Breast Pump Infrasound Pressure Equalization for Stable Milk Expression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing breast pumps, including wearable and passive milk collectors, struggle to effectively stimulate milk expression due to interference from underpressure-induced disruptions in the movement of the infrasound source, leading to suboptimal milk extraction efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A milk expression device incorporating an infrasound source with a moveable member and a fluid connection that controls pressure equalization and frequency-dependent communication, using a channel or acoustic filter to minimize underpressure disruption and enhance mechanical stimulation, thereby promoting milk expression.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If an underpressure generator is used to extract milk, then milk extraction efficiency is improved, but the underpressure disrupts the movement of the infrasound source reducing stimulation effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into separate functional zones: a first chamber for applying underpressure to the breast, and a second chamber housing the infrasound source. This segmentation isolates the infrasound source from direct exposure to underpressure, allowing both milk extraction and reliable stimulation to occur simultaneously without interference.
Solution Approach 2:
A fluid connection (such as a channel or acoustic filter) acts as an intermediary between the two chambers. This intermediary allows controlled pressure equalization or frequency-dependent communication, enabling the underpressure to reach the breast while protecting the infrasound source movement from disruption.
2Reliability
If pressure equalization is provided between both sides of the moveable member, then underpressure disruption is reduced, but control over varying pressure experienced by the breast is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The fluid connection is designed to be frequency-dependent, allowing it to adapt its behavior dynamically. At certain frequencies, it permits pressure equalization to stabilize the moveable member, while at other frequencies, it allows pressure variations to effectively stimulate the breast. This dynamic characteristic enables the system to achieve both reliability and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of pressure control by using a fluid connection that responds differently to various frequency components. This allows the same physical connection to provide both pressure equalization (for stability) and pressure variation (for stimulation) depending on the operating conditions, resolving the contradiction between reliability and adaptability.
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 device effectively stimulates milk expression by varying pressure frequencies, enhancing milk extraction efficiency and reducing interference from underpressure, allowing for improved milk collection even in wearable and passive systems.
Implementation Method 1
an infrasound source for producing infrasound, the infrasound source comprising a moveable member whose movement produces infrasound
Implementation Method 2
The fluid connection may provide pressure equalization between the chamber and the second side of the moveable member so that both the first side and the second side of the moveable member experience the underpressure
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a device (100) for expressing milk from a mammalian breast (102). The device comprises a nipple-enclosing wall (104) for interfacing with a nipple-comprising region (106) of the breast to define a chamber (108) between the nipple-enclosing wall and the nipple-comprising region of the breast in which an underpressure is providable. The chamber is, for example, connectable to an underpressure generator for decreasing a pressure in the chamber. The underpressure may assist milk to be expressed from the breast and/or may assist in retaining the interface between the nipple-enclosing wall and the nipple-comprising region. The device comprises an infrasound source (112) for producing infrasound. The infrasound souce comprises a moveable member (114) whose movement produces infrasound. The moveable member has a first side (114A) facing and in fluid communication with the chamber, and a second side (114B) opposite the first side. The second side is outside the chamber. A fluid connection (116) is provided between the chamber and the second side. The fluid connection may provide pressure equalization between the chamber and the second side of the moveable member so that both the first side and the second side of the moveable member experience the underpressure. The fluid connection is nonetheless configured to control fluid communication between the chamber and the second side of the moveable member during the movement of the moveable member and thus the fluid connection assists to control, e.g. enhance, a varying pressure experienced by the breast that is caused by the movement of the moveable member.