Method for regulating the operation of a milk pump
The present invention relates to a method for regulating the operation of a milk pump by applying a vacuum by means of a vacuum source operatively coupled with a control for controlling the operation of the vacuum source and aims to provide such method for pumping milk form the breast of a nursing mother which is able to provide sufficient yield of milk without adversely affecting the breast tissue properties by controlling the operation of the vacuum source such that the control receives a signal indicative of a volume flow (V) of milk and adjusts at least one of the following operational parameters of the vacuum source: vacuum strength, cycle frequency or shape of vacuum profile over time.
1 . A method for regulating the operation of a milk pump by applying a vacuum by means of a vacuum source operatively coupled with a control for controlling the operation of the vacuum source, wherein the control receives a signal indicative of a volume flow (V) of milk and adjusts at least one of the following operational parameters of the vacuum source: vacuum strength, cycle frequency or shape of vacuum profile over time, and wherein the at least one of the operational parameters of the vacuum source is intensified if a positive value of a change of the volume flow (V) over time (dV/dt) approaches a zero value.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the operational parameters is adjusted after commencement of an expression phase (E, G).
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the signal is indicative of a quantitative volume flow (V).
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the operational parameters of the vacuum source is set on default (D) if the signal indicative of the volume flow (V) of milk is between a low flow threshold and a high flow threshold.
5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the at least one of the operational parameters of the vacuum source is intensified ( 1 ), if the signal indicative of the volume flow (V) of milk is above the high flow threshold.
6 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the at least one of the operational parameters of the vacuum source is decreased (DE), if the signal indicative of the volume flow (V) of milk is below the low flow threshold.
7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the at least one of the operational parameters of the vacuum source applied during stimulation(S) is selected in an expression phase (E, G), if the signal indicative of the volume flow (V) of milk is below the low flow threshold.
8 . The method of claim 4 , wherein all of the operational parameters are set on default (D) if the signal indicative of a volume flow (V) of milk is between the low flow threshold and the high flow threshold.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the value of the change of the volume flow (V) over time (dV/dt) is analyzed and that the at least one of the operational parameters of the vacuum source is intensified in case of a high value of the change of the volume flow (V) over time (dV/dt) and is decreased in case of a low value of the change of the volume flow (V) over time (dV/dt).
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the volume flow (V) during at least one vacuum cycle (C1, C2, C3) is analyzed to adjust the at least one of the operational parameters of the vacuum source for at least one subsequent vacuum cycle (C2, C3).
11 . The method according of claim 10 , wherein information indicative of volume flow (V) during the at least one vacuum cycle is obtained from a memory storing operational parameter history and/or volume flow (V) of milk history.
12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the volume flow (V) during at least one vacuum cycle (C1, C2, C3) is analyzed as to a peak volume flow (V) and/or a total volume flow (V) during said at least one vacuum cycle (C1, C2, C3),
wherein at least one of the operational parameters of the vacuum source is intensified in at least one subsequent vacuum cycle (C2, C3) if the peak volume flow (PV1, PV2) and/or the total volume flow (V) increases between an earlier and a later vacuum cycle, and
wherein at least one of the operational parameters of the vacuum source is decreased in at least one subsequent vacuum cycle (C2, C3) if the peak volume flow (V) and/or the total volume flow (V) decreases between an earlier and a later vacuum cycle.
13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the operational parameters is adjusted on the basis of data stored in a memory storing operational parameter history and/or volume flow (V) of milk history.
14 . A method for regulating the operation of a milk pump by applying a vacuum by means of a vacuum source operatively coupled with a control for controlling the operation of the vacuum source, wherein the control receives a signal indicative of a volume flow (V) of milk and adjusts at least one of the following operational parameters of the vacuum source: vacuum strength, cycle frequency or shape of vacuum profile over time,
wherein at least one of the operational parameters of the vacuum source is set on default (D) when the signal indicative of a volume flow (V) of milk is between a low flow threshold and a high flow threshold,
wherein the at least one of the operational parameters of the vacuum source is intensified (I), when the signal indicative of the volume flow (V) of milk is above the high flow threshold, and
and wherein the at least one of the operational parameters of the vacuum source is decreased (DE), when the signal indicative of the volume flow (V) of milk is below the low flow threshold.
15 . A method for regulating the operation of a milk pump by applying a vacuum by means of a vacuum source operatively coupled with a control for controlling the operation of the vacuum source, wherein the control receives a signal indicative of a volume flow (V) of milk and adjusts at least one of the following operational parameters of the vacuum source: vacuum strength, cycle frequency or shape of vacuum profile over time,
wherein a value of a change of the volume flow (V) over time (dV/dt) is analyzed and that the at least one of the operational parameters of the vacuum source is intensified in case of a high value of the change of the volume flow (V) over time (dV/dt) and is decreased in case of a low value of the change of the volume flow (V) over time (dV/dt),
wherein the volume flow (V) during at least one vacuum cycle (C1, C2, C3) is analyzed as to a peak volume flow (V) and/or a total volume flow (V) during said at least one vacuum cycle (C1, C2, C3);
wherein the at least one of the operational parameters of the vacuum source is intensified in at least one subsequent vacuum cycle (C2, C3) when the peak volume flow (PV1, PV2) and/or the total volume flow (V) increases between an earlier and a later vacuum cycle, and
wherein at least one of the operational parameters of the vacuum source is decreased in at least one subsequent vacuum cycle (C2, C3) when the peak volume flow (V) and/or the total volume flow (V) decreases between an earlier and a later vacuum cycle.
16 . A milk pump, comprising:
a vacuum source; and
a control operatively coupled with the vacuum source for controlling the operation of the vacuum source to apply a vacuum;
wherein the control is configured to:
receive a signal indicative of a volume flow (V) of milk and adjust at least one operational parameter of the vacuum source based on the signal indicative of the volume flow (V) of milk, the at least one operational parameter comprising at least one of: vacuum strength, cycle frequency, or shape of vacuum profile over time;
set the at least one operational parameter of the vacuum source to default (D) when the signal indicative of the volume flow (V) of milk is between a low flow threshold and a high flow threshold;
set the at least one operational parameter of the vacuum source to intensified (I), when the signal indicative of the volume flow (V) of milk is above the high flow threshold; and
set the at least one operational parameter of the vacuum source to decreased (DE), when the signal indicative of the volume flow (V) of milk is below the low flow threshold.
17 . A milk pump, comprising:
a vacuum source; and
a control operatively coupled with the vacuum source for controlling the operation of the vacuum source to apply a vacuum;
wherein the control is configured to:
receive a signal indicative of a volume flow (V) of milk and adjust at least one operational parameter of the vacuum source based on the signal indicative of the volume flow (V) of milk, the at least one operational parameter comprising at least one of: vacuum strength, cycle frequency, or shape of vacuum profile over time;
analyze a value of a change of the volume flow (V) over time (dV/dt);
intensify the at least one operational parameter of the vacuum source in case of a high value of the change of the volume flow (V) over time (dV/dt) and decrease the at least one operational parameter of the vacuum source in case of a low value of the change of the volume flow (V) over time (dV/dt);
analyze the volume flow (V) during at least one vacuum cycle (C1, C2, C3) as to a peak volume flow (V) and/or a total volume flow (V) during said at least one vacuum cycle (C1, C2, C3);
intensify the at least one operational parameter of the vacuum source in at least one subsequent vacuum cycle (C2, C3) when the peak volume flow (PV1, PV2) and/or the total volume flow (V) increases between an earlier and a later vacuum cycle; and
decrease the at least one operational parameter of the vacuum source in at least one subsequent vacuum cycle (C2, C3) when the peak volume flow (V) and/or the total volume flow (V) decreases between an earlier and a later vacuum cycle.