Breast Pump Chamber Layout for Vertical Milk Flow Continuity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing breast pumps face challenges in optimizing design for ease of cleaning, assembly, and efficient conversion between pneumatic and hydraulic pumping systems, often requiring complex valve mechanisms and separate mounting of breast shields, which complicates manufacturing and maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A breast pump design featuring a modular hygiene module with a rigid first shell and flexible valve body, allowing for easy assembly and disassembly, and a milk channel that facilitates rapid conversion to a hydraulic pumping system, using the same line for both air and milk, with integrated valves for efficient milk collection and ventilation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the outlet opening is arranged at the bottom or side of the pumping chamber, then the breast pump can be used in horizontal position, but milk flow is interrupted when the breast pump is held vertically
Solution Approach 1:
The outlet opening is repositioned from the traditional bottom or side location to the upper region of the pumping chamber, utilizing the vertical dimension to enable gravity-assisted milk flow when the device is held vertically, thereby resolving the conflict between usage position flexibility and milk flow continuity
2Productivity
If the outlet opening is arranged in the upper region of the pumping chamber, then milk flows continuously in vertical position, but milk may spill back into the breast cup
Solution Approach 1:
The milk channel is designed with a downward slope from the interior space to the outlet opening, and the outlet opening is positioned to direct milk flow away from the breast cup. This preliminary directional design prevents spillback before it can occur, allowing the outlet to be positioned in the upper region for continuous flow
3Productivity
If the milk channel has a downward slope, then milk flows smoothly by gravity, but air pockets may form and block the channel
Solution Approach 1:
The pumping chamber is divided into a first pumping chamber portion and a second pumping chamber portion, creating segmented flow paths that facilitate air pocket evacuation while maintaining smooth gravity-driven milk flow through the downward-sloping milk channel
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 design enhances cleaning ease, reduces manufacturing complexity, minimizes size and cost, and improves pumping efficiency by quickly transitioning to a hydraulic system, using smaller drives and maintaining negative pressure for reduced strain on the nipple.
Implementation Method 1
the interior space (200) can be subjected to a cyclically changing negative pressure by means of the pumping chamber (47)
Implementation Method 2
the outlet opening (480) is arranged in an upper region of the pumping chamber (47) and/or above the inlet opening at least at the beginning of an expressing process when the breast pump is in a vertical position of use
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
Breast pump for expressing human breast milk, wherein the breast pump has a breast cap (2) with an interior space (200) for receiving a mother's breast and a pumping chamber (47), wherein the interior space (200) can be subjected to a cyclically changing negative pressure by means of the pumping chamber (47), wherein a milk channel leads from the interior space (200) through a first inlet opening into the pumping chamber (47), through which expressed milk flows from the interior space (200) of the breast cap (2) into the pumping chamber (47), and wherein the pumping chamber (47) has an outlet opening (480) through which the expressed milk flows from the pumping chamber (47) into a milk collection container (9), characterized in that the outlet opening (480) is arranged in an upper region of the pumping chamber (47) and/or above the inlet opening at least at the beginning of an expressing process when the breast pump is in a vertical position of use.