Breast Support System with V-Shaped Padding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing breast support devices fail to effectively counteract the deleterious stresses and forces on breast tissue when a woman lies on her side or back, leading to breast ptosis, widening, and skin creases, as they provide inadequate medial and lateral support.
Innovation Solution
A breast support system comprising V-shaped medial and lateral padding configurations with a strap system extending over the shoulders, designed to counteract gravity forces by providing additional medial and lateral support, with optional cross-supports and rigid elements for enhanced stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional breast support devices are used, then the device structure is simple, but the breast tissue suffers deleterious stresses and forces when recumbent leading to ptosis and widening
Solution Approach 1:
The breast support device is divided into multiple distinct padding components: medial paddings for each breast, lateral paddings for each breast, and central paddings. These segmented elements work together to provide targeted support in different directions (medial, lateral, and central), effectively counteracting the complex forces acting on breast tissue when recumbent without requiring an overly complex monolithic structure.
Solution Approach 2:
Different padding elements are positioned at specific locations to address local support needs: medial paddings positioned at the inner aspect of each breast to prevent inward collapse, lateral paddings positioned at the outer aspect to prevent outward collapse, and central paddings to provide midline support. This localized quality approach ensures each region receives appropriate support tailored to the specific forces acting on that area.
2Reliability
If additional padding and strap systems are added to provide medial and lateral support, then breast ptosis and widening are inhibited, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple padding elements (medial and lateral paddings for each breast, plus central paddings) are merged into a coordinated support system that functions as an integrated unit. The paddings are positioned and configured to work together, with the medial and lateral paddings forming a supportive envelope around each breast, thereby achieving comprehensive protection against ptosis and widening through their combined action rather than requiring separate independent devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The support device is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: the medial paddings prevent inward collapse, the lateral paddings prevent outward collapse, the central paddings provide midline support, and the strap system secures all elements in position. This multi-functionality allows a single device to address all major support needs of recumbent breast tissue without requiring multiple separate devices, thereby managing complexity while maintaining reliability.
3Reliability
If V-shaped medial and lateral padding configurations are used, then forces are distributed more evenly, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The medial and lateral paddings are configured in V-shapes with curved surfaces rather than sharp angular edges. This curvature allows the paddings to conform more naturally to the breast contours and distributes forces more smoothly across the breast tissue. The curved surfaces facilitate even force distribution while being more tolerant of manufacturing variations compared to precise angular configurations, thereby reducing the stringency of manufacturing precision requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The V-shape configuration parameters (such as the angle of the V and the curvature radius) are optimized to balance force distribution effectiveness with manufacturing feasibility. By carefully selecting these parameters, the design achieves effective force distribution while remaining within practical manufacturing tolerances, thus resolving the contradiction between reliability and manufacturing precision.
Data Source
AI summary
A breast support system for a recumbent female human includes medial and lateral support padding for each breast.