Optimization of the amplitude of the vacuum stimuli in breast pump

Abstract

Breastfeeding, due to its nutritional and immunological aspects, is the best source of food for a newborn. In a situation where it is not possible to breastfeed her baby, for example, when the mother has returned to work or is otherwise temporarily separated from her baby, it is necessary for her to express breast milk for storage and use during the period of separation. Also, if infant is unable to effectively draw out the milk, for example, due to premature birth, illness, or underdeveloped nursing reflex, it may be necessary to express the milk from the mother’s breast using a breast pump. To achieve lactation success before a suckling can ensure the effective extraction of milk, breast pumps must meet specific mechanical requirements. However, the parameters of the vacuum stimuli by which milk is produced remain non-optimized. A method was developed to compare the amount of milk ejected by vacuum pulses of different amplitudes. Milk was ejected during one session alternately by series of vacuum pulses of different amplitudes into separate containers in the same woman. In order to minimize the influence of reflex pressure increase in the gland duct system on milk excretion, the vacuum stimuli with the help of a special switch were grouped into a series of 4 vacuum pulses periodically following each other with a duration of 4 s series. In addition, to increase the accuracy of measuring the amount of milk at the end of each series of vacuum pulses, an additional vacuum pulse was introduced, with the help of which an air flow in the direction of the milk collectors was created, contributing to the removal of milk residues from the conductive paths of the switch. It was found that for most nursing women the optimal amplitude of the vacuum is about 190 mm Hg.