BREAST SHIELD UNIT WITH MEDIA SEPARATION

• US 20150328380A1
• Filed: 12/12/2013
• Published: 11/19/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medela Holding AG (Olle Larsson Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Medela Holding AG (Olle Larsson Holding AG)
• Inventors: Furrer, Etienne, Rigert, Mario, Schlienger, Andr
• Granted Patent: US 10,149,929 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/06 Milking pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/064 Suction cups
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/066 Inserts therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/067 with means for hands-free operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/78 Means for preventing overflow or contamination of the pumping systems combined with drainage containers A61M1/60

Abstract

A breastshield unit for use with a breastpump for expressing human breastmilk has a breastshield for receiving a mother'"'"'s breast and a media separation device for transferring a vacuum into the interior of the breastshield. The breastshield has a receiving area for receiving a nipple of the mother'"'"'s breast. The media separation device has a media separation membrane which, for the purpose of transferring the vacuum, is movable to and fro between two positions. The media separation membrane is located in the receiving area at least in one of the two positions. Despite the integrated media separation, the breastshield unit can be made extremely compact and minimizes the dead volume.

Claims

1. A breastshield unit for use with a breastpump for expressing human breastmilk, the breastshield unit comprising a breastshield for receiving a mother'"'"'s breast and a media separation device for transferring a vacuum into the interior of the breastshield, the breastshield unit having a receiving area for receiving a nipple of the mother'"'"'s breast, and the media separation device having a media separation membrane which, for the purpose of transferring the vacuum, is movable to and fro between two positions, the media separation membrane being located in the receiving area at least in one of said two positions.

2. Breastshield The breastshield unit according to claim 1, wherein a tubular stub is present which forms the receiving area and which has an end directed away from the mother'"'"'s breast, wherein the media separation membrane is arranged directly on this end.

3. The breastshield unit according to claim 1, wherein the breastshield unit has an attachment for connection to a milk collection container, and wherein the media separation membrane is arranged approximately perpendicularly with respect to the attachment.

4. The breastshield unit according to claim 1, wherein a milk flow path is present which leads from the receiving area to an attachment for connection to a milk collection container, and wherein the media separation membrane is arranged in the milk flow path.

5. The breastshield unit according to claim 4, wherein the media separation membrane interrupts and re-opens the milk flow path according to a cyclically applied underpressure.

6. The breastshield unit according to claim 1, wherein the receiving area has a wall which is provided with apertures, and wherein the media separation membrane is arranged on an outer face of the wall in an area of the apertures.

7. The breastshield unit according to claim 1, wherein the breastshield unit has an attachment for connection to a milk collection container, and wherein the media separation membrane is arranged approximately horizontally with respect to this attachment.

8. The breastshield unit according to claim 1, wherein a check valve is arranged in a milk flow path, and wherein the check valve is formed in one piece with the media separation membrane.

9. The breastshield unit according to claim 1, wherein the media separation device as a whole is arranged to be movable relative to and inside the breastshield.

10. The breastshield unit according to claim 9, wherein it also has a breastshield insert which can be secured is securable in the breastshield, and wherein the media separation device is suspended movably by means of this breastshield insert in the breastshield.

11. The breastshield unit according to claim 9, wherein the breastshield has guide slits which extend in a longitudinal direction of the breastshield and along which the media separation device as a whole is movable.

12. The breastshield unit according to claim 9, wherein the media separation device has a dimensionally stable housing, wherein the media separation membrane is held movably therein.

13. The breastshield unit according to one of claim 9, wherein the breastshield has a rear opening at an end directed away from the mother'"'"'s breast, as a result of which the media separation device is manually movable towards the mother'"'"'s breast by access through this rear opening.

14. The breastshield unit according to claim 9, wherein the breastshield is dimensionally stable, and wherein the breastshield unit also has a flexible breastshield insert for insertion into the breastshield, wherein the breastshield has a first, open breastshield end for placing onto a mother'"'"'s breast, wherein the breastshield insert has a first and a second insert end which define a longitudinal direction, wherein the first, open breastshield end has a peripheral edge on which the breastshield insert can be is securable to the first insert end, wherein the breastshield insert, in the assembled state, extends from this first insert end in the interior of the breastshield to the second insert end, wherein the breastshield insert, between the first and second insert ends, extends substantially spaced apart from the breastshield, and wherein the second insert end, in the assembled state of the breastshield insert, is movable in the longitudinal direction relative to the breastshield.

15. A media separation device for use in a breastshield unit according to claim 1, wherein the media separation device has a dimensionally stable housing and a media separation membrane arranged therein, and wherein the housing has a tubular receiver for receiving a breastshield or a flexible breastshield insert insertable into a breastshield, wherein this receiver defines a receiving area for receiving a nipple of a mother'"'"'s breast, and wherein the media separation membrane adjoins this receiving area or protrudes into it.

16. A breastshield unit for use with a breastpump for expressing human breastmilk, the breastshield unit comprising a breastshield for receiving a mother'"'"'s breast and a media separation device for transferring a vacuum into the interior of the breastshield, the breastshield unit having a receiving area for receiving a nipple of the mother'"'"'s breast, and wherein the media separation device having a media separation membrane which, for the purpose of transferring the vacuum, is movable to and fro between two positions, the media separation membrane adjoining the receiving area at least in one of said two positions, and the media separation membrane being located completely under the receiving area.