One Time Use Breastpump Assembly

• US 20110301532A1
• Filed: 06/04/2010
• Published: 12/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medela Holding AG (Olle Larsson Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Medela Holding AG (Olle Larsson Holding AG)
• Inventors: Bauer, Ryan, Wach, Joseph, Avanzino, Paul
• Granted Patent: US 8,529,501 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/74
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/06 Milking pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/062 Pump accessories
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/273 preventing reuse, e.g. of disposables

Abstract

A breastpump assembly is disclosed. The breastpump assembly includes a breast shield within which a woman'"'"'s breast is received, a conduit structure communicating with the breast shield, a container for collecting milk, and a valve mechanism closing the breastpump assembly from ambient air when initially provided to a user, the valve mechanism being opened to allow ambient air to pass into the breastpump assembly through removal of the container, so as to substantially disable the breastpump.

Claims

1. A disposable breast pump assembly comprising:

a breast shield having a first end for placement on a breast and a second end for connection to a collection container;

a conduit structure communicating with the breast shield, the conduit structure being in connection with a vacuum source; and

a valve mechanism connected to the second end of the breast shield, the valve mechanism disabling the vacuum function after the disposable breast pump assembly has been used.

2. A breastpump comprising:

a breast shield within which a woman'"'"'s breast is received;

a conduit structure communicating with said breast shield, said conduit structure conveying milk and air;

a container for collecting milk;

a mechanism connecting said container to said conduit structure; and

a valve mechanism communicating with ambient air disposed between said conduit structure and said container;

wherein said conduit structure is closed to air ingress from ambient air under a negative pressure applied within said conduit structure in a first position where said valve mechanism is closed; and

wherein said valve mechanism is opened when said container is removed from said conduit structure, thereby allowing air ingress from ambient air when said container is reattached to said conduit structure, so as to substantially disable the breastpump.

3. The breastpump of claim 2, wherein said valve mechanism is a flexible member interposed and compressed between a container lip of said container and a part of said conduit structure when in said first position and thereby closing an orifice to said conduit structure for air ingress, said flexible member moving to an uncompressed state when said container is removed and opening said orifice, said flexible member further remaining in said uncompressed state when said container is reattached.

4. The breastpump of claim 3 wherein said valve mechanism is a tube, said tube being folded upon itself in said first position to thereby close said tube and said orifice, said tube being attached to said orifice.

5. The breastpump of claim 2 wherein said valve mechanism is a cover, said cover closing an opening to said conduit structure in said first position to thereby close said opening, said cover being attached to said container such that when said container is removed, said cover opens said opening.

6. A breastpump, comprising:

a breast shield within which a woman'"'"'s breast is received;

a conduit structure communicating with said breast shield, said conduit structure conveying milk and air, said conduit structure being substantially closed to air ingress in a first condition when a vacuum is applied within said conduit structure;

a container for collecting milk;

a mechanism attaching said container to said conduit structure; and

a valve disposed between said conduit structure and said container, said valve being located in a pathway to ambient air, said valve being in an initial closed position when said container is first attached to said conduit structure, said valve being automatically opened when said container is removed from said conduit structure, thereby allowing air ingress through said pathway in the event that said container is reattached to said conduit structure, so as to substantially disable the breastpump.

7. A one-time use breastpump comprising:

a breastpump assembly including a breast shield within which a woman'"'"'s breast is received, a container for expressed milk, and conduit structure between said breast shield and container; and

a pop-up valve mechanism closing said breastpump assembly from ambient air when initially provided to a user, said pop-up valve mechanism being opened to allow ambient air to pass into said breastpump assembly through removal of said container, so as to substantially disable the breastpump.

8. A one-time use breastpump comprising:

a breastpump assembly including a breast shield within which a woman'"'"'s breast is received, a container for expressed milk, and conduit structure between said breast shield and said container; and

a closure in an opening to said breastpump assembly, said closure preventing ingress of ambient air when the breastpump is initially provided to a user, said closure being in mechanical connection to a part of said breastpump assembly and caused to open and thereby allow ambient air to pass into said breastpump assembly through removal of said part from said breastpump assembly, so as to substantially disable the breastpump.

9. A breastpump comprising:

a breast shield within which a woman'"'"'s breast is received;

a conduit structure communicating with said breast shield, said conduit structure conveying milk and air;

a container for collecting milk;

a mechanism connecting said container to said conduit structure; and

a valve mechanism communicating with ambient air disposed between said conduit structure and said container;

wherein said conduit structure is closed to air ingress from ambient air under a negative pressure applied within said conduit structure in a first position where said valve mechanism is closed; and

wherein said valve mechanism is opened when a structure in direct communication with the valve mechanism is removed from the breastpump assembly, thereby allowing air ingress from ambient air when said structure is reattached to the breastpump assembly, so as to substantially disable the breastpump.

10. A one-time use breastpump comprising:

a breastpump assembly including a breast shield within which a woman'"'"'s breast is received, a container for expressed milk, and conduit structure between said breast shield and container; and

a pop-up valve mechanism closing said breastpump assembly from ambient air when initially provided to a user, said pop-up valve mechanism being opened to allow ambient air to pass into said breastpump assembly through removal of a portion of the breastpump assembly, so as to substantially disable the breastpump.

11. A breastpump comprising:

a breast shield within which a woman'"'"'s breast is received;

a conduit structure communicating with said breast shield, said conduit structure conveying milk and air;

a container for collecting milk;

a mechanism connecting said container to said conduit structure; and

a valve mechanism communicating with ambient air disposed between said conduit structure and said container;

wherein said conduit structure is closed to air ingress from ambient air under a negative pressure applied within said conduit structure in a first position where said valve mechanism is closed; and

wherein said valve mechanism is opened when a part of the breastpump is removed from the breastpump, thereby allowing air ingress from ambient air when said part is reattached to the breastpump, so as to substantially disable the breastpump.