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An electric breast pump utilizes an electric motor to drive a piston vacuum pump to draw a negative pressure or suction up to 250 mm Hg at a flexible collapsible breast cup. The suction cycles between the set maximum and atmospheric under the control of a magnetic valve that is opened and closed by a vacuum sensor. The valve opens and closes a bypass to atmosphere. The speed of the electric motor can be selectively varied to increase the frequency of the suction cycles, which can vary between 20 to 44 cycles per minute. The breast cup collapses during a part of each cycle to simulate the peristaltic action of a suckling infant.

Inventores: Patricia Ann Kelly, Joan Patricia Ortiz
Examinador principal: Cris L. Rodriguez
Clasificación actual de EE.UU.: 604/74; 604/73; 604/118
Clasificación internacional: A61M 106

Ver patente en USPTO
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Citas

Patente citada Fecha de presentación Fecha de emisión Cesionario original Título
US496172628 Dic 19889 Oct 1990Breast milk pump
US538028012 Nov 199310 Ene 1995Aspiration system having pressure-controlled and flow-controlled modes
US54197687 Mar 199130 May 1995Aeros Instruments, Inc.Electrical medical vacuum regulator
US562439428 Oct 199429 Abr 1997Iolab CorporationVacuum system and a method of operating a vacuum system
US579532812 Jun 199618 Ago 1998Iolab CorporationVacuum system and a method of operating a vacuum system
US581077228 May 199622 Sep 1998Trimed AGMother's milk pump
US590226711 Ago 199711 May 1999Breast pump system using wall vacuum source
US595469011 Abr 199721 Sep 1999Medela Holding AGAlternating suction breastpump assembly and method
US60455292 Oct 19984 Abr 2000Nuesch LogistikDrive unit for a breastpump

Reclamaciones

1. A breast pump for extracting breast milk from a human teat, comprising:

a motor;
a vacuum pump driven by said motor;
a flexible plastic breast cup connected to the vacuum pump by a tube;
a bypass valve for venting the suction created in the breast cup to atmosphere; and
a vacuum sensor for sensing the suction in the breast cup and opening the bypass valve when maximum suction is sensed, and closing the bypass valve when the suction is released.

2. The breast pump of claim 1 wherein said motor comprises a manual speed adjustment, selectable by the user.

3. The breast pump of claim 1 wherein said vacuum sensor comprises a manually settable maximum suction.

4. The breast pump of claim 1 wherein the manually settable maximum suction is adjustable over a range.

5. The breast pump of claim 1 wherein said breast cup collapses during maximum suction and recovers when suction is released.

6. The breast pump of claim 1 further comprising a collection bottle connected to the breast cup and the tube to the vacuum pump so that the vacuum pump draws a suction in the collection bottle and the breast milk flows directly into the bottle.

7. The breast pump of claim 6 further comprising a catch bottle connected between the collection bottle and the vacuum pump so that the vacuum pump draws a suction in the catch bottle.

8. The breast pump of claim 7 further comprising a filter in the vent line between the vacuum pump and atmosphere, and between the bypass valve and atmosphere.

9. The breast pump of claim 8 wherein the filter material is a hydrophobic PTFE membrane.

10. The breast pump of claim 9 wherein said motor is an electric motor.

11. The breast pump of claim 10 wherein the electric motor is a 12-volt motor.

12. The breast pump of claim 11 further comprising a power converter circuit for converting a 115-volt, 60 Hz supply, to 12 volts DC.

13. A breast pump for extracting milk from a human teat, comprising:

a flexible plastic breast cup for placement over a human teat;
a vacuum pump having an intake for driving a continuous air suction;
an electric motor connected to a source of power and to the vacuum pump for driving the vacuum pump;
a tube connecting the intake of the vacuum pump and breast cup to allow the vacuum pump to draw a suction on the breast cup;
a vacuum sensor connected to the tube between the breast cup and the vacuum pump for sensing whether suction has reached a maximum; and
a bypass valve connected to the tube between the breast cup and the vacuum pump for venting the suction in the tube to atmosphere when the sensor senses maximum suction.

14. The breast pump of claim 13 wherein said breast cup collapses during maximum suction and recovers when the suction is released.

15. The breast pump of claim 13 wherein said electric motor comprises a manual speed adjustment, selectable by the user.

16. The breast pump of claim 13 wherein said vacuum sensor comprises a manually settable maximum suction.

17. The breast pump of claim 13 further comprising a collection bottle connected to the breast cup and the tube so that the vacuum pump draws a suction in the collection bottle.

18. The breast pump of claim 17 further comprising:

a second flexible plastic breast cup for placement over a human teat;
a second plastic tube connecting the second flexible plastic breast cup to the plastic tube connected to the intake of the vacuum pump, to allow the vacuum pump to draw a suction on both breast cups.

19. The breast pump of claim 18 further comprising a second collection bottle connected to the second breast cup and the tube so that the vacuum pump draws a suction in the second collection bottle.

20. The breast pump of claim 17 farther comprising a catch bottle connected to the tube between the collection bottle and the vacuum pump so that the vacuum pump draws a suction in the catch bottle.

Dibujos