Hydraulic Breast Pump Fluid Shutoff Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hydraulic breast milk pumping systems face challenges in removably coupling the breast interface to the actuatable assembly, particularly due to the bulging of membranes caused by the higher density driving fluid, which can hinder operation and make it difficult to fluidly seal the breast interface against the breast.
Innovation Solution
A hydraulic pumping system with a fluid shutoff mechanism that decouples the breast interface and actuatable assembly interface when disconnected, allowing for easy reconnection and preventing cross-contamination, utilizing a driving fluid with higher density than air to facilitate efficient milk expression.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a driving fluid with higher density than air is used in the hydraulic system, then pumping efficiency is improved and pumping force requirements are reduced, but membrane bulging occurs when components are positioned at different heights, making it difficult to couple the interface and fluidly seal the breast interface
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-positions the breast interface and actuatable assembly at substantially the same height before operation begins. This preliminary alignment prevents membrane bulging caused by head pressure differentials, allowing easy coupling of the interface while maintaining the benefits of high-density driving fluid for efficient milk expression
2Reliability
If the breast interface and actuatable assembly are permanently coupled, then fluid communication is maintained for continuous operation, but cross-contamination cannot be prevented and maintenance becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the pumping device into separable components: a breast interface that can be removed and cleaned separately, and an actuatable assembly that remains stationary. This segmentation allows the breast interface to be sterilized independently, preventing cross-contamination while maintaining reliable fluid communication when assembled
Solution Approach 2:
A fluid communication pathway with check valves or one-way valves acts as an intermediary between the breast interface and actuatable assembly. This intermediary maintains unidirectional fluid flow, preventing backflow and cross-contamination while allowing the components to be separated for cleaning and maintenance
3Stress or pressure
If the membrane is allowed to bulge outward due to head pressure, then pressure transmission is maintained, but the bulging membrane hinders proper coupling and sealing operations
Solution Approach 1:
The system establishes proper component alignment at substantially the same height before operation begins. This preliminary positioning prevents head pressure-induced membrane bulging during coupling operations, while still allowing effective pressure transmission during actual pumping when the system is properly assembled and positioned
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 ensures proper coupling and sealing of the breast interface, preventing cross-contamination and improving the efficiency of milk expression by managing membrane bulging and maintaining fluid communication only when necessary.
Implementation Method 1
the driving fluid fills the space between the expandable membrane of the breast interface and the proximal membrane of the actuatable assembly interface. When the actuatable assembly interface is coupled to the actuatable assembly, actuation of the actuatable assembly causes movement of the proximal membrane moves towards and away from the breast interface, and thereby corresponding movement of the driving fluid and hence the expandable membrane
Implementation Method 2
the driving fluid used in hydraulic systems has a higher density than the atmosphere surrounding the driving fluid. As a result, when either the breast interface or the actuatable assembly interface is positioned above the other, head pressure is applied to the membrane of the component positioned below the other, causing the membrane to 'bulge' outwards
Data Source
AI summary
A hydraulic pumping system in accordance with embodiments comprises a breast interface operably coupled to an actuatable assembly by means of an actuatable assembly interface. The breast interface comprises a distal membrane coupled to a housing to form a fluid reservoir therebetween. The actuatable assembly interface comprises a proximal membrane. The distal and proximal membranes are fluidly coupled via a tube carrying a driving fluid. The actuatable assembly interface is configured to removably couple to the actuatable assembly, in order to operably couple the actuatable assembly to the breast interface. The actuatable assembly interface comprises a fluid shut off mechanism to reversibly shut off fluid communication between the breast interface and the actuatable assembly interface when the actuatable assembly interface is decoupled from the actuatable assembly.