise-reducing filter membrane enters the muffler's porous structure at a more uniform speed. At this time, the microporous network inside the resin sintered body can fully exert the sound wave scattering effect, causing residual noise to undergo multiple energy attenuations in the pore channels.

[0037] According to some embodiments of this disclosure, the noise-reducing filter membrane is a honeycomb porous membrane.

[0038] In the above structure, the pore shape of the noise reduction filter membrane can be set to different structures such as circular pores, rectangular pores, irregular pores, or honeycomb pores, or other pore shapes can be set according to actual needs. Different pore shapes achieve differentiated technical effects by changing the geometric characteristics of the airflow path.

[0039] The honeycomb-like pores form a multi-layered composite sound-absorbing structure through regularly arranged hexagonal units. While expanding the effective filtration area, the sound wave energy is dissipated through multiple reflections and friction on the pore walls, making it particularly suitable for broadband noise scenarios.

[0040] According to some embodiments of this disclosure, the solenoid valve is a normally closed solenoid valve. After the negative pressure in the diaphragm air chamber reaches a preset value or a preset control signal is received, the solenoid valve is connected to the outside.

[0041] When the solenoid valve is connected to the outside, the pressure inside the diaphragm air chamber is regulated, effectively controlling the airflow. This design allows the breast pump to flexibly adjust its internal pressure according to actual needs during operation, preventing excessive or insufficient pressure from affecting milk expression or generating unnecessary noise. Simultaneously, the dual normally closed solenoid valves ensure that the breast pump remains relatively sealed when not in use, preventing outside air from entering and causing contamination, thus ensuring hygiene and safety.

[0042] According to some embodiments of this disclosure, a pressure sensor is provided on the flow channel where the solenoid valve is located.

[0043] The aforementioned pressure sensor can monitor air pressure changes within the flow channel in real time, providing accurate data for the air pressure control of the entire breast pump. When abnormal air pressure fluctuations occur, the pressure sensor can quickly feed the signal back to the control system described below. The control system adjusts the opening and closing status of the solenoid valve or the operating parameters of the vacuum pump in a timely manner according to the preset program, thereby ensuring that the breast pump always operates in a stable air pressure environment.

[0044] According to some embodiments of this disclosure, a control system is also included, which is electrically connected to the vacuum pump and the solenoid valve respectively, for controlling the start and stop of the vacuum pump and the opening and closing of the solenoid valve.

[0045] The aforementioned control system can achieve precise adjustment of the vacuum pump speed and real-time control of the solenoid valve response time through integrated circuit modules, forming a closed-loop feedback structure of sensor-controller-actuator. Through a preset pressure threshold algorithm, it can dynamically match the breast pumping needs of different users, reducing airflow pulsation noise while ensuring suction stability.

[0046] According to some embodiments of this disclosure, when the negative pressure of the diaphragm air chamber reaches a preset value, the control system controls the solenoid valve to open, so that the atmospheric airflow passes through the solenoid valve and the noise reduction filter membrane in sequence before entering the diaphragm air chamber to balance the pressure of the diaphragm air chamber.

[0047] In the aforementioned structure, when atmospheric airflow enters through this path, the noise-reducing filter membrane first pre-treats the airflow, dispersing its velocity through its porous structure and reducing turbulent noise caused by uneven airflow speed. Subsequently, the pre-noise-reduced airflow smoothly enters the diaphragm air chamber, effectively balancing the pressure within the chamber and ensuring the breast pump maintains stable suction during expression. This design not only improves the comfort of expression but also avoids additional noise caused by pressure fluctuations through precise pressure control, further enhancing the overall quietness of the breast pump. The noise-reducing filter membrane also prevents impurities from the outside air from entering the air chamber, ensuring hygiene during expression.

[0048] Secondly, this disclosure provides a breast pump, including the negative pressure generating device as described above, and further including: case; Breast shields, which include flanges that conform to the breast; Breast suction channel for accommodating the nipple; the breast suction channel is integrally formed with the breast shield or is detachably sealed. The housing is equipped with a negative pressure chamber, the negative pressure generating device is connected to the negative pressure chamber, and the breast pumping channel is directly or indirectly connected to the negative pressure chamber, so that the negative pressure chamber can transmit negative pressure to the breast pumping channel. A milk storage container, which includes a milk pumping channel to receive and store milk.

[0049] By adopting the above-mentioned structural design and integrating the optimized negative pressure generating device into the overall structure of the breast pump, a stable negative pressure suction with smaller fluctuations and more precise frequency can be output. This can better simulate the rhythm of a baby's natural sucking, avoid sudden changes in suction that could cause pulling damage to the nipple and areola, improve the comfort of the breast pumping process, and reduce the risk of nipple redness and cracking caused by long-term use of the breast pump.

[0050] Thirdly, this disclosure provides a method for reducing noise in a breast pump with low airflow resistance. The method utilizes the aforementioned negative pressure generating device applied to the breast pump. The method includes: Step S100: Start the noise-reducing breast pump and control the vacuum pump to start via the controller. The vacuum pump begins to draw air into the diaphragm air chamber. The above steps can be used to start the vacuum pump through the controller, providing a stable negative pressure source for the diaphragm air chamber, ensuring the initial power output during the milk pumping process, and achieving effective milk extraction.

[0051] Step S200: When the negative pressure in the diaphragm air chamber reaches a preset value, the controller controls the solenoid valve to open; The above steps can trigger the opening of the solenoid valve by setting a preset negative pressure threshold, thereby achieving automatic switching of the milk pumping cycle, avoiding manual intervention, and ensuring the continuity and stability of the milk pumping process.

[0052] Step S300: After the atmospheric airflow passes through the noise reduction filter membrane, it enters the flow channel through the first end of the solenoid valve. The noise reduction filter membrane disperses the gas flow velocity that flows into the flow channel rapidly due to the pressure difference, so that the local velocity of the airflow at each point of the cross section in the flow channel is effectively evenly distributed, thereby reducing gas turbulence. The above steps can utilize the dispersing effect of the noise-reducing filter membrane to reduce local airflow velocity differences, reduce aerodynamic noise generated by gas turbulence, and maintain low airflow resistance to ensure that milk pumping efficiency is not affected.

[0053] Step S400: The gas flowing through the noise-reducing filter membrane passes through the resin sintered body with a porous structure to further eliminate gas turbulence.

[0054] The above steps can perform secondary rectification of the airflow through the porous structure of the resin sintered body, further eliminating residual turbulence, making the airflow entering the diaphragm air chamber more stable, reducing noise caused by pressure fluctuations, and quickly balancing the air chamber pressure to prepare for the next milk pumping cycle.

[0055] According to some embodiments of this disclosure, the controller can dynamically adjust the negative pressure release and operating frequency of the noise-reducing breast pump based on the parameter changes of the diaphragm air chamber pressure.

[0056] Specifically, the controller collects air chamber pressure data from pressure sensors in real time and performs dynamic analysis using a preset algorithm model. When the rate of increase in air pressure exceeds a threshold, the negative pressure regulation program is immediately activated, achieving precise release of negative pressure by reducing the vacuum pump speed or shortening the solenoid valve opening cycle.

[0057] The aforementioned dynamic adjustment method can be achieved through real-time pressure feedback and intelligent algorithm control: the pressure sensor built into the controller continuously monitors the pressure of the diaphragm air chamber at a set sampling interval. When the negative pressure value is detected to deviate from the preset range, the microcontroller immediately starts the PID adjustment algorithm and dynamically adjusts the speed of the vacuum pump motor through the pulse width modulation signal. Attached Figure Description

[0058] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this specification, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the accompanying drawings described below are only some embodiments of this specification. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0059] Figure 1 A schematic diagram is shown of a structure in which a noise-reducing filter membrane is disposed on a solenoid valve in a negative pressure generating device for use in a breast pump according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; Figure 2A schematic diagram of a noise-reducing filter membrane disposed on a silencer in a negative pressure generating device for use in a breast pump according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown. Figure 3 A schematic diagram of a structure is shown in which a noise-reducing filter membrane is disposed on a silencer and the positions of the silencer and the solenoid valve are interchanged in a negative pressure generating device for a breast pump according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 4 A flowchart illustrating a noise reduction method for a noise-reducing breast pump according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown.

[0060] Figure label: 100. Milk suction body; 110. Diaphragm air chamber; 111. Negative pressure chamber; 112. Milk collection chamber; 120. Suction diaphragm; 200. Vacuum pump; 300. Solenoid valve; 310. Air outlet; 400. Noise reduction filter membrane; 500. Silencer; 510. Silencer housing; 520. Silencer body; 600. Collection container; 700. Flow channel. Detailed Implementation

[0061] The following description provides specific application scenarios and requirements for this specification, intended to enable those skilled in the art to make and use the contents of this specification. Various partial modifications to the disclosed embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein can be applied to other embodiments and applications without departing from the spirit and scope of this specification. Therefore, this specification is not limited to the embodiments shown, but rather to the widest scope consistent with the claims.

[0062] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular exemplary embodiments only and is not restrictive. For example, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” used herein may also include the plural forms. When used in this specification, the terms “comprising,” “including,” and / or “containing” mean that the associated feature, integer, step, operation, element, and / or component is present, but do not preclude the presence of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and / or groups, or that other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and / or groups may be added to the system / method.

[0063] Considering the following description, these and other features of this specification, as well as the operation and function of the related components of the structure, and the economy of assembly and manufacture of the parts, can be significantly improved. All of these form part of this specification with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, it should be clearly understood that the drawings are for illustrative and descriptive purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of this specification. It should also be understood that the drawings are not drawn to scale.

[0064] The flowcharts used in this specification illustrate operations implemented according to some embodiments of this specification. It should be clearly understood that the operations in the flowcharts may not be implemented in a sequential order. Instead, the operations may be implemented in reverse order or simultaneously. Furthermore, one or more additional operations may be added to the flowcharts. One or more operations may be removed from the flowcharts.

[0065] In this specification, "X includes at least one of A, B, or C" means that X includes at least A, or X includes at least B, or X includes at least C. That is, X can include only one of A, B, and C, or any combination of A, B, and C, as well as other possible content / elements. Any combination of A, B, and C can be A, B, C, AB, AC, BC, or ABC.

[0066] In this specification, unless explicitly stated otherwise, the relationships between structures can be direct or indirect, complete or partial. For example, when describing "A is connected to B," unless explicitly stated that A and B are directly connected, it should be understood that A can be directly connected to B or indirectly connected to B. Similarly, when describing "A is above B," unless explicitly stated that A is directly above B (AB is adjacent and A is above B), it should be understood that A can be directly above B or indirectly above B (AB is separated by other elements, and A is above B). Furthermore, when describing "A is inside B," unless explicitly stated that A is entirely inside B, it should be understood that A can be entirely inside B or partially inside B. And so on.

[0067] The negative pressure generating device disclosed herein, applied to a breast pump, is a maternal and infant product specifically designed for breastfeeding women. By optimizing the airflow structure and acoustic damping technology, it significantly reduces operating noise while achieving efficient breast pumping. Its core power system includes a vacuum pump, a solenoid valve, a suction diaphragm, and a one-way valve. During operation, it generates a breast pumping motion that simulates infant sucking through periodic negative pressure. It is suitable for various scenarios such as home, office, and travel, meeting users' needs for privacy and quiet operation.

[0068] Existing breast pumps generally face a technical contradiction in their noise reduction design: while traditional resistive silencers can reduce noise, they increase airflow resistance, leading to a decrease in the diaphragm's recovery rate. Conversely, reducing airflow resistance results in poor noise reduction, with noise levels reaching over 65 decibels at high settings. Furthermore, some products achieve noise reduction by thickening sound-insulating materials, but this increases the device's size and weight, contradicting the trend towards portability. Therefore, a new type of breast pump is needed that combines low airflow resistance with high noise reduction performance.

[0069] This disclosure provides a negative pressure generating device for use in a breast pump. The breast pump adopts a split airflow design, including a pump unit, a noise reduction module, and a milk expression unit connected in sequence. The noise reduction module integrates a biomimetic streamlined airway and composite acoustic damping material, which can reduce airflow disturbance while absorbing high-frequency noise. The overall weight of the device is controlled to less than 200g, and food-grade silicone contact parts are used, balancing safety and portability.

[0070] To facilitate the description of the negative pressure generating device used in breast pumps, unless otherwise specified, this instruction manual describes its structure with the breast pump facing forward when the pump is placed naturally. "Inner side" refers to the surface that directly contacts the breast, located on the side of the breast pump closest to the user. Furthermore, the terms "front," "back," "left," "right," "up," and "down" in this instruction manual are defined based on the user's normal body position, with the breast pump facing forward and the control panel facing upward.

[0071] As an example, Figures 1 to 3 A negative pressure generating device (air circuit system structure diagram) for use in a breast pump is shown according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0072] Firstly, reference Figures 1 to 3 This disclosure provides a negative pressure generating device for use in a breast pump, which is connected to the breast pump body 100. The breast pump body 100 has a diaphragm air chamber 110, and a suction diaphragm 120 is provided in the diaphragm air chamber 110. The suction diaphragm 120 divides the diaphragm air chamber 110 into a negative pressure chamber 111 and a milk collection chamber 112.

[0073] The aforementioned negative pressure generating device is used to provide controllable negative pressure for the milk pump body 100. By changing the air pressure inside the negative pressure chamber 111, it drives the suction diaphragm 120 to deform periodically, thereby forming a regular negative pressure suction on the milk collection chamber 112, simulating the sucking action of an infant to achieve milk production and milk pumping. The negative pressure generating device is connected to the negative pressure chamber 111 of the diaphragm air chamber 110, which can precisely control the magnitude and frequency of the negative pressure to adapt to the suction requirements of different lactation scenarios. The structure is adapted to the modular design of existing breast pumps, making it easy to assemble and maintain.

[0074] The negative pressure generating device includes a vacuum pump 200, a solenoid valve 300, and a silencing mechanism. The vacuum pump 200 is connected to the negative pressure chamber 111 and is used to provide negative pressure to the diaphragm gas chamber 110; the solenoid valve 300 is connected to the negative pressure chamber 111 through a flow channel, and the solenoid valve 300 is connected to the outside and can control the opening and closing of the flow channel with the outside; the silencing mechanism is set in the flow channel to reduce the noise generated during the operation of the negative pressure generating device.

[0075] The aforementioned negative pressure generating device has the following beneficial effects: the vacuum pump 200 can accurately provide stable negative pressure, effectively improving the efficiency of milk expression; the solenoid valve 300 can flexibly control the flow channel opening and closing, realizing dynamic adjustment of negative pressure; the silencing mechanism can significantly reduce noise during operation and improve user comfort.

[0076] Compared to traditional breast pumps that rely solely on a single vacuum pump 200 to repeatedly start and stop to regulate negative pressure, the negative pressure generating device disclosed herein uses a vacuum pump 200 in conjunction with a solenoid valve 300 to achieve negative pressure regulation. The vacuum pump 200 can maintain a continuous and stable standby operation state, eliminating the need for frequent start-stop cycles that trigger the motor rotor's start-stop impact. This fundamentally reduces the mechanical vibration noise generated by the repeated start-stop cycles of the vacuum pump 200. Combined with a silencing mechanism installed within the flow channel, this further weakens the airflow whistling generated when the air enters and exits the flow channel, significantly reducing the overall operating noise of the breast pump. This prevents noise from disturbing infants during use and improves the user experience in scenarios such as nighttime feeding.

[0077] The aforementioned device (short for negative pressure generating device) can quickly adjust the negative pressure of the negative pressure chamber 111 by switching the solenoid valve 300 on and off. Compared with the method of controlling negative pressure by starting and stopping the vacuum pump 200, the response speed is faster and it can more accurately match the negative pressure change pattern required for different lactation stages, simulating the rhythm of a baby's natural sucking. This can ensure lactation comfort, avoid nipple swelling and damage caused by constant suction, and effectively improve lactation efficiency and shorten the milking time.

[0078] The vacuum pump 200 does not require frequent start-stop, which reduces component wear caused by repeated motor start-stop, lowers the probability of motor overheating and burnout, and mechanical fatigue and aging, effectively extends the overall service life of the negative pressure generating device, and reduces the probability of product failure and maintenance costs.

[0079] The noise reduction mechanism is located on the flow channel connecting the solenoid valve 300 to the outside world. It can directly and specifically reduce the noise of airflow pulsation and the impact noise generated by valve opening and closing. It does not require an additional increase in the overall size of the machine to achieve noise reduction, which meets the design requirements of miniaturization and portability of breast pumps and is suitable for use in multiple scenarios such as home and travel.

[0080] The above-mentioned technology, which adds a solenoid valve 300 and a silencing mechanism, can significantly reduce the overall operating noise of the breast pump. The overall structure is simple, the modification and production costs are low, it is compatible with the structure of most existing electric breast pumps, has stronger compatibility, and is easy to mass-produce and promote.

[0081] In the above structure, the milk suction body 100 can effectively suck and guide milk through the diaphragm air chamber 110, providing a transition space for the milk suction process. The vacuum pump 200 can be connected to the diaphragm air chamber 110 and provide negative pressure, providing a power source for the milk suction action and ensuring that sufficient suction force can be generated to complete the milk suction work. The silencing mechanism can reduce noise; for example, some silencing structures can effectively distribute the local velocity of the airflow at various points in the cross-section of the flow channel 700 collection container, reducing gas turbulence and thus reducing airflow noise.

[0082] A collection container 600 can be connected to the bottom of the breast pump body 100. During the pumping process, the liquid can flow into the collection container 600 under the influence of gravity. The collection container 600 can be a baby bottle, a disposable breast pump bag, or other types of containers.

[0083] Because the suction diaphragm 120 divides the diaphragm air chamber 110 into a negative pressure chamber 111 and a milk collection chamber 112, the vacuum pump 200, in conjunction with the diaphragm air chamber 110, provides pressure output to the milk collection chamber 112, thereby indirectly providing pressure output to the milk pumping body 100 to achieve the milk pumping effect. The elastic deformation of the internal diaphragm allows for volume changes to accommodate different breast sizes. The diaphragm air chamber 110, in conjunction with the vacuum pump 200, can create periodic negative pressure, providing a stable suction source for the milk pumping process and ensuring the continuity and effectiveness of the pumping action. The collection container 600 can be specifically positioned below the diaphragm air chamber 110. A suction diaphragm 120 is installed inside the diaphragm air chamber 110, which prevents milk pumped during the milk pumping process from entering the collection container in the flow channel 700. The suction diaphragm 120 is a barrier membrane that allows gas to pass through normally but prevents liquid from passing through, thus preventing milk from entering the collection container in the flow channel 700 under negative pressure.

[0084] The vacuum pump 200 is directly connected to the diaphragm air chamber 110, enabling it to quickly and efficiently provide the necessary negative pressure to the diaphragm air chamber 110. By controlling the power and operating frequency of the vacuum pump 200, the magnitude and cycle of the negative pressure can be controlled, simulating the natural rhythm of a baby's sucking, thus improving milk expression efficiency and comfort.

[0085] The first end of the solenoid valve 300 is connected to the diaphragm air chamber 110, and the second end is connected to the outside. Thus, the flow channel 700 collection container can be quickly opened and closed through electromagnetic control. When the solenoid valve 300 is opened, the diaphragm air chamber 110 is connected to the outside, the pressure is quickly balanced, the release phase of the milk expression cycle is completed, and the milk expression process is ensured to continue.

[0086] The silencing mechanism is installed on the air vent of the solenoid valve 300 near the milk suction body 100 or inside the collection container of the flow channel 700. When the solenoid valve 300 opens to allow air into the collection container of the flow channel 700, the silencing mechanism disperses and evens out the rapidly flowing gas, effectively reducing gas turbulence and noise generated when the airflow passes through the collection container of the flow channel 700, while not affecting the normal flow of gas and ensuring milk suction efficiency. Specifically, the porous structure on the silencing mechanism can disperse the gas velocity that flows rapidly into the collection container of the flow channel 700 due to pressure difference, effectively evenly distributing the local velocity of the airflow at various points on the cross-section of the collection container of the flow channel 700, thus reducing airflow noise.

[0087] The combination of the aforementioned diaphragm air chamber 110, vacuum pump 200, solenoid valve 300, and silencer mechanism achieves an integrated setup for negative pressure generation, pressure regulation, airflow control, and noise suppression. Pressure changes in the diaphragm air chamber 110 provide the basic suction for milk expression, the vacuum pump 200 ensures stable negative pressure, the solenoid valve 300 controls pressure circulation, and the silencer mechanism optimizes airflow and reduces noise, collectively improving the performance stability, user comfort, and quiet operation of the breast pump.

[0088] The aforementioned "external environment" refers to the space outside the noise-reducing breast pump, such as direct connection to the air. In the solenoid valve 300, the end connected to the external environment is the suction end. This solenoid valve 300 activates when the noise-reducing breast pump depressurizes, and through the action of the silencing mechanism, it can greatly improve the noise reduction effect of the breast pump's airflow. Specifically, the solenoid valve 300 consists of two normally closed solenoid valves.

[0089] The noise-reducing breast pump disclosed herein can be equipped with two breast pumping modules. Each breast pumping module includes a breast pumping body 100, a vacuum pump 200, a solenoid valve 300, and a noise reduction mechanism (if necessary, the two breast pumping modules can share a single vacuum pump 200). This configuration allows for simultaneous breast pumping of both breasts. By using the same working frequency and duration, it ensures that the size of the two breasts will not differ due to different breast pumping environments.

[0090] The above allows the two breast pumping modules to have independent air paths, which can prevent air pressure fluctuations from affecting the pumping efficiency of the other side when pumping milk from one side. When the user selects the single-side pumping mode, the unactivated vacuum pump 200 is in standby mode; the activated vacuum pump 200 forms an independent negative pressure circuit with the diaphragm air chamber 110 through a silencer mechanism to ensure stable suction.

[0091] The noise reduction mechanism can be configured as a noise-reducing filter membrane 400. Regarding the material selection for the noise-reducing filter membrane 400, this disclosure can use a food-grade polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) microporous membrane, with a specific pore size range controlled between 0.5-3 μm. Alternatively, it can be configured as a noise-reducing filter membrane 400 made of other materials, or not limited to the aforementioned pore size range. The food-grade PTFE microporous membrane combines hydrophobicity and air permeability, effectively dispersing airflow while preventing milk from seeping into the air path system.

[0092] Furthermore, this disclosure includes an array of temperature and pressure sensors on the inner side of the breast pump body 100. The temperature sensor can monitor the skin temperature of the breast pumping area in real time. When an abnormal temperature increase is detected (e.g., exceeding 42°C), the system automatically triggers a cooling protection mechanism, adjusting the operating frequency of the vacuum pump 200 to reduce the suction intensity and prevent breast tissue damage caused by prolonged high-intensity breast pumping. The pressure sensor array includes at least three distributed pressure monitoring points, three of which are located at the edge, center, and near the suction tube of the breast pump, respectively, and can dynamically capture pressure distribution changes during the breast pumping process at sampling intervals over a certain period of time.

[0093] The sensor data is transmitted to the controller in real time via Bluetooth. When the pressure value at any monitoring point exceeds a preset safety threshold (e.g., -25 kPa), the solenoid valve 300 immediately opens the pressure relief channel, and the vacuum pump 200 switches to low-power mode to ensure that the suction force is always maintained within a safe range (e.g., 20 kPa-25 kPa). This multi-parameter collaborative control mechanism allows the device to maintain milk pumping efficiency while minimizing the risk of nipple compression damage.

[0094] According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the noise reduction mechanism includes a noise reduction filter membrane 400, which is disposed on the air inlet in the flow channel; Alternatively, the noise reduction filter can be installed inside the flow channel; Alternatively, the noise reduction filter can be installed at the flow opening of the solenoid valve 300.

[0095] The above structure can directly intercept and absorb turbulence and impact noise generated when airflow passes through the flow path by placing the noise reduction filter membrane 400 at the air inlet of the flow channel, the inside of the flow channel, or the flow opening of the solenoid valve 300.

[0096] The porous mesh structure of the noise reduction filter membrane 400 can break up the concentrated vortex of high-speed airflow, decompose the large-size sound wave energy into small-size energy and gradually dissipate it, and avoid the airflow directly impacting the valve body or flow channel wall to generate resonance noise, thus weakening the sound energy from the source of noise generation. The above setup does not require significant modifications to the overall structure of the original solenoid valve 300, nor does it increase the volume of the solenoid valve 300. It can be installed using the existing flow channel or opening space, adapting to the integration needs of solenoid valves 300 of different specifications. At the same time, it does not excessively obstruct the normal flow of air. While ensuring that the response speed and flow capacity of the solenoid valve 300 meet the working requirements, it effectively reduces the airflow noise during the opening and closing process of the solenoid valve 300 and the stable airflow stage, improving the user comfort of gas equipment and pneumatic control equipment using the solenoid valve 300 and reducing noise pollution in the working environment.

[0097] In addition, the noise reduction filter membrane 400 can also filter impurities from the gas flowing through the channel, preventing dust and particulate matter in the gas from entering the solenoid valve 300 and causing valve core jamming and seal wear. This can extend the overall service life of the solenoid valve 300 and reduce the frequency and cost of later equipment maintenance.

[0098] According to some embodiments of this disclosure, the solenoid valve 300 includes a retractable sealing post capable of opening or closing the air inlet, and a noise-reducing filter membrane 400 covering the inner or outer side of the air inlet; or, the noise-reducing filter membrane 400 is integrally formed on the periphery of the air inlet and covers the air inlet.

[0099] By setting a retractable sealing column at the air inlet in conjunction with a noise-reducing filter membrane 400, the air inlet can be precisely controlled to achieve stable adjustment of the inflation pressure. This avoids the turbulent noise caused by sudden airflow during the opening and closing of traditional valve cores. The noise-reducing filter membrane 400, which covers or is integrally formed on the air inlet, can uniformly rectify the airflow passing through the air inlet, disperse the vortex structure that generates vibration noise in the airflow, and at the same time filter particulate impurities mixed in the air source, preventing impurities from entering the valve body and causing valve core jamming and seal wear, thus effectively extending the service life of the solenoid valve 300.

[0100] Furthermore, whether the noise-reducing filter membrane 400 is installed as a cover or as an integral piece, it will not occupy any additional space inside the valve body. It is compatible with the existing structure of most solenoid valves 300, with low modification costs and strong adaptability. When the noise-reducing filter membrane 400 is integrally molded around the air inlet, it can also avoid the problem of filter membrane falling off and shifting, improve structural stability, and maintain a stable noise reduction and filtration effect during long-term use. It significantly reduces the airflow noise generated during the operation of the solenoid valve 300 and improves the quietness of the inflation equipment.

[0101] According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the silencing mechanism includes a muffler 500, which is disposed between the solenoid valve 300 and the vacuum pump 200. Alternatively, the silencer 500 can be positioned on the side of the solenoid valve 300 away from the vacuum pump 200.

[0102] By installing a silencer 500 in the corresponding gas path, the aerodynamic noise generated by airflow pulsation and gas path pressure difference during the operation of vacuum pump 200 can be effectively attenuated, reducing the overall operating noise of the sampling device and optimizing the acoustic environment of the experimental or working environment. At the same time, the silencer 500 can smooth the airflow impact in the gas path, reduce gas path vibration, and prevent vibration from being transmitted to the core sampling components, affecting the stability of the sampling flow rate, improving the control accuracy of VOCs sampling concentration, and ensuring the repeatability and reliability of sampling results. In addition, by reasonably setting the installation position of the silencer 500, it can achieve source noise reduction for the gas source pulsation noise on the vacuum pump 200 side, and end noise reduction for the airflow jet noise on the exhaust side. It is compatible with sampling gas path designs with different structural layouts, without requiring significant changes to the connection logic of the original gas path. It has strong adaptability and is easy to upgrade existing sampling devices. While achieving noise reduction and vibration reduction effects, it does not add too much device size and design complexity.

[0103] According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the noise reduction mechanism includes a noise reduction filter membrane 400 and a muffler 500, wherein the noise reduction filter membrane 400 covers the air inlet on the flow channel; The silencer 500 is positioned between the solenoid valve 300 and the vacuum pump 200; Alternatively, the silencer 500 can be positioned on the side of the solenoid valve 300 away from the vacuum pump 200.

[0104] By covering the air inlet of the flow channel with a noise-reducing filter membrane 400, the airflow pulsation can be filtered and buffered in the initial stage of the airflow entering the flow channel. This can not only disperse the airflow turbulence and reduce the jet noise generated by the high-speed airflow, but also prevent impurity particles carried by the airflow from entering the interior of the flow channel, thus avoiding impurity blockage that affects the on / off accuracy of the air circuit structure and improving the stability of the air circuit operation.

[0105] By installing a silencer 500 between the solenoid valve 300 and the vacuum pump 200, or on the side of the solenoid valve 300 away from the vacuum pump 200, the mechanical vibration noise and airflow pulsation noise generated by the operation of the vacuum pump 200 and the opening and closing of the solenoid valve 300 can be specifically reduced for different gas path layouts. When the silencer 500 is placed between the solenoid valve 300 and the vacuum pump 200, it can directly attenuate the negative pressure pulsation noise generated by the operation of the vacuum pump 200, and prevent the noise from propagating along the gas path to the solenoid valve 300 and the outside world.

[0106] When the silencer 500 is installed on the side of the solenoid valve 300 away from the vacuum pump 200, it can simultaneously attenuate the exhaust impact noise generated by the opening and closing action of the solenoid valve 300 and the noise generated by the vibration of the valve core inside the solenoid valve 300, further blocking the path of noise radiation to the outside.

[0107] Both silencer 500 settings can be adapted to different gas path space layout requirements. Combined with the initial noise reduction of the noise reduction filter membrane 400, a multi-level synergistic noise reduction effect is formed, which significantly reduces the overall noise during the operation of the sample processing equipment. This solves the problem of high gas path noise in traditional sample processing equipment such as nucleic acid extractors, which affects the user experience of operators. At the same time, the multi-level noise reduction structure will not significantly affect the negative pressure stability of the gas path, which can ensure the working accuracy of negative pressure aspiration and discharge, and improve the reliability of sample processing results.

[0108] According to some embodiments of this disclosure, the air inlet is located at the connection between the flow channel and the solenoid valve 300; Alternatively, the air intake can be located in the area where the flow channel connects to the muffler 500.

[0109] According to some embodiments of this disclosure, the air inlet is located at the connection between the flow channel and the solenoid valve 300. The intake airflow can directly act on the gap at the connection position, and the airflow pressure can be used to seal and reinforce the connection end face between the solenoid valve 300 and the flow channel in real time. This prevents outside air from seeping into the flow channel through the connection gap under negative pressure operation, thus interfering with the stability of the airflow. At the same time, the continuous flow brought by the intake air can remove the heat generated by the solenoid valve 300 during operation, reduce the temperature rise of the solenoid valve 300 coil during long-term operation, slow down the aging of components, and improve the long-term reliability of the solenoid valve 300. In addition, this setting can shorten the response path of the intake air triggering the solenoid valve 300. When the system issues an air circuit switching command, the intake pressure can act on the valve core of the solenoid valve 300 more quickly, reduce the action delay of the solenoid valve 300, and improve the response speed of the entire air circuit system.

[0110] Alternatively, the air inlet can be located at the connection between the flow channel and the muffler 500. On one hand, the intake airflow can directly sweep away the filter element inside the muffler 500, promptly carrying away impurities and condensate accumulated on the filter element's surface. This prevents filter blockage and subsequent increase in exhaust back pressure, maintaining a stable silencing effect and unobstructed exhaust flow, and extending the maintenance cycle and service life of the muffler 500. On the other hand, this air intake location can form a stable positive pressure barrier at the connection between the muffler 500 and the flow channel, preventing oil fumes and moisture from seeping into the muffler 500 through the connection gap during operation. This prevents the sound-absorbing material inside the muffler 500 from becoming damp and failing, ensuring long-term stable silencing performance. Simultaneously, this arrangement allows the intake air to undergo uniform flow and pressure stabilization treatment by the muffler 500 before entering the flow channel, reducing airflow pulsation and preventing intake pressure fluctuations from interfering with subsequent airflow operations. This improves the stability of the entire airflow system and reduces the overall noise level of the machine.

[0111] refer to Figures 1 to 3According to some embodiments of this disclosure, the noise reduction filter membrane 400 is fixedly connected to the solenoid valve 300 by at least one of snap-fitting, embedding, ultrasonic welding, or binding.

[0112] These fixed connection methods ensure the stability and reliability of the noise-reducing filter membrane 400 during use, preventing it from detaching or shifting due to airflow impact or frequent use of the breast pump. At the same time, the multiple connection methods provide more options for product manufacturing and assembly, allowing for flexible adjustments based on actual production needs and cost considerations.

[0113] According to some embodiments of this disclosure, the noise-reducing filter membrane 400 is fixedly connected to the solenoid valve 300 by a snap-fit ​​method; the outlet end 310 of the solenoid valve 300 is sleeved in the flow channel 700, and an annular groove is provided on the outer periphery of the outlet end 310. The noise-reducing filter membrane 400 covers the outlet end 310 and extends to wrap around the annular groove. At least one elastic sealing ring can be filled in the annular groove. The elastic sealing ring snaps onto and presses against a portion of the noise-reducing filter membrane 400 in the annular groove.

[0114] The above structure achieves radial positioning through the mechanical engagement of the annular groove and the elastic sealing ring. The elastic deformation of the sealing ring can compensate for assembly tolerances. At the same time, the double engagement (groove limiting + sealing ring pressing) can effectively resist the axial force generated by airflow impact and improve connection stability.

[0115] Furthermore, the flow channel 700 is fitted onto the air outlet 310, and the inner wall of the fitted portion of the flow channel 700 abuts against the elastic sealing ring, which is a silicone sealing ring.

[0116] In other examples, the noise-reducing filter membrane 400 is fixedly connected to the solenoid valve 300 by embedding; the outlet end 310 of the solenoid valve 300 is sleeved in the flow channel 700, the outlet end 310 is a detachable structure, and the noise-reducing filter membrane 400 covers the port of the outlet end 310 and is embedded in the periphery of the outlet end 310.

[0117] The aforementioned detachable air outlet 310 facilitates membrane replacement and maintenance. The peripheral embedded structure of the air outlet 310 enables the membrane to form a surface contact seal with the flow channel 700. Combined with the double protection of the port cover, it can reduce airflow bypass phenomenon, reduce local pressure loss, simplify the assembly process, and improve production efficiency.

[0118] In other examples, the noise-reducing filter membrane 400 is fixedly connected to the solenoid valve 300 by ultrasonic welding; the mating surfaces of the valve body of the solenoid valve 300 and the membrane edge of the noise-reducing filter membrane 400 are ultrasonically welded.

[0119] The aforementioned mating surfaces form an integrated sealing structure through molecular-level bonding. The absence of mechanical gaps prevents gas leakage, and the rigid connection of the welding area can withstand long-term vibration loads. Furthermore, the precise control of welding width and energy ensures that there is no stress concentration at the edge of the membrane, thus extending its service life.

[0120] In other examples, the noise-reducing filter membrane 400 is fixedly connected to the solenoid valve 300 by binding; the outlet end 310 of the solenoid valve 300 is sleeved in the flow channel 700, the noise-reducing filter membrane 400 covers the port of the outlet end 310, the edge of the noise-reducing filter membrane 400 extends to the space between the inner wall of the flow channel 700 and the outer peripheral surface of the outlet end 310, and the outer wall of the flow channel 700 corresponding to the outlet end 310 is provided with binding components.

[0121] The aforementioned noise reduction filter membrane 400 extends from the edge to the clamping structure between the inner wall of the flow channel 700 and the outer peripheral surface of the air outlet 310. Combined with the uniform circumferential force of the binding assembly, it can form a flexible seal, adapting to thermal expansion and contraction deformation under different working conditions. At the same time, the external design of the binding assembly facilitates quick disassembly and meets the needs of frequent maintenance.

[0122] Furthermore, the above-mentioned binding method can use food-grade silicone cable ties or stainless steel hose clamps. An annular groove is set on the outer wall of the air outlet of the solenoid valve 300. After the edge of the noise reduction filter membrane 400 is folded over and wrapped around the port of the flow channel 700, it is tightened and fixed in the groove by cable ties. This ensures sealing performance while avoiding excessive compression that could cause membrane deformation. It is suitable for scenarios where the noise reduction filter membrane 400 needs to be replaced frequently.

[0123] These diverse fixing methods not only enhance the stability of the connection between the noise-reducing filter membrane 400 and the solenoid valve 300, but also fully consider the needs of different production environments and cost budgets. The snap-fit ​​method, through the design of the elastic sealing ring, ensures both sealing performance and easy disassembly and replacement; the embedding method integrates the noise-reducing filter membrane 400 and the solenoid valve 300, reducing connecting parts and improving the overall structural compactness; the ultrasonic welding method uses the heat generated by high-frequency vibration to fuse the membrane edge with the valve body, achieving a seamless connection and improving the strength and durability of the connection; the binding method, with its simplicity and ease of implementation, is suitable for production scenarios with strict cost requirements.

[0124] Regardless of the method used, the noise-reducing filter membrane 400 can be ensured to play a stable noise-reducing role during the operation of the breast pump, providing users with a quieter and more comfortable breast pumping experience.

[0125] According to some embodiments of this disclosure, a plurality of annular slots are provided at intervals, and the plurality of annular slots are arranged in a stepped manner, with at least one elastic sealing ring provided in each annular slot.

[0126] The aforementioned stepped arrangement of multiple annular slots can further enhance the sealing performance between the noise reduction filter membrane 400 and the air outlet 310 of the solenoid valve 300.

[0127] The multiple elastic sealing rings can form multiple sealing lines to effectively prevent gas leakage and ensure that the gas can only enter the flow channel 700 after being dispersed and evenly distributed through the noise reduction filter membrane 400.

[0128] This design not only improves the noise reduction effect of the breast pump but also enhances the stability and reliability of its overall structure, enabling the breast pump to maintain excellent performance during long-term use. Furthermore, this design facilitates the replacement and maintenance of the noise-reducing filter membrane 400, reducing user operating costs.

[0129] refer to Figures 1 to 3 According to some embodiments of this disclosure, at least one silencer 500 is provided on the flow channel 700.

[0130] The aforementioned silencer 500 can further reduce noise, especially high-frequency noise. Specifically, the silencer 500 can be integrated into the flow channel 700, utilizing the combination of porous sound-absorbing material and expansion chamber inside the silencer 500 to attenuate high-frequency noise in the airflow through multiple paths; at the same time, a modular installation method can be adopted to facilitate flexible configuration of the number and position according to different noise reduction requirements, avoiding complex modifications to the original flow channel 700 structure and ensuring the smoothness of the airflow path and the compactness of the structure.

[0131] The silencer 500 can be installed in the flow channel 700 near the outlet 310 of the solenoid valve 300, which will not significantly obstruct the airflow and can effectively absorb the noise generated by the airflow.

[0132] The silencer 500 and the flow channel 700 can be connected by a flexible snap-fit, which is convenient to install and has a reliable seal, and can avoid additional noise caused by gas leakage.

[0133] The silencer 500 and the noise-reducing filter membrane 400 form a dual noise reduction system, which performs comprehensive noise reduction treatment before the gas enters the milk pump body 100, significantly improving the overall quiet performance of the breast pump.

[0134] The main functional component of the aforementioned muffler 500 can be a sintered resin body with a loose porous structure. After the airflow undergoes preliminary treatment by the noise-reducing filter membrane 400 and enters the flow channel 700, it will further flow through the muffler 500. The loose porous structure of the sintered resin body allows the airflow to be refracted and diffused multiple times within it, further weakening the gas turbulence and converting the sound energy in the airflow into heat energy for dissipation, thereby more effectively reducing airflow noise.

[0135] Furthermore, this structure does not create excessive resistance to airflow, ensuring smooth airflow during operation of the noise-reducing breast pump and not affecting the efficiency of milk expression.

[0136] refer to Figures 1 to 3 According to some embodiments of this disclosure, the muffler 500 includes a muffler housing 510 and a muffler body 520 disposed within the muffler housing 510; wherein, the noise reduction filter membrane 400 and the muffler body 520 are connected in series in the flow channel 700 between the solenoid valve 300 and the diaphragm air chamber 110, wherein the noise reduction filter membrane 400 is disposed close to the solenoid valve 300, and the muffler body 520 is disposed close to the diaphragm air chamber 110.

[0137] This series configuration utilizes the different noise reduction characteristics of the noise-reducing filter membrane 400 and the silencing body 520. The noise-reducing filter membrane 400 first performs preliminary treatment on the air entering the flow channel 700, dispersing the airflow velocity, reducing gas turbulence, and lowering the noise caused by uneven airflow velocity. Subsequently, the airflow enters the silencing body 520, where the silencing body 520, through its special structure, further eliminates gas turbulence and converts the sound energy in the airflow into heat energy, achieving a deeper level of noise reduction.

[0138] The combined effect of these two factors ensures that the airflow is adequately noise-reduced before entering the diaphragm air chamber 110, thereby guaranteeing extremely low noise levels during breast pump operation. Simultaneously, this design ensures smooth airflow, preventing noise reduction from affecting the pump's pumping efficiency and providing users with a quieter and more comfortable pumping experience.

[0139] Furthermore, the vacuum pump 200 can be connected to the flow channel 700 between the silencer 500 and the diaphragm air chamber 110. In other words, the vacuum pump 200 and the diaphragm air chamber 110 are directly connected, with no obstructing components in the path, which further ensures the effectiveness of milk expression.

[0140] According to some embodiments of this disclosure, the noise-absorbing body 520 is a resin sintered body with a loose porous structure, used to eliminate gas turbulence after passing through the noise-reducing filter membrane 400.

[0141] The aforementioned resin sintered body can contain a large number of interconnected micropores to form a complex network of flow channels. When airflow passes through, multiple reflections, refractions, and interferences occur within the pores. This multi-dimensional acoustic wave interaction can effectively disrupt the energy propagation path of noise.

[0142] Compared to traditional single-pore sound-absorbing materials, the above structure uses a graded and progressive sound energy attenuation mechanism to first decompose high-frequency noise into mid- and low-frequency sound waves, and then convert sound energy into heat energy through the friction of the pore surface, thereby achieving synergistic suppression of broadband noise.

[0143] refer to Figures 1 to 3 According to some embodiments of this disclosure, at least one end of the muffler 500 is provided with a noise-reducing filter membrane 400.

[0144] The noise reduction effect is further enhanced by providing a noise-reducing filter membrane 400 at at least one end of the silencer 500. Before the airflow enters the silencer 500, the noise-reducing filter membrane 400 pre-treats the airflow, effectively dispersing high-speed particle groups in the airflow and preventing the formation of turbulent core areas due to excessively high local airflow velocities. After being treated by the noise-reducing filter membrane 400, the airflow enters the loose porous structure of the silencer 500 at a more uniform speed. At this time, the microporous network inside the resin sintered body can fully exert the sound wave scattering effect, causing residual noise to undergo multiple energy attenuations in the pore channels.

[0145] This noise reduction mechanism, which connects the front and rear components in series, uses the synergistic effect of physical barrier and acoustic absorption to keep the operating noise within a comfortable range (e.g., 38dB-45dB) while maintaining airflow efficiency. It is particularly suitable for nighttime use or breastfeeding scenarios in public places where a low-noise environment is required.

[0146] According to some embodiments of this disclosure, the noise-reducing filter membrane 400 can be a circular porous membrane, a rectangular porous membrane, an irregularly shaped porous membrane, or a honeycomb porous membrane. Other shapes and types of membranes can also be provided as needed.

[0147] In the above structure, the pore type of the noise reduction filter membrane 400 can be configured as different structures such as circular pores, rectangular pores, irregular pores, or honeycomb pores, or other pore types can be set according to actual needs. Different pore types achieve differentiated technical effects by changing the geometric characteristics of the airflow path.

[0148] Circular aperture structures can optimize the airflow velocity field through aperture gradient distribution, reducing local turbulent noise; rectangular apertures can achieve directional sound wave reflection by adjusting the aspect ratio of the channels, enhancing the noise reduction effect in specific frequency bands; irregularly shaped apertures can be customized with streamlined channels according to airflow characteristics to reduce flow resistance; honeycomb apertures form a multi-composite sound absorption structure through regularly arranged hexagonal units, which expands the effective filtration area while dissipating sound wave energy through multiple reflections and friction on the aperture walls, making them particularly suitable for broadband noise scenarios.

[0149] Furthermore, the noise reduction filter membrane 400 can be a single-layer membrane or a multi-layer composite membrane.

[0150] The aforementioned single-layer membrane structure is simple and has a low manufacturing cost. By rationally designing the pore size and distribution density, it can effectively disperse airflow velocity and achieve a certain noise reduction effect. Multi-layer composite membranes, on the other hand, have comprehensive performance after combination. Different layers can play different roles. For example, some layers are responsible for the initial filtration of larger particles, some layers focus on fine dispersion of airflow, and others can further absorb residual noise energy.

[0151] Through the synergistic effect between its layers, the multi-layer composite membrane achieves more efficient and wider-band noise reduction while ensuring low airflow resistance, providing users with a quieter operating environment and meeting the diverse needs of different users for the noise reduction performance of breast pumps in different scenarios.

[0152] refer to Figures 1 to 3 According to some embodiments of this disclosure, the solenoid valve 300 is a normally closed solenoid valve 300. After the negative pressure of the diaphragm air chamber 110 reaches a preset value or a preset control signal is received, the solenoid valve 300 is connected to the outside.

[0153] When the solenoid valve 300 is connected to the outside, the pressure inside the diaphragm air chamber 110 is regulated, thereby effectively controlling the airflow. This design allows the breast pump to flexibly adjust its internal pressure according to actual needs during operation, avoiding excessive or insufficient pressure that could affect the pumping effect or generate unnecessary noise. Simultaneously, the dual normally closed solenoid valves 300 ensure that the breast pump remains relatively sealed when not in operation, preventing outside air (atmosphere) from entering and causing contamination, thus ensuring hygiene and safety during use.

[0154] The normally closed characteristics of the two normally closed solenoid valves 300 ensure that the noise-reducing breast pump keeps the air path closed during the milk pumping state, and only triggers the conduction action when the negative pressure in the diaphragm air chamber 110 reaches a preset threshold.

[0155] The solenoid valve 300 can prevent accidental gas leakage and ensure the stability of the negative pressure system by using its mechanical seal characteristics in the normally closed state.

[0156] The configuration of two normally closed solenoid valves 300 ensures that the breast pump remains sealed when not in use, effectively preventing outside air from entering the diaphragm air chamber 110 and causing pressure fluctuations. When the vacuum pump 200 raises the negative pressure in the diaphragm air chamber 110 to a preset threshold (e.g., set in the range of -35 to -45 kPa), the coil inside the solenoid valve 300 is energized to generate electromagnetic force, which overcomes the spring preload and opens the valve core, allowing atmospheric air to enter the flow channel 700 evenly through the noise reduction filter membrane 400.

[0157] This pressure-triggered mechanism ensures synchronization between the milk-feeding action and airflow control, avoiding insufficient suction due to premature air intake and preventing excessive diaphragm deformation caused by delayed air intake.

[0158] According to some embodiments of this disclosure, a pressure sensor is provided on the flow channel 700 where the solenoid valve 300 is located.

[0159] The aforementioned pressure sensor can monitor air pressure changes within the flow channel 700 in real time, providing accurate data for the air pressure control of the entire breast pump. When abnormal air pressure fluctuations occur, the pressure sensor can quickly feed the signal back to the control system described below. The control system adjusts the opening and closing status of the solenoid valve 300 or the operating parameters of the vacuum pump 200 in a timely manner according to the preset program, thereby ensuring that the breast pump always operates in a stable air pressure environment.

[0160] This setup helps improve the pump's pumping efficiency and noise reduction, and effectively avoids discomfort or damage to the user's breasts caused by excessively high or low air pressure, further enhancing the pump's safety and reliability. The pressure sensor can also record and analyze air pressure data during pumping, providing users with more detailed information about their pumping status and helping them understand their lactation progress.

[0161] According to some embodiments of this disclosure, the noise-reducing breast pump also includes a control system, which is electrically connected to the vacuum pump 200 and the solenoid valve 300 respectively, for controlling the start and stop of the vacuum pump 200 and the opening and closing of the solenoid valve 300.

[0162] The aforementioned control system can achieve precise adjustment of the vacuum pump speed 200 and real-time control of the solenoid valve 300 response time through integrated circuit modules, forming a closed-loop feedback structure of sensor-controller-actuator. Through a preset pressure threshold algorithm, it can dynamically match the breast pumping needs of different users, reducing airflow pulsation noise while ensuring suction stability.

[0163] Furthermore, the control system can incorporate an overheat protection module and an overcurrent protection circuit, thereby enhancing the operational safety of the equipment through a dual protection structure at the hardware level. Combined with the fault self-diagnosis function at the software level, it can achieve rapid response and protection against abnormal states such as vacuum pump 200 stall and solenoid valve 300 jamming.

[0164] Furthermore, the vacuum pump 200 has a speed adjustment accuracy of ±50rpm, and the solenoid valve 300 has a response delay of ≤10ms; the pressure threshold algorithm supports stepless adjustment within the pressure range of 0.02-0.15MPa, and the airflow pulsation noise is reduced by 8-12dB; the overheat protection module has a trigger temperature of 65℃, the overcurrent protection circuit has a maximum current limit of 3A, and the fault self-diagnosis function can support the display of at least 10 fault codes as needed.

[0165] The aforementioned control system is the adjustment unit of the breast pump. It can be configured with a collaborative architecture of a microprocessor chip and a pressure sensor to achieve closed-loop control by real-time monitoring of pressure changes within the diaphragm air chamber 110. When the user starts the device, the control system first drives the vacuum pump 200 to establish an initial negative pressure, while simultaneously continuously collecting air chamber pressure data through the pressure sensor. When the negative pressure reaches a preset threshold, the system immediately sends an electrical signal to the solenoid valve 300, controlling it to open the air intake channel, allowing external air to enter the air chamber evenly through the noise-reducing filter membrane 400, thus achieving pressure balance.

[0166] The aforementioned dynamic adjustment mechanism ensures the continuity of the milk pumping action: during the milk pumping stage, the control system maintains the operation of the vacuum pump 200 to maintain negative pressure; during the milk ejection stage, the on / off timing of the solenoid valve 300 is precisely controlled to simulate the rhythm changes of the baby's sucking.

[0167] According to some embodiments of this disclosure, when the negative pressure of the diaphragm air chamber 110 reaches a preset value, the control system controls the solenoid valve 300 to open, so that the atmospheric airflow passes through the solenoid valve 300 and the noise reduction filter membrane 400 in sequence, and then enters the diaphragm air chamber 110 to balance the pressure of the diaphragm air chamber 110.

[0168] In the aforementioned structure, when atmospheric airflow enters through this path, the noise-reducing filter membrane 400 first pre-treats the airflow, dispersing its velocity through its porous structure and reducing turbulent noise caused by uneven airflow velocity. Subsequently, the pre-noise-reduced airflow smoothly enters the diaphragm air chamber 110, effectively balancing the pressure within the chamber and ensuring the breast pump maintains stable suction during expression. This design not only improves the comfort of expression but also, through precise pressure control, avoids additional noise caused by pressure fluctuations, further enhancing the overall quietness of the breast pump. The noise-reducing filter membrane 400 also prevents impurities from the outside air from entering the air chamber, ensuring hygiene during expression.

[0169] Furthermore, when the negative pressure in the diaphragm air chamber 110 reaches a preset threshold, the pressure sensor immediately sends an electrical signal to the control system. The MCU completes signal processing within a short time (e.g., within 5ms) and outputs a control command, driving the solenoid valve 300 to open the valve core. At this time, the atmospheric airflow first passes through the air inlet of the solenoid valve 300, forming a preliminary laminar flow through the internal guiding structure of the solenoid valve 300, and then enters the noise-reducing filter membrane 400 for velocity dispersion. The noise-reducing filter membrane 400 can adopt a gradient pore size setting, with a larger surface pore size to intercept large particulate impurities, a gradually narrowing middle pore size to achieve airflow homogenization, and micropores at the bottom layer to ensure sufficient attenuation of turbulence. The airflow after three stages of filtration enters the flow channel 700 at a uniform flow rate, avoiding impact pressure fluctuations on the diaphragm. Experiments show that the response time of this air intake control system is shorter than that of traditional solutions, the pressure fluctuation amplitude is reduced, and while maintaining the breastfeeding frequency, the air chamber pressure stability is controlled within a reasonable range, significantly improving breastfeeding comfort. Especially in nighttime use scenarios, this design keeps the device's operating noise at a low level. Combined with the intelligent pressure adjustment function, it can automatically match the optimal negative pressure range according to different lactation stages, ensuring both milk extraction efficiency and avoiding damage to breast tissue.

[0170] Furthermore, the reference parameters for the above-mentioned three-stage filtration structure and air intake control system are as follows: surface pore size 50-100μm, middle pore size 20-50μm, bottom pore size 10-20μm; airflow velocity after filtration 0.8-1.2m / s; response time is shortened by 40% compared to traditional solutions, and pressure fluctuation amplitude is reduced by 65%; milk pumping frequency 45 times / minute, air chamber pressure stability controlled within ±0.5kPa; equipment operating noise is maintained below 40dB in nighttime use scenarios, and the optimal negative pressure range matched by the intelligent pressure regulation function is 30-60kPa.

[0171] Secondly, this disclosure provides a breast pump, including the negative pressure generating device as described above, and further including: case; Breast shields, which include flanges that conform to the breast; Breast suction channel for accommodating the nipple; the breast suction channel is integrally formed with the breast shield or is detachably sealed. The housing is provided with a negative pressure chamber 111, the negative pressure generating device is connected to the negative pressure chamber 111, and the milk suction channel is directly or indirectly connected to the negative pressure chamber 111, so that the negative pressure chamber 111 can transmit negative pressure to the milk suction channel. A milk storage container, which includes a milk pumping channel to receive and store milk.

[0172] By adopting the above-mentioned structural design and integrating the optimized negative pressure generating device into the overall structure of the breast pump, a stable negative pressure suction with smaller fluctuations and more precise frequency can be output. On the one hand, this can better simulate the rhythm of a baby's natural sucking, avoid sudden changes in suction that could cause pulling damage to the nipple and areola, improve the comfort of the breast pumping process, and reduce the risk of nipple redness and cracking caused by long-term use of the breast pump. On the other hand, the stable and controllable negative pressure transmission can more efficiently stimulate milk let-down, promote smooth milk flow, shorten the time required for a single breast pumping session, and increase the total milk output per session, better meeting the milk emptying needs of breastfeeding mothers.

[0173] The components of the disclosed breast pump fit together tightly. The connection between the milk suction channel and the negative pressure chamber 111 ensures the efficiency of negative pressure transmission and reduces negative pressure loss. It allows for flexible selection of integral molding or detachable connection of components. The detachable structure also makes it convenient for users to thoroughly disassemble, clean and disinfect components that come into direct contact with milk, such as the breast shield and milk suction channel, reducing the risk of bacterial growth, better ensuring the hygiene of milk storage, and reducing the cost of replacing parts, thus improving the economic efficiency of product use.

[0174] The different components have clearly defined functions, are easy to assemble and maintain, and are suitable for various usage scenarios such as home use and portability. They are highly compatible, adaptable to both manual and electric power supply scenarios, and can provide users with a more stable and comfortable breast pumping experience.

[0175] Thirdly, refer to Figure 4 This disclosure also provides a method for reducing noise in a breast pump with low airflow resistance, which utilizes the aforementioned negative pressure generating device applied to the breast pump. The method for reducing noise in a breast pump includes: Step S100: Start the noise-reducing breast pump and start the vacuum pump 200 through the controller. The vacuum pump 200 starts to draw air into the diaphragm air chamber 110. The above steps can be used to start the vacuum pump 200 through the controller to provide a stable negative pressure source for the diaphragm air chamber 110, ensuring the initial power output of the milk suction process and achieving effective milk suction.

[0176] Step S200: When the negative pressure in the diaphragm air chamber 110 reaches the preset value, the controller controls the solenoid valve 300 to open; The above steps can trigger the opening of the solenoid valve 300 by setting a preset negative pressure threshold, thereby achieving automatic switching of the milk pumping cycle, avoiding manual intervention, and ensuring the continuity and stability of the milk pumping process.

[0177] Step S300: After the atmospheric airflow passes through the noise reduction filter membrane 400, it enters the flow channel 700 through the first end of the solenoid valve 300. The noise reduction filter membrane 400 disperses the gas flow velocity that flows rapidly into the flow channel 700 due to the pressure difference, so that the local velocity of the airflow at each point of the cross section in the flow channel 700 is effectively evenly distributed, reducing gas turbulence. The above steps can utilize the dispersing effect of the noise-reducing filter membrane 400 to reduce local airflow velocity differences, reduce aerodynamic noise generated by gas turbulence, and maintain low airflow resistance to ensure that milk pumping efficiency is not affected.

[0178] Step S400: The gas flowing through the noise reduction filter membrane 400 passes through the resin sintered body with a porous structure, further eliminating gas turbulence.

[0179] The above steps can perform secondary rectification of the airflow through the porous structure of the resin sintered body, further eliminating residual turbulence, making the airflow entering the diaphragm air chamber 110 more stable, reducing the noise caused by pressure fluctuations, and at the same time quickly balancing the air chamber pressure to prepare for the next milk pumping cycle.

[0180] Furthermore, during the implementation of the above-mentioned breast pump noise reduction method, the synergistic effect of each component can achieve the dual goals of efficient noise reduction and stable milk expression.

[0181] Specifically, when the vacuum pump 200 is started, the negative pressure in the diaphragm air chamber 110 continues to decrease at a set rate. At this time, the solenoid valve 300 remains closed to prevent outside air from entering prematurely and interfering with the pressure establishment process.

[0182] The pressure sensor can monitor the air chamber pressure in real time with a high frequency sampling frequency. When the negative pressure reaches the preset threshold, the control system completes signal processing and outputs control commands in a very short time, driving the coil of the solenoid valve 300 to be energized and open the valve core.

[0183] At this time, the atmospheric airflow first passes through the guide channel designed inside the solenoid valve 300 (which can be a spiral guide channel). The guide channel makes the airflow form laminar flow, effectively reducing the initial turbulence generated by the intake impact.

[0184] Subsequently, the airflow passes through the noise reduction filter membrane 400. Taking the three-stage composite noise reduction filter membrane 400 as an example: the first layer uses a large-pore filter to intercept large particulate impurities such as hair; the second layer uses a medium-pore filter to disperse the airflow velocity through honeycomb channels; and the third layer uses surface tension to make the airflow form a uniform air film.

[0185] The standard deviation of airflow velocity is significantly reduced after being treated with the noise reduction filter membrane 400, and the turbulence intensity is greatly weakened.

[0186] The airflow then enters the resin sintered body silencing body 520. The silencing body 520 can adopt a graded pore setting method. Taking three layers as an example: the surface layer large pores realize the initial airflow distribution, the middle layer medium pores consume mid-frequency noise through friction, and the bottom layer micro pores form sound wave traps to capture high-frequency noise.

[0187] The airflow undergoes multiple reflections and attenuation during its passage through the sintered resin body, resulting in a high sound energy conversion efficiency.

[0188] Ultimately, the airflow entering the diaphragm air chamber 110 achieves pressure balance at a stable flow rate, effectively controlling the noise peak generated during the entire air intake process, which is significantly reduced compared to traditional solutions.

[0189] The above-mentioned noise reduction method can reduce the operating noise from the industry average to a low level by using a complete technical chain of pressure threshold triggering - precise control of solenoid valve 300 - multi-stage filtration flow equalization - deep sound absorption of sintered body. It is especially suitable for nighttime use or scenarios that require a quiet environment.

[0190] The specific performance parameters of the above-mentioned intake control system can be found as follows: The negative pressure drop rate within the diaphragm air chamber 110 is 3-5 kPa per second, the pressure sensor sampling frequency is 200 times / second, the preset negative pressure threshold (e.g., -40 kPa) is set, and the control system signal processing and command output time is 8 ms. The three-stage composite noise reduction filter membrane 400 has pore sizes of 100 μm, 50 μm, and 20 μm at each stage, reducing the standard deviation of the airflow velocity after treatment from the initial 2.3 m / s to 0.4 m / s, and reducing the turbulence intensity by 78%. The resin sintered sound-absorbing body 520 has surface pore sizes of 0.5 mm, middle pore sizes of 0.2 mm, and bottom pore sizes of 0.05 mm, and the airflow undergoes more than 12 reflections during its passage, achieving a sound energy conversion efficiency of 62%. The final airflow velocity entering the diaphragm air chamber 110 is 1.5 ± 0.2 m / s, and the peak noise during the air intake process is controlled below 42 dB, a reduction of 15 dB compared to traditional solutions. While maintaining a milk suction frequency of 45 times / minute, the operating noise is reduced from the industry average of 58 dB to 40 dB.

[0191] According to some embodiments of this disclosure, the controller can dynamically adjust the negative pressure release and operating frequency of the noise-reducing breast pump based on the parameter changes of the air pressure in the diaphragm air chamber 110.

[0192] This dynamic adjustment method described above can be achieved through real-time pressure feedback and intelligent algorithm control: The controller's built-in pressure sensor continuously monitors the pressure of the diaphragm air chamber 110 at a set sampling interval. When the negative pressure value is detected to deviate from the preset range, the microcontroller unit (MCU) immediately starts the PID adjustment algorithm and dynamically adjusts the speed of the vacuum pump 200 motor through the pulse width modulation (PWM) signal.

[0193] In the early stages of milk expression, the system operates at a high frequency to quickly establish negative pressure; once the milk flow is detected to be stable, it automatically switches to comfort mode and reduces the peak negative pressure; at the end of the milk expression stage, the system achieves a gentle transition by gradually reducing the power of the vacuum pump by 200.

[0194] Experiments show that this dynamic adjustment strategy can significantly improve milk expression efficiency while keeping the fluctuation range of air chamber pressure within a reasonable range.

[0195] Especially in rooming-in scenarios, this design reduces power fluctuations of the vacuum pump 200, keeping the operating noise of the device within a comfortable range. Combined with the intelligent pressure release function, when an emergency such as a baby crying is detected, negative pressure can be released and the vacuum pump 200 can be stopped in a very short time, avoiding discomfort to the baby caused by continuous breast pumping.

[0196] This dynamic control technology based on pressure feedback ensures effective milk expression at different stages of lactation while also making the process quiet and user-friendly.

[0197] The specific performance parameters for the above dynamic adjustment method are as follows: The pressure sensor sampling interval is 50ms, and the negative pressure deviates from the preset range threshold by ±1.5kPa. The operating frequency is 55-60 times / minute in the initial stage of milk expression, 40-45 times / minute in comfort mode, and the peak negative pressure in comfort mode is -35kPa. The power reduction rate of the vacuum pump 200 at the end of the milk expression stage is 2-3kPa per second. The dynamic adjustment strategy improves milk expression efficiency by 20%, and the air chamber pressure fluctuation is controlled within ±0.8kPa. In the mother-baby rooming-in scenario, the power fluctuation of the vacuum pump 200 is reduced by 35%, the equipment operating noise is maintained at 38-42dB, and the intelligent pressure release function has a response time of 0.3 seconds.

[0198] The aforementioned PID control algorithm is a closed-loop control algorithm based on a combination of proportional, integral, and derivative control actions. It is widely used in industrial automation to achieve precise control of the controlled object. When the pressure in the diaphragm air chamber 110 deviates from the preset range, the MCU starts the PID algorithm, calculates the pressure deviation (the difference between the set negative pressure value and the actual detected value), and dynamically generates a control signal by combining the P, I, and D parameters. The above control signal adjusts the speed of the vacuum pump 200 motor through PWM (pulse width modulation): if the actual pressure is higher than the set value (insufficient negative pressure), the motor speed is increased to enhance the pumping; if the pressure is lower than the set value (excessive negative pressure), the speed is reduced to reduce the pumping, thereby stabilizing the pressure within the preset range. The foregoing has described specific embodiments of this disclosure. Other embodiments are within the scope of the appended claims. In some cases, the actions or steps recited in the claims may be performed in a different order than that shown in the embodiments and may still achieve the desired result. Furthermore, the processes depicted in the drawings do not necessarily require a specific or sequential order to achieve the desired result. In some embodiments, multitasking and parallel processing are possible or may be advantageous.

[0199] In summary, after reading this detailed disclosure, those skilled in the art will understand that the foregoing detailed disclosure may be presented by way of example only and may not be restrictive. Although not explicitly stated herein, those skilled in the art will understand that the requirements of this disclosure encompass various reasonable changes, improvements, and modifications to the embodiments. These changes, improvements, and modifications are intended to be made by this disclosure and are within the spirit and scope of the exemplary embodiments of this disclosure.

[0200] Furthermore, certain terms used in this disclosure have been used to describe embodiments of this disclosure. For example, "an embodiment," "an embodiment," and / or "some embodiments" mean that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment may be included in at least one embodiment of this disclosure. Therefore, it is to be emphasized and understood that two or more references to "an embodiment" or "an embodiment" or "alternative embodiment" in various parts of this disclosure do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. Moreover, specific features, structures, or characteristics may be suitably combined in one or more embodiments of this disclosure.

[0201] It should be understood that in the foregoing description of the embodiments of this disclosure, various features are combined in a single embodiment, drawing, or description for the purpose of simplifying the disclosure and to aid in understanding a feature. However, this does not mean that the combination of these features is necessary, and those skilled in the art, upon reading this disclosure, may readily identify some of the devices as separate embodiments. That is, the embodiments in this disclosure can also be understood as an integration of multiple secondary embodiments. It is also valid when each secondary embodiment contains fewer than all the features of a single foregoing disclosed embodiment.

[0202] Every patent, patent publication, publication of a patent publication, and other material, such as articles, books, specifications, publications, documents, and literature (excluding any related historical examination documents), cited in this disclosure is incorporated herein for all purposes, including, for example, in the specification and claims of this disclosure. However, in the event of any inconsistency or conflict between the descriptions, definitions, and / or terms used in the foregoing and those used in this disclosure, the descriptions, definitions, and / or terms used in this disclosure shall prevail.

[0203] Finally, it should be understood that the disclosed embodiments herein are illustrative of the principles of the embodiments of this disclosure. Other modified embodiments are also within the scope of this disclosure. Therefore, the embodiments disclosed herein are merely examples and not limitations. Those skilled in the art can implement the disclosures herein by using alternative configurations based on the embodiments in this disclosure. Therefore, the embodiments of this disclosure are not limited to the embodiments precisely described in the disclosure.

Claims

1. A negative pressure generating device for use in a breast pump, characterized in that, The milk pump is connected to the milk pumping body of the breast pump. The milk pumping body has a diaphragm air chamber. A suction diaphragm is provided in the diaphragm air chamber. The suction diaphragm divides the diaphragm air chamber into a negative pressure chamber and a milk collection chamber. The negative pressure generating device includes: A vacuum pump, connected to the negative pressure chamber, is used to provide negative pressure to the diaphragm air chamber; A solenoid valve is connected to the negative pressure chamber through a flow channel. The solenoid valve is connected to the outside world and can control the opening and closing of the flow channel to the outside world. A noise reduction mechanism is provided in the flow channel to reduce the noise generated during the operation of the negative pressure generating device.

2. The negative pressure generating device applied to a breast pump according to claim 1, characterized in that, The noise reduction mechanism includes a noise reduction filter membrane, which is disposed on the air inlet of the flow channel. Alternatively, the noise reduction filter can be disposed inside the flow channel; Alternatively, the noise reduction filter may be located at the flow opening of the solenoid valve.

3. The negative pressure generating device applied to a breast pump according to claim 2, characterized in that, The solenoid valve includes a retractable closure column, which can open or close the air inlet, and the noise-reducing filter membrane covers the inside or outside of the air inlet. Alternatively, the noise-reducing filter membrane may be integrally formed around the air inlet and cover the air inlet.

4. The negative pressure generating device applied to a breast pump according to claim 1, characterized in that, The silencing mechanism includes a muffler, which is disposed between the solenoid valve and the vacuum pump; Alternatively, the silencer may be located on the side of the solenoid valve opposite to the vacuum pump.

5. The negative pressure generating device applied to a breast pump according to claim 1, characterized in that, The noise reduction mechanism includes a noise reduction filter membrane and a muffler, wherein the noise reduction filter membrane covers the air inlet on the flow channel; The silencer is disposed between the solenoid valve and the vacuum pump; Alternatively, the silencer may be located on the side of the solenoid valve opposite to the vacuum pump.

6. The negative pressure generating device applied to a breast pump according to claim 5, characterized in that, The air inlet is located at the connection point between the flow channel and the solenoid valve; Alternatively, the air inlet may be located in the area where the flow channel connects to the muffler.

7. The negative pressure generating device applied to a breast pump according to claim 2, characterized in that, The noise-reducing filter membrane is fixedly connected to the air inlet of the solenoid valve corresponding to the flow channel by at least one of the following methods: snap-fitting, embedding, ultrasonic welding, or binding.

8. The negative pressure generating device applied to a breast pump according to claim 2, characterized in that, The noise-reducing filter membrane is fixedly connected to the solenoid valve by a snap-fit ​​mechanism; the air outlet of the solenoid valve is sleeved in the flow channel, the flow channel is provided with an air inlet adapted to the air outlet, the outer periphery of the air outlet is provided with an annular groove, the noise-reducing filter membrane covers the air outlet and extends to wrap around the annular groove, at least one elastic sealing ring can be filled in the annular groove, the elastic sealing ring snaps and presses against a portion of the noise-reducing filter membrane in the annular groove; Alternatively, the noise-reducing filter membrane is fixedly connected to the solenoid valve by embedding; the air outlet of the solenoid valve is sleeved in the flow channel, the air outlet is a detachable structure, and the noise-reducing filter membrane covers the port of the air outlet and is embedded in the periphery of the air outlet. Alternatively, the noise-reducing filter membrane is fixedly connected to the solenoid valve by ultrasonic welding; the mating surfaces of the valve body of the solenoid valve and the edge of the membrane body of the noise-reducing filter membrane are ultrasonically welded. Alternatively, the noise-reducing filter membrane is fixedly connected to the solenoid valve by binding; the outlet end of the solenoid valve is sleeved in the flow channel, the noise-reducing filter membrane wraps around the port of the outlet end, the edge of the noise-reducing filter membrane extends to the space between the inner wall of the flow channel and the outer peripheral surface of the outlet end, and the outer wall of the flow channel corresponding to the outlet end is provided with a binding component.

9. The negative pressure generating device for use in a breast pump according to claim 8, characterized in that, The annular slots are provided in multiple spaced intervals, and the multiple annular slots are arranged in a stepped manner. Each annular slot is provided with at least one elastic sealing ring.

10. The negative pressure generating device for use in a breast pump according to claim 8, characterized in that, At least one silencer is provided on the flow channel.

11. The negative pressure generating device for use in a breast pump according to claim 10, characterized in that, The muffler includes a muffler housing and a muffler body disposed within the muffler housing; The noise-reducing filter membrane and the silencing body are connected in series in the flow channel between the solenoid valve and the diaphragm air chamber, wherein the noise-reducing filter membrane is located close to the solenoid valve and the silencing body is located close to the diaphragm air chamber.

12. The negative pressure generating device for use in a breast pump according to claim 11, characterized in that, The noise-absorbing body is a resin sintered body with a loose porous structure, used to eliminate gas turbulence after passing through the noise-reducing filter membrane.

13. The negative pressure generating device for use in a breast pump according to claim 10, characterized in that, The noise-reducing filter membrane is provided at least one end of the silencer.

14. The negative pressure generating device for use in a breast pump according to claim 13, characterized in that, The noise-reducing filter membrane is a honeycomb porous membrane.

15. The negative pressure generating device for use in a breast pump according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that, The solenoid valve is a normally closed solenoid valve. After the negative pressure in the diaphragm air chamber reaches a preset value or a preset control signal is received, the solenoid valve is connected to the outside.

16. The negative pressure generating device for use in a breast pump according to claim 15, characterized in that, A pressure sensor is installed on the flow channel where the solenoid valve is located.

17. The negative pressure generating device for use in a breast pump according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that, It also includes a control system, which is electrically connected to the vacuum pump and the solenoid valve respectively, and is used to control the start and stop of the vacuum pump and the opening and closing of the solenoid valve.

18. The negative pressure generating device for use in a breast pump according to claim 17, characterized in that, When the negative pressure in the diaphragm air chamber reaches a preset value, the control system controls the solenoid valve to open, so that the atmospheric airflow passes through the solenoid valve and the noise reduction filter membrane in sequence before entering the diaphragm air chamber to balance the pressure in the diaphragm air chamber.

19. A breast pump, characterized in that, The device includes the negative pressure generating device as described in any one of claims 1 to 5, and further includes: case; A breast shield, the breast shield including a flange that conforms to the breast; A breast suction channel for accommodating the nipple; the breast suction channel is integrally formed with or detachably and sealed to the breast suction shield; The housing is provided with a negative pressure chamber, a negative pressure generating device is connected to the negative pressure chamber, and the breast pumping channel is directly or indirectly connected to the negative pressure chamber, so that the negative pressure chamber can transmit negative pressure to the breast pumping channel. A milk storage container, wherein the milk storage container and the milk suction channel receive and store milk.

20. A method for reducing noise in a breast pump with low airflow resistance, characterized in that, The negative pressure generating device applied to a breast pump according to any one of claims 1 to 18, the breast pump noise reduction method comprising: Start the noise-reducing breast pump and control the vacuum pump to start, which in turn draws air from the inside of the diaphragm air chamber. When the negative pressure in the diaphragm air chamber reaches a preset value, the controller controls the solenoid valve to open; After passing through the noise-reducing filter membrane, the atmospheric airflow enters the flow channel through the first end of the solenoid valve. The noise-reducing filter membrane disperses the gas flow velocity that flows rapidly into the flow channel due to the pressure difference, so that the local velocity of the airflow at various points in the cross section of the flow channel is effectively and evenly distributed, reducing gas turbulence. The gas passing through the noise-reducing filter membrane flows through a resin sintered body with a porous structure, further eliminating gas turbulence.

21. The method for reducing noise in a breast pump with low airflow resistance according to claim 20, characterized in that, The controller can dynamically adjust the negative pressure release and operating frequency of the noise-reducing breast pump based on the changes in the air pressure parameters of the diaphragm air chamber.

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