# US 11,992,328 B2 · Breast pump device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,992,328 B2 - Document ID: US11992328B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/019,438 - Filed: 2020-09-14 - Published: 2020-12-31 - Granted: 2024-05-28 - Earliest claimed: 2015-09-04 - Assignees: Koninklijke Philips N.V. - Applicants: Koninklijke Philips N.V. - Inventors: Jozef Johannes Maria Janssen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11992328B2 ## CPC - A61B 5/4288: {mammary secretions} - A61M 1/06: Milking pumps - A61M 1/062: {Pump accessories} - A61M 1/06935: {imitating the suckling of an infant} - A61M 2205/18: with alarm - A61M 2205/3306: Optical measuring means - A61M 2205/3313: used specific wavelengths - A61M 2205/3334: Measuring or controlling the flow rate - A61M 2205/3337: Controlling, regulating pressure or flow by means of a valve by-passing a pump - A61M 2205/50: with microprocessors or computers - A61M 2205/502: User interfaces, e.g. screens or keyboards - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} ## Abstract A single breast pump device (1) is adapted to enable realization of at least two batches (A, B) of breast milk as a direct result of a single pumping session to be performed on at least one user's breast, which batches (A, B) are different as far as the value of at least one quality parameter of the breast milk is concerned. The single breast pump device (1) comprises a detection unit (50) for performing real-time detection of the at least one quality parameter in a flow of breast milk and outputting a detection signal representing an actual value of the at least one quality parameter, and further comprises a controller (70) for receiving the detection signal from the detection unit (50) and using the signal in a process of determining an appropriate setting of the single breast pump device (1) as far as the choice of a destination position of the milk is concerned. A double breast pump device (2) is also disclosed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of providing at least two batches of breast milk from a single pumping session from a breast pump device, the at least two batches differing in at least one quality parameter of the breast milk, the method comprising: performing real-time detection of the at least one quality parameter in a flow of breast milk extracted during a pumping session, wherein the at least one quality parameter comprises milk fat concentration, or protein content, or both; outputting a detection signal representing an actual value of the at least one quality parameter; receiving the detection signal; determining in real-time a relation between the actual value of the at least one quality parameter and a reference value; and controlling the breast pump device to direct the flow of breast milk to a destination position based on the relation. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, further comprising: connecting at least two receptacles to receiving breast milk to the breast pump device; and separating the breast milk to flow to one of the at least two of the at least two receptacles through at least one of at least two connection arrangements; and preventing the breast milk from flowing to the other of the at least two receptacles through at least one other of the at least two connection arrangements, wherein the at least two connection arrangements each comprise ends of tubes to be inserted respectively in the at least two receptacles. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method according to claim 2, further comprising: moving a valve between a first position for closing one of the at least two connection arrangements while leaving the other of the at least two connection arrangements open, and a second position for closing the other of the at least two connection arrangements while leaving the one of the at least two connection arrangements open, wherein the at least two connection arrangements each comprise ends of tubes to be inserted respectively in the at least two receptacles. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The method according to claim 2, further comprising providing real-time information about the at least one quality parameter. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method according to claim 4, further comprising issuing a warning signal when the actual value of the at least one quality parameter passes from below the reference value to above the reference value or from above the reference value to below the reference value. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, further comprising detecting a milk fat concentration. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method according to claim 6, wherein the detecting the milk fat concentration further comprises measuring light scattered from the breast milk. ### Claim 8 A breast pump device, adapted to provide at least two batches of breast milk from a single pumping session, the at least two batches differing in at least one quality parameter of the breast milk, the breast pump device comprising: an infrared or near-infrared spectrometer adapted detect a milk fat concentration, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored therein machine readable instructions; and a controller configured to execute the instructions retrieved from the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the controller to: receive a detection signal representing an actual value of the at least one quality parameter; determine, in real-time, a relation between the actual value of the at least one quality parameter and a reference value; and control the breast pump device to direct flow of the breast milk to a destination position based on the relation. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The breast pump device according to claim 8, further comprising: at least two connection arrangements adapted to connect at least two receptacles for receiving breast milk to the breast pump device; and a valve adapted to allow the breast milk to flow to one of the at least two of the at least two receptacles through at least one of the at least two connection arrangements, and to prevent milk from flowing to the other of the at least two receptacles through at least one other of the at least two connection arrangements, wherein the at least two connection arrangements each comprise ends of tubes to be inserted respectively in the at least two receptacles. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The breast pump device according to claim 9, the controller being configured to execute the instructions retrieved from the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the controller to adapted to set a condition of the valve. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The breast pump device according to claim 8, further comprising: at least two connection arrangements adapted to connect at least two receptacles for receiving breast milk to the breast pump device; and a valve adapted to allow the breast milk to flow to one of the at least two of the at least two receptacles through at least one of the at least two connection arrangements, and to prevent milk from flowing to the other of the at least two receptacles through at least one other of the at least two connection arrangements, wherein the at least two connection arrangements each comprise ends of tubes to be inserted respectively in the at least two receptacles. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The breast pump device according to claim 11, wherein the controller is adapted to set a condition of the valve. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The breast pump device according to claim 11, wherein the valve is movable between a first position for closing one of the at least two connection arrangements while leaving the other of the two connection arrangements open, and a second position for closing the other of the two connection arrangements while leaving the one of the at least two connection arrangements open. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The breast pump device according to claim 8, further comprising a computer adapted to provide information about the at least one quality parameter. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The breast pump device according to claim 14, the computer being adapted to issue a warning signal when the actual value of the at least one quality parameter passes from below the reference value to above the reference value or from above the reference value to below the reference value. ### Claim 16 (depends on 8) The breast pump device according to claim 8, further comprising a user interface adapted to allow a user to set the reference value of the at least one quality parameter. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The breast pump device according to claim 16, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the controller to determine whether the actual value of the milk fat concentration is higher than, lower than or equal to the reference value. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The breast pump device according to claim 17, further comprising a valve, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the controller to determine a setting of the based on a predetermined relation between an outcome and the setting. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The breast pump device according to claim 18, wherein a unit is adapted to separate a total volume of breast milk as obtained during a pumping session into two batches, wherein the two batches differ in milk at concentration. ### Claim 20 (depends on 8) The breast pump device according to claim 8, wherein the infrared or near-infrared spectrometer is adapted to perform measurements at two different positions in the breast pump device.