Pivotable Milk Collection Container for Hands-Free Pumping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing breast milk expression devices with dimensionally stable milk collection containers are either cumbersome or require careful handling to prevent milk leakage, and do not accommodate individual anatomical variations, limiting comfort and convenience.
Innovation Solution
A pumping unit with a dimensionally stable or approximately stable milk collection container that is detachably and pivotably connected to a breast shield, allowing adjustable angles to fit different breast sizes and shapes, enabling a compact, space-saving design and hands-free operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a dimensionally stable milk collection container is used, then the container is easy to handle and can serve as storage, but the device becomes larger and less compact
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the connection between the breast shield and milk collection container pivotable rather than rigid. This allows the container to be positioned in different orientations (angled, vertical, horizontal) depending on the user's anatomical needs and comfort, transforming a static rigid structure into a dynamic adaptable one that optimizes both compactness and ease of handling.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the container is fixed at a specific angle, then the structure is simple, but it cannot accommodate individual anatomical variations
Solution Approach 1:
The pivotable connection mechanism enables the container to be adjusted to different angles and positions, allowing the device to adapt to various breast sizes, shapes, and pumping positions. This dynamic adjustment capability provides anatomical versatility without requiring multiple separate components, thus maintaining structural simplicity while achieving adaptability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a long intermediate region is provided between breast shield and container, then positioning is flexible, but the device becomes less compact
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a long intermediate region or flexible hose to provide positioning flexibility, the patent employs a pivotable connection that allows the container to be angled and positioned relative to the breast shield. This enables flexible positioning with minimal space, maintaining device compactness while achieving the required adaptability for different anatomical configurations.
Data Source
AI summary
A pumping unit for use in a device for expressing human breast milk comprises a breast shield for resting against a mother's breast and a dimensionally stable or approximately dimensionally stable milk collection container for receiving the expressed mother's milk. The breast shield comprises a first longitudinal center axis, and the milk collection container comprises a second longitudinal center axis, wherein the milk collection container is detachably attachable to the breast shield, and wherein in the attached state of the milk collection container the first longitudinal center axis is arranged at an angle to the second longitudinal center axis. In the attached state the milk collection container is movable relative to the breast shield, and consequently the angle between the first and second longitudinal center axes is variable. The pumping unit according to the invention can be designed in a compact and space-saving manner and is particularly suited to a hands-free arrangement.