Nursing Pad System With Adhesive Base And Absorbent Pocket
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing nursing pads fail to effectively manage breast milk leakage, causing skin irritation, bacterial infections, and discomfort due to inadequate absorbency, adhesion, and design issues, leading to clogged milk ducts and mastitis.
Innovation Solution
A two-part nursing pad system with a U-shaped base secured by low trauma adhesive and a top cover with an absorbent pocket and strong bond adhesive, allowing for easy separation and replacement, providing enhanced absorbency and hygiene.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If negative pressure is used to retain milk, then milk leakage is reduced, but skin irritation and milk duct blockages occur
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using negative pressure to pull milk back into the breast, this patent uses positive pressure through a warm compress applied to the breast to naturally express milk forward onto the pad, eliminating the harmful suction effect on skin and ducts
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical suction system is replaced with a thermal system - a warm compress that uses heat to stimulate natural milk flow, substituting mechanical force with thermal energy to achieve milk expression without skin trauma
2Object-generated harmful factors
If reusable pads are used, then safety is improved, but adhesion and comfort deteriorate due to shifting and rubbing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs disposable pads that are discarded after single use, eliminating the adhesion and comfort problems of reusable pads while maintaining safety through adequate absorbency and protective design
Solution Approach 2:
The pad is segmented into functional zones with different materials - a highly absorbent core layer for milk capture, a skin-contact layer for comfort, and an outer layer for protection - allowing each zone to optimize its specific function
3Ease of operation
If disposable pads with adhesive tabs are used, then adhesion is improved, but friction and detachment occur causing excess leakage
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of relying on tabs at the edges (one-dimensional attachment), the adhesive is applied across the entire surface area of the pad (two-dimensional attachment), distributing the bonding force uniformly and eliminating localized friction points
Solution Approach 2:
The adhesive properties are optimized by selecting materials and formulations that provide strong initial adhesion but allow for gentle removal without skin damage or pad detachment, changing the adhesive strength parameters to balance holding power with comfort
4Object-affected harmful factors
If high absorbency pads are used, then milk containment is improved, but saturation and clothing leakage occur
Solution Approach 1:
The pad is designed as a disposable item to be discarded after saturation, eliminating the problem of overflow leakage onto clothing while maintaining high absorbency capacity during the usage period
Solution Approach 2:
The pad uses composite material structure with multiple layers - a superabsorbent polymer core for high capacity, surrounded by wicking layers that distribute milk flow, creating a system with absorbency exceeding 30 ounces before saturation
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 effectively absorbs and contains breast milk, reducing skin irritation, infection risk, and discomfort, while allowing for easy nipple exposure during feedings and preventing milk from seeping through clothing.
Implementation Method 1
The top cover includes an absorbent inner surface with a pocket
Implementation Method 2
The top cover includes an absorbent inner surface with a pocket
Implementation Method 3
The base is designed to be removably and adhesively secured about the nipple
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a nursing pad system. The system consists of a base that is designed to be adhesively secured about the nipple of a breast feeding mother. A top cover, which is preferably disposable, is thereafter secured over top of the base component. The adhesive securing the base is preferably a low trauma adhesive. The adhesive securing the top cover is preferably a strong adhesive. The top cover includes an inner surface formed from an absorbent material and that includes a pocket. Milk is both absorbed by the inner surface and collected in the pocket. The top cover is designed to be separable from the base so that it can be replaced as needed.