Breast Pump System Single Pump Alternating Kits
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing breast pump systems require two separate pumps to operate simultaneously, leading to increased costs, power consumption, and noise.
Innovation Solution
A breast pump system with a single pump and a valve arrangement that allows for interconnection between the pump, ambient pressure, and two expression kits or a buffer, enabling pressure reuse and alternating operation between kits.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If two separate pumps are used to operate two expression kits simultaneously, then both breasts can be expressed at the same time, but the cost, power consumption, and noise level increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines two expression kits into a single system sharing one pump and one battery. The valve arrangement allows the single pump to alternately serve both expression kits, merging what would traditionally require two separate pumps into one integrated unit, thereby reducing power consumption and cost while maintaining simultaneous expression capability
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses periodic alternating operation where the single pump switches between serving the first expression kit and the second expression kit in a cyclic manner. This periodic action allows both kits to receive vacuum pressure at different times within the same operational cycle, enabling simultaneous expression without requiring continuous dual-pump operation
2Productivity
If two separate pumps are used to operate two expression kits simultaneously, then both breasts can be expressed at the same time, but the noise level increases
Solution Approach 1:
By merging two separate pumps into one shared pump system, the patent reduces the number of noise-generating components. The single pump operates at a time, alternating between serving each expression kit, which significantly reduces the overall noise level compared to having two pumps operating simultaneously
Solution Approach 2:
The periodic alternating operation pattern ensures that only one pump is active at any given moment, creating silence periods when the pump is not in use. This periodic on/off cycling reduces the average noise exposure and creates quieter operation periods throughout the expression cycle
3Use of energy by moving object
If a single pump is used to serve two expression kits, then cost and power consumption are reduced, but the pump load increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pump operates periodically, alternating between serving the first expression kit and the second expression kit. This periodic operation allows the pump to recover and reduce its load between cycles, preventing continuous high-load operation and effectively reducing average power consumption while maintaining adequate performance for each kit
Solution Approach 2:
The valve arrangement acts as an intermediary between the single pump and the two expression kits. It controls the flow of vacuum pressure, allowing the pump to build pressure for one kit while the other kit is being served or is in a recovery phase, thereby managing and smoothing the pump load to prevent excessive demands
4Device complexity
If vacuum pressure is vented to the atmosphere after use, then the system is simple, but energy is wasted
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of venting vacuum pressure to the atmosphere, the system recovers and reuses the vacuum pressure from the first expression kit to serve the second expression kit. The valve arrangement facilitates this pressure transfer, recovering the energy that would otherwise be wasted and reducing the overall energy consumption of the system
Solution Approach 2:
The valve arrangement serves as an intermediary that transfers vacuum pressure from the first expression kit to the second expression kit. This intermediate pressure transfer mechanism enables energy recovery and reuse, allowing the system to maintain simplicity while eliminating the energy waste associated with direct atmospheric venting
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 system reduces costs and energy consumption by allowing a single pump to serve two kits, reusing vacuum pressure, and minimizing noise through alternating operation.
Implementation Method 1
a pump for delivering a negative pressure
Implementation Method 2
The vacuum generated by the expression kit can again be reused instead of being vented to the atmosphere
Implementation Method 3
the valve arrangement comprises: a first valve unit connected between the first kit and the pump and a second valve unit connected between the second kit or buffer and the pump or the first valve unit, wherein the first and second valve units are controllable to connect the first kit to a selected one of the pump, the ambient pressure and the second kit or buffer
Data Source
AI summary
A breast pump system comprises a first kit, a second kit or a buffer, and a pump for delivering a negative pressure (i.e. a pressure lower than the ambient atmospheric pressure). This system enables pressure to be equalized between the first kit and the second kit or buffer, thus reducing energy loss by venting a stored pressure to the ambient pressure.