Breast Flange With Deflecting Windows for Suction Mimicry
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional breast pumping accessories cause discomfort and require high maintenance due to the insertion of a massage unit into a rigid breast flange, which can lead to malfunctions and increased cleaning requirements, as they rely on an effective seal for adequate suction.
Innovation Solution
A breast flange made of pliable and resilient material with a funnel portion having windows that deflect under suction to mimic the action of a nursing baby's tongue, providing compression and stimulation to the areola and nipple regions, and can be easily cleaned as a single unit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a massage unit is inserted into a rigid breast flange to massage the breast, then milk extraction is improved, but the inner diameter of the flange is reduced causing discomfort or pain to the lactating mother
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the massage unit and breast flange into a single integrated component. The flange itself incorporates massage elements (ridges, bumps, or textured surfaces) on its inner surface, eliminating the need for a separate insertable massage unit. This integration maintains the full inner diameter of the flange while providing effective breast massage, thus resolving the contradiction between milk extraction efficiency and maternal comfort.
2Productivity
If a massage unit and rigid breast flange combination is used, then milk pumping is enhanced, but the number of components increases requiring higher degrees of maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the previously separate massage unit and breast flange into a single integrated component. This consolidation reduces the number of parts that need to be cleaned and maintained from two separate components to one unified piece, thereby enhancing milk pumping efficiency while reducing maintenance requirements.
3Productivity
If a massage unit and rigid breast flange combination is used, then suction is improved, but the system becomes prone to malfunctioning due to seal dependency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the massage unit directly into the breast flange structure, creating a single-piece system that eliminates the interface between two separate components. This integration removes the seal dependency issue, as there is no separate massage unit that needs to seal against the flange. The system maintains effective suction while significantly improving reliability by eliminating the common failure point at the interface seal.
4Stability of the object's composition
If a rigid breast flange is used, then structural stability is maintained, but it causes discomfort to the areola and nipple regions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by incorporating specific massage features (ridges, bumps, or textured surfaces) at localized areas on the inner surface of the flange that contact the areola and nipple regions. These localized modifications provide targeted massage stimulation and comfort while maintaining the overall structural stability and rigidity of the flange body. The rigid structure is preserved where needed for stability, while soft or textured features are added only where breast contact occurs.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution reduces discomfort, simplifies size selection, and increases milk production by mimicking the action of a nursing baby, making the pumping process more efficient and comfortable while reducing maintenance time.
Implementation Method 1
The funnel portion has a set of windows, and each window is defined by a reduction in thickness of the material, relative to the rest of the funnel portion. Each window is configured to deflect in the presence of suction. The suction pulses produce corresponding deflections of each window so as to mimic action on the breast of a tongue of a nursing baby.
Implementation Method 2
so that suction pulses from the breast pump are conveyed via the neck portion, the funnel portion, and the cup portion to the breast
Data Source
AI summary
A breast flange has a cup portion shaped to receive a lactating female breast, a funnel portion coupled to the cup portion and shaped to receive areola and nipple regions of the lactating female breast and to be in contact with the areola region, and a neck portion coupled to the funnel portion and configured to be coupled directly to a breast pump fitting. At least the funnel portion is made of a pliable and resilient material, the material having a thickness. The funnel portion has a set of windows, each window defined by a reduction in thickness of the material and configured to deflect in the presence of suction so as to mimic action of a tongue of a nursing baby.