BREAST MILK FLOW METER APPARATUS AND METHOD
First Claim
1. A method for measuring the quantity of milk consumed by an infant during a breast-feeding session, by measuring the amount of flow through the respective nipple, using ultra-sonic Doppler-Effect probes, and translating and accumulating the flow measurements into volume units of the consumed quantity, wherein said method comprises the steps of:
- providing a brassiere of the breast-feeding type having two respective breast holding portions;
annexing to said brassiere, at each of said two respective breast holding portions thereof, ultra-sonic Doppler-Effect transmitter and receiver probes in a position directed to a location within the breast proximate to the nipple of the nursing person wearing said brassier;
activating said probes during the breast-feeding sessions for measuring the amount of flow through the respective nipple; and
translating and accumulating the flow measurements into volume units of the consumed quantity.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus measures the quantity of milk consumed by an infant during a breast-feeding session. The apparatus includes a brassiere-like garment (30) with openings allowing the breasts to be exposed for nursing an infant. Lining (32) is attached to the inside of the brassiere. Ultra-sonic Doppler-Effect transmitter probes (44) and receiver probes (46) are annexed to the brassiere lining pointing at the direction of the respective nipple of the nursing person. A processor is provided for translating flow measurements by the probes (44, 46) into volume units.
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Citations
9 Claims
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1. A method for measuring the quantity of milk consumed by an infant during a breast-feeding session, by measuring the amount of flow through the respective nipple, using ultra-sonic Doppler-Effect probes, and translating and accumulating the flow measurements into volume units of the consumed quantity, wherein said method comprises the steps of:
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providing a brassiere of the breast-feeding type having two respective breast holding portions; annexing to said brassiere, at each of said two respective breast holding portions thereof, ultra-sonic Doppler-Effect transmitter and receiver probes in a position directed to a location within the breast proximate to the nipple of the nursing person wearing said brassier; activating said probes during the breast-feeding sessions for measuring the amount of flow through the respective nipple; and translating and accumulating the flow measurements into volume units of the consumed quantity. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A method for indicating a presence of milk flow to be consumed by an infant during a breast-feeding session comprising the steps of:
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providing a brassiere of the breast-feeding type having two respective breast holding portions; annexing to said brassiere, at each one of said two respective breast holding portions thereof;
ultra-sonic Doppler-Effect transmitter and receiver probes in a position directed to a location within the breast proximate the nipple of the nursing person wearing said brassiere;activating said probes during the breast-feeding sessions for detecting a milk flow through the respective nipple.
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4. A method for determining the quality of milk consumed by an infant during a breast-feeding session, comprising the steps of:
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providing a brassiere of the breast-feeding type having two respective breast holding portions; annexing to said brassiere, at each one of said two respective breast holding portions thereof, ultra-sonic Doppler-Effect transmitter and receiver probes in a position directed to a location within the breast proximate to the nipple of the nursing person wearing said brassiere; activating said probes during the breast-feeding sessions, for measuring the density of milk flowing through said nipple, thereby determining the quality of said milk.
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5. An apparatus for measuring the quantity of milk consumed by an infant during breast-feeding session, by measuring the amount of flow through the respective nipple, using ultra-sonic Doppler-Effect probes, said apparatus comprising:
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an ultra-sonic Doppler-Effect transmitter probe; an ultra-sonic Doppler-Effect receiver probe; means for activating said ultra-sonic Doppler-Effect transmitter probe and said ultra-sonic Doppler-Effect receiver probe to function as flow measuring means; means for translating and accumulating the flow measurements into volume units; and
a reader unit for displaying the total of the consumed quantity;a brassiere of the breast-feeding type having openings around the nipple area for allowing the breasts to be exposed for nursing an infant, wherein said ultra-sonic Doppler-Effect transmitter probe and said ultra-sonic Doppler-Effect receiver probe are annexed to said brassiere at each one of the two breast holding portions of said brassiere, and are aiming in a direction within said breast proximate the respective nipple of the nursing person. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9)
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Specification