Pumping breast milk

• US 6,749,582 B2
• Filed: 04/30/2002
• Issued: 06/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: TOMY International, Inc. (TOMY Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: The First Years Incorporated (TOMY Company Limited)
• Inventors: Hagerty, Thomas A., Hotaling, Bryan R., Rossman, Jon R., Varney, James R., DʼAmelio, Brian R., Britto, James J., Foley, Richard M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Casler, Brian L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HAN, MARK K
• Application Number:
  US10/135,288
• Publication Number:
  US 20030204164A1
• Time in Patent Office: 777 Days
• Field of Search: 604/27, 604/30, 604/33, 604/35, 604/36, 604/38, 604/73, 604/74, 604/75, 604/313, 604/314, 604/316
• US Class Current: 604/74
• 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 1/81 Piston pumps, e.g. syringes
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/82 Membrane pumps, e.g. bulbs
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/073 Syringe, piston type
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/075 Bulb type
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/078 foot operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/586 Ergonomic details therefor, e.g. specific ergonomics for left or right-handed users

Abstract

A breast pump provides multiple orientations of the pumping lever with respect to the breast shield. A breast pump includes a liner extending from the breast shield, through the suction chamber, and out of the suction chamber, which liner shields other components of the pump from contamination by the flow of milk through the pump during pumping operation. A breast pumping device includes a pumping lever for manually providing a cyclical vacuum within the suction chamber and an external pumping source, connected to the suction bell, that the user can activate to provide a cyclical vacuum within the suction chamber. A breast pump provides a smaller change in the grip width from when the lever is fully-extended to when the lever is fully-retracted, allowing more comfortable manual pumping.

Claims

1. A manual breast pump, comprising:

a suction bell defining an internal suction chamber;

a breast shield extending from the suction bell and defining a receptacle for receiving a human breast, the receptacle being in hydraulic communication with the suction chamber; and

a manually operable lever secured to the suction bell for cyclical motion with respect thereto to generate a cyclical vacuum within the suction chamber;

wherein the lever is repositionable to multiple orientations with respect to the suction bell, and cyclically operable in each of the orientations to generate suction chamber vacuum.

2. The breast pump of claim 1, wherein the lever is attached to a fulcrum repositionably secured to the suction bell.

3. The breast pump of claim 2, wherein the fulcrum is secured to a collar rotatably secured to the suction bell.

4. The breast pump of claim 3, wherein the suction bell and collar together define a positioning detent adapted to secure the lever in at least one of the multiple orientations with respect to the breast shield.

5. The breast pump of claim 3, wherein tabs extending from the collar are lodged within an annular channel defined by the suction bell for restricting movement of the collar to a dialing rotation with respect to the suction bell.

6. The breast pump of claim 5, wherein the suction bell defines cutouts in the channel for allowing lodging of the tabs within the channel.

7. The breast pump of claim 1, wherein the lever is operably connected to a flexible diaphragm in hydraulic communication with the suction chamber.

8. The breast pump of claim 7, wherein the diaphragm is removable from the suction bell.

9. The breast pump of claim 8, wherein the diaphragm is attached to a pumping bell removably attached to the suction bell, and the diaphragm and pumping bell define a pumping chamber in hydraulic communication with the suction chamber.

10. The breast pump of claim 9, wherein a tortuous conduit hydraulically connects the pumping and suction chambers.

11. The breast pump of claim 10, wherein external surfaces of the pumping and suction bells, a perforation in the pumping bell, and a perforation in the suction bell define the tortuous conduit.

12. The breast pump of claim 9, wherein threads on the pumping bell cooperate with threads on the suction bell to secure the pumping bell to the suction bell.

13. The breast pump of claim 12, wherein the threads on the pumping and suction bells comprise a quarter-turn fastener.

14. The breast pump of claim 7, wherein the lever is operably connected to a rigid plunger secured to the flexible diaphragm.

15. The breast pump of claim 1, wherein the lever is operably connected to a piston, the piston being slidably disposed within a cylinder, and the cylinder being in hydraulic communication with the suction chamber.

16. The breast pump of claim 15, further comprising a flexible ring that comprises a slidable seal between a side wall of the piston and a wall defining the cylinder.

17. The breast pump of claim 1, wherein the lever is secured to the suction bell for cyclical motion in which suction chamber pressure decreases in each cycle with a forward motion of the lever, and increases in each cycle with a return motion of the lever.

18. The breast pump of claim 1, wherein the pump further includes a valve attached to the suction bell and adapted to drain pumped milk from the suction chamber.

19. The breast pump of claim 18, wherein the pump further includes a milk receptacle removably secured to the suction bell beneath the valve.

20. The breast pump of claim 18, wherein the valve is configured to restrict flow into the suction chamber as pressure in the suction chamber is lowered by pumping.

21. The breast pump of claim 20, wherein the valve is configured to drain pumped milk from the suction chamber when weight of milk above the valve exceeds a predetermined amount with vacuum pressure released.

22. The breast pump of claim 21, wherein the valve is a duckbill valve.

23. The breast pump of claim 1, wherein the suction bell has an outer surface that defines a recess, on a side of the suction bell opposite the pumping lever, that defines, together with the pumping lever, a manual grip cyclically squeezable to operate the pump.

24. The breast pump of claim 23, wherein the recess comprises a neck in the suction bell.

25. The breast pump of claim 24, wherein the lever is shaped to conform to the neck in the suction bell.

26. The breast pump of claim 23 wherein to manual grip has a grip width changing less than one inch as the lever moves from a fully extended position to a fully retracted position.

27. The breast pump of claim 26, wherein the manual grip has a grip width changing less than three-quarters of an inch as the lever moves from a fully extended position to a fully retracted position.

28. The breast pump of claim 1, wherein two of the multiple orientations define an adjustment range angle of at least forty-five degrees.

29. The breast pump of claim 28, wherein two of the multiple orientations define an adjustment range angle of at least ninety degrees.

30. The breast pump of claim 29, wherein two of the multiple orientations define an adjustment range angle of at least one-hundred and eighty degrees.

31. The breast pump of claim 1, wherein multiple positioning detents are defined between the lever and the suction bell, each detent corresponding to one of the multiple orientations.

32. A method of pumping breast milk, comprising:

a) placing the breast shield of the breast pump of claim 1 against a human breast; and

b) cycling the pumping lever of the breast pump to express milk from the breast.

33. A breast pump comprising

a suction bell defining an internal suction chamber;

a breast shield extending from the suction bell and defining a receptacle for receiving a human breast, the receptacle being in hydraulic communication with the suction chamber;

a valve attached to the suction bell that partially defines the suction chamber and is adapted to drain pumped milk from the suction chamber; and

a removable, flexible liner extending from within the breast shield, through the suction chamber, and out of the suction chamber through the valve, the liner defining a conduit for conducting pumped milk.

34. The breast pump of claim 33, wherein the valve is configured to restrict flow into the suction chamber as pressure in the suction chamber is lowered by pumping.

35. The breast pump of claim 33, wherein the valve comprises a duckbill valve with one rigid bill and one flexible bill.

36. The breast pump of claim 35, wherein the rigid bill is fixed in relation to suction bell.

37. The breast pump of claim 35, wherein the suction bell is openable at a hinged joint to expose the suction chamber for liner insertion.

38. The breast pump of claim 33, wherein the pump is manually operable.

39. The breast pump of claim 38, wherein the pump includes a manually operable pump lever secured to the suction bell for cyclical motion with respect thereto to generate a cyclical vacuum within the suction chamber.

40. The breast pump of claim 33, wherein the liner defines a pouch external to the suction chamber for containing pumped milk.

41. The breast pump of claim 40, wherein the liner includes a frangible section for separating the pouch from a remainder of the liner for milk storage.

42. The breast pump of claim 41, wherein the liner includes a pouch seal below the frangible section, for sealing milk within the pouch for milk storage.

43. The breast pump of claim 42, wherein the seal comprises mating rib and groove fastener sections.

44. The breast pump of claim 33, wherein the liner extends to a distal rim of the breast shield.

45. The breast pump of claim 33, wherein the liner comprises low-density polyethylene.

46. A method of pumping breast milk, comprising:

a) placing the breast shield of the breast pump of claim 39 against a human breast; and

b) cycling the pumping lever of the breast pump to express milk from the breast into the liner conduit.

47. A breast pumping device comprising

a suction belt defining an internal suction chamber;

a breast shield extending from the suction bell and defining a receptacle for receiving a human breast, the receptacle being in hydraulic communication with the suction chamber;

a hand-operable lever secured to the suction bell for cyclical motion with respect thereto to generate a cyclical vacuum within the suction chamber; and

a secondary vacuum cycling pump in hydraulic communication with the suction chamber through a length of flexible tubing; and

a valve repositionable between a first position restricting hydraulic communication between the secondary vacuum cycling pump and the suction chamber, and a second position enabling hydraulic communication between the secondary vacuum cycling pump and the suction chamber, for switching between a hand pumping mode and a secondary vacuum cycling pumping mode of the device.

48. The breast pump device of claim 47, wherein the secondary vacuum cycling pump is an electric pump.

49. The breast pump device of claim 47, wherein the secondary vacuum cycling pump is a foot-operated pump.

50. The breast pump device of claim 47, wherein the suction bell defines a first port for attaching to the flexible tubing, through which, when the valve is positioned at its second position and the flexible tubing is attached to the first port, the secondary vacuum cycling pump is in hydraulic communication with the suction chamber.

51. The breast pump device of claim 50 further comprising a fitting between the flexible tubing and the first port that mechanically and hydraulically connects the flexible tubing to the first port.

52. The breast pump device of claim 47, wherein the valve is repositionable between a first position, a second position, and a third position, and the suction bell defines a second port for attaching to the flexible tubing, through which, when the valve is positioned at the third position and the flexible tubing is attached to the second port, the secondary vacuum cycling pump will be in hydraulic communication with the suction chamber.

53. The breast pump device of claim 52, further comprising a fitting between the flexible tubing and the second port tat mechanically and hydraulically connects the flexible tubing to the second port.

54. The breast pump device of claim 52, wherein the first and second ports are oriented in opposite lateral directions and are located on opposites sides of the suction bell from the perspective of the breast shield.

55. The breast pump device of claim 47, wherein the valve has a body, a portion of which is disposed within the suction bell.

56. The breast pump device of claim 55, wherein the portion of the valve body disposed within the suction bell at least partially defines a conduit through which the secondary vacuum cycling pump and the suction chamber hydraulically communicate.

57. The breast pump device of claim 47, wherein the lever is secured to the suction bell for cyclical motion in which suction chamber pressure decreases in each cycle with a forward motion of the lever, and increases in each cycle with a return motion of the lever.

58. A method of pumping breast milk, comprising:

a) placing the breast shield of the breast pumping device of claim 47 against a human breast;

b) positioning the valve at its second position; and

c) operating the secondary vacuum cycling pump to express milk from the breast.

59. A manual breast pump, comprising:

a suction bell defining an internal suction chamber and a pumping chamber, the suction and pumping chambers being in hydraulic communication via an aperture through an internal suction bell wall, the aperture being positioned at an upper end of the suction chamber;

a breast shield extending from the suction bell and defining a receptacle for receiving a human breast, the receptacle being in hydraulic communication with the suction chamber via a port disposed below the aperture; and

a valve forming the lower extent of the suction chamber, adapted to inhibit air flow into the suction chamber, and to drain pumped milk from the suction chamber;

wherein the pumping chamber forms a manually cyclable volume, such that when the pumping chamber is expanded a vacuum is created in the suction chamber, and when the pumping chamber is subsequently collapsed the vacuum is reduced; and

wherein

the aperture provides hydraulic communication between the pumping and suction chambers only through a tortuous air flow conduit requiring multiple flow direction changes between the pumping and suction chambers.

60. A manual breast pump, comprising:

a suction bell defining an internal suction chamber;

a breast shield extending from the suction bell and defining a receptacle for receiving a human breast, the receptacle being in hydraulic communication with the suction chamber; and

a manually operable lever attached to a fulcrum repositionably secured to a collar rotatably secured to the suction bell for cyclical motion with respect thereto to generate a cyclical vacuum within the suction chamber;

wherein the lever is repositionable to multiple orientations with respect to the breast shield, and manually operable in each of the orientations to generate suction chamber vacuum, the suction bell and collar together defining a positioning detent adapted to secure the lever in at least one of the multiple orientations with respect to the breast shield.

61. The breast pump of claim 60, wherein the lever is operably connected to a flexible diaphragm in hydraulic communication with the suction chamber.

62. The breast pump of claim 60, wherein the lever is operably connected to a piston, the piston being slidably disposed within a cylinder, and the cylinder being in hydraulic communication with the suction chamber.

63. The breast pump of claim 60, wherein the pump further includes a valve attached to the suction bell and adapted to drain pumped milk from the suction chamber.

64. The breast pump of claim 60, wherein the suction bell has an outer surface that defines a recess, on a side of the suction bell opposite the pumping lever, that defines, together with the pumping lever, a manual grip cyclically squeezable to operate the pump.

65. The breast pump of claim 60, wherein two of the multiple orientations define an adjustment range angle of at least forty-five degrees.

66. The breast pump of claim 60, wherein multiple positioning detents are defined between the lever and the suction bell, each detent corresponding to one of the multiple orientations.

67. A manual breast pump, comprising:

a suction bell defining an internal suction chamber;

a breast shield extending from the suction bell and defining a receptacle for receiving a human breast, the receptacle being in hydraulic communication with the suction chamber; and

a manually operable lever attached to a fulcrum repositionably secured to a collar rotatably secured to the suction bell for cyclical motion with respect thereto to generate a cyclical vacuum within the suction chamber, wherein tabs extending from the collar are lodged within an annular channel defined by the suction bell for restricting movement of the collar to a dialing rotation with respect to the suction bell;

wherein the lever is repositionable to multiple orientations with respect to the breast shield, and manually operable in each of the orientations to generate suction chamber vacuum.

68. The breast pump of claim 67, wherein the suction bell defines cutouts in the channel for allowing lodging of the tabs within the channel.

69. The breast pump of claim 67, wherein the lever is operably connected to a flexible diaphragm in hydraulic communication with the suction chamber.

70. The breast pump of claim 67, wherein the lever is operably connected to a piston, the piston being slidably disposed within a cylinder, and the cylinder being in hydraulic communication with the suction chamber.

71. The breast pump of claim 67, wherein the pump further includes a valve attached to the suction bell and adapted to drain pumped milk from the suction chamber.

72. The breast pump of claim 67, wherein the suction bell has an outer surface that defines a recess, on a side of the suction bell opposite the pumping lever, that defines, together with the pumping lever, a manual grip cyclically squeezable to operate the pump.

73. The breast pump of claim 67, wherein two of the multiple orientations define an adjustment range angle of at least forty-five degrees.

74. The breast pump of claim 67, wherein multiple positioning detents are defined between the lever and the suction bell, each detent corresponding to one of the multiple orientations.

75. A manual breast pump, comprising:

a suction bell defining an internal suction chamber;

a breast shield extending from the suction bell and defining a receptacle for receiving a human breast, the receptacle being in hydraulic communication with the suction chamber;

a flexible diaphragm attached to a pumping bell removably attached to the suction bell, the diaphragm and pumping bell defining a pumping chamber in hydraulic communication with the suction chamber, the pumping and suction chambers being hydraulically connected by a tortuous conduit; and

a manually operable lever operably connected to the diaphragm for cyclical motion with respect to the suction bell to generate a cyclical vacuum within the suction chamber;

wherein the lever is repositionable to multiple orientations with respect to the breast shield, and manually operable in each of the orientations to generate suction chamber vacuum.

76. The breast pump of claim 75, wherein external surfaces of the pumping and suction bells, a perforation in the pumping bell, and a perforation in the suction bell define the tortuous conduit.

77. The breast pump of claim 75, wherein the pump further includes a valve attached to the suction bell and adapted to drain pumped milk from the suction chamber.

78. The breast pump of claim 75, wherein the suction bell has an outer surface that defines a recess, on a side of the suction bell opposite the pumping lever, that defines, together with the pumping lever, a manual grip cyclically squeezable to operate the pump.

79. The breast pump of claim 75, wherein two of the multiple orientations define an adjustment range angle of at least forty-five degrees.

80. The breast pump of claim 75, wherein multiple positioning detents are defined between the lever and the suction bell, each detent corresponding to one of the multiple orientations.

81. A manual breast pump, comprising:

a suction bell defining an internal suction chamber;

a breast shield extending from the suction bell and defining a receptacle for receiving a human breast, the receptacle being in hydraulic communication with the suction chamber;

a flexible diaphragm attached to a pumping bell removably attached to the suction bell, threads on the pumping bell cooperating with threads on the suction bell to secure the pumping bell to the suction bell, the diaphragm and pumping bell defining a pumping chamber in hydraulic communication with the suction chamber; and

a manually operable lever operably connected to the diaphragm for cyclical motion with respect to the suction bell to generate a cyclical vacuum within the suction chamber;

wherein the lever is repositionable to multiple orientations with respect to the breast shield, and manually operable in each of the orientations to generate suction chamber vacuum.

82. The breast pump of claim 81, wherein the threads on the pumping and suction bells comprise a quarter-turn fastener.

83. The breast pump of claim 81, wherein the pump further includes a valve attached to the suction bell and adapted to drain pumped milk from the suction chamber.

84. The breast pump of claim 81, wherein the suction bell has an outer surface that defines a recess, on a side of the suction bell opposite the pumping lever, that defines, together with the pumping lever, a manual grip cyclically squeezable to operate the pump.

85. The breast pump of claim 81, wherein two of the multiple orientations define an adjustment range angle of at least forty-five degrees.

86. The breast pump of claim 81, wherein multiple positioning detents are defined between the lever and the suction bell, each detent corresponding to one of the multiple orientations.

87. A manual breast pump, comprising:

a suction bell defining an internal suction chamber;

a breast shield extending from the suction bell and defining a receptacle for receiving a human breast, the receptacle being in hydraulic communication with the suction chamber; and

a manually operable lever secured to the suction bell for cyclical motion with respect thereto to generate a cyclical vacuum within the suction chamber, the lever being repositionable to multiple orientations with respect to the breast shield, and manually operable in each of the orientations to generate suction chamber vacuum;

wherein the suction bell has an outer surface that defines a neck in the suction bell, on a side of the suction bell opposite the pumping lever, that defines, together with the pumping lever, a manual grip cyclically squeezable to operate the pump, the lever being shaped to conform to the neck in the suction bell.

88. The breast pump of claim 87, wherein the lever is operably connected to a flexible diaphragm in hydraulic communication with the suction chamber.

89. The breast pump of claim 87, wherein the lever is operably connected to a piston, the piston being slidably disposed within a cylinder, and the cylinder being in hydraulic communication with the suction chamber.

90. The breast pump of claim 87, wherein the pump further includes a valve attached to the suction bell and adapted to drain pumped milk from the suction chamber.

91. The breast pump of claim 87, wherein the suction bell has an outer surface that defines a recess, on a side of the suction bell opposite the pumping lever, that defines, together with the pumping lever, a manual grip cyclically squeezable to operate the pump.

92. The breast pump of claim 87, wherein two of the multiple orientations define an adjustment range angle of at least forty-five degrees.

93. The breast pump of claim 87, wherein multiple positioning detents are defined between the lever and the suction bell, each detent corresponding to one of the multiple orientations.

94. A manual breast pump, comprising:

a suction bell defining an internal suction chamber;

a breast shield extending from the suction bell and defining a receptacle for receiving a human breast, the receptacle being in hydraulic communication with the suction chamber; and

a manually operable lever secured to the suction bell for cyclical motion with respect thereto to generate a cyclical vacuum within the suction chamber, the lever being repositionable to multiple orientations with respect to the breast shield, and manually operable in each of the orientations to generate suction chamber vacuum;

wherein the suction bell has an outer surface that defines a recess, on a side of the suction bell opposite the pumping lever, that defines, together with the pumping lever, a manual grip cyclically squeezable to operate the pump, the manual grip having a grip width changing less than one inch as the lever moves from a fully extended position to a fully retracted position.

95. The breast pump of claim 94, wherein the manual grip has a grip width changing less than three-quarters of an inch as the lever moves from a fully extended position to a fully retracted position.

96. The breast pump of claim 94, wherein the lever is operably connected to a flexible diaphragm in hydraulic communication with the suction chamber.

97. The breast pump of claim 94, wherein the lever is operably connected to a piston, the piston being slidably disposed within a cylinder, and the cylinder being in hydraulic communication with the suction chamber.

98. The breast pump of claim 94, wherein the pump further includes a valve attached to the suction bell and adapted to drain pumped milk from the suction chamber.

99. The breast pump of claim 94, wherein the suction bell has an outer surface that defines a recess, on a side of the suction bell opposite the pumping lever, that defines, together with the pumping lever, a manual grip cyclically squeezable to operate the pump.

100. The breast pump of claim 94, wherein two of the multiple orientations define an adjustment range angle of at least forty-five degrees.

101. The breast pump of claim 94, wherein multiple positioning detents are defined between the lever and the suction bell, each detent corresponding to one of the multiple orientations.

102. A manual breast pump, comprising:

a suction bell defining an internal suction chamber;

a breast shield extending from the suction bell and defining a receptacle for receiving a human breast, the receptacle being in hydraulic communication with the suction chamber; and

a manually operable lever secured to the suction bell for cyclical motion with respect thereto to generate a cyclical vacuum within the suction chamber, the lever being repositionable to multiple orientations with respect to the breast shield, and manually operable in each of the orientations to generate suction chamber vacuum;

wherein multiple positioning detents are defined between the lever and the suction bell, each detent corresponding to one of the multiple orientations.

103. The breast pump of claim 102, wherein the lever is operably connected to a flexible diaphragm in hydraulic communication with the suction chamber.

104. The breast pump of claim 102, wherein the lever is operably connected to a piston, the piston being slidably disposed within a cylinder, and the cylinder being in hydraulic communication with the suction chamber.

105. The breast pump of claim 102, wherein the pump further includes a valve attached to the suction bell and adapted to drain pumped milk from the suction chamber.

106. The breast pump of claim 102, wherein the suction bell has an outer surface that defines a recess, on a side of the suction bell opposite the pumping lever, that defines, together with the pumping lever, a manual grip cyclically squeezable to operate the pump.

107. The breast pump of claim 102, wherein two of the multiple orientations define an adjustment range angle of at least forty-five degrees.

108. The breast pump of claim 102, wherein multiple positioning detains are defined between the lever and the suction bell, each detent corresponding to one of the multiple orientations.

109. A manual breast pump, comprising:

a suction bell defining an internal suction chamber;

a breast shield extending from the suction bell and defining a receptacle for receiving a human breast, the receptacle being in hydraulic communication with the suction chamber; and

a manually operable lever attached to a fulcrum repositionably secured to the suction bell, the lever being configured for cyclical motion with respect to the suction bell to generate a cyclical vacuum within the suction chamber;

wherein the lever is repositionable to multiple orientations with respect to the breast shield, and cyclically operable in each of the orientations to generate suction chamber vacuum.

110. The breast pump of claim 109, wherein the fulcrum is secured to a collar rotatably secured to the suction bell.

111. The breast pump of claim 110, wherein the suction bell and collar together define a positioning detent adapted to secure the lever in at least one of the multiple orientations with respect to the breast shield.

112. The breast pump of claim 110, wherein tabs extending from the collar are lodged within an annular channel defined by the suction bell for restricting movement of the collar to a dialing rotation with respect to the suction bell.

113. The breast pump of claim 112, wherein the suction bell defines cutouts in the channel for allowing lodging of the tabs within the channel.

114. A manual breast pump, comprising:

a suction bell defining an internal suction chamber;

a breast shield extending from the suction bell and defining a receptacle for receiving a human breast, the receptacle being in hydraulic communication with the suction chamber; and

a manually operable lever secured to the suction bell for cyclical motion with respect thereto to generate a cyclical vacuum within the suction chamber, the lever being operably connected to a flexible diaphragm in hydraulic communication with the suction chamber;

wherein the lever is repositionable to multiple orientations with respect to the breast shield, and cyclically operable in each of the orientations to generate suction chamber vacuum.

115. The breast pump of claim 114, wherein the diaphragm is removable from the suction bell.

116. A manual breast pump, comprising:

a suction bell defining an internal suction chamber;

a breast shield extending from the suction bell and defining a receptacle for receiving a human breast, the receptacle being in hydraulic communication with the suction chamber; and

a manually operable lever secured to the suction bell for cyclical motion with respect thereto to generate a cyclical vacuum within the suction chamber, wherein suction chamber pressure decreases in each cycle with a forward motion of the lever, and increases in each cycle with a return motion of the lever;

wherein the lever is repositionable to multiple orientations with respect to the breast shield, and cyclically operable in each of the orientations to generate suction chamber vacuum.

117. A manual breast pump, comprising:

a suction bell defining an internal suction chamber;

a breast shield extending from the suction bell and defining a receptacle for receiving a human breast, the receptacle being in hydraulic communication with the suction chamber;

a manually operable lever secured to the suction bell for cyclical motion with respect thereto to generate a cyclical vacuum within the suction chamber; and

a valve attached to the suction bell and adapted to drain pumped milk from the suction chamber;

wherein the lever is repositionable to multiple orientations with respect to the breast shield, and cyclically operable in each of the orientations to generate suction chamber vacuum.

118. The breast pump of claim 117, wherein the pump further includes a milk receptacle removably secured to the suction bell beneath the valve.

119. A manual breast pump, comprising:

a suction bell defining an internal suction chamber;

a breast shield extending from the suction bell and defining a receptacle for receiving a human breast, the receptacle being in hydraulic communication with the suction chamber; and

a manually operable lever secured to the suction bell for cyclical motion with respect thereto to generate a cyclical vacuum within the suction chamber, the suction bell having an outer surface that defines a recess, on a side of the suction bell opposite the pumping lever, that defines, together with the pumping lever, a manual grip cyclically squeezable to operate the pump;

wherein the lever is repositionable to multiple orientations with respect to the breast shield, and cyclically operable in each of the orientations to generate suction chamber vacuum.

120. The breast pump of claim 119, wherein the recess comprises a neck in the suction bell.

121. The breast pump of claim 120, wherein the lever is shaped to conform to the neck in the suction bell.

122. The breast pump of claim 119 wherein the manual grip has a grip width changing less than one inch as the lever moves from a fully extended position to a fully retracted position.

123. The breast pump of claim 122, wherein the manual grip has a grip width changing less than three-quarters of an inch as the lever moves from a fully extended position to a fully refracted position.

124. A manual breast pump, comprising:

a suction bell defining an internal suction chamber;

a breast shield extending from the suction bell and defining a receptacle for receiving a human breast, the receptacle being in hydraulic communication with the suction chamber; and

a manually operable lever secured to the suction bell for cyclical motion with respect thereto to generate a cyclical vacuum within the suction chamber;

wherein the lever is repositionable to multiple orientations with respect to the breast shield, and cyclically operable in each of the orientations to generate suction chamber vacuum, and wherein multiple positioning detents are defined between the lever and the suction bell, each detent corresponding to one of the multiple orientations.