Breast Pump Funnel Insert with Inflatable Bladder for Peristaltic Milk Expression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional breast pumps fail to replicate the peristaltic motion of an infant's tongue, leading to discomfort and inefficiency in milk extraction, as they do not effectively stimulate the 'let-down' reflex responsible for milk release.
Innovation Solution
A breast receiving funnel assembly with a primary insert featuring an elongate inflatable bladder and a secondary insert, where the bladder deforms to apply a peristaltic action to the user's teat, mimicking the rhythmic contraction and expansion motion of an infant's tongue, and the secondary insert provides additional compression, enhancing comfort and milk expression.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional breast pumps use only vacuum pressure for milk extraction, then the device structure remains simple, but the milk extraction efficiency is low and user comfort is poor due to inability to replicate peristaltic motion
Solution Approach 1:
The breast pump device is segmented into multiple functional components: a rigid funnel structure, a flexible insert with peristaltic action mechanism, and a vacuum system. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function optimally while maintaining overall system manageability
Solution Approach 2:
The insert is designed with dynamic peristaltic motion that rhythmically contracts and expands to simulate infant tongue movement. This dynamic action is combined with static vacuum pressure to create a multi-mechanism milk extraction system that improves efficiency without requiring complete structural redesign
2Ease of operation
If conventional breast pumps apply continuous vacuum pressure, then the device structure remains simple, but user comfort deteriorates and the 'let-down' reflex is not effectively stimulated
Solution Approach 1:
The insert performs periodic peristaltic contractions and expansions that rhythmically stimulate the breast tissue. This periodic mechanical action complements the continuous vacuum pressure, creating alternating phases of compression and release that enhance user comfort and naturally stimulate milk flow without increasing structural complexity
3Productivity
If an insert with flexible membrane is added to deform into hollow recess for peristaltic action, then milk extraction efficiency improves, but the device construction becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible insert is nested within the rigid funnel structure, with the insert's hollow recess containing the peristaltic action mechanism. This nested arrangement allows multiple functional elements to be integrated in a compact configuration, improving milk extraction efficiency while minimizing the increase in overall device complexity
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 assembly provides a more natural and efficient milk expression experience, reducing discomfort and improving the effectiveness of milk extraction by simulating the peristaltic motion, making it more analogous to a baby's suckling action.
Implementation Method 1
The elongate inflatable bladder being configured so that it deforms towards a user's teat located in the teat receiving space in a predetermined manner when a pressure difference is applied between the teat receiving space and the pressure chamber such that a peristaltic action is applied to said user's teat
Implementation Method 2
Conventional breast pumps make use of a vacuum to induce milk extraction from a nursing mother's breast
Data Source
AI summary
An insert for a breast-receiving funnel (10) of a breast pump comprising an elongate inflatable bladder (23) which defines a pressure chamber (26), the elongate inflatable bladder (23) being adapted to fit in a teat receiving space (11) of said breast receiving funnel (10) so that the bladder extends from an inner end of said funnel towards an outer end of said funnel, and lie between a user's teat and the funnel when a breast is inserted in the funnel, such that the elongate inflatable bladder is configured to deform towards a user's teat located in the teat receiving space in a predetermined manner when a pressure difference is applied between the teat receiving space and the pressure chamber such that a peristaltic action is applied to said user's teat, to aid the expression of milk therefrom.