IP Library Granted Patent US 12,629,465
Granted Patent B2
US 12,629,465 · App. 17/420,969 · Granted May 19, 2026

Suction pump with optical status indicator

Inventors: Cornel Baechler (Honau, CH); Thomas Imhof (Brittnau, CH); Hilmar Ehlert (Hergiswil, CH)
Assignee: MEDELA AG
A61M1/73A61M1/062A61M2205/3389A61M2205/584A61M2205/587
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,629,465
App. No.
17/420,969
Granted
May 19, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

The invention relates in one variant to a suction pump ( 1 ) for sucking body fluid, comprising an optical status indicator ( 5 ) for displaying a light signal as a function of the operating state of the suction pump ( 1 ), the optical status indicator ( 5 ) is arranged on at least two points of the outer surface of the suction pump ( 1 ), the surface normals of which are at an angle of at least 5° to one another. In a second variant, the invention relates to a suction pump ( 1 ) for sucking body fluid, including an optical status indicator ( 5 ) for displaying a light signal as a function of the operating state of the suction pump ( 1 ), wherein the suction pump ( 1 ) has on its underside at least one stand ( 13 ) for support on a support surface, the status indicator ( 5 ) is arranged on the underside of the suction pump ( 1 ) so that the light signal is emitted in the direction of the support surface. In a third variant, the invention relates to a suction pump ( 1 ) for sucking body fluid, including an optical status indicator ( 5 ) for displaying a light signal as a function of the operating state of the suction pump ( 1 ), the status indicator ( 5 ) occupying at least 5% of the surface of the suction pump ( 1 ).

Claims (12)

1 . A suction pump for sucking body fluid, comprising an optical status indicator for displaying a light signal as a function of an operating state of the suction pump and a container for receiving a liquid, the light signal guided through a diffuser element homogeneously distributing light intensity over an entire surface of the optical status indicator, and the optical status indicator arranged on at least two points of an outer surface of the suction pump, the surface normals of which are at an angle of at least 45° to one another, wherein the operating state of the suction pump is determined on the basis of two or more operating parameters including a filling level of the container and a battery charge level of the suction pump, the suction pump being supplied with power via an internal battery.

2 . The suction pump according to claim 1 , the suction pump having on an underside of the suction pump at least one stand for support on a support surface, the status indicator arranged on the underside of the suction pump so that the light signal is emitted in the direction of the support surface.

3 . The suction pump according to claim 1 , the status indicator occupying at least 5% of the outer surface of the suction pump.

4 . The suction pump according to claim 1 , wherein the suction pump comprises a pump housing comprising an upper surface, a front surface, and two respectively adjoining side surfaces, wherein the upper surface, the front surface, and the two respectively adjoining side surfaces form part of the outer surface of the suction pump, and the status indicator is arranged on at least two points of at least two of said surfaces.

5 . The suction pump according to claim 4 , wherein the status indicator is arranged at least on the front surface and the two side surfaces of the pump housing.

6 . The suction pump according to claim 4 , wherein the status indicator on at least two of said surfaces is respectively designed as a continuous light band or a light band divided into sections.

7 . The suction pump according to claim 4 , wherein the status indicator is one of a continuous light band or a light band divided into sections, which extends at least on the front surface and the two side surfaces of the pump housing.

8 . The suction pump according to claim 4 , wherein the status indicator is designed on at least two of said surfaces in the form of one or more discrete lighting elements.

9 . The suction pump according to claim 1 , wherein the suction pump comprises at least one light source for generating the light signal, wherein the light signal is passed on to the status indicator by an outer wall of a flow line of the suction pump, which outer wall serves as a light guide.

10 . The suction pump according to claim 1 , wherein the status indicator comprises one or more OLEDs as a source of the light signal.

11 . The suction pump according to claim 1 , wherein the suction pump comprises a device for measuring ambient brightness and for adjusting an intensity of the light signal to the ambient brightness.

12 . The suction pump according to claim 1 , wherein the light signal is one of generated or adjusted in the presence of at least one of a malfunction of the suction pump and a deviation from a predetermined process sequence.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 27, 2026
From: MEDELA HOLDING AG
To: MEDELA AG
Reel/Frame 075045/0230 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 3, 2021
From: BAECHLER, CORNEL; IMHOF, THOMAS; EHLERT, HILMAR
To: MEDELA HOLDING AG
Reel/Frame 057062/0451 →
Priority Claims (1)
EP 19151005 · Jan 9, 2019 · regional
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20220096726A1 · Mar 31, 2022
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