METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR ABATING NOISE DURING EXPRESSION OF HUMAN BREAST MILK
A system for abating noise during expression of human breast milk includes a noise abatement device and a breast milk expression pump. The noise abatement device may comprise a container configured to receive the breast milk expression pump, the container configured to abate noise generated by the breast milk expression pump disposed within the container. The noise abatement container may comprise one or more sound-absorbing materials or geometries. When the pump is positioned in the noise abatement container, noise from the pump is abated while the pump is operating.
1 . A system for abating noise during expression of breast milk, said system comprising:
a breast milk expression pump; and
a noise abatement device configured to contain the breast milk expression pump;
wherein the noise abatement device is configured to abate noise from the breast milk expression pump while the breast milk expression pump is operating and disposed in the noise abatement device.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the noise abatement device comprises a container having an opening to receive the breast milk expression pump.
3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the container comprises a resilient material that expands to fit the breast milk expression pump.
4 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the container is sized to fit the breast milk expression pump.
5 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the container comprises upper hinges, lower hinges, left side hinges, and right side hinges, each of the hinges configured to articulate and thereby open or close the opening of the container to accommodate the breast milk expression pump.
6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the container comprises one or more walls configured to absorb sound generated by the breast milk expression pump disposed within the container.
7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the one or more walls are fabricated from one or more sound-absorbing materials.
8 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the one or more walls comprise one or more structures inside the container that are patterned to absorb reflection of sound.
9 . The system of claim 6 , wherein one or more walls comprise an inner layer and an outer layer.
10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the inner layer comprises a compliant absorbing material and the outer layer comprises a material that is denser than the inner layer of material, and wherein the outer layer is configured to absorb sound waves that are dissipated into the inner layer.
11 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the inner layer and the outer layer are formed from sound-absorbing foam constructed with one or more sound-absorbing geometries.
12 . The system of claim 6 , wherein an outer surface of the one or more walls comprises a decorative material.
13 . A method for abating noise during expression of breast milk, said method comprising:
disposing a breast milk expression pump in a noise abatement device, wherein the noise abatement device is configured to abate noise from the breast milk expression pump when the breast milk expression pump is disposed within the noise abatement device;
operating the breast milk expression pump; and
abating noise from the breast milk expression pump with the noise abatement device while the breast milk expression pump is operating
14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the noise abatement device comprises a container having an opening, and disposing a breast milk expression pump in a noise abatement device comprises inserting the breast milk expression pump into the opening of the container, the method further comprising adjusting a configuration of the container to accommodate the breast milk expression pump.
15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein adjusting the configuration of the container comprises articulating one or more hinges of the container so as to adjust a size or a shape of the container to fit the breast milk expression pump.
16 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the container comprises a resilient material, and adjusting the configuration of the container comprises expanding the container to adjust a size or a shape of the container to fit the breast milk expression pump.