Breastmilk expression system with detection, feedback and connectability features

• US 10,052,418 B2
• Filed: 04/05/2016
• Issued: 08/21/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medela Holding AG (Olle Larsson Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Medela Holding AG (Olle Larsson Holding AG)
• Inventors: Simmons, Bryan D., Skach, John R., Bauer, Ryan, Gilbert, Deanna, Cho, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehta, Bhisma
• Assistant Examiner(s): Engel, Matthew A
• Application Number:
  US15/091,286
• Publication Number:
  US 20160287767A1
• Time in Patent Office: 868 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/06 Milking pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/062 Pump accessories
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/06935 imitating the suckling of an infant
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/0697 having means for massaging the breast
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/74 Suction control underwater drainage A61M1/61
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/81 Piston pumps, e.g. syringes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/15 Detection of leaks
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/18 with alarm
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/332 Force measuring means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3331 Pressure; Flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3334 Measuring or controlling the flow rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3379 Masses, volumes, levels of fluids in reservoirs, flow rates
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3553 remote, e.g. between patient's home and doctor's office
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3561 local, e.g. within room or hospital
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3576 with non implanted data transmission devices, e.g. using external transmitter or receiver
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/502 User interfaces, e.g. screens or keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/702 automatically during use

Abstract

Methods and systems for an improved feedback milk extraction system are described. According to aspects, the system may communicate with various electronic devices and/or server components to exchange data and perform certain functionalities. The functionalities may include providing visual and audio feedback to a user, supporting unique kit identification as well as associated user profiles and preferred configuration settings, detecting and responding to leaks having various sizes during operation of the breastpump, controlling operation of the breastpump in response to detected leaks and the detected type and/or magnitude of the leak, preemptively contacting customers if a fault condition is detected or imminent, enabling effective labeling of collection containers, and determining volume and flow of expressed breastmilk.

Claims

1. A breastmilk extracting system for extracting milk from a breast of a user, comprising:

a pressure measurement component configured to;

generate at least one reading in the system during operation of the system, and

determine, from the at least one reading in the system, a vacuum level in the system during operation of the system,

wherein the pressure measurement component comprises at least one of;

a pressure switch, a two setting pressure switch, a relative pressure sensor, an absolute pressure sensor, and at least two pressure sensors;

a memory;

a comparison circuit interfaced with the pressure measurement component and the memory, and configured to,

on a substantially continuous basis,

compare the vacuum level in the system during the operation of the system to an expected vacuum level in the system to obtain a comparison result,

determine that there is a leak in the system when the comparison result at least meets a threshold value, the leak representative of a flow of milk or air into or out of the system, and

estimate a magnitude of the leak; and

at least one feedback component configured to selectively indicate to the user the existence of the leak in the system.

2. The breastmilk extracting system of claim 1, wherein the pressure measurement component is further configured to obtain a pressure level in the system during operation of the system;

and wherein the comparison circuit is further configured to;

compare the pressure level to an expected pressure level, and

based on the comparison, estimate a flow volume of milk in the system.

3. The breastmilk extracting system of claim 1, wherein when the comparison result at least meets the threshold value, the comparison circuit is further configured to:

determine, based on the comparison result, at least one action to take to address the leak in the system, and

perform the at least one action.

4. The breastmilk extracting system of claim 1, wherein the pressure measurement component is further configured to:

obtain, at a first point in time during operation of the system, a first pressure level,

obtain, at a second point in time during operation of the system, a second pressure level, and

determine the vacuum level in the system from the first pressure level and the second pressure level.

5. The breastmilk extracting system of claim 1, wherein the pressure measurement component is further configured to obtain a pressure level in the system during operation of the system;

wherein the comparison circuit is further configured to;

calculate a milk flow volume estimate by comparing the pressure level to an expected pressure level;

and wherein the system further comprises;

an output module configured to generate milk output data indicating at least one of milk flow, milk volume, and milk ejection reflex (MER), based on the milk flow volume estimate.

6. The breastmilk extracting system of claim 1, further comprising:

a transceiver configured to receive, from an electronic device, a set of user configuration settings; and

a hardware controller interfaced with at least the transceiver, and configured to,

determine, from the set of user configuration settings, a set of operation settings for the system, and

configure the system according to the set of operation settings.

7. The breastmilk extracting system of claim 6, wherein the transceiver is further configured to receive, from the electronic device, sensor data associated with a set of sensors of the electronic device;

and wherein the hardware controller further determines the set of operation settings for the system from the sensor data.