Breast Pump Milk Collection Unit for Hygienic Detachment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing breast pumps are difficult to clean due to milk droplets contacting the casing during the separation of the breast shield and tank, necessitating tedious cleaning of non-hygienic areas.
Innovation Solution
A breast pump design where the milk collection unit, comprising a breast shield and tank, can be attached as a whole to the casing and separated while remaining fluidly connected, with optional features like ball spring plungers and a connector for easy attachment and detachment, allowing for hygienic cleaning by preventing milk from reaching the casing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the breast shield and tank are separated from the casing during cleaning, then the milk collection unit can be cleaned, but milk droplets contact the casing causing non-hygienic contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into a removable milk collection unit (comprising breast shield and tank) and a stationary casing. The milk collection unit can be detached as a complete assembly, allowing users to clean the milk-contacting parts without exposing the casing to milk contamination. This segmentation enables selective cleaning of only the necessary components.
Solution Approach 2:
The milk collection unit is extracted from the casing as a complete removable assembly. By taking out the entire milk collection unit (breast shield + tank) together rather than separating components inside the casing, the design prevents milk from contacting the casing during the cleaning process, eliminating the need to clean the casing itself.
2Device complexity
If the breast shield and tank are assembled inside the casing, then fluid connection is achieved, but the assembly and disassembly process is complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates the milk collection unit from the casing, allowing the milk collection unit to be assembled and disassembled as a complete module. This eliminates the need for complex internal assembly operations inside the casing and reduces cleaning time by enabling rapid removal of the entire milk-contacting assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The breast shield is nested within the tank assembly, with the breast shield inserting into the tank through a connector. This nested configuration allows both components to be attached to and removed from the casing together as a single unit, simplifying the overall assembly process and reducing the number of separate attachment operations required.
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
Facilitates easier and more hygienic cleaning by ensuring that milk does not contact the casing during disassembly, reducing the need for frequent cleaning of non-hygienic areas.
Implementation Method 1
at least one ball spring plunger to attach the milk collection unit to the casing
Implementation Method 2
The pump is configured to cause extraction of milk from a breast when the milk collection unit is attached to the casing
Implementation Method 3
a diaphragm configured to be deformed by the pump when the milk collection unit is attached to the casing, the deformation of the diaphragm causing reduced air pressure in the air channel
Data Source
AI summary
A breast pump (1) comprising: a casing (2); a milk collection unit (4) comprising a breast shield (6) and a tank (8) suitable for being fluidly connected, the milk collection unit (4) being suitable for being attached as a whole to the casing (2), after the breast shield (6) and the tank (8) have been fluidly connected, and being separated from the casing (2) while holding the breast shield (6) and the tank (8) fluidly connected; and a pump (18) arranged in the casing (8), the pump being configured to cause extraction of milk from a breast positioned against the breast shield when the milk collection unit (4) is attached to the casing (2), so as to cause a flow of milk from the breast shield (6) to the tank (8).