As both a breast-enthusiast and an electronics engineer, I have made a prototype electric pump which actually works, and I use it in preference to the hand pump.
The system includes an automatic pressure sensor which detects the exact state of the vacuum and tops up when necessary (using an in-built computer of course!). Therefore overpumping and red cup-ring marks are a thing of the past and comfort is brilliant. In terms of effectiveness it's obviously still the standard noogle cups and method so if that's effective then the pump will be - and I would expect more so if it enables prolonged wearing. The automatic pressure enables me to work at the computer etc for as long as I like while maintaining a nice comfortable pressure.
The paramount consideration of an electric design is safety – particularly as the motor is powerful enough to give a no-nonsense performance. I have built in reasonable safety measures but with H&S obsessions and the claims culture, the professional model would have to be very foolproof which would increase cost.
The main safety concern is what happens if the pressure sensor fails. The safety I have included is that the pump pauses briefly if target vacuum is not sensed after about 2 seconds. This give an opportunity to press the stop button if all is not well. But perhaps there's a worry about using any powerful electric system while you're asleep.
The other concern is noise. The pump I have used is not expensive, but it is very noisy – i.e. too noisy, really. I found a noisy pump with the right specification relatively easily but I'm still searching for a quiet pump at a sensible price. More research or inventive thinking may lead me to a solution. Or a sound-insulated box would give some improvement. But for now it works in spite of the noise.
I'm happy to talk to Noogle HQ about using my design for a professional version.
I've already practiced a video demonstration on my private webserver. I'll set up a demo for fellow nooglers sometime soon, if there's interest. Let me know on the board or by message.
xx A
