Hydraulic Breast Shield Assembly for Quiet Milk Expression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing breast pumps are either inefficient and bulky or large and uncomfortable, lacking features like quiet operation, small size, and user-friendly communication with personal devices for enhanced convenience.
Innovation Solution
Hydraulic breast milk expression systems using liquid-driven vacuum generation, with a closed fluid reservoir and actuatable assembly, providing reduced pumping force requirements, smaller device size, and improved comfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If pneumatic systems are used with tubes to transmit vacuum, then breast milk can be expressed, but the device becomes large and bulky
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies hydraulic principles by using a fluid-filled chamber instead of traditional pneumatic vacuum systems. The breast shield contains a compressible fluid (water or other incompressible liquid) that directly transmits mechanical compression forces to the breast tissue, eliminating the need for large vacuum pumps and tubing infrastructure, thereby significantly reducing device size while maintaining expression effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts and eliminates the complex vacuum transmission infrastructure (large pumps, extensive tubing) from the system. Instead, it uses a simplified direct-compression mechanism where the fluid chamber itself serves as both the transmission medium and the interface with the breast, removing unnecessary components and reducing overall device volume
2Volume of moving object
If manually-actuated devices are used, then the device size is small, but the pumping efficiency is low and it is tiring to use
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates sensors that automatically detect breast milk expression parameters and adjust the compression cycle timing and intensity accordingly. The actuator assembly responds automatically to detected conditions, reducing the need for manual adjustment and optimizing efficiency without requiring the user to continuously monitor or adjust settings, thereby maintaining small size while improving productivity
3Productivity
If electrically-powered devices are used, then pumping efficiency is high, but the device becomes large and bulky
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional electrical vacuum pump systems with a hydraulic direct-compression system. An electric actuator compresses the fluid chamber, which directly transmits force to the breast tissue. This eliminates the need for large vacuum pumps, reservoirs, and complex pneumatic tubing, achieving high pumping efficiency with a compact device footprint
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the fundamental operating parameter from vacuum pressure (pneumatic) to direct mechanical compression pressure (hydraulic). This parameter change allows for more efficient force transmission with smaller components, as direct compression is more mechanically efficient than vacuum suction, enabling high productivity in a compact form factor
4Productivity
If traditional pneumatic systems are used, then vacuum can be transmitted, but the operation is noisy and less comfortable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from pneumatic vacuum transmission to hydraulic direct compression. The fluid-filled chamber provides smooth, gradual compression forces that are more comfortable for the user. Hydraulic systems operate quietly without the loud suction noises and mechanical vibrations characteristic of pneumatic vacuum pumps, eliminating noise and comfort issues while maintaining expression capability
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 hydraulic systems maintain high efficiency while being quieter and more comfortable, allowing for easy integration with personal devices for enhanced user experience.
Implementation Method 1
Hydraulic pumping systems can have reduced pumping force requirements and hence reduced device size compared to pneumatic systems, while maintaining high pumping efficiency
Implementation Method 2
The breast shield assembly comprises an enclosed fluid reservoir extending between the breast interface and the actuatable assembly interface, the fluid reservoir physically separated from the breast milk expressed from the breast and filled with a driving fluid comprising a liquid
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein are improved devices, systems, and methods for the expression and collection of breast milk, such as human breast milk. A breast shield assembly for expression of breast milk may comprise a breast interface and an actuatable assembly interface fluidly coupled with a tube, wherein the breast interface is configured to engage the breast and the actuatable assembly interface is configured to removably couple to an actuatable assembly. The breast shield assembly may comprise an enclosed fluid reservoir extending between the breast interface and the actuatable assembly interface, the fluid reservoir physically separated from the expressed breast milk and filled with a driving fluid comprising a liquid. The breast shield assembly may further comprise a fill port configured to allow addition or removal of the driving fluid to or from the fluid reservoir.