# US 9,517,294 B2 · Process for use with breastpump to initiate milk in breastfeeding, particularly for premature infants

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- Number: US 9,517,294 B2
- Document ID: US9517294B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/727,840
- Filed: 2015-06-01
- Published: 2016-03-24
- Granted: 2016-12-13
- Earliest claimed: 2009-02-20
- Assignees: Medela Holding AG
- Applicants: Medela Holding AG
- Inventors: Brian H. Silver; Paula Meier
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9517294B2

## CPC

- A61M 1/06935: {imitating the suckling of an infant}
- A61M 1/06: Milking pumps
- A61M 1/062: {Pump accessories}
- A61M 1/74: {Suction control (underwater drainage A61M1/61)}
- A61M 1/75: {Intermittent or pulsating suction (A61M1/63, A61M1/772 take precedence)}
- A61M 2205/50: with microprocessors or computers
- A61M 2205/52: with memories providing a history of measured variating parameters of apparatus or patient
- 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

The present invention provides a suction sequence which is considered to produce advantageous results, particularly for mothers with newborn infants. The sequence comprises a process of stimulation, expression, and pausing to closely mimic a newborn's sucking pattern.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A breastpump system comprising:
a source of vacuum to cyclically deliver vacuum to a breastshield;
at least one processor;
memory storage;
a first program stored on the memory storage which, when executed by the at least one processor causes the at least one processor to operate the source of vacuum, the first program comprising:
providing a plurality of stimulation sequences for stimulating the breast using a rapid cycle rate;
providing at least one expression sequence for extracting milk at a lower cycle rate; and
operating the breastpump system according to at least one of a preset pattern of non-repeating sequences and a preset pattern of repeating sequences wherein certain of the repeating sequences occur in the pattern at unpredictable times to a user, the non-repeating sequences and the repeating sequences comprising the plurality of stimulation sequences and the at least one expression sequence, with periods of pauses between certain sequences.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The breastpump system of claim 1, wherein providing a plurality of stimulation sequences comprises providing a first stimulation sequence and a second stimulation sequence, wherein the first stimulation sequence comprises a faster cycle rate than the second stimulation sequence.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The breastpump system of claim 1, wherein the breastpump session begins with an initiation of one or the plurality of stimulation sequences and the at least one expression sequence and ends with a cessation of all sequences.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The breastpump system of claim 1, further comprising:
a breastpump apparatus; and
at least one breastshield and container assembly.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The breastpump system of claim 1, further comprising:
a second program following the first program, the second program stored on the memory storage which, when executed by the at least one processor causes the at least one processor to carry out operations comprising:
providing at least one stimulation sequence and at least one expression sequence in a preset pattern that emulates an irregular suckling pattern of an infant at or after the onset of lactogenesis II,
wherein the preset pattern of the first program is different from the preset pattern of the second program.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The breastpump system of claim 5, further comprising an input to activate one or both of the first and second programs.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The breastpump system of claim 1, wherein each pause of the periods of pauses is an extended pause greater than about three seconds in duration.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The breastpump system of claim 7, wherein the extended pause comprises a pause greater than about five seconds in duration.