Breast Shield With Peripheral Supplement Channels

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional breastfeeding shields often fail to effectively prime the infant with nutritional supplements while maintaining the infant's latch and can lead to leakage, discomfort, and inefficiency in design.

Innovation Solution

A breastfeeding system featuring a breast shield with integrally formed channels for supplement delivery, positioned on the outer edge to reduce leakage and interference with the baby's latch, made from soft, pliable materials that conform to the breast, and accommodating various nursing positions and supplement delivery methods.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If conventional breastfeeding shields are used to deliver nutritional supplements, then supplementation can be provided, but leakage occurs and the infant's latch is interfered with

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenutritional supplement deliveryVSAvoidleakage control

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The breast shield is divided into distinct functional zones: a peripheral channel system for supplement delivery and a central latch zone for infant attachment. This segmentation allows the supplement delivery function to be optimized at the periphery while maintaining the integrity of the central latch area, preventing interference between the two functions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The breast shield employs different material properties and structural characteristics in different regions. The peripheral areas contain channels with specific flow characteristics for supplement delivery, while the central area maintains smooth surfaces optimized for infant latch. This local differentiation of properties enables simultaneous optimization of both supplement delivery and latch maintenance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Quantity of substance

If conventional breastfeeding shields are used to deliver nutritional supplements, then supplementation can be provided, but the infant's latch is interfered with

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenutritional supplement deliveryVSAvoidinfant latch maintenance

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The breast shield is divided into distinct functional zones: a peripheral channel system for supplement delivery and a central latch zone for infant attachment. This segmentation allows the supplement delivery function to be optimized at the periphery while maintaining the integrity of the central latch area, preventing interference between the two functions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The supplement delivery channels are positioned in the peripheral dimension of the breast shield, away from the central latch area. This spatial relocation in another dimension allows both functions to operate simultaneously without interference, as the channels deliver supplements laterally while the infant latches centrally.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Quantity of substance

If the breast shield channels are positioned centrally for supplement delivery, then supplementation is effective, but leakage increases and comfort is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesupplement delivery efficiencyVSAvoidleakage

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The breast shield is divided into distinct functional zones: a peripheral channel system for supplement delivery and a central latch zone for infant attachment. This segmentation allows the supplement delivery function to be optimized at the periphery while maintaining the integrity of the central latch area, preventing interference between the two functions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The breast shield employs different material properties and structural characteristics in different regions. The peripheral areas contain channels with specific flow characteristics for supplement delivery, while the central area maintains smooth surfaces optimized for infant latch. This local differentiation of properties enables simultaneous optimization of both supplement delivery and latch maintenance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS10149801B2Breastfeeding apparatus system

Publication Date: 2018.12.11 CONNER MATTHEW

AI summary

A breastfeeding system according to various embodiments can include a breast shield, a cut-out portion, and a supplement delivery device. The breast shield is formed to closely attach to the contours of a human female breast. The cut-out portion is provided within the breast shield to facilitate skin-to-skin contact between the mother and infant during breastfeeding. The supplement delivery device is provided within the breast shield to deliver a nutritional supplement to the infant while breastfeeding.