Apparatus for expressing milk
AssigneeL. Jason Clute
InventorsBruce McKendry, Wallace Charles Seaman, Sung Lee
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A device for expressing milk from one or more breasts has at least one, and preferably two expressers and a pump. The expressers each have a cup for fitting on the breasts and a cup outlet to which a vacuum created by the pump can be connected. The cups have a flexible liner which collapses around the breast to establish the vacuum. Pulsating pressure is applied to the outside of the liner to increase the vacuum and stimulate milk production. The pressure is applied through lines which are vented to maintain adequate, consistent pressure pulses without stalling the pump.
Claims9
Apparatus for expressing milk from a breast comprising
- a milk collector unit having
- a manifold, the manifold having a vacuum path, the vacuum path having an inlet, an outlet and a midsection between said inlet and said outlet, said outlet being connected to a vacuum source,
- a collection vessel operatively connected to said midsection of said vacuum path, and
- a cup assembly, said cup assembly having a housing with an inlet for the breast, and an outlet operatively connected to said inlet of said vacuum path in said manifold, said cup assembly also having a liner of substantially uniform thickness in said housing, the vacuum path passing within said liner, said liner being secured with respect to said housing to form a space with said housing which is in communication with a pulsating pressure path and a pulsating pressure source,
- a vent in said pulsating pressure path providing controlled relief of pressure during the positive and negative portions of the pulsation cycle, and
- means for increasing the area for breast extension during milk expression.
Apparatus for expressing milk from a breast comprising
- a milk collector unit having
- a manifold, the manifold having a vacuum path, the vacuum path having an inlet, an outlet and a midsection between said inlet and said outlet, said outlet being connected to a vacuum source,
- a collection vessel operatively connected to said midsection of said vacuum path,
- a cup assembly, said cup assembly having a housing with an inlet for the breast, and an outlet operatively connected to said inlet of said vacuum path in said manifold, said cup assembly also having a liner of substantially uniform thickness in said housing, the vacuum path passing within said liner, said liner being secured with respect to said housing to form a space with said housing which is in communication with a pulsating pressure path and a pulsating pressure source, and
- means for increasing the area for breast extension during milk expression,
- wherein the pressure in the pulsating path pulsates at a rate of 41 to about 65 pulses per minute.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.