Self returning contamination barrier

• US 9,814,809 B2
• Filed: 10/07/2011
• Issued: 11/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medela Holding AG (Olle Larsson Holding AG)
• Original Assignee: Medela Holding AG (Olle Larsson Holding AG)
• Inventors: Luzbetak, Mark A., Sutrina, Thomas A., Pfenniger, Erich, Bosshard, Patrik
• Primary Examiner(s): MEDWAY, SCOTT J
• Application Number:
  US13/269,381
• Publication Number:
  US 20120071820A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,230 Days
• Field of Search: 604 74, 604 75, 604537, 604310, 604323
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/06 Milking pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/062 Pump accessories
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/064 Suction cups
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/78 Means for preventing overflow or contamination of the pumping systems combined with drainage containers A61M1/60

Abstract

A barrier of a vacuum pump prevents contamination from entering a vacuum pump air line. The barrier separates parts of the pump and is moveable between an initial state and a distended state. The barrier is assembled within the pump with a pre-load. When the vacuum source is applied to the barrier, the barrier achieves a distended state and when the vacuum source is released, the barrier incrementally self returns to an initial state. The geometry and material construction of the barrier, along with the pre-load, assists in returning the barrier on its own to the initial state from the distended state.

Claims

1. A breastpump assembly which isolates parts of a pump in a vacuum line from contamination, comprising:

a breastshield;

a vacuum source in communication with said breastshield via said vacuum line;

a housing having a breastshield side and a vacuum side, said housing being in communication with said vacuum line; and

a barrier made of a material providing a spring-like function being assembled in said housing in a manner to separate and thereby isolate said housing sides from one another and in an initial state with a pre-loaded condition providing a residual force for said barrier, wherein said barrier comprises a geometry that maintains a low spring rate and wherein said barrier has a bias toward said breastshield side;

wherein said barrier achieves a distended state in response to an applied vacuum from said vacuum source and returns from said distended state back to said initial state upon release of said applied vacuum;

wherein said barrier has at least one undulation formed generally radially spaced from and concentric about a center of said barrier, a breastshield side internal sidewall of said housing having a surface shape that generally matches the shape of a first surface of said barrier such that said barrier in said pre-loaded condition substantially mates with said breastshield side internal sidewall in facial engagement, and a vacuum side internal sidewall of said housing having a surface shape that generally matches the shape of a second surface of said barrier such that said barrier in said distended state substantially mates with said vacuum side internal sidewall in facial engagement, wherein said barrier has become inverted through movement from said initial state to said distended state.

2. The breastpump assembly of claim 1 wherein said barrier is made of a resilient material which in combination with said barrier shape causes said barrier to return from said distended state to said initial state on its own upon the release of said vacuum.

3. The breastpump assembly of claim 1 wherein the mechanical transfer of vacuum from said vacuum side to said breastshield side follows a generally one to one relationship after an initial level of vacuum is realized on said vacuum side to overcome said pre-loaded condition.

4. The breastpump assembly of claim 3 wherein said initial level of vacuum to transfer said barrier from said pre-loaded condition to said distended position is about 4 mmHg.

5. The breastpump assembly of claim 1, further comprising a milk conduit structure which conveys milk from said breastshield to a container via a catch chamber and a one-way valve between said catch chamber and said container, wherein said barrier upon returning to said initial state with a predetermined minimum amount of milk in said catch chamber generates an increased pressure in said catch chamber relative to said container so as to open said one-way valve and release milk to travel into said container.

6. The breastpump assembly of claim 1 wherein said barrier has a formed shape of convexity in an unassembled condition, and when mounted within said housing said barrier cannot reach said formed shape of convexity in said initial state, such that said barrier is pressed against said breastshield side internal sidewall in said initial state.