Electric breast pump designed to simulate infant suckling
OwnerPatricia Ann Kelly, Joan Patricia Ortizinventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
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.
Claims20
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.
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.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.