Breast pump milk flow rate sensor system and apparatus
A breast pump milk flow sensor system and apparatus for accurately assessing both a flow rate and amount of milk expressed during a pumping session is provided. The breast pump milk flow rate sensor system and apparatus may be contained within a breast pump.
1. A milk flow sensor apparatus, comprising:
a funnel which drains milk from a top of the funnel to a bottom of the funnel, the top of the funnel having an opening that is larger than an opening in the bottom of the funnel;
a drain, disposed at the bottom of the funnel, which allows milk to flow out of the bottom of the funnel and into a droplet forming portion; and
a spout which drops droplets of milk of a uniform size from the milk flow sensor apparatus.
2. The milk flow sensor apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising,
a threaded connection disposed on a top of the milk flow sensor apparatus.
3. The milk flow sensor apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the threaded connection disposed on the top of the milk flow sensor apparatus is connectable to a breast pump manifold.
4. The milk flow sensor apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the drain allows substantially bubble free milk to enter the droplet forming portion.
5. The milk flow sensor apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the droplet forming portion includes a cylindrical opening.
6. The milk flow sensor apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the cylindrical opening connects to the spout.
7. The milk flow sensor apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the uniform size of the droplets of milk have a uniform diameter which is between 3 millimeters and 6 millimeters.
8. The milk flow sensor apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a sensor connected to the bottom of the milk flow sensor apparatus.
9. The milk flow sensor apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the sensor is a discrete part of the milk flow sensor apparatus.
10. The milk flow sensor apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the sensor is attached to the milk flow sensor apparatus.
11. The milk flow sensor apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the sensor allows milk droplets to drop through the sensor.
12. The milk flow apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the sensor is an electromagnetic radiation sensor.
13. The milk flow sensor apparatus of claim 12 , wherein a center of a field of view of the electromagnetic radiation sensor is located at a distance at least two times the diameter of a uniform droplet of milk released from the spout.
14. The milk flow sensor apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the sensor detects each one of the droplets of milk released from the spout to drop through the sensor.
15. The milk flow sensor apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a stop.
16. The milk flow sensor apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the stop is a sealing device which maintains vacuum pressure within the milk flow sensor apparatus when connected to a breast pump manifold.
17. The milk flow sensor apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising, a friction connector disposed on a top of the milk flow sensor apparatus.
18. The milk flow sensor apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the droplets of milk released from the spout are dropped into a valve disposed below the milk flow sensor apparatus.
19. The milk flow sensor apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the valve is disposed within a milk collection apparatus.
20. The milk flow sensor apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the milk flow sensor apparatus connects to the milk collection apparatus.