Breast pump system and methods

An automated breast pump system for controlling a pumping cycle to pump milk from a breast of a user, the system comprising:

• a control system capable of sensing and controlling suction pressure waveforms to optimize filling milk ducts of a user during minimum suction and optimize extraction during increased suction greater than the minimum suction;
• a breast pump housing sized and shaped to fit within a bra;
• a breast adapter configured and dimensioned to form a seal with the breast;
• a storage container for storing the milk pumped from the breast;
• a compression member;
• a conduit configured within the breast pump housing and in fluid communication with, and interconnecting the breast adapter and the storage container, the conduit configured to provide an upward milk flow path within the breast pump housing from the breast adapter to the storage container when the automated breast pump system is in use and engaged with the breast, the conduit including features for attaching to the compression member;
• and
• at least one driver responsive to the control system;
• wherein the compression member is attached to the conduit and configured to compress the conduit to a compressed configuration where the compression member is attached to the conduit and to apply a pulling force to where the compression member is attached to the conduit to expand the conduit from the compressed configuration in response to the at least one driver;
• and
• wherein natural physiology of producing milk is facilitated and wherein each of at least a portion of the breast adapter, the compression member, the conduit and the at least one driver are contained within the breast pump housing, the conduit and compression member being arranged above the at least a portion of the breast adapter contained within the breast pump housing when the breast pump housing is placed for use within the bra.