Diaper Sensor for Breast Milk Intake Estimation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for estimating breast milk intake in infants are either inaccurate or intrusive, leading to unnecessary discontinuation of breastfeeding due to concerns about insufficient milk supply, as existing devices are not convenient or non-invasive enough to measure milk consumption effectively.
Innovation Solution
A non-invasive device with a sensor attached to an infant's diaper that measures the amount and shade of urine using a photodetector and LED, estimating hydration levels and breast milk intake without direct contact with the infant's body, providing a convenient and accurate measurement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If flow meters or capacity meters are mounted on the breast during breastfeeding to measure milk flow, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and intrusiveness increase, interrupting the intimacy and simplicity of the feeding process
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the diaper as an intermediary medium to capture and measure milk that has already been consumed by the infant. Instead of measuring milk flow directly at the breast, the system collects milk after it passes through the infant's digestive system and measures it in the diaper, thereby avoiding direct interference with the breastfeeding process while still providing accurate measurement data.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical flow meters with a simpler optical detection system. Instead of using mechanical capacity meters or flow gauges that require direct attachment to the breast, the system uses optical sensors (such as reflectometry or fluorescence detection) to measure milk properties within the diaper, significantly reducing device complexity and intrusiveness.
2Ease of operation
If weighing methods are used to assess milk intake by weighing mother and/or infant before and after nursing, then measurement is non-invasive, but measurement precision deteriorates due to substantial inconvenience and imprecision
Solution Approach 1:
The diaper serves as an intermediary that directly contains and measures the milk output. By placing the measurement system within the diaper itself rather than relying on external weighing of the infant or mother, the system achieves both convenience (the diaper is already being used) and precision (direct measurement of milk volume in the diaper).
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the measurement function from the complex process of weighing the entire infant or mother and isolates it to specifically measure only the milk component within the diaper. This extraction allows for precise measurement of milk intake without the inconvenience and imprecision of whole-body weighing methods.
3Ease of operation
If diaper counting is used to estimate milk intake by counting wet diapers, then ease of operation is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates as it does not provide concrete measurement of actual urine secretion volume
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the simple counting method with an optical detection system that can quantify actual milk volume. Instead of merely counting the number of wet diapers, the system uses optical sensors to detect and measure the actual volume of milk in the diaper, providing precise quantitative data while maintaining the simplicity of diaper-based measurement.
Solution Approach 2:
The diaper remains the intermediary medium, but its function is enhanced from simple collection to active measurement. The optical sensors integrated into or attached to the diaper allow it to provide concrete volume measurements of milk secretion, transforming it from a passive collection device to an active measurement tool that maintains simplicity while improving precision.
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 device allows for precise and non-intrusive estimation of breast milk intake, reducing unnecessary formula use and enhancing breastfeeding guidance by providing caregivers with accurate data on milk consumption, thus promoting healthier infant and maternal outcomes.
Implementation Method 1
a photoresistor configured to receive light reflections from the garment
Implementation Method 2
a first photodetector configured to output an indication of the amount of light reflected from the incontinence product
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3A~3C
Figure 3D~3E
AI summary
A sensor for indirect estimation of breast milk intake by an infant, the sensor comprising: a housing configured to be externally attached to an incontinence product worn by a subject, said housing comprising: a light-emitting diode (LED) configured to illuminate the incontinence product; a photodetector configured to output an indication of the amount of light reflected from the incontinence product; and an integrated circuit configured to: (a) receive the indication from said photodetector, (b) compute, based on the indication, an amount of urine secreted by the subject into the incontinence product, and (c) estimate the amount of breast milk intake by the infant based on the amount of urine secreted by the subject into the incontinence product.