A device for expression and collection of breast milk includes an actuatable assembly and a breast interface. The breast interface is sized to receive a breast and form a fluid tight seal against the breast. The breast interface includes an expandable membrane disposed within at least a portion of the breast interface. The expandable membrane reversibly deforms in response to actuation of the actuatable assembly, thereby applying vacuum pressure at the breast to express milk. The expandable membrane comprises a plurality of expandable pleats which extend radially outward from a central longitudinal axis of the breast interface.

The production of a protein free synthetic polyisoprene which has both low levels of chemical impurities and good physical properties has yet to be realized. It has now been envisioned that the use of neodymium catalyzed polyisoprene will offer the combined advantages of both a clean, as well as, high cis-1,4 polymer. Synthesis of polyisoprene rubber using a neodymium based catalyst system is described. Characterization of the material shows the absence of an ultra high molecular weight fraction and the presence of very high cis-1,4-microstructure. Gum stock and black filled compound studies comparing neodymium polyisoprene with natural rubber, titanium polyisoprene, and lithium polyisoprene have been performed. Results indicate that polyisoprene rubber synthesized using a neodymium catalyst system (NdPI) has similar stress-strain and tear properties as synthetic titanium polyisoprene. Analysis of residual volatile, extractable, and oligomer levels indicates NdPI is indeed a clean source of high cis synthetic polyisoprene.

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.

A lactation system is disclosed. Embodiments include at least one extraction mechanism including a compression mechanism and a collection mechanism, and a controller. The compression mechanism can include a plurality of manipulable members, each operably coupled to an actuator and arrangeable circumferentially about a breast of a user such that each member can be actuated to selectively apply pressure to a region of the breast. The collection mechanism can be removably coupleable to the compression mechanism and can comprise a storage compartment to receive and store milk The controller can be operably coupleable to the actuators to cause the members to move according to a movement pattern which can be configured to stimulate the breast to induce the flow of milk from the breast and modulated based on sensor feedback. A wearable garment with an inner structure can be removably coupled to the extraction mechanism. An outer cover can be arrangeable to conceal the extraction mechanism.

A method for facilitating milk extraction from a female breast may involve applying a breast contacting portion of a breast pump system to a breast, activating the breast pump system to administer multiple breast pumping cycles, and applying vibrations to the breast during at least a portion of each of the breast pumping cycles, using a vibration device. A vibration generating device may be a component of a breast pump system, an added attachment on a breast pump system or a separate component that works in conjunction with a breast pump system.

A hydraulic pumping system in accordance with embodiments comprises a breast interface operably coupled to an actuatable assembly by means of an actuatable assembly interface. The breast interface comprises a distal membrane coupled to a housing to form a fluid reservoir therebetween. The actuatable assembly interface comprises a proximal membrane. The distal and proximal membranes are fluidly coupled via a tube carrying a driving fluid. The actuatable assembly interface is configured to removably couple to the actuatable assembly, in order to operably couple the actuatable assembly to the breast interface. The actuatable assembly interface comprises a fluid shut off mechanism to reversibly shut off fluid communication between the breast interface and the actuatable assembly interface when the actuatable assembly interface is decoupled from the actuatable assembly.

An expression kit (2) for use in a breast pump device (1) for extracting breast milk from a human breast comprises a breast pump body (20) having a first pressure chamber (21), a second pressure chamber (22), and a membrane portion (5) separating the first and the second pressure chamber (21, 22) from each other. The membrane portion (5) is configured to form a barrier between the first and the second pressure chamber (21, 22) for preventing leakage of human breast milk from the second pressure chamber (22) to the first pressure chamber (21), yet to allow for air exchange between the first and the second pressure chamber (21, 22), wherein the membrane portion (5) is hydrophobic and has the shape of a solid sheet being provided with holes (50) which are configured for rendering the sheet permeable to air and impermeable to liquid.

A breast pump has abreast shield for fitting over at least the nipple of a breast thereby to create a cavity over the breast. A stimulation unit is used to apply a physical stimulus to the nipple and/or to a portion of the breast for stimulating the milk ejection reflex. A negative pressure source is used to apply a static negative pressure to the cavity for holding the breast shield on the breast during milk expression, and promoting expression, while milk is collected in a milk collection container. This provides a low cost and low noise breast pump.

Examples disclosed herein are relevant to breast pumps. Disclosed examples include breast pumps that automatically adjust various pumping parameters based on data obtained from one or more sensors. The one or more sensors can produce data regarding an amount of milk expressed by a user. The adjusting of the pumping parameters can be configured to, for example, help the user efficiently express milk by utilizing a closed-feedback system that monitors the flow rate of the expressed milk.

A method for facilitating milk extraction from a female breast may involve applying a breast contacting portion of a breast pump system to a breast, activating the breast pump system to administer multiple breast pumping cycles, and applying vibrations to the breast during at least a portion of each of the breast pumping cycles, using a vibration device. A vibration generating device may be a component of a breast pump system, an added attachment on a breast pump system or a separate component that works in conjunction with a breast pump system.