Expandable Pleated Membrane for Breast Pump Vacuum Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing breast pumps are either inefficient and bulky or small and tiring to use, and they often have issues with membrane motion during actuation, which affects the expression and collection of breast milk effectively.
Innovation Solution
A breast pump device with an actuatable assembly and a breast interface featuring an expandable membrane with radial pleats that applies vacuum pressure for efficient milk expression, including a drain port and a fluid reservoir for controlled pressure changes, and a mechanism to maintain the drain port in a fixed position during actuation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If electrically-powered breast pumps are used, then pumping efficiency is improved, but device size becomes large and bulky
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into separate components: a compact breast interface assembly containing the membrane and pleats, and a separate actuatable assembly containing the motor and fluid reservoir. This segmentation allows the pumping mechanism to be electrically-powered for efficiency while keeping the breast interface portion small and portable.
Solution Approach 2:
The expandable membrane with pleats is nested within the breast interface housing, and the fluid reservoir is integrated into the actuatable assembly. This nesting allows multiple functional components to be compactly arranged, achieving high pumping efficiency in a reduced overall device volume.
2Productivity
If membranes are used to create negative pressure, then milk expression is improved, but unwanted membrane motion occurs during actuation
Solution Approach 1:
The membrane transitions from a static structure to a dynamic one with expandable pleats that can controlledly expand and contract. This dynamic design allows the membrane to create effective negative pressure for milk expression while the pleated structure accommodates motion in a controlled manner, reducing unwanted instability.
Solution Approach 2:
The membrane's physical state is changed by introducing expandable pleats that can alter their volume and shape in response to pressure changes. This parameter change allows the membrane to efficiently create negative pressure while maintaining structural stability through the pleated configuration that accommodates expansion and contraction.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the drain port moves during actuation, then membrane flexibility is improved, but milk drainage effectiveness decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The drain port is extracted from the movable pleated portion of the membrane and positioned in a fixed location on the breast interface housing. This extraction ensures that while the membrane can flex and expand with the pleats, the drain port remains stationary to maintain effective milk drainage throughout the actuation cycle.
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 device provides a highly efficient and compact means for expressing and collecting breast milk, minimizing unwanted motion and ensuring effective milk drainage, with improved pumping efficiency compared to commercial devices.
Implementation Method 1
the expandable membrane moves in response to actuation of the actuatable assembly, thereby applying vacuum pressure at the breast to express milk therefrom
Implementation Method 2
The expandable membrane may further comprise a negative grade along a bottom portion thereof, configured to allow expressed milk to flow downhill into the drain port
Data Source
AI summary
A device for expression and collection of breast milk includes an actuatable assembly and a breast interface. The breast interface is sized to receive a breast and form a fluid tight seal against the breast. The breast interface includes an expandable membrane disposed within at least a portion of the breast interface. The expandable membrane reversibly deforms in response to actuation of the actuatable assembly, thereby applying vacuum pressure at the breast to express milk. The expandable membrane comprises a plurality of expandable pleats which extend radially outward from a central longitudinal axis of the breast interface.