Smart Nursing Garment Sensor Tracking Breastfeeding Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Breastfeeding mothers face challenges in tracking the duration of breastfeeding sessions, which breast was last used, and the interval between feedings, leading to potential mistakes in recording data that can affect medical decisions and the success of breastfeeding.
Innovation Solution
A nursing garment with partially removable breast cups equipped with electronic sensors that record the opening and closing of each cup, storing data in a lightweight computing device that can be downloaded via Bluetooth for analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If breastfeeding mothers manually track feeding data, then the process is simple and requires no additional devices, but the accuracy and reliability of the recorded data deteriorates due to human error and forgetfulness
Solution Approach 1:
The nursing garment automatically records breastfeeding data itself without requiring manual intervention from the mother. The sensors detect when breastfeeding occurs and automatically log the timing and duration, eliminating human error while keeping the system simple to use.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual writing or digital entry with electronic sensors and automated computing devices. The mechanical act of manually recording data is substituted with electronic detection and automatic data storage, improving accuracy without significantly increasing user burden.
2Loss of information
If electronic sensors are added to the nursing garment to automatically track breastfeeding data, then the accuracy and completeness of data improves, but the weight and complexity of the garment increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses lightweight electronic sensors that create digital copies of breastfeeding data rather than requiring physical notebooks or complex mechanical tracking systems. This captures complete information while keeping the added weight minimal through electronic rather than physical recording media.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from manual tracking parameters (writing speed, memory capacity) to electronic parameters (sensor sensitivity, data storage capacity). This allows for more complete data collection with minimal weight increase by changing the fundamental parameters of how data is captured and stored.
3Reliability
If detailed breastfeeding data is collected and stored electronically, then the quality of medical advice and lactation consultation improves, but the difficulty of data management and analysis increases
Solution Approach 1:
The computing device automatically processes the collected breastfeeding data and provides feedback to both the mother and healthcare providers. This automated feedback system manages the complexity by organizing data into actionable insights, improving medical decision-making without requiring manual data analysis.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a computing device as an intermediary between the sensors and the end users (mothers and healthcare providers). This intermediary automatically processes, stores, and presents the data in a manageable format, reducing the complexity burden on users while maintaining high data quality for medical decisions.
Data Source
AI summary
A nursing garment computing system includes a nursing garment having a pair of breast cups with an electronic sensor to indicate the status of a breast in the pair of breast cups and a computing device to record the sensor data indicative of whether the breast cup is open or closed. The data can be electronically sent to an external device such as a cell phone or personal digital assistant to keep track of which breast cup has been opened for breastfeeding event, time between breastfeeding event, amount of time for breastfeeding from each side of the breast, a record of which side was nursed last, and a record of which side was nursed first during the last breastfeeding event.