Breast Pump Flange Support Pad for Comfort
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional breast pump flanges cause user discomfort, leading to issues like breast pain, clogged ducts, and reduced milk production due to friction and inadequate simulation of a baby's sucking action.
Innovation Solution
A breast pump flange assembly with a flexible membrane featuring a support pad that simulates the sensation of a baby's mouth by applying intermittent suction and pressure to the mammary ducts, enhancing comfort and milk production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a traditional breast pump flange with a cone-shaped portion and tube-shaped portion is used, then milk extraction function is achieved, but user comfort deteriorates due to friction and soreness at the narrowing area
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by adding a support pad specifically at the narrowing area where the cone-shaped portion connects to the tube-shaped portion. This localized modification provides cushioning and reduces friction exactly where the harmful effects occur, without changing the overall flange structure or milk extraction functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The support pad acts as an intermediary element between the flange and the user's breast. It mediates the interaction by reducing direct contact and friction between the rigid flange surface and the sensitive breast tissue, thereby comfort while maintaining the vacuum seal and milk extraction function.
2Reliability
If a traditional breast pump flange is used, then vacuum seal is formed for milk extraction, but simulation of baby's sucking action is inadequate
Solution Approach 1:
The support pad enables periodic action by allowing the flange to create intermittent suction that mimics the natural rhythm of a baby's sucking. The flexible support pad compresses and releases in a cyclical manner, creating variations in suction pressure that replicate the start-stop pattern of infant feeding.
Solution Approach 2:
The support pad enables parameter changes in the suction characteristics. It allows the system to transition from a constant vacuum seal to a dynamic, variable suction pattern that changes in intensity and rhythm, better matching the physiological parameters of baby's natural sucking action.
3Ease of manufacture
If the flange structure is simplified for ease of manufacture, then production cost is reduced, but user comfort and milk productivity are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by separating the flange into distinct components: the rigid flange structure for maintaining vacuum seal and the separate support pad for comfort and massaging function. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the flange for manufacturing simplicity and the support pad for user comfort and milk productivity enhancement.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses composite materials by combining the rigid plastic flange material with the softer, more compliant support pad material. This composite construction allows the system to maintain the structural integrity and seal-forming capability of the rigid flange while adding the comfort and massaging properties of the softer support pad material.
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 flexible membrane support pad increases user comfort and breast milk productivity by mimicking the natural sucking action, reducing friction and soreness, and promoting more efficient milk extraction.
Implementation Method 1
The support pad is configured to simulate the movement and sensation of a baby's mouth on a breast, causing the breast to be massaged by the intermittent suction action produced when the flange is attached to a breast pump
Data Source
AI summary
An improved breast pump flange assembly, flexible membrane and method of use are disclosed. In some embodiments, the breast pump flange assembly includes a flanged housing having an interior chamber extending therethrough. The flanged housing including an upper receiving portion having a first diameter, a substantially tubular middle portion having a second diameter, and a substantially tubular lower connecting portion having a third diameter. In some embodiments, the breast pump flange assembly further includes a flexible membrane having an opening extending therethrough. The flexible membrane having one or more support pad positioned at least partially around the opening of the tubular middle portion of the flanged housing. The support pad configured to simulate the sensation of a baby's mouth on a breast, causing the breast to be massaged by intermittent suction action produced by a breast pump.