Breastmilk Expression Assembly Valve Contamination Prevention
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing breast milk expression sets face contamination risks due to direct contact with non-return valves during mounting and cleaning, as previous solutions like protective sleeves do not completely eliminate the risk of contamination when the bottle is tilted.
Innovation Solution
The non-return valve is secured to a tubular protective member that fits directly into the bottle's neck, allowing for mounting without touching the valve or its protective sleeve, using a circular bearing surface with a collar that rests on the bottle's edge, ensuring no finger contact with the valve during cleaning and use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the non-return valve is mounted at the level of the breast shield, then the valve is easily accessible for mounting and cleaning, but the user's fingers must directly contact the valve creating contamination risk
Solution Approach 1:
The protective member is divided into distinct functional zones: a first portion that contacts the user's fingers during handling, and a second portion that protects the non-return valve. This segmentation allows the user to safely handle the clean first portion while the contaminated second portion remains isolated from the valve.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective member acts as an intermediary barrier between the user's fingers and the non-return valve. By introducing this intermediate element, the direct contact path is broken, allowing the user to manipulate the protective member without transferring contaminants to the valve.
2Ease of operation
If a protective sleeve surrounds the non-return valve at the breast shield level, then mounting is improved, but the outside of the sleeve can be contaminated when the bottle is tilted
Solution Approach 1:
The protective member extends beyond the traditional radial protection concept into the longitudinal dimension by reaching from the bottle opening upward to cover the valve. This dimensional extension ensures that even when tilted, the protective coverage maintains its integrity and prevents milk contact with contaminated surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective member serves as an intermediary barrier positioned between the milk/bottle environment and the non-return valve. By placing this intermediate protective layer at the bottle opening rather than at the breast shield, it prevents direct exposure to potential contaminants while maintaining ease of mounting.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the non-return valve is mounted directly at the bottle opening level, then finger contact during mounting is avoided, but a new mounting structure must be created
Solution Approach 1:
The protective member combines multiple functions into a single integrated structure: it provides protection for the non-return valve, serves as the mounting interface at the bottle opening, and acts as the handling surface for the user. This merging eliminates the need for separate mounting structures while achieving the contamination prevention goal.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective member is designed as a multi-functional element that simultaneously protects the valve, provides a mounting interface at the bottle opening, and serves as the user interaction surface. This universal design reduces overall device complexity by eliminating the need for separate protective sleeves and mounting mechanisms.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
This assembly comprises a breastshield (2) screwed onto a threaded bearing surface formed on the outside of a neck (1a) that forms part of an opening of a feeding bottle (1), said breastshield (2) communicating with the feeding bottle (1) by way of a nonreturn valve (3). The nonreturn valve (3) is rigidly connected to a protective member (4) which has a circular bearing surface (4a) able to be engaged with a force fit in the opening of the neck (1a) of the feeding bottle, said bearing surface (4a) being formed coaxially with respect to a cylindrical sleeve (4b) that surrounds the nonreturn valve (3).