Design and development of plugged lactiferous duct treatment technology for nursing women

Abstract

Plugged lactiferous ducts are a common problem that many nursing women encounter. This occurs when the tissue around a milk duct has become inflamed, thus preventing milk from passing through the duct. Women treat and prevent plugged ducts by massaging the affected area on the breast. There are no products currently on the market that use massage techniques to help mothers with plugged ducts. This study proposes a design of a device to treat plugged lactiferous ducts. The problem is explored and formulated into a problem statement. Design requirements of the device are derived from the problem statement and are listed and explained. The concept generation, concept selection, concept refinement, and prototyping phases are described. Finally, recommendations for future development are discussed.