# US 2022/0031918 A1 · Breast pump > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2022/0031918 A1 - Document ID: US20220031918A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/473,838 - Filed: 2021-09-13 - Published: 2022-02-03 - Earliest claimed: 2017-01-11 - Assignees: Momi Brands, Inc. - Applicants: Momi Brands, Inc. - Inventors: Carr Lane Quackenbush - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20220031918A1 ## CPC - A61M 1/064: {Suction cups} - A61M 1/066: {Inserts therefor} - A61M 39/24: Check- or non-return valves - A61M 2205/3344: Measuring or controlling pressure at the body treatment site - 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 breast pump device and associated methods for extracting breast milk ate disclosed. A pump head comprises an external shell with an elastic membrane disposed and bonded therein to define at least one hermetically sealed chamber. Manipulation of the elastic membrane, for example, by adjusting suction or pressure in the sealed chamber or within an interior volume defined by the elastic membrane permits radial mechanical compression (positive pressure) to be applied to a nipple positioned in the pump head to simulate compression of the nipple by the infant's tongue and simultaneously permits axial hydraulic or pneumatic suction (negative pressure) to be applied to the nipple to simulate the infant's minimum intra-oral vacuum. The breast pump device of the present invention can generate these simultaneous compressions and suctions with a single vacuum source, which may be an electric pump or a hand-operated mechanical pump. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A device for extracting breast milk from a breast, said device comprising: an external shell defining an internal cavity, said external shell including: a neck portion defining a proximal end and a distal end; and a feed channel defined at the distal end of the neck portion; wherein the internal cavity of the external shell is in operative communication with at least one of a suction source or atmosphere via at least one opening in said external shell; and an elastic membrane disposed within the internal cavity of the external shell, said elastic membrane including: a funnel-shaped portion configured to receive and seal against the breast of a user; a neck portion extending from the funnel-shaped portion and defining a proximal end and a distal end adapted to receive and position a nipple of the breast, said neck portion narrowing at said distal end to an exit port, wherein said neck portion generally fits in the neck portion of the external shell such that the exit port of the elastic membrane is in operative communication with the feed channel, and wherein further, when the nipple of the user is positioned in the neck portion of the elastic membrane, said neck portion defines an unoccupied volume between the nipple tip and the distal end of said elastic membrane; wherein the exterior of the elastic membrane is bonded to the interior of the external shell to form a hermetic chamber between the neck portion of the external shell and the neck portion of the elastic membrane; wherein a constant suction below atmospheric pressure is applied inside the elastic membrane around and in front of the nipple positioned therein, to extend the nipple towards the distal end of the neck portion of said elastic membrane and to extract breast milk; wherein the elastic membrane is configured to relax radially outwardly, allowing clearance for the nipple to extend when a suction is introduced into the hermetic chamber, wherein said suction is generally equivalent to the constant suction applied inside the elastic membrane, and wherein the elastic membrane is configured to expand radially inwardly when a pressure greater than the constant suction is introduced into the hermetic chamber to compress the elongated nipple to control nipple edema. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the feed channel leads into a collection container to receive extracted breast milk. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The device according to claim 2, further comprising an attachment portion comprising threads for connecting the device to the collection container. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The device according to claim 3, wherein a suction device is connected to the device through the attachment portion, whereby said suction device can evacuate the collection container. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The device according to claim 4, further comprising a seal positioned between the attachment portion and the collection container when connected to one another. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein a suction device is connected to the device via the at least one opening in the external shell. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The device according to claim 6, further comprising tubing and an electric valve assembly connecting the suction device with the external shell via the at least one opening. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the elastic membrane includes a distally facing ring-shaped groove into which the proximal end of the neck portion of the external shell fits. ### Claim 9 A device for extracting breast milk from a breast, said device comprising: an external shell defining an internal cavity, said external shell including: a neck portion defining a proximal end and a distal end; and a feed channel defined at the distal end of the neck portion and including a first check valve; and an elastic membrane disposed within the internal cavity of the external shell, said elastic membrane including: a funnel-shaped portion configured to receive and seal against the breast of a user; a neck portion extending from the funnel-shaped portion and defining a proximal end and a distal end adapted to receive and position a nipple of the breast, said neck portion narrowing at said distal end to a second check valve, wherein said neck portion generally fits in the neck portion of the external shell such that the second check valve of the elastic membrane is in operative communication with the feed channel, and an annular diaphragm positioned along the neck portion between the proximal end and the distal end and radially projecting outwardly from the neck portion of the elastic membrane in a direction generally normal to an axis of the neck portion and being bonded to an interior surface of the neck portion of the external shell to define a first proximal chamber and a second distal chamber each hermetically enclosed between the external shell and the elastic membrane, wherein further, when the nipple of the user is positioned in the neck portion of the elastic membrane, said neck portion defines an unoccupied volume between the nipple tip and the distal end of said elastic membrane; wherein the exterior of the elastic membrane is bonded to the interior of the external shell to hermetically enclose the first proximal chamber and the second distal chamber therebetween, wherein the first proximal chamber is in operative communication with at least one of a suction source or atmosphere via at least one opening in said external shell, wherein the second distal chamber allows clearance for proximal/distal translation of the second check valve therein, wherein a constant suction below atmospheric pressure is applied inside the unoccupied volume within the neck portion of the elastic membrane to extend the nipple and to extract breast milk, wherein a portion of the elastic membrane of the first proximal chamber is configured to relax radially outwardly, allowing clearance for the nipple to extend when a suction is introduced within the first proximal chamber, wherein said suction is generally equivalent to the constant suction applied inside the elastic membrane, wherein the portion of the elastic membrane of the first proximal chamber is configured to expand radially inwardly when a pressure greater than the constant suction is introduced into the first proximal chamber to compress the elongated nipple to control nipple edema, and wherein the annular diaphragm extending radially outwardly from the elastic membrane is configured to deform distally when pressure greater than the constant suction is introduced into the first proximal chamber, thereby pushing the distal end of the elastic membrane distally to create a squeeze-and-pull action on the nipple positioned within the elastic membrane. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The device according to claim 9, wherein the feed channel leads into a collection container to receive extracted breast milk. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The device according to claim 10, further comprising an attachment portion adapted for connection to the collection container and a seal positioned between the attachment portion and the collection container when connected to one another. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The device according to claim 11, wherein a suction device is connected to the device through the attachment portion, whereby said suction device can evacuate the collection container. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The device according to claim 9, wherein a suction device is connected to the second distal chamber of the device. ### Claim 14 A device for extracting breast milk from a breast, said device comprising: an external shell defining an internal cavity, said external shell including: a neck portion defining a proximal end and a distal end: and a feed channel defined at the distal end of the neck portion and including a first check valve; an elastic membrane disposed within the internal cavity of the external shell, said elastic membrane including: a funnel-shaped portion configured to receive and seal against the breast of a user; and a neck portion extending from the funnel-shaped portion and defining a proximal end and a distal end adapted to receive and position a nipple of the breast, said neck portion narrowing at said distal end to a second check valve, wherein said neck portion generally fits in the neck portion of the external shell such that the second check valve of the elastic membrane is in operative communication with the feed channel, wherein further, when the nipple of the user is positioned in the neck portion of the elastic membrane, said neck portion defines an unoccupied volume between the nipple tip and the distal end of said elastic membrane; and an annular diaphragm positioned along the neck portion between the proximal end and the distal end and bonded thereto and radially projecting outwardly therefrom in a direction generally normal to an axis of the neck portion to bond to an interior surface of the neck portion of the external shell so as to define a first proximal chamber and a second distal chamber on either side of said annular diaphragm, each said chamber being hermetically enclosed between the external shell and the elastic membrane, wherein the exterior of the elastic membrane is bonded to the interior of the external shell to hermetically enclose the first proximal chamber and the second distal chamber therebetween, wherein the first proximal chamber is in operative communication with a source of alternating positive and negative pressure via at least one opening in said external shell, wherein the second distal chamber allows clearance for proximal/distal translation of the second check valve therein, wherein a portion of the elastic membrane of the first proximal chamber is configured to relax radially (outwardly, allowing clearance for the nipple to extend when a suction below atmospheric pressure is introduced within the first proximal chamber, thereby increasing volume and decreasing pressure in the unoccupied volume within the neck portion of the elastic membrane around and in front of the nipple, to extend the nipple therein and to extract breast milk, wherein the portion of the elastic membrane of the first proximal chamber is configured to expand radially inwardly when a positive pressure is introduced into the first proximal chamber to compress the elongated nipple to control nipple edema, and wherein the annular diaphragm extending radially outwardly from the elastic membrane is configured to deform distally when the positive pressure is introduced into the first proximal chamber, thereby pushing the distal end of the elastic membrane distally to create a squeeze-and-pull action on the nipple positioned within the elastic membrane. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The device according to claim 14, wherein the first proximal chamber is filled with one of a liquid, a gel or a gas. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The device according to claim 15, wherein the feed channel leads into a collection container to receive extracted breast milk. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The device according to claim 16, Further comprising an attachment portion adapted for connection to the collection container, whereby a seal is created between attachment portion and collection container when so connected. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The device according to claim 14, wherein the source of alternating positive and negative pressure comprises an electrically-driven positive displacement pump. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The device according to claim 14, wherein the source of alternating positive and negative pressure comprises a manually-operated actuating mechanism. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The device according to claim 19 wherein the manually-operated actuating mechanism comprises a handle and pushrod assembly which radially deflects the first proximal chamber to exert pressure on the elastic membrane towards or away from the axis of the neck portion.