System and method for measuring human milk production

A breast milk flow monitoring system, comprising:

• a milk flow monitoring sensor including an array of electrodes including a first electrode, a second electrode, a third electrode and a fourth electrode, and
• a controller;
• wherein the first, second, third, and fourth electrodes include electrically conductive surfaces that are configured to be arranged to contact a skin surface of a breast;
• wherein the controller is in communication with the first, second, third, and fourth electrodes;
• and
• wherein the controller is operative to:
• generate a first excitation signal that is communicated via the first electrode to a first location on the breast,
• generate a second excitation signal that is communicated via the first electrode to the first location on the breast,
• wherein the first excitation signal comprises a low frequency excitation signal and wherein the second excitation signal comprises a high frequency excitation signal;
• receive, via one of the second, third or fourth electrodes, a first current response signal in response to the first excitation signal,
• receive, via the one of the second, third or fourth electrodes, a second current response signal in response to the second excitation signal,
• determine a ratio of the first current response signal and the second current response signal
• execute a bio-impedance spectroscopic analysis of the ratio of the first current response signal and the second current response signal, wherein the bio-impedance spectroscopic analysis is calibrated for breast milk flow, and
• determine a breast milk flow parameter based upon the bio-impedance spectroscopic analysis;
• wherein the controller operative to execute the bio-impedance spectroscopic analysis of the ratio of the first current response signal and the second current response signal includes the controller being operative to:
• determine a first parameter associated with at least one of impedance (z), reactance (Xc), resistance (R), and phase (Ph) for the first current response signal,
• determine a second parameter associated with at least one of impedance (z), reactance (Xc), resistance (R), and phase (Ph) for the second current response signal,
• determine a ratio of the first parameter and the second parameter, and
• determine the breast milk flow parameter based upon the ratio of the first parameter and the second parameter.