Development of a Breast Pump Equipped with an Infant Tongue Movement Model and Verification of the Force Application Unit

This study presents the development of a novel breast pump that reproduces infant peristaltic‐like tongue movements. Based on physiological data from 200 infants, a force application unit was designed using eccentric cams to generate controlled sinusoidal force waveforms. Experimental results demonstrate that both unit positioning and material hardness strongly affect force ratios and milk extraction volumes. Even small positional shifts of a few millimeters disrupted force coordination, underscoring the importance of precise alignment and appropriate elasticity for efficient expression. This biomimetic approach clarifies the fundamental mechanical relationship between the configuration of the force application unit and its extraction performance, thereby providing a foundation for further development and evaluation of the device. © 2026 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan and Wiley Periodicals LLC.