IP Requirement: Noma Labs, LLC IP

Experience Requirement:

– Mechanical Design

– Rapid Prototyping

Safe breast milk storage is a critical component of infant nutrition, as breast milk provides essential immunological protection and optimal nutrition for developing infants. Current evidence-based guidelines mandate that freshly expressed breast milk must reach the same temperature as previously stored milk before combining to prevent bacterial growth and preserve bioactive components. This temperature equalization requirement creates significant workflow challenges for nursing mothers, often requiring 2-4 hours of cooling time per pumping session. The manual process involves multiple containers, frequent transfers, and constant temperature monitoring, increasing contamination risk through repeated handling. Studies indicate that improper milk handling contributes to increased infection rates in infants, while workflow inefficiencies contribute to maternal stress and reduced breastfeeding duration.

Current breast milk storage technologies include basic collection bottles, storage bags, and standard refrigeration systems. However, no automated solutions exist to address the critical temperature equalization step. Existing products focus solely on static collection and storage, leaving temperature management entirely manual and prone to human error. Current practice relies on time-based protocols and manual temperature checks, often using multiple small containers that must be individually monitored and transferred. This approach is labor-intensive and creates compliance challenges where sleep-deprived parents may compromise safety protocols due to fatigue or time constraints. The absence of automated temperature control technology represents a significant gap in evidence-based breast milk handling systems.

An automated temperature-controlled breast milk storage system utilizing dual compartments for temperature equalization would significantly impact both infant health outcomes and maternal experience. By eliminating manual temperature monitoring and reducing handling steps, such a system would decrease contamination risk and improve adherence to safety protocols. This technology would reduce the burden on nursing mothers and ensure consistent compliance with evidence-based storage guidelines, potentially reducing infection rates in infant populations. For pumping mothers, automated temperature management would decrease stress and improve long-term breastfeeding success rates. The system could become standard equipment for lactating mothers, improving outcomes for infants while streamlining milk storage processes and reducing the risk of milk-related infections.