Rolling Diaphragm Breast Pump Vacuum Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional breast pumps are complex, unreliable, and uncomfortable, taking a long time to reach a consistent steady state vacuum, often resulting in painful and inefficient milk extraction, discouraging breastfeeding.
Innovation Solution
An electrical breast pump system with a permanently unobstructed continuous passageway across a rolling diaphragm that moves between a vent orientation and a vacuum orientation, allowing direct communication with atmospheric pressure, ensuring quick and consistent vacuum recovery profiles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If a reciprocating piston assembly with a rolling diaphragm is used to generate vacuum, then the pump can create negative pressure for milk extraction, but the system takes 20-30 seconds or longer to reach a consistent steady state vacuum profile
Solution Approach 1:
The pump assembly is segmented into distinct functional zones: a vent zone with a permanently open passageway for rapid pressure equalization, and a vacuum zone for milk extraction. The rolling diaphragm divides the chamber into a vented portion and a vacuum portion, allowing independent operation of venting and vacuum functions. This segmentation enables the system to quickly reset to atmospheric pressure during the vent phase, preparing for rapid vacuum recovery in the next cycle.
Solution Approach 2:
The pump operates in periodic cycles alternating between a vent orientation and a vacuum orientation. During each cycle, the rolling diaphragm periodically covers and uncovers the passageway opening, creating rhythmic phases of atmospheric communication and vacuum generation. This periodic action ensures that the system regularly returns to atmospheric pressure, preventing vacuum buildup and enabling quick recovery to the desired vacuum profile without delay.
2Stress or pressure
If the pressure chamber is kept closed to maintain vacuum, then vacuum pressure is maintained, but the system becomes too closed and fails to reach consistent steady state vacuum, resulting in painful constant increasing vacuum profiles
Solution Approach 1:
The rolling diaphragm acts as a dynamic intermediary between the vented portion and the vacuum portion of the chamber. It selectively blocks or opens the passageway leading to atmospheric pressure based on its position during the cyclic motion. This intermediary mechanism provides controlled communication with atmosphere, preventing uncontrolled vacuum buildup while maintaining consistent vacuum levels during the extraction phase.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a static closed chamber to a dynamic chamber where the rolling diaphragm continuously changes the volume and connectivity of the vented and vacuum portions. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to adapt between rapid venting mode and consistent vacuum mode, preventing harmful pressure buildup while maintaining therapeutic vacuum levels for milk extraction.
3Productivity
If conventional breast pump systems are used, then milk extraction can be performed, but the systems are complex and unreliable, reducing breastfeeding encouragement
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the complex valve train, sensors, and control systems from conventional breast pumps. By using a rolling diaphragm that passively creates intermittent atmospheric communication through its cyclic motion, the system achieves reliable vacuum control without mechanical valves or electronic controls, significantly improving reliability and reducing points of failure.
Solution Approach 2:
The rolling diaphragm self-regulates the vacuum cycle through its own motion. As it rolls cyclically, it automatically opens and closes the passageway to atmosphere without external control, creating self-regulating vacuum phases and venting phases. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for external sensors, controllers, and valves, improving both reliability and simplicity.
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 achieves rapid and consistent vacuum recovery, reducing discomfort and operational delays, allowing for efficient milk extraction and maintaining a desired vacuum setting.
Implementation Method 1
controlling the rate at which a negative pressure is applied to the breast
Implementation Method 2
the portion 48 would overcome the circumferential tension when a slight positive pressure was generated in the pressure chamber 46
Data Source
AI summary
An electrical breast pump may include a permanently unobstructed continuous passageway across the diaphragm and a rolling diaphragm that is movable between a vent orientation and a vacuum orientation, or a vent piston configured to actuate a closure between a vent orientation and a vacuum orientation so that a pressure chamber is selectively in direct communication with atmospheric pressure.