BREAST PUMP SYSTEM
First Claim
1. A method of using a breast pump system to express breast milk from a user'"'"'s breast, wherein the breast pump system comprises a suction tubing, a milk tubing, a pump, a vent valve, a suction and milk separator device, a milk bottle, an isolation valve and a breast shield;
- wherein the suction tubing has a first and second end;
wherein the milk tubing has a first and second end;
wherein the first end of the suction tubing and the first end of the milk tubing are fluidly connected to the pump;
wherein the second end of the suction tubing and the second end of the milk tubing are fluidly connected to the suction and milk separator device;
wherein the breast shield is fluidly connected to the suction and milk separator device;
wherein the suction and milk separator device has a check valve positioned at the connection to the milk tubing;
wherein the check valve has an open and a closed position and the check valve is in the closed position when the suction on the suction and milk separator device is greater than the suction on the milk tubing;
wherein the vent valve is fluidly connected to the suction tubing and is positioned between the pump and the suction and milk separator device;
wherein the vent valve is fluidly connected to a vent to atmosphere;
wherein the milk bottle is fluidly connected on the milk tubing between the suction and milk separator device and the isolation valve; and
wherein the isolation valve is fluidly connected on the milk tubing between the milk bottle and the pump;
the method comprising attaching the breast shield to a breast of a lactating person, and running the breast pump system in a cycle comprising a pumping step and a venting step;
wherein the pumping step comprises the pump pumping;
the vent valve closed such that the suction tubing is disconnected from the vent and connected to the pump;
the pressure at the breast shield is reduced and the user'"'"'s breast is drawn into the breast shield;
the check valve is closed;
milk is expressed from the user'"'"'s breast and collected in the breast shield;
wherein during the cycle the isolation valve opens for a about less than 0.5 second such that the pump is connected to the milk bottle;
the pressure in the milk bottle and the milk tubing drops;
wherein the vent step comprises the vent valve open such that the suction tubing is connected to the vent and disconnected from the pump;
the pressure in the suction tubing and the suction and milk separator device rises to that of about atmospheric pressure;
the check valve opens;
expressed milk is pulled through the breast shield, the suction and milk separator device, and the milk tubing to the milk bottle;
wherein the cycle takes about less than 5 seconds, andwherein the pumping step, and the vent step cycles repeat until milk expression is complete.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A breast pump system having a suction tubing, a milk tubing, a pump, a three way vent valve, a milk bottle, an isolation valve and a breast shield, wherein the first end of the suction tubing and the first end of the milk tubing are fluidly connected to the pump; wherein the second end of the suction tubing and the second end of the milk tubing are fluidly connected to the breast shield; wherein the three way vent valve is fluidly connected between the pump and the breast shield on the suction tubing; wherein the milk bottle is fluidly connected on the milk tubing between the breast shield and the pump; and wherein the isolation valve is connected on the milk tubing between the milk bottle and the pump.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. A method of using a breast pump system to express breast milk from a user'"'"'s breast, wherein the breast pump system comprises a suction tubing, a milk tubing, a pump, a vent valve, a suction and milk separator device, a milk bottle, an isolation valve and a breast shield;
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wherein the suction tubing has a first and second end; wherein the milk tubing has a first and second end; wherein the first end of the suction tubing and the first end of the milk tubing are fluidly connected to the pump; wherein the second end of the suction tubing and the second end of the milk tubing are fluidly connected to the suction and milk separator device; wherein the breast shield is fluidly connected to the suction and milk separator device; wherein the suction and milk separator device has a check valve positioned at the connection to the milk tubing; wherein the check valve has an open and a closed position and the check valve is in the closed position when the suction on the suction and milk separator device is greater than the suction on the milk tubing; wherein the vent valve is fluidly connected to the suction tubing and is positioned between the pump and the suction and milk separator device; wherein the vent valve is fluidly connected to a vent to atmosphere; wherein the milk bottle is fluidly connected on the milk tubing between the suction and milk separator device and the isolation valve; and wherein the isolation valve is fluidly connected on the milk tubing between the milk bottle and the pump; the method comprising attaching the breast shield to a breast of a lactating person, and running the breast pump system in a cycle comprising a pumping step and a venting step; wherein the pumping step comprises the pump pumping;
the vent valve closed such that the suction tubing is disconnected from the vent and connected to the pump;
the pressure at the breast shield is reduced and the user'"'"'s breast is drawn into the breast shield;
the check valve is closed;
milk is expressed from the user'"'"'s breast and collected in the breast shield;wherein during the cycle the isolation valve opens for a about less than 0.5 second such that the pump is connected to the milk bottle;
the pressure in the milk bottle and the milk tubing drops;wherein the vent step comprises the vent valve open such that the suction tubing is connected to the vent and disconnected from the pump;
the pressure in the suction tubing and the suction and milk separator device rises to that of about atmospheric pressure;
the check valve opens;
expressed milk is pulled through the breast shield, the suction and milk separator device, and the milk tubing to the milk bottle;wherein the cycle takes about less than 5 seconds, and wherein the pumping step, and the vent step cycles repeat until milk expression is complete. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of using a breast pump system to express breast milk, wherein the breast pump system comprises a suction tubing, a milk tubing, a pump, a vent valve, a suction and milk separator device, a milk bottle, an isolation valve and a breast shield;
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wherein the suction tubing has a first and second end; wherein the milk tubing has a first and second end; wherein the first end of the suction tubing and the first end of the milk tubing are fluidly connected to the pump; wherein the second end of the suction tubing and the second end of the milk tubing are fluidly connected to the suction and milk separator device; wherein the breast shield is fluidly connected to the suction and milk separator device; wherein the suction and milk separator device has a check valve positioned at the connection to the milk tubing; wherein the check valve has an open and a closed position and the check valve is in the closed position when the suction on the suction and milk separator device is greater than the suction on the milk tubing; wherein the vent valve is fluidly connected to the suction tubing and is positioned between the pump and the suction and milk separator device; wherein the vent valve is fluidly connected to a vent and the milk tubing; wherein the milk bottle is fluidly connected on the milk tubing between the suction and milk separator device and the isolation valve; wherein the isolation valve is fluidly connected on the milk tubing between the milk bottle and the pump; wherein a vacuum cylinder is positioned between the vent valve and vacuum pump; the method comprising attaching the breast shield to a breast of a lactating person, and running the breast pump system in a cycle comprising three steps;
a pumping step, a semi vent step and a vent step;wherein the pumping step comprises the pump pumping;
the vent valve is closed to the vent and open to the pump and to the suction tubing;
the check valve is closed and the isolation solenoid closed, blocking suction to milk bottle;wherein the semi vent step comprises the vent valve switches to open the vent and to close the vacuum pump;
the isolation valve is open for about less than 0.5 second to the milk bottle allowing suction to be applied;
the pressure in milk tubing and milk bottle drops, and the pressure in the suction tubing rises; andwherein the vent step comprises the isolation valve closes;
the pressure in the suction tubing and the suction and milk separator device rises to that of about atmospheric pressure;
the check valve opens;
expressed milk is pulled through the breast shield, the suction and milk separator device, and the milk tubing to the milk bottle;wherein the cycle takes about less than 5 seconds, and wherein the pumping step, the semi vent step and the vent step cycles repeat until milk expression is complete. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
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Specification