Contoured Breast Pump with Dynamic Diaphragm for Discreet Milk Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional breast pumps are often cumbersome, noisy, and visible, lacking discretion and comfort, especially for working mothers who need to express milk in public or during extended periods, and they can cause discomfort due to inadequate design and lack of efficient milk volume monitoring.
Innovation Solution
A portable, self-powered breast pump system designed to mimic the natural breast profile, featuring a contoured external shell, a skin contact member, a conduit, and a milk collection container, which is battery-powered and includes a controller and sensor for accurate milk volume tracking, providing comfort and discretion through its natural appearance and efficient operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional breast pumps are made portable and battery-powered, then ease of operation is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pump employs a diaphragm that dynamically expands and contracts in response to vacuum fluctuations, automatically regulating the pumping cycle without continuous motor operation. This dynamic mechanism reduces energy consumption while maintaining effective milk extraction during portable use.
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes periodic vacuum application followed by passive diaphragm recoil to create pumping action. The diaphragm naturally contracts during vacuum release phases, creating a periodic pumping rhythm that reduces the need for continuous powered operation and extends battery life.
2Shape
If the breast pump is designed to be discrete and invisible when worn, then aesthetic appearance is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pump components are nested within a shell that contours to the breast shape, with the diaphragm, valve assembly, and electrical components compactly integrated into the contoured housing. This nesting approach achieves a discrete, aesthetically pleasing appearance while accommodating all necessary functional elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The shell simultaneously serves multiple functions: it provides the aesthetic contouring, houses the diaphragm mechanism, contains the electrical components, and forms the structural framework. This merging of functions reduces overall device complexity while achieving the desired discrete appearance.
3Productivity
If the pump operates continuously to maintain suction, then productivity is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The diaphragm maintains continuous contact with the breast tissue through its automatic expansion and contraction cycle, ensuring continuous milk extraction action without requiring continuous motor operation. The passive recoil phase maintains the pumping action while reducing energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The diaphragm serves itself by automatically expanding during vacuum application and contracting during vacuum release without external motor intervention. This self-service mechanism maintains productive pumping action while eliminating the need for continuous powered operation.
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 system offers a comfortable, discreet, and efficient way to express milk, reducing discomfort and allowing accurate tracking of milk volume, enhancing the user experience for nursing mothers by providing a more natural feel and efficient operation.
Implementation Method 1
a driving mechanism configured to establish a vacuum profile within the conduit
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for pumping milk from a breast responsive to a controller, wherein the milk is expressed from the breast under suction and milk is expulsed from the pumping mechanism to a collection container under positive pressure.