One time use breastpump assembly

• US 8,529,501 B2
• Filed: 06/04/2010
• Issued: 09/10/2013
• 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: Wach, Joseph, Avanzino, Paul, Bauer, Ryan
• Primary Examiner(s): Mendez, Manuel A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MEDWAY, SCOTT J
• Application Number:
  US12/794,317
• Publication Number:
  US 20110301532A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,194 Days
• Field of Search: 604/73, 604/74, 604/75, 604/119, 604/131, 604/76
• 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 to provide a vacuum function to the breast pump assembly; and

a valve mechanism connected to the second end of the breast shield and located remote from the vacuum source, wherein the valve mechanism opens to allow ambient air ingress into the conduit structure, thereby disabling the vacuum function after the disposable breast pump assembly has been used and rendering the breast pump assembly substantially or completely non-functional.

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 including an interior passageway for 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 at least partially within said interior passageway of the conduit structure;

wherein said conduit structure is closed to air ingress from ambient air when a negative pressure from a vacuum source is 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 detached from said conduit structure, thereby allowing ambient air ingress into the conduit structure when said container is reattached to said conduit structure, so as to substantially disable the breastpump from generating a sufficient negative pressure to convey milk or air within said conduit structure.

3. The breastpump of claim 2, wherein said valve mechanism is a flexible member interposed and compressed between 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 a second position when said container is detached and opening said orifice, said flexible member further remaining in said second position 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 detached, 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 including a pathway for 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 the 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 detached 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 from generating a sufficient vacuum to convey milk or air within said conduit structure.

7. A one-time use breastpump comprising:

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

a container for expressed milk attached to the breastpump assembly; and

a valve mechanism closing said breastpump assembly from ambient air when initially provided to a user, said valve mechanism being opened to allow ambient air to pass into said breastpump assembly through detachment of said container, so as to substantially disable the breastpump and render the breastpump substantially or completely non-functional;

wherein said valve mechanism is a flexible member interposed and compressed between said container and a part of said conduit structure when in a first position and thereby closing an orifice to said conduit structure for air ingress, said flexible member moving to a second position when said container is detached and opening said orifice, said flexible member further remaining in said second position when said container is reattached.

8. A one-time use breastpump comprising:

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

a container for expressed milk attached to the breastpump assembly; and

a closure in an opening to said breastpump assembly, said closure preventing ingress of ambient air when the breastpump assembly 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 detachment of said part from said breastpump assembly, so as to substantially disable the breastpump and render the breastpump assembly substantially or completely non-functional;

wherein said closure is a flexible member interposed and compressed between said container and a part of said conduit structure when in a first position and thereby closing an orifice to said conduit structure for air ingress, said flexible member moving to a second position when said container is detached and opening said orifice, said flexible member further remaining in said second position when said container is reattached.

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 including an interior passageway for 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 at least partially within said interior passageway of the conduit structure;

wherein said conduit structure is closed to air ingress from ambient air when a negative pressure is applied from a vacuum source within said conduit structure in a first position where said valve mechanism is closed, wherein the vacuum source provides a vacuum function to the breastpump; and

wherein said valve mechanism is opened when a structure in direct communication with the valve mechanism is detached from the breastpump, thereby allowing ambient air ingress into the conduit structure when said structure is reattached to the breastpump, so as to substantially disable the breastpump so that the vacuum function cannot be re-enabled.

10. A one-time use breastpump comprising:

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

a container for expressed milk attached to the breastpump assembly; and

a valve mechanism closing said breastpump assembly from ambient air when initially provided to a user, said valve mechanism being opened to allow ambient air to pass into said breastpump assembly through detachment of a portion of the breastpump assembly, so as to substantially disable the breastpump and render the breastpump substantially or completely non-functional;

wherein said valve mechanism is a flexible member interposed and compressed between said container and a part of said conduit structure when in a first position and thereby closing an orifice to said conduit structure for air ingress, said flexible member moving to a second position when said container is detached and opening said orifice, said flexible member further remaining in said second position when said container is reattached.

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 including an interior passageway for 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 at least partially within said interior passageway of the conduit structure;

wherein said conduit structure is closed to air ingress from ambient air when a negative pressure from a vacuum source is applied within said conduit structure in a first position where said valve mechanism is closed, wherein the vacuum source provides a vacuum function to the breastpump; and

wherein said valve mechanism is opened when a part of the breastpump is detached from the breastpump, thereby allowing ambient air ingress into the conduit structure, so as to substantially disable the breastpump so that the vacuum function cannot be re-enabled.