Breast pump system and methods
Systems and methods for pumping milk from a breast, wherein the milk is expressed from the breast under suction and milk is expulsed from the pumping mechanism to a collection container under positive pressure.
1. A wearable, portable self-powered breast pump system for pumping milk from a breast, comprising:
a main body;
a breast adapter;
a milk collection container; and
a pump mechanism configured to pump milk from the breast to the milk collection container;
wherein the breast adapter, the pump mechanism and the milk collection container are collectively sized and shaped to fit within a user's bra, and the pump mechanism and milk collection container are contained within the main body; wherein a latch suction is maintained throughout a pumping session.
2. The wearable, portable self-powered breast pump system of claim 1 , further comprising a one-way valve, wherein the one-way valve is integral with the milk collection container.
3. The wearable, portable self-powered breast pump system of claim 1 , further comprising a conduit, wherein as the pump mechanism operates and the conduit becomes mostly filled with milk, the breast pump system thereby approaches a fully hydraulic system.
4. The wearable, portable self-powered breast pump system of claim 3 , wherein the milk pumped from the breast is employed as hydraulic fluid.
5. The wearable, portable self-powered breast pump system of claim 1 , wherein the milk collection container is configured about the pump mechanism.
6. The wearable, portable self-powered breast pump system of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of operational settings, wherein at least one operational setting of the plurality of operational settings is at least one suction level setting, a suction waveform definition, an extraction phase time, a threshold milk volume estimate per extraction phase, an expulsion pressure, a rest phase timing, a heating temperature, a heating time, a vibration frequency or a vibration time.
7. The wearable, portable self-powered breast pump system of claim 1 , wherein the milk collection container is a compliant bag, the compliant bag configured to be releasably connected to the breast pump system and to receive pumped milk.
8. The wearable, portable self-powered breast pump system of claim 1 , further comprising a controller that controls pumping to provide a desired waveform.
9. The wearable, portable self-powered breast pump system of claim 1 , wherein the milk collection container is configured adjacent the pump mechanism.
10. A wearable, portable self-powered breast pump system for pumping milk from a breast, comprising:
a main body;
a breast adapter;
a milk collection container;
a pump mechanism configured to pump milk from the breast to the milk collection container; and
a conduit, wherein as the pump mechanism operates and the conduit becomes mostly filled with milk, the breast pump system thereby approaches a fully hydraulic system;
wherein the breast adapter, the pump mechanism and the milk collection container are collectively sized and shaped to fit within a user's bra, and the pump mechanism and milk collection container are contained within the main body.
11. The wearable, portable self-powered breast pump system of claim 10 , further comprising a one-way valve, wherein the one-way valve is integral with the milk collection container.
12. The wearable, portable self-powered breast pump system of claim 10 , wherein the milk pumped from the breast is employed as hydraulic fluid.
13. The wearable, portable self-powered breast pump system of claim 10 , wherein the milk collection container is configured about the pump mechanism.
14. The wearable, portable self-powered breast pump system of claim 10 , wherein a latch suction is maintained throughout a pumping session.
15. The wearable, portable self-powered breast pump system of claim 10 , further comprising a plurality of operational settings, wherein at least one operational setting of the plurality of operational settings is at least one suction level setting, a suction waveform definition, an extraction phase time, a threshold milk volume estimate per extraction phase, an expulsion pressure, a rest phase timing, a heating temperature, a heating time, a vibration frequency or a vibration time.
16. The wearable, portable self-powered breast pump system of claim 10 , wherein the milk collection container is a compliant bag, the compliant bag configured to be releasably connected to the breast pump system and to receive pumped milk.
17. The wearable, portable self-powered breast pump system of claim 10 , further comprising a controller that controls pumping to provide a desired waveform.
18. The wearable, portable self-powered breast pump system of claim 10 , wherein the milk collection container is configured adjacent the pump mechanism.