Vacuum Breaker Milk Backflow Prevention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Breast pump systems face challenges in preventing milk backflow into the suction tube, which can lead to contamination and damage to the vacuum pump, as existing designs often rely on conventional baffles that are difficult to clean and sanitize.

Innovation Solution

The breast pump system incorporates a vacuum breaker concept that isolates subatmospheric air flow from milk flow paths using a reed check valve and air duct design, preventing milk backflow by maintaining a sealed pathway even when the device is tipped over, and utilizing supplementary air injections to push milk droplets back into the collection device.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional baffles are used to prevent milk backflow, then milk backflow is blocked, but cleaning and sanitization becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemilk backflow preventionVSAvoidcleaning and sanitization

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the baffle component entirely and replaces it with a vacuum breaker mechanism that uses air flow control to prevent milk backflow. This extraction of the problematic baffle element eliminates the cleaning difficulty while maintaining backflow prevention through an alternative mechanism involving air ducts and pressure differential control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces air as an intermediary substance to prevent milk backflow. By controlling air flow through air ducts and using the vacuum breaker to regulate pressure differential, the system prevents milk from entering the suction tube without requiring physical barriers like baffles that are difficult to clean.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If the suction tube is exposed to milk, then milk can be collected, but contamination and pump damage occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemilk collectionVSAvoidcontamination and pump damage

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the flow paths by creating separate channels for air and milk using the vacuum breaker mechanism. The air flow path through air ducts is separated from the milk flow path, allowing milk to be collected in the collection chamber while preventing it from entering the suction tube and pump through the vacuum breaker's pressure differential control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The vacuum breaker performs preliminary anti-action by preventing milk from entering the suction tube in the first place. By maintaining positive pressure in the air duct relative to the collection chamber during pumping operations, the system creates a pressure barrier that stops milk backflow before it can reach the suction tube and pump.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

3Adaptability or versatility

If the device is tipped over, then portability is improved, but milk may backflow into the suction tube

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveportabilityVSAvoidbackflow prevention

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces gravity-dependent mechanical backflow prevention (which would fail when tipped) with a pressure differential control system. The vacuum breaker maintains positive pressure in the air duct relative to the collection chamber, creating a pressure barrier that prevents milk backflow regardless of the device's orientation, thus enabling portability without compromising reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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

This design effectively prevents milk backflow, ensuring easier cleaning and sanitization, reducing the risk of contamination, and protecting the vacuum pump from unsanitized conditions, thus maintaining hygiene and system integrity.

Implementation Method 1

a reed check valve and air duct design, preventing milk backflow by maintaining a sealed pathway

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectReed effect:

Implementation Method 2

vacuum breaker concept that isolates subatmospheric air flow from milk flow paths

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure differential: Pressure Gradient

Implementation Method 3

utilizing supplementary air injections to push milk droplets back into the collection device

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGas lift: Gas Lift

Data Source

PatentUS10039871B2Milk repellent breast pump

Publication Date: 2018.08.07 LANSINOH LABORATORIES INC

AI summary

A breast pump system includes a flexible vinyl suction tube that connects a milk collection device to a vacuum pump. If a milk droplet accidentally backflows into the suction tube, a supplementary opening injects tiny volumes of air sequentially into the vacuum pump or into the suction tube near the pump. As the vacuum pump operates in a cyclical manner, the injected air returns the droplet in sequential steps back to the milk collection device.