Wearable Chest Pump - for inducing lactation stimulation and improved milk extraction.

Wearable Chest Pump - for inducing lactation stimulation and improved milk extraction.

Wearable Chest Pump - for inducing lactation stimulation and improved milk extraction.

Changing social and cultural attitudes have enabled a larger recognition for instance of same-sex parents. However, trans and non-gender conforming practices of parenting, have received much less attention across social, cultural, legal, and academic spheres. There is a need to develop an in-depth understanding of the feelings, experiences, and health care needs of trans and non-binary couples who wish to, or become, pregnant, specifically in aspects regarding gender identity, gendered bodily aesthetics, both at the corporal and subjective levels.

Lactation is one way to examine how more inclusive narratives of pregnancy and birth bring new understandings to the embodied and gendered processes of parenting; understanding that there is a significantly large community who in any moment of their life may need to pump milk or may wish to induce lactation. This could be the case for:
Couples or single parents who adopted or lost their partner during pregnancy or delivery. Non-gestational parents who may want to share breastfeeding duties. (Trans and non-binary couples Cisgender men support through co-nursing, trans women can benefit from the experience as well with significant emotional benefits).
Gestational parents who do not feel comfortable with breast/chestfeeding may want to pump. (Transgender men whose outward appearance while pregnancy and chestfeeding may not match their gender identity and increased their body disassociation)
Gestational parents who need to induce or increase their milk production. This can happen after breast reduction surgery, this not only applies to transgender men but to cisgender women with back problems.

The latest models for breast pumps have advanced significantly in terms of mobility and convenience. They are wireless, hands-free, and silent compared to previous models, and actions can be controlled and tracked remotely through apps. However, there is still room for improvement especially including a wider range of bodies. The adjustments for contour and nipple adaptation are limited and may entail buying complementary parts like shield sizes of flanges to accommodate body variations. Which leads to the next flaw, cost. These new models are considerably expensive and may need complementary parts to fit different preferences and needs (reusable milk containers instead of disposable ones may increase costs and represent a disadvantage environmental waste as well). The prices range from 300 to 500 dollars and are rarely covered by insurance plans. Also, projection. These models incorporate the motor and battery to each pump which is great as it allows the user to wear them and have full mobility however, they are still very bulky and may increase the breast/chest size up to 2 cups. Which many women are described as being uncomfortable when using in public spaces and even more so for transgender men or non-binary people. The battery for each pump needs to be charged separately which can be very inconvenient and in some cases, the battery life is not so durable. Finally, the motor does not match a hospital-grade breast pump which means that it may not be useful for inducing lactation.

Taking into consideration the previous issues, I'm attempting to develop a prototype for a Wearable Chest Pump that could support and improve milk extraction while providing inducing lactation stimulation as well. The device acts as a wearable vest that uses a pneumatic system to adapt its surface to multiple and diverse topographies. There is existing technology available like vacuum forming or vacuum seal, however, a team in MIT MediaLab (PneUI) is experimenting with an enabling technology to build shape-changing devices through pneumatically-actuated materials. The shape-changing states are computationally controllable and their applications can range from height-changing buildings to a morphing bar cell phone or shapeshifting lamps. Nonetheless, the design aims to address social aspirations in terms of normalizing breastfeeding and the current association of it only for cis women.

Non-gestational parents can start preparing for breastfeeding as soon as they decide to grow their family and the only necessary component to induce lactation is stimulation. This can happen using a variety of manual techniques. The device aims to provide the suction needed for milk extraction as well as the necessary breast/chest stimulation to induce lactation. This is possible due to multiple air chambers that inflate and deflate using specific patterns that simulate hand stimulation.

The device is made out of 6 parts:
The vest which incorporates the battery and motor of the device is made out of spandex fabric that allows malleability and adaptation to different upper body sizes. The design does not require a specific pressure from the vest which means that if it's tighter or looser in different bodies it makes no difference it relates more to the user preference.
The flanges are made of a relatively solid BPA-free plastic that allows air in between the flange and the skin surface in order to enable the suction to happen. The form is flatter than the regular sizes and forms from other breast pumps making it more discreet. Inside it has a pouch and valve that can be pressed when holding them against the skin in order to allow them to adhere to the breast/chest and regulate the level of suction.
The sheet is made of a vacuum-forming plastic formed of two layers that shape 13 air chambers. When using the Wearable Chest/Breast Pump the vest is aligned manually with the flange. Here we can see the process. After the vest is aligned then air is sucked from the inside of the sheet, so that it wraps around the body. Simultaneously, the air is slightly blown into the chambers in charge of stimulation. This allows that regardless of the topography the device is adjusted appropriately and aligned with the flanges.
The close system for maximum hygiene is ensured thanks to the seals that also attach the flanges with the plastic sheet.
The milk containers are reusable pouches that can serve as fridge storage containers as well. This is the only object within the device that may add volume to the chest area however it depends on the amount of milk production which is not more than 2 oz that will only reflect half a cup projection.

It has been found that there is a healing component to breast/chestfeeding that can help heal the heartache of infertility. However, the amount of milk produced when inducing lactation can vary widely and some people will make a partial milk supply. Future considerations will be to explore an alternative even if no milk is produced at all, through a nursing supplement that can be incorporated into the milk containers as a tiny feeding tube that carries the milk to the nipple. And also exploring materiality and aesthetics for potentially building a second version and improved prototype.

Changing social and cultural attitudes have enabled a larger recognition for instance of same-sex parents. However, trans and non-gender conforming practices of parenting, have received much less attention across social, cultural, legal, and academic spheres. There is a need to develop an in-depth understanding of the feelings, experiences, and health care needs of trans and non-binary couples who wish to, or become, pregnant, specifically in aspects regarding gender identity, gendered bodily aesthetics, both at the corporal and subjective levels.

Lactation is one way to examine how more inclusive narratives of pregnancy and birth bring new understandings to the embodied and gendered processes of parenting; understanding that there is a significantly large community who in any moment of their life may need to pump milk or may wish to induce lactation. This could be the case for:
Couples or single parents who adopted or lost their partner during pregnancy or delivery. Non-gestational parents who may want to share breastfeeding duties. (Trans and non-binary couples Cisgender men support through co-nursing, trans women can benefit from the experience as well with significant emotional benefits).
Gestational parents who do not feel comfortable with breast/chestfeeding may want to pump. (Transgender men whose outward appearance while pregnancy and chestfeeding may not match their gender identity and increased their body disassociation)
Gestational parents who need to induce or increase their milk production. This can happen after breast reduction surgery, this not only applies to transgender men but to cisgender women with back problems.

The latest models for breast pumps have advanced significantly in terms of mobility and convenience. They are wireless, hands-free, and silent compared to previous models, and actions can be controlled and tracked remotely through apps. However, there is still room for improvement especially including a wider range of bodies. The adjustments for contour and nipple adaptation are limited and may entail buying complementary parts like shield sizes of flanges to accommodate body variations. Which leads to the next flaw, cost. These new models are considerably expensive and may need complementary parts to fit different preferences and needs (reusable milk containers instead of disposable ones may increase costs and represent a disadvantage environmental waste as well). The prices range from 300 to 500 dollars and are rarely covered by insurance plans. Also, projection. These models incorporate the motor and battery to each pump which is great as it allows the user to wear them and have full mobility however, they are still very bulky and may increase the breast/chest size up to 2 cups. Which many women are described as being uncomfortable when using in public spaces and even more so for transgender men or non-binary people. The battery for each pump needs to be charged separately which can be very inconvenient and in some cases, the battery life is not so durable. Finally, the motor does not match a hospital-grade breast pump which means that it may not be useful for inducing lactation.

Taking into consideration the previous issues, I'm attempting to develop a prototype for a Wearable Chest Pump that could support and improve milk extraction while providing inducing lactation stimulation as well. The device acts as a wearable vest that uses a pneumatic system to adapt its surface to multiple and diverse topographies. There is existing technology available like vacuum forming or vacuum seal, however, a team in MIT MediaLab (PneUI) is experimenting with an enabling technology to build shape-changing devices through pneumatically-actuated materials. The shape-changing states are computationally controllable and their applications can range from height-changing buildings to a morphing bar cell phone or shapeshifting lamps. Nonetheless, the design aims to address social aspirations in terms of normalizing breastfeeding and the current association of it only for cis women.

Non-gestational parents can start preparing for breastfeeding as soon as they decide to grow their family and the only necessary component to induce lactation is stimulation. This can happen using a variety of manual techniques. The device aims to provide the suction needed for milk extraction as well as the necessary breast/chest stimulation to induce lactation. This is possible due to multiple air chambers that inflate and deflate using specific patterns that simulate hand stimulation.

The device is made out of 6 parts:
The vest which incorporates the battery and motor of the device is made out of spandex fabric that allows malleability and adaptation to different upper body sizes. The design does not require a specific pressure from the vest which means that if it's tighter or looser in different bodies it makes no difference it relates more to the user preference.
The flanges are made of a relatively solid BPA-free plastic that allows air in between the flange and the skin surface in order to enable the suction to happen. The form is flatter than the regular sizes and forms from other breast pumps making it more discreet. Inside it has a pouch and valve that can be pressed when holding them against the skin in order to allow them to adhere to the breast/chest and regulate the level of suction.
The sheet is made of a vacuum-forming plastic formed of two layers that shape 13 air chambers. When using the Wearable Chest/Breast Pump the vest is aligned manually with the flange. Here we can see the process. After the vest is aligned then air is sucked from the inside of the sheet, so that it wraps around the body. Simultaneously, the air is slightly blown into the chambers in charge of stimulation. This allows that regardless of the topography the device is adjusted appropriately and aligned with the flanges.
The close system for maximum hygiene is ensured thanks to the seals that also attach the flanges with the plastic sheet.
The milk containers are reusable pouches that can serve as fridge storage containers as well. This is the only object within the device that may add volume to the chest area however it depends on the amount of milk production which is not more than 2 oz that will only reflect half a cup projection.

It has been found that there is a healing component to breast/chestfeeding that can help heal the heartache of infertility. However, the amount of milk produced when inducing lactation can vary widely and some people will make a partial milk supply. Future considerations will be to explore an alternative even if no milk is produced at all, through a nursing supplement that can be incorporated into the milk containers as a tiny feeding tube that carries the milk to the nipple. And also exploring materiality and aesthetics for potentially building a second version and improved prototype.

The device is made out of 6 parts:
The vest which incorporates the battery and motor of the device is made out of spandex fabric that allows malleability and adaptation to different upper body sizes. The design does not require a specific pressure from the vest which means that if it's tighter or looser in different bodies it makes no difference it relates more to the user preference.
The flanges are made of a relatively solid BPA-free plastic that allows air in between the flange and the skin surface in order to enable the suction to happen. The form is flatter than the regular sizes and forms from other breast pumps making it more discreet. Inside it has a pouch and valve that can be pressed when holding them against the skin in order to allow them to adhere to the breast/chest and regulate the level of suction.
The sheet is made of a vacuum-forming plastic formed of two layers that shape 13 air chambers. When using the Wearable Chest/Breast Pump the vest is aligned manually with the flange. Here we can see the process. After the vest is aligned then air is sucked from the inside of the sheet, so that it wraps around the body. Simultaneously, the air is slightly blown into the chambers in charge of stimulation. This allows that regardless of the topography the device is adjusted appropriately and aligned with the flanges.
The close system for maximum hygiene is ensured thanks to the seals that also attach the flanges with the plastic sheet.
The milk containers are reusable pouches that can serve as fridge storage containers as well. This is the only object within the device that may add volume to the chest area however it depends on the amount of milk production which is not more than 2 oz that will only reflect half a cup projection.

The device is made out of 6 parts:
The vest which incorporates the battery and motor of the device is made out of spandex fabric that allows malleability and adaptation to different upper body sizes. The design does not require a specific pressure from the vest which means that if it's tighter or looser in different bodies it makes no difference it relates more to the user preference.
The flanges are made of a relatively solid BPA-free plastic that allows air in between the flange and the skin surface in order to enable the suction to happen. The form is flatter than the regular sizes and forms from other breast pumps making it more discreet. Inside it has a pouch and valve that can be pressed when holding them against the skin in order to allow them to adhere to the breast/chest and regulate the level of suction.
The sheet is made of a vacuum-forming plastic formed of two layers that shape 13 air chambers. When using the Wearable Chest/Breast Pump the vest is aligned manually with the flange. Here we can see the process. After the vest is aligned then air is sucked from the inside of the sheet, so that it wraps around the body. Simultaneously, the air is slightly blown into the chambers in charge of stimulation. This allows that regardless of the topography the device is adjusted appropriately and aligned with the flanges.
The close system for maximum hygiene is ensured thanks to the seals that also attach the flanges with the plastic sheet.
The milk containers are reusable pouches that can serve as fridge storage containers as well. This is the only object within the device that may add volume to the chest area however it depends on the amount of milk production which is not more than 2 oz that will only reflect half a cup projection.

https://camilanunez.cargo.site/Wearable-Chest-Pump

https://youtu.be/GmFzJhMIrvI

https://camilanunez.cargo.site/