Codified Container Image Recognition for Breast Milk Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Manual recording of breast milk collection data is tedious and inefficient, requiring mothers to manually log pumping sessions, making it difficult to monitor milk production and analyze trends effectively.
Innovation Solution
A system that uses a codified container and computing device to automatically collect and analyze data through image recognition, providing feedback on milk volume, pumping performance, and inventory management, including real-time monitoring and feedback.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If manual recording of pumping sessions is used, then mothers can track milk collection data, but the process is tedious and requires significant effort and time
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables automatic self-recording of pumping session data through image capture and codification element recognition. The mother simply places the container on the base unit, and the system automatically captures the image, recognizes the codification element, determines container type and volume, and logs the data without requiring manual entry.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical process of writing down data with an automated optical recognition system. The base unit uses an image capture device to photograph the container and its codification element, then processes the image to extract container identification and volume information, substituting manual recording with automated optical-mechanical-electronic systems.
2Loss of information
If manual recording is used, then mothers can log pumping information, but it is difficult to analyze trends and anomalies effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides automatic feedback by analyzing pumping session data and generating reports on milk production trends. The processor compares collected data against expected patterns and provides feedback to the mother through the display, helping her understand her milk supply status and identify any anomalies without manual analysis effort.
Solution Approach 2:
The base unit acts as an intermediary between the container and the mother, automatically processing the codification element information and translating it into meaningful data about milk volume and production trends. This intermediary system handles the complex analysis work that would otherwise require the mother to manually process the logged data.
3Ease of operation
If automatic data collection through image recognition is implemented, then data collection effort is minimized, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the complex image processing and codification recognition algorithms into a separate base unit, allowing the container itself to remain simple with just the codification element printed on it. The complexity of the recognition system is isolated in the base unit, keeping the portable container simple while enabling automated data collection.
Solution Approach 2:
The base unit serves multiple functions: it captures images of containers, recognizes codification elements, determines container type and volume, stores pumping session data, and provides feedback displays. By consolidating these multiple functions into a single device, the system achieves automatic data collection without requiring multiple separate complex components.
Data Source
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AI summary
A system is disclosed for managing a supply of breast milk. In one form the system includes a codified container for receiving expressed breast milk. A computing device receives an image of the expressed milk in the codified container. The codification allows for software to recognize the size and type of the container, as well as scale and orientation, to translate the image into an accurate volume. The milk data is then processed and analyzed to produce feedback regarding the pumping session, such as logs, charts, or reminders. In other embodiments, nipple positioning may be analyzed as well.