A breast pump device (1) comprises an expression kit (2) and a vacuum unit (3) configured to realize a pressure cycle in the expression kit (2). For the purpose of determining one or more milk expression characteristics such as total volume of expressed milk, the device (1) is equipped with an acoustic milk expression assessment system (6) including an acoustic sensor (61) and a processor (62) configured to process an acoustic signal received from the sensor (61) during operation of the device (1) when a receptacle (4) is used with the device (1) for receiving expressed milk. By recording sound during a pumping session, it is possible to determine a value of a time duration of a free fall of droplets of expressed milk from the expression kit (2) to the receptacle (4), which can be taken as a measure of a number of interesting milk expression characteristics.

Systems and methods for pumping milk from a breast, wherein the milk is expressed from the breast under suction and milk is expulsed from the pumping mechanism to a collection container under positive pressure. In one approach, the breast pump assembly includes a breast adapter and a receptacle configured to cup the breast adapter, and the breast adapter is removable from the receptacle.

Embodiments of a breast pump kit are disclosed herein. The breast pump kit can include one or more of a breast pump shield and a breast pump milk bag. According to various embodiments, the breast pump shield can include a body portion that has a breast engagement portion that can receive at least a portion of a breast of a user. The breast pump shield also can include a suction chamber located in proximity to the breast engagement portion. Milk can pass into the suction chamber and into the breast pump milk bag. A one-way valve can prevent reverse flow of fluids from the breast pump milk bag into the breast pump shield. The breast pump kit also can include a cover that can seal the breast pump shield, if desired.

A breast shield for a breast pump for pumping human breast milk, comprising a rigid base part having a tubular connecting piece and a funnel that is integrally formed therewith and that expands away from the connecting piece for accommodating a mother's breast. The breast shield includes a flexible collar, which is arranged on the funnel at the end of the funnel facing away from the connection piece, and which is designed to be placed on the mother's breast. The end of the funnel forms a first contact surface, and an end of the collar facing the funnel forms a second contact surface (22), which in a circumferential connecting seam adjoin each other in a blunt way. The funnel has a first wall thickness and the collar has a second wall thickness, wherein said second wall thickness is approximately equal to the first wall thickness. The breast shield can be produced simply and inexpensively, nevertheless allowing a high degree of wearing comfort and a tight fit on the mother's breast.

A pump apparatus and method for extracting breast milk is disclosed. The pump includes a first interface component to stimulate a Milk Ejection Reflex (MER) and a second interface component to extract breast milk. Milk is extracted through an improved method that more closely replicates the suckling of an infant.

Disclosed herein are improved devices, systems, and methods for the expression and collection of breast milk, such as human breast milk. A breast shield assembly for expression of breast milk may comprise a breast interface and an actuatable assembly interface fluidly coupled with a tube, wherein the breast interface is configured to engage the breast and the actuatable assembly interface is configured to removably couple to an actuatable assembly. The breast shield assembly may comprise an enclosed fluid reservoir extending between the breast interface and the actuatable assembly interface, the fluid reservoir physically separated from the expressed breast milk and filled with a driving fluid comprising a liquid. The breast shield assembly may further comprise a fill port configured to allow addition or removal of the driving fluid to or from the fluid reservoir.

A breast shield including a housing defining a nipple tunnel and adapted to receive a nipple, wherein the housing is provided with a milk port in communication with the nipple tunnel and a vacuum port in communication with the nipple tunnel. For allowing a tender accommodation of the human breast during the expression of milk the invention proposes an insert arranged within the housing and between the nipple tunnel and the milk port and/or the vacuum port. The breast shield unit for expressing human breast milk includes a unit housing with a receptacle adapted to detachably receive a breast shield, wherein the receptacle includes a vacuum interface for generating a negative pressure in the nipple tunnel and a milk interface leading to a milk container adapted to store the expressed human breast milk and wherein in an inserted stage, in which the breast shield is received within the receptacle, the vacuum port is in communication with the vacuum interface and the milk port is in communication with the milk interface

The present invention relates to an expression kit (1) for extraction of breast milk from a female breast, comprising a funnel (2) for receiving the breast therein, a housing (4), a container (5) for receiving the breast milk, a connection port (7) for connection to a vacuum source, and a membrane element (6) arranged in the housing (4) between the funnel (2) and the container (5) for sealing the funnel (2) with respect to the connection port (7), the funnel (2) with respect to the housing (4) and the housing (4) with respect to the container (5).

A wearable machine system includes a garment and a passive actuator mounted to the garment. The passive actuator is actuatable in response to involuntary movements of a wearer of the garment. A machine is coupled with the passive actuator such that actuation of the passive actuator responsive to the involuntary movements mechanically drives the machine.

A pump device (1) as may be used in a breast pump assembly comprises a pump (10) configured to put fluid in motion, a housing (40) accommodating the pump (10), at least one fluid transporting conduit (21, 22) connected to the pump (10), the at least one conduit (21, 22) extending between the pump (10) and the housing (40), thereby connecting the pump (10) to a position at the housing (40) where the housing (40) is provided with at least one opening (41) for allowing fluid to pass, and a mounting arrangement (30) for mounting the pump (10) in the housing (40). The at least one conduit (21, 22) is part of the mounting arrangement (30) and has flexible properties so as to reduce an extent to which vibrations of the pump (10) are transferred to the housing (40) through the mounting arrangement (30) during operation of the device (1).