Breast Pump Active Pressure Control for Tissue Safety

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing breast pumps are inefficient and difficult to use, particularly in periods before and after milk expression, leading to reduced efficiency and potential damage to breast tissue due to incorrect settings.

Innovation Solution

A breast pump equipped with a pressure sensor that actively controls pumping properties, such as suction power and frequency, based on real-time measurements to optimize operation for individual users, including periods before milk expression, ensuring safe and efficient milk extraction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If electrically driven breast pumps are used to replace manual operation, then pumping efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases and ease of operation deteriorates due to difficult setting control

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepumping efficiencyVSAvoidease of operation

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The breast pump system performs self-adjustment of pumping parameters based on sensor feedback. The control unit automatically modifies suction pressure, pulse frequency, and other parameters according to real-time detection of milk flow, breast cup pressure, and user physiological responses, enabling the device to optimize its own operation without requiring manual intervention from the user.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system incorporates multiple sensors (pressure sensors, flow sensors, temperature sensors) that continuously monitor operating conditions and user responses. This feedback is processed by the control unit, which automatically adjusts pumping parameters to maintain optimal conditions, thereby improving ease of operation while preserving high pumping efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Adaptability or versatility

If user manually controls pumping settings to achieve proper operation, then adaptability to individual users is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates and time consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to individual usersVSAvoidtime consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The breast pump system performs self-adjustment of pumping parameters based on sensor feedback. The control unit automatically modifies suction pressure, pulse frequency, and other parameters according to real-time detection of milk flow, breast cup pressure, and user physiological responses, enabling the device to optimize its own operation without requiring manual intervention from the user.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system incorporates multiple sensors (pressure sensors, flow sensors, temperature sensors) that continuously monitor operating conditions and user responses. This feedback is processed by the control unit, which automatically adjusts pumping parameters to maintain optimal conditions, thereby improving ease of operation while preserving high pumping efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Productivity

If high negative pressure is applied to increase milk expression, then productivity is improved, but object-affected harmful factors increase due to potential breast tissue damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemilk expression efficiencyVSAvoidbreast tissue damage

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system incorporates multiple sensors (pressure sensors, flow sensors, temperature sensors) that continuously monitor operating conditions and user responses. This feedback is processed by the control unit, which automatically adjusts pumping parameters to maintain optimal conditions, thereby improving ease of operation while preserving high pumping efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements protective measures in advance by continuously monitoring operating parameters and user physiological responses. The control unit adjusts pumping parameters proactively to prevent excessive pressure application, thereby protecting breast tissue from damage before harm can occur while maintaining effective milk expression.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

4Productivity

If pumping settings are optimized for milk expression, then productivity is improved, but object-generated harmful factors increase due to incorrect settings causing inefficiency and potential damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemilk expression efficiencyVSAvoidinefficiency and tissue damage from wrong settings

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system incorporates multiple sensors (pressure sensors, flow sensors, temperature sensors) that continuously monitor operating conditions and user responses. This feedback is processed by the control unit, which automatically adjusts pumping parameters to maintain optimal conditions, thereby improving ease of operation while preserving high pumping efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The breast pump system performs self-adjustment of pumping parameters based on sensor feedback. The control unit automatically modifies suction pressure, pulse frequency, and other parameters according to real-time detection of milk flow, breast cup pressure, and user physiological responses, enabling the device to optimize its own operation without requiring manual intervention from the user.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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 breast pump provides personalized and easy-to-use settings, increasing milk quantity and quality, reducing user effort, and preventing tissue damage by dynamically adjusting pumping properties during the entire use period.

Implementation Method 1

a detection unit comprising a pressure sensor for measuring a parameter during use of the breast pump... the pressure sensor is configured to measure an actual negative pressure applied to the breast during use of the pump

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure sensing:

Implementation Method 2

a pumping system in fluid connection with the at least one breast cup for applying a negative pressure on said breast

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectNegative pressure application: Suction

Data Source

PatentEP2224974B2Breast pump for expressing milk from a breast

Publication Date: 2023.03.22 KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS NV

Figure 1~2
Figure 3

AI summary

Breast pump for expressing milk from a breast, comprising at least one breast cup (2) for receiving a breast, a pumping system (10) in fluid connection (11) with the at least one breast cup (2) for applying a negative pressure on said breast and a detection unit (3) comprising at least one sensor for measuring a parameter during use of the breast pump (1), wherein the breast pump (1) is adapted for optimising breast pump settings by actively controlling at least one breast pump pumping property, based on measurements of the at least one sensor (4, 5), during a period of use of the breast pump (1), in order to personalise operation of said breast pump (1) for a particular user.