A BREAST SHIELD FOR A BREAST PUMP
There is provided a breast shield for a breast pump, comprising a flexible diaphragm comprising a nipple tunnel for 2024/047203 receiving a user's nipple. The breast shield is configured to form a seal with a user's breast and is configured such that when an internal negative pressure is applied to internal walls of the nipple tunnel, the nipple tunnel contracts to a minimum aperture which conforms to the shape of the user's nipple. The nipple tunnel comprises a plurality of expandable lobes wherein each expandable lobe extends radially from a respective offset point from a central longitudinal axis of the breast shield. WO
1 . A breast shield for a breast pump, comprising:
a flexible diaphragm comprising a nipple tunnel for receiving a user's nipple;
wherein the breast shield is configured to form a seal with a user's breast and is configured such that:
when an internal negative pressure is applied to internal walls of the nipple tunnel, the nipple tunnel contracts to a minimum aperture which conforms to the shape of the user's nipple, wherein the nipple tunnel comprises a plurality of expandable lobes wherein each expandable lobe extends radially from a respective offset point from a central longitudinal axis of the breast shield.
2 . The breast shield of claim 1 , wherein the nipple tunnel comprises external walls, and wherein when an external negative pressure is applied to the external walls, the nipple tunnel expands radially up to a maximum aperture.
3 . The breast shield of claim 2 , wherein the nipple tunnel comprises three lobes that dilate between the maximum aperture and the minimum aperture.
4 . (canceled)
5 . The breast shield of claim 1 -or wherein the nipple tunnel comprises a single lobe, the single lobe comprising at least one expanding area.
6 . The breast shield of claim 5 , wherein the single lobe comprises a rounded triangular prism shape, with three expanding areas.
7 . The breast shield of claim 2 , wherein the nipple tunnel comprises four lobes that dilate between the maximum aperture and the minimum aperture.
8 . The breast shield of claim 2 , wherein the nipple tunnel comprises a central circular or cylindrical portion, and two T-shaped lobes.
9 . The breast shield of claim 2 , wherein the nipple tunnel approaches a circular aperture at maximum aperture.
10 . The breast shield of claim 1 , further comprising a non-return valve at one end of the nipple tunnel and optionally a breast flange portion at another end of the nipple tunnel.
11 . (canceled)
12 . The breast shield of claim 1 , further comprising sizing rings.
13 . The breast shield of claim 1 , wherein the nipple tunnel aperture is bi-stable such that as the breast shield is pushed onto the user's breast, a diameter of the nipple tunnel aperture decreases in size from a first stable aperture to a second stable aperture, wherein the second stable aperture is smaller in diameter than the first stable aperture.
14 . The breast shield of claim 1 , further comprising at least one inflation pocket configured to receive positive pressure, wherein application of positive pressure to the at least one inflation pocket causes expansion of the lobe in at least one of a longitudinal, a radial and/or a lateral direction.
15 . The breast shield of claim 14 , wherein the at least one inflation pocket comprises either:
a single inflation pocket, the single inflation pocket optionally comprising a torus shape; or
a plurality of inflation pockets positioned at various points around the circumference of the lobe.
16 . (canceled)
17 . (canceled)
18 . A breast pump comprising:
a pumping system; and
the breast shield of any preceding claim,
wherein the pumping system is configured to apply an internal negative pressure to the internal walls of the nipple tunnel.
19 . The breast pump of claim 18 , wherein the application of the internal negative pressure forms a vacuum seal between the breast shield and a user's breast, wherein the pumping system is further configured to apply an external negative pressure to external walls of the nipple tunnel, and wherein the external negative pressure is greater in magnitude than the internal negative pressure.
20 . (canceled)
21 . The breast pump of claim 18 , further comprising an outer frame configured to define a region surrounding the nipple tunnel.
22 . The breast pump of claim 19 , wherein the pumping system applies the external negative pressure to the external walls of the nipple tunnel periodically during a pumping cycle, causing expandable lobes of the nipple tunnel to periodically expand and contract between the minimum aperture and the maximum aperture.
23 . The breast pump according to claim 21 , wherein the breast shield is removable from the breast pump, wherein the breast shield may be removed and attached to the breast pump using a joint mechanism arranged on the outer frame, optionally wherein the joint mechanism is configured for a one press action optionally comprising audible and/or haptic feedback to indicate attachment and/or removal.
24 . (canceled)
25 . The breast pump of claim 18 , wherein the outer frame comprises:
a first extension configured to define a first region for application of negative pressure to external walls of the nipple tunnel; and
a second extension configured to define a second region for application of positive pressure to the external walls of the nipple tunnel.
26 . The breast pump of claim 18 , wherein the pumping system applies the positive pressure to at least one inflation pocket periodically during a pumping cycle, causing the lobe to periodically expand and contract.