Granted Patent B2

US 12,653,933 · App. 17/907,347 · Granted Jun 16, 2026

Inventors: Thibault De Becdelievre (London, GB); Oliver Blanchard (London, GB); Georgia Thomas (London, GB); Daniel John Thompson (London, GB); Adam Rollo (London, GB); Paul Reid (London, GB); Jonathan O'Toole (London, GB); Jack Biltcliffe (London, GB); Clare Larkspur (London, GB); Claudia Bruen (London, GB)

Assignee: Willow Blossom Holdco Limited

A61M1/067A61M1/60A61M39/22A61M2205/42A61M2209/088

Abstract

Claims (47)

1 . A breast pump system comprising:

a wearable milk collection hub connected via an air line to a combined external air pump and control unit,

wherein the wearable milk collection hub comprises: a breast shield

comprising a breast flange and a nipple tunnel;

a flexible diaphragm configured to prevent milk from reaching the external air pump;

an outer shell configured to be removably attachable to the breast shield such that the breast shield and the outer shell, when attached, are configured to form a vessel for collecting milk, a front face of the outer shell comprising a curved front portion through which a central axis of the nipple tunnel extends; and

a diaphragm cap configured to be secured over the diaphragm, the diaphragm cap forming part of the front face of the outer shell, and comprising an air port connected to the air line and a recessed finger grip feature for removing the diaphragm cap from the outer shell.

2 . The breast pump system of claim 1 , wherein the diaphragm cap is configured to be rotatable in the outer shell to adjust a position of the air port.

3 . The breast pump system of claim 1 , wherein the diaphragm cap is configured to be attached to an external surface of the outer shell.

4 . The breast pump system of claim 1 , wherein the wearable milk collection hub comprises a flat portion configured to allow the milk collection hub to rest on a flat surface positioned on this flat portion.

5 . The breast pump system of claim 1 , wherein the diaphragm cap is configured to fit inside a bra.

6 . The breast pump system of claim 1 , wherein the outer shell comprises a dishwasher safe polypropylene, polycarbonate or copolyester.

7 . The breast pump system of claim 6 , wherein the breast shield is configured to be integrated with the diaphragm housing as a single, one piece molded item.

8 . The breast pump system of claim 1 , wherein the breast shield comprises a transparent or optically clear, dishwasher safe polypropylene, polycarbonate or copolyester breast shield.

9 . The breast pump system of claim 1 , wherein the breast shield comprises a diaphragm housing, the diaphragm housing comprising sides that are parallel to the nipple tunnel.

10 . The breast pump system of claim 9 , wherein the diaphragm housing comprises a front wall that forms an end of the nipple tunnel.

11 . The breast pump system of claim 9 ,

wherein the diaphragm is configured to move within an air-pump chamber formed on one side by the diaphragm housing, the diaphragm comprising walls that are parallel to a long or central axis of the nipple tunnel, and on another side by the diaphragm cap.

12 . The breast pump system of claim 1 , wherein the outer shell is a transparent or optically clear.

13 . The breast pump system of claim 1 , wherein the diaphragm is configured to be positioned at the end of the nipple tunnel, and comprises a portion that extends over an end of the nipple tunnel.

14 . The breast pump system of claim 1 , wherein the diaphragm is configured to be a single flexible membrane shaped to include inner and outer substantially cylindrical walls that are generally parallel to a center axis of the nipple tunnel.

15 . The breast pump system of claim 1 , wherein the diaphragm comprises portions that run substantially parallel to a center axis of the nipple tunnel.

16 . The breast pump system of claim 1 , wherein the control unit is configured to control suction delivered to the wearable milk collection hub, and the air pump is configured to generate negative air pressure and transfer negative air pressure to the wearable milk collection hub.

17 . The breast pump system of claim 16 , wherein the air pump is configured to be held in place between two blocks, each block configured to absorb vibration from the air pump.

18 . The breast pump system of claim 1 , further comprising an airflow block in the control unit, the airflow block being configured to transfer air or suction from the air pump and to absorb vibrations from the air pump.

19 . The breast pump system of claim 1 , wherein a sound valve in the control unit is configured to regulate a pressure inside the control unit to remain at ambient pressure, and wherein the sound valve is further configured to attenuate noise from the air pump escaping from inside the control unit.

20 . The breast pump system of claim 19 , wherein the sound valve comprises a cut configured to deform under pressure.

21 . The breast pump system of claim 1 , wherein a solenoid foam cap in the control unit is configured to reduce a speed of air that enters a solenoid valve when the solenoid valve opens to ambient air pressure to reduce a sound of that air entering the solenoid valve.

22 . The breast pump system of claim 1 , wherein the nipple tunnel comprises a closed end and a milk port, the milk port being intermediate to the breast flange and the closed end.

23 . A breast pump system comprising:

a wearable milk collection hub connected via an air line to a combined external air pump and control unit,

wherein the wearable milk collection hub comprises:

a breast shield comprising a breast flange and a nipple tunnel;

a diaphragm housing integrated with the breast shield as a single, one piece moulded item;

a flexible diaphragm configured to be placed against the diaphragm housing;

an outer shell configured to be removably attachable to the breast shield such that the breast shield and the outer shell, when attached, are configured to form a vessel for collecting milk;

a non-return valve configured to pass expressed milk in one direction into the vessel; and

a diaphragm cap configured to be attached to an external surface of the outer shell and over the diaphragm, and through which a central axis of the nipple tunnel extends.

24 . The breast pump system of claim 23 , wherein the diaphragm cap comprises a recessed finger grip feature for removing the diaphragm cap from the outer shell.

25 . The breast pump system of claim 23 , further comprising an air tube connection assembly, comprising:

a tube splitter;

a first tube configured to connect to the control unit;

a second tube configured to connect to the wearable milk collection hub; and

a third tube.

26 . The breast pump system of claim 23 , wherein the external surface of the outer shell has a curved shaped, and the diaphragm is configured to continue the curved shape.

27 . The breast pump system of claim 23 , wherein the nipple tunnel comprises a closed end and a milk port, the milk port being intermediate to the breast flange and the closed end, and the non-return valve is coupled to the milk port.

28 . The breast pump system of claim 23 , wherein a top end of the outer shell comprises a pouring opening configured to release the expressed milk.

Assignments (2)

Priority Claims (1)

Continuity (1)

References Cited (387)