Breast pump system

1. A breast pump device comprising:

a housing, the housing comprising:

a battery, and

a pump configured to be powered by the battery and further configured to generate negative air pressure;

a breast shield comprising an integral structure comprising a breast flange and a nipple tunnel, the breast flange being substantially rigid and formed of a plastic, the breast flange comprising a convex surface shaped to fit over a breast, and the breast flange being configured to slide into the housing to attach to the housing;

a milk container configured to be attached to and removed from the housing; and

a diaphragm that is configured to prevent milk from reaching the pump.

2. The breast pump device of claim 1 , wherein the breast shield is configured to rotate smoothly around a nipple inserted into the nipple tunnel.

3. The breast pump device of claim 1 , wherein the breast shield is configured to be generally symmetrical about a center-line running from a top to a bottom of the breast shield when positioned upright for normal use.

4. The breast pump device of claim 1 , wherein the breast shield is configured to slide in and out from the housing, together with the diaphragm that prevents milk from reaching the pump.

5. The breast pump device of claim 1 , wherein the housing is configured to slide onto the breast shield, using guide members.

6. The breast pump device e of claim 1 , wherein the breast shield and the milk container are the only components configured to be directly removable from the housing in normal use or normal disassembly.

7. The breast pump device of claim 1 , wherein the diaphragm is substantially circular.

8. The breast pump device of claim 1 , wherein the diaphragm is a membrane, the diaphragm being configured to deform in response to changes in air pressure caused by the pump to create negative air pressure in the nipple tunnel.

9. The breast pump device of claim 1 , wherein the diaphragm is configured to be removable from a diaphragm holder that sits above the breast flange and the nipple tunnel.

10. The breast pump device of claim 1 , wherein the milk container is substantially rigid.

11. The breast pump device of claim 1 , wherein the milk container is configured to attach to a lower part of the housing and to form a flat bottomed base for the breast pump device.

12. The breast pump device of claim 1 , wherein the milk container has a surface shaped to continue a curved shape of the housing, so that the breast pump device can be held comfortably inside a bra.

13. The breast pump device of claim 1 , wherein the milk container comprises a flexible valve configured to self-seal under negative air pressure against a milk opening in the nipple tunnel and further configured to permit milk to flow into the milk container.

14. The breast pump device of claim 1 , wherein the milk container comprises a mechanical or magnetic mechanism that is configured to releasably attach or latch the milk container to the housing when the milk container is sufficiently pressed on to the housing.

15. The breast pump device of claim 1 , wherein the milk container comprises a cap that is configured to be removable from the milk container and a removable valve that is configured to enable milk to pass into the milk container in one direction.

16. The breast pump device of claim 1 , wherein the milk container is wider than the milk container is tall.

17. The breast pump device of claim 1 , wherein the nipple tunnel comprises on a lower surface of the nipple tunnel an opening configured such that expressed milk can flow under gravity into the milk container.

18. The breast pump device of claim 1 , wherein the housing further comprises a wireless data communications system configured to be powered by the battery.

19. The breast pump device of claim 1 , wherein the housing has a front surface that is configured to fit inside a bra and to contact an inner surface of the bra, and a rear surface that is configured to be shaped to contact, at least in part, the breast shield.

20. The breast pump device of claim 1 , wherein the housing further comprises at least one of a visual or haptic indicator that is configured to indicate whether milk is flowing or not flowing into the milk container.

21. The breast pump device of claim 1 , wherein the housing further comprises at least one of a visual or haptic indicator that is configured to indicate if the pump is operating correctly to pump milk, based on whether a quantity or a height of liquid in the milk container above a base of the milk container is increasing above a threshold rate of increase.

22. The breast pump device of claim 1 , wherein the pump comprises a piezo air pump system.

23. The breast pump device of claim 1 , wherein the pump is positioned at or close to a base of the housing.

24. The breast pump device of claim 1 , wherein a total mass of the breast pump device, unfilled with milk, is less than 250 gm.

25. The breast pump device of claim 1 , wherein the breast pump device is configured to make less than 30 dB noise at maximum power and less than 25 dB at normal power, against a 20 dB ambient noise.

26. The breast pump device of claim 1 , wherein the milk container is formed of an optically clear, dishwasher safe plastic.

27. The breast pump device of claim 1 , wherein the diaphragm is seated against a diaphragm holder that forms a recess or cavity at least in part with an external surface of the housing, the diaphragm being configured to deform in response to changes in air pressure caused by the pump system to create negative air pressure in the nipple tunnel.

28. The breast pump device of claim 1 , wherein the breast flange is formed of an optically clear, dishwasher safe plastic.