Breast Pump Software Monitoring for Automatic Vacuum Release
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electrically operated breast pump devices can malfunction due to software issues, leading to sustained vacuum suction and user discomfort, as they fail to properly decrease underpressure, making them unsafe.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a monitoring arrangement, such as a watchdog timer, within the controller to detect software malfunctions and automatically release underpressure, ensuring quick resolution and preventing prolonged suction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If the controller executes the operation software program to control the fluid pressure arrangement, then the breast pump device can operate automatically with reduced manual intervention, but software malfunctioning may cause sustained vacuum suction and user discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The monitoring arrangement continuously monitors the execution of the operation software program and provides feedback to the controller. When software malfunctioning is detected through this feedback mechanism, the monitoring arrangement automatically triggers a release of underpressure, resolving the contradiction between automated operation and reliability by implementing a self-correcting feedback loop.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements self-service through the monitoring arrangement that autonomously detects software malfunctions and initiates corrective action without user intervention. The watchdog timer or monitoring arrangement independently monitors software execution and automatically releases underpressure when malfunctioning is detected, allowing the system to service itself and maintain reliability despite high automation.
2Reliability
If the monitoring arrangement continuously monitors software functioning, then reliability is improved by detecting malfunctions, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The monitoring arrangement is designed to perform multiple functions: it monitors software execution, detects malfunctions, and triggers corrective actions. By consolidating these functions into a single multi-functional component rather than separate systems, the patent reduces overall device complexity while maintaining high reliability through comprehensive software monitoring.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the underpressure is released quickly upon detecting software malfunction, then user safety and comfort are improved, but loss of time occurs in interrupting the milk extraction process
Solution Approach 1:
The monitoring arrangement implements preliminary anti-action by detecting software malfunctioning before it can cause prolonged user discomfort. By continuously monitoring and triggering immediate underpressure release upon detection, the system prevents the harmful effect of sustained vacuum suction, resolving the contradiction between quick response and process interruption by addressing the problem before it significantly impacts the user.
Data Source
AI summary
A breast pump device (1) comprises i) a fluid pressure arrangement (2, 3) configured to interact with a breast from which milk is to be extracted and to realize a pressure cycle at a position where the fluid pressure arrangement (2, 3) is to face the breast, ii) a controller configured to execute an operation software program for controlling operation of the breast pump device (1), the operation software program including instructions to cause the fluid pressure arrangement (2, 3) to realize the pressure cycle, and iii) a monitoring arrangement configured to monitor functioning of the operation software program and to cause release of underpressure in case malfunctioning of the operation software program is detected. As a result, malfunctioning of the operation software program cannot last and any vacuum that may have built up in such a situation is automatically released.