Programmable breastpump
AssigneeMedela Holding AG
InventorsAndy Greter, Richard S. Weston, Brian H. Silver, Jürgen Eixler, Michael Larsson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A breastpump which can be programmed to generate, among other things, a plurality of differing milk expression (extraction) sequences, or curves is disclosed. In one embodiment of the invention, a motorized pump (e.g., compressed air, battery and/or house current) is provided with a microprocessor-based controller. Cards, with microprocessor “chips,” containing different suction curves adapted for varying conditions and objectives are included for programming the controller in this embodiment.
Claims45
A breastpump comprising:
- a breastshield having a portion within which a woman's breast is received for the expression of milk;
- a source of pressure in communication with said breastshield;
- and
- a programmable controller having an interface for the inputting of programs, said programs instructing said controller to produce different shaped sequences of operation of said source of pressure.
A breastpump comprising:
- a breastshield having a portion within which a woman's breast is received for the expression of milk;
- a source of vacuum in communication with said breastshield;
- a mechanism for operating said source of vacuum according to a first sequence having a curve with a first waveform shape;
- and
- a controller for operating said source of vacuum according to a second sequence having a curve with a second waveform shape which is different than said first waveform shape.
An improved breastpump for the expression of mother's milk, the breastpump having a mechanism for manipulating the breast to express milk therefrom, wherein the improvement comprises a programmable controller for said mechanism, said controller having an interface for the inputting of programs, said programs instructing said controller to produce different pressure sequences of operation of said source of pressure.
A method for operating a breastpump comprising the steps of:
- recording the pressure waveform of a suckling sequence of an infant in terms of at least suction force over time, and
- programming a breastpump to operate in accordance with said recording.
A method for breastpumping comprising:
- providing a breastshield having a portion within which a woman's breast is received for the expression of milk;
- providing a source of vacuum in communication with the breastshield which is operated by a controller;
- and
- programming the controller to operate the source of vacuum to produce different shaped sequences of operation, wherein at least one of said sequences has a pressure slope deviating from a simple curve between pressure peaks.
A motor drive for a breastpump, comprising:
- a motor having a rotary output;
- a reduction drive system communicating with said rotary output with at least first and second belts conveying motive power from said rotary output to a movable member of an expansible chamber device wherein a vacuum is generated.
A breastpump comprising:
- a breastshield having a portion within which a woman's breast is received for the expression of milk;
- a source of pressure in communication with said breastshield;
- and
- a user programmable controller including an input mechanism through which the user interfaces with said controller to provide program commands capable of varying the waveform shape of a curve defining one or both of an amount of pressure applied and a frequency of pressure application to said breastshield, said curve of at least one program being defined by more than a single peak pressure input.
A breastpump comprising:
- a breastshield having a portion within which a woman's breast is received for the expression of milk;
- a source of pressure in communication with said breastshield;
- and
- a programmable controller having an interface which receives program commands from a user that cause a desired change in the curve defining a cycle sequence for operating said source of pressure, where said program commands are capable of changing said curve by more than a change in a selected maximum pressure and a selected frequency.
A breastpump comprising:
- a breastshield having a portion within which a woman's breast is received for the expression of milk;
- a source of pressure in communication with said breastshield;
- and
- a programmable controller having means for a user to select programs, said programs operatively instructing said controller to produce different shaped sequences of operation of said source of pressure.
A breastpump comprising:
- a breastshield having a portion within which a woman's breast is received for the expression of milk;
- a source of pressure in communication with said breastshield;
- and
- a programmable controller having an input device through which a user can controllably vary the shape of a suction sequence from a simple curve, wherein said simple curve is established by only a pressure level input and a frequency input.
A method of operating a breastpump comprising:
- providing a breastshield having a portion within which a woman's breast is received for the expression of milk;
- providing a source of pressure in communication with the breastshield;
- providing a programmable controller having an interface;
- receiving from a user and through the interface commands that cause a desired change in operation of the source of pressure;
- and
- changing the shape of a curve defining a cycle sequence for operating the source of pressure in response to commands beyond simply selecting a variation in maximum pressure and frequency.
A method of operating a breastpump comprising:
- providing a breastshield having a portion within which a woman's breast is received for the expression of milk;
- providing a source of pressure in communication with the breastshield;
- providing a programmable controller having means for a user to input programs;
- inputting programs into the programmable controller;
- and
- instructing said controller to produce different sequences of operation of the source of pressure in response to said inputting of the programs by the user.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.