BREAST SHIELD

• US 20180028733A1
• Filed: 02/09/2016
• Published: 02/01/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medela Holding AG (Olle Larsson Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Medela Holding AG (Olle Larsson Holding AG)
• Inventors: Rigert, Mario, Kppeli, Daniela, Schlienger, Andr
• Granted Patent: US 10,639,408 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/064 Suction cups
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/066 Inserts therefor

Abstract

A breast shield for a breast pump for expressing human breast milk, comprising a funnel for applying to the human mother'"'"'s breast and a connection part, wherein the funnel widens in the direction of the mother'"'"'s breast and encloses at least one nipple and one areola surrounding the nipple of the mother'"'"'s breast. The funnel comprises an end near to the breast, which forms a contact edge for contacting the mother'"'"'s breast. The breast shield has a through-opening which extends from the end of the funnel near the breast up to the end of the connection part further from the breast, and which serves to apply a negative pressure to the mother'"'"'s breast and to discharge expressed breast milk. The contact edge of the funnel is formed by a space curve that is not positioned in one plane, wherein the funnel has at least two planes of symmetry. The breast shield permits an application on the mother'"'"'s breast that is optimally sealing and comfortable for the mother.

Claims

1. A breast shield for a breast pump for expressing human breast milk, wherein the breast shield has a funnel for bearing against the human mother'"'"'s breast, and also has a connection part, wherein the funnel widens in the direction of the mother'"'"'s breast in order to enclose at least a nipple and an areola surrounding the nipple, wherein the funnel has an end which is directed towards the breast, and forms a lay-on edge for providing contact with the mother'"'"'s breast, and wherein the breast shield has a through-passage which extends from that end of the funnel which is directed towards the breast to that end of the connection part which is directed away from the breast, and which serves for applying a negative pressure to the mother'"'"'s breast and for the outflow of pumped-out breast milk, wherein the lay-on edge of the funnel is formed by a three-dimensional curve, which is not located in a single plane, and wherein the funnel has at least two planes of symmetry.

2. The breast shield according to claim 1, wherein the lay-on edge has at least two planes of symmetry.

3. The breast shield according to claim 1, wherein the funnel has precisely two planes of symmetry.

4. The breast shield according to claim 1, wherein the lay-on edge has precisely two planes of symmetry.

5. The breast shield according to claim 1, wherein the funnel is a right truncated cone, and wherein an end of the truncated cone which is directed towards the breast forms the lay-on edge.

6. The breast shield according to claim 5, wherein the truncated cone is a truncated circular cone.

7. The breast shield according to claim 1, wherein a projection of the lay-on edge into a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the funnel is an ellipse.

8. The breast shield according to claim 1, wherein a projection of the lay-on edge into a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the funnel is a continuous meandering curve.

9. The breast shield according to claim 1, wherein the opening angle of the funnel is constant over the circumference of the latter.

10. The breast shield according to claim 1, wherein the funnel is rigid.

11. The breast shield according to claim 1, wherein the lay-on edge forms an encircling lay-on surface which allows the funnel to bear flatly against the mother'"'"'s breast.

12. The breast according to claim 1, wherein the lay-on edge is rigid.

13. The breast shield according to claim 1, wherein the funnel and the connection part are formed in one piece.

14. The breast shield according to claim 1, wherein the funnel, on its outer surface, has at least one haptic element, which differs from the rest of the outer surface of the funnel.

15. A breast shield for a breast pump for expressing human breast milk, wherein the breast shield has a funnel for bearing against the human mother'"'"'s breast, and also has a connection part, wherein the funnel widens in the direction of the breast and encloses at least a nipple and an areola surrounding the nipple, wherein the funnel has an end which is directed towards the breast and forms a lay-on edge for providing contact with the mother'"'"'s breast, and wherein the breast shield has a through-passage which extends from that end of the funnel which is directed towards the breast to that end of the connection part which is directed away from the breast, and which serves for applying a negative pressure to the mother'"'"'s breast and for the outflow of pumped-out breast milk, wherein the funnel is a right truncated cone, and wherein the lay-on edge of the funnel is formed by a three-dimensional curve, which is not located in a single plane.