Systems and methods for assessing milk volume changes within a breast are described. Also described are systems and methods for assessing volume changes in the stomach of an infant.

A breastpump for expressing human breastmilk comprises a housing, a pump chamber with a driven pump membrane for producing a vacuum, and a breast shield with an interior for receiving a mother's breast. Expressed milk flows from the interior into the pump chamber through a milk channel, said pump chamber having an outlet opening through which expressed milk flows from the pump chamber into a milk collection container. The breastpump comprises a multipart hygiene module comprising a first part with a flow opening for connecting to the interior, a valve body with at least one valve and a second part with a rigid cup for forming the pump chamber. The valve body is arranged between the first and second part and the hygiene module as a whole is connectable to the housing of the breastpump in a sealing and detachable manner.

An improved breast pump flange assembly, flexible membrane and method of use are disclosed. In some embodiments, the breast pump flange assembly includes a flanged housing having an interior chamber extending therethrough. The flanged housing including an upper receiving portion having a first diameter, a substantially tubular middle portion having a second diameter, and a substantially tubular lower connecting portion having a third diameter. In some embodiments, the breast pump flange assembly further includes a flexible membrane having an opening extending therethrough. The flexible membrane having one or more support pad positioned at least partially around the opening of the tubular middle portion of the flanged housing. The support pad configured to simulate the sensation of a baby's mouth on a breast, causing the breast to be massaged by intermittent suction action produced by a breast pump.

A system for hands-free nursing and breast pumping includes a breast compression device with a plurality of thermoformed fluid bladders designed to fit adjustably against each breast and inflate and deflate with minimal power requirements. The compression device and its controller fit inside of a nursing garment designed to receive the device and controller for optimal compression. The nursing garment and the compression device have openings over the nipples so that a breast pump flange can be inserted through them and used in a typical manner for the extraction of breast milk, thus increasing the amount of milk expressed.

Systems and methods for pumping milk from a breast responsive to a controller, 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.

An electric breast pump 1 includes a breast placement part 12 at which a breast part including a breast and a nipple of a subject is placed and suction-pressure generating units 10 and 50 that generate a suction pressure in the breast placement part. The suction-pressure generating unit generates a suction cycle including a plurality of different suction pressures. The suction cycle includes basic suction, increased suction with an increased suction pressure, and reduced suction with a reduced suction pressure. A suction pressure difference between a suction pressure increasing in the increased suction and a suction pressure reducing in the reduced suction is an equal pressure and is a pressure difference at a borderline at which a user perceives a change of a suction pressure. In the suction cycle, the basic suction, the increased suction, and the reduced suction are each repeated multiple times consecutively at an equal suction pressure.

A method for operating a breastpump unit for expression of human breastmilk and various breast shields for use in this method allow a maximum pumping performance and a minimum pumping duration per pumping session. The breast shield has an inner chamber for receiving a nipple of the breast and also at least one outer chamber which at least partially surrounds the nipple. The inner chamber is subjected to a constant pressure and the at least one outer chamber is subjected to a pulsating pressure.

The present invention A massaging apparatus for human breast, said apparatus comprised of: an electrical pump, a bra having: at least two inflatable tubes having two opening at their edges integrated at each side of the bra encircling one breast organ, wherein each inflatable tube is connected by T shape connector, wherein through pipe to the electronic pump and control module for controlling the inflation of the tubes; wherein the tube are inflated simultaneous at both edges creating dual simultaneous pressure at different size of the breast organ.

A breast pump system having a suction tubing, a milk tubing, a pump, a three way vent valve, a milk bottle, an isolation valve and a breast shield, wherein the first end of the suction tubing and the first end of the milk tubing are fluidly connected to the pump; wherein the second end of the suction tubing and the second end of the milk tubing are fluidly connected to the breast shield; wherein the three way vent valve is fluidly connected between the pump and the breast shield on the suction tubing; wherein the milk bottle is fluidly connected on the milk tubing between the breast shield and the pump; and wherein the isolation valve is connected on the milk tubing between the milk bottle and the pump.

A breastshield unit for use in a device for expressing human breastmilk employing underpressure with a breastshield body and a media separation device which separates expressed milk from an underpressure source arranged in the breastshield body, the media separation device having a through-channel which connects first and second openings of the breastshield body. The through-channel has a through-opening, which is enlargeable when subjected to an underpressure from outside. The through-opening is formed by walls which, when subjected to an underpressure from outside, are movable away from each other, largely without stretching, in order to enlarge the through-opening. The breastshield unit permits media separation with minimal dead volume, and with optimized comfort for the mother.