The present disclosure provides a milk distribution system, components thereof, and methods of use thereof.

A breastshield unit for use with a breastpump for expressing human breastmilk has a breastshield for receiving a mother's breast and a media separation device for transferring a vacuum into the interior of the breastshield. The breastshield has a receiving area for receiving a nipple of the mother's breast. The media separation device has a media separation membrane which, for the purpose of transferring the vacuum, is movable to and fro between two positions. The media separation membrane is located in the receiving area at least in one of the two positions. Despite the integrated media separation, the breastshield unit can be made extremely compact and minimizes the dead volume.

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 assembly.

Systems for expressing milk from a human breast are provided herein. Such systems can include a compression device having multiple fingers configured to at least partially surround a breast and apply pressure to a major portion of a breast without applying pressure to a remainder portion, thereby activating milk ducts within the breast. The fingers can be configured to apply pressure to an inferior portion and one or more lateral portions of the breast, without applying direct pressure to a superior portion. The fingers can be configured to apply pressure to a superior portion and one or more lateral portions of the breast, without applying direct pressure to an inferior portion. The fingers of the compression device can be configured to apply pressure to a superior portion, an inferior portion, and a first lateral portion of the breast, without applying direct pressure to a second lateral portion of the breast.

The present invention relates to a breast shield arrangement (1) for a breast pump (2) comprising: a breast shield (3) for receiving a user's breast therein, and a sensor (4) for transmitting an input signal into the breast and receiving a corresponding reception signal in response, said reception signal indicating changes in milk flow in the breast.

The present invention relates to a pump arrangement (1) for a double breast pump (2). The pump arrangement (1) comprises first and second terminals (23, 24) for connecting first and second expression kits (3, 4) having first and second breast shields (5, 6) and at least one container (7) for collecting breast milk (8) in fluidic connection with the expression kits (3, 4), a pump (9) for generating reduced pressure within said breast shields, a plurality of conduits (10, 11, 14, 15, 16), a suction valve (12) connected to the pump (9) by a connection conduit (14) and to the first and second terminals (23, 24) by respective air conduits (10, 11), and a venting valve (13) connected to the first and second terminals (23, 24) by venting conduits (15, 16), wherein the venting valve (13) comprises an opening (17) to the environment. The pump (9) is alternatingly connected to the first and second terminals (23, 24) by alternate opening and closing of the suction valve (12) and the venting valve (13).

A diaphragm for a breast pump has a cavity with an open end for receiving a nipple of a user and a closed end. The cavity has a ridge which extends from a base of the cavity towards the center of the cavity. This ridge simulates the tongue of a baby. It may for example be designed to move when vacuum pressure is applied and released to form a peristaltic sucking motion

A device for expressing human breast milk has a breast shield for bearing against a mother's breast, a vacuum pump for generating a vacuum, a line which connects the vacuum pump to the breast shield and is intended for transmitting the vacuum generated to the breast shield, and a chamber. The line ends on the pump side in a first port of the chamber. The chamber has a second port for connection to a milk collecting container. The two ports in the chamber are connected to each other in terms of fluid communication. During the expressing operation, the line forms a milk line for transporting breast milk expressed in the breast shield to the chamber and from the chamber to the milk collecting container. The pump can be designed to be quiet and small.

A breast milk expression apparatus for manipulating a breast of a user includes an outer shell, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced inner pads coupled to the outer shell. The pads are configured to engage the breast of the user and configured for radial displacement. The breast milk expression apparatus further includes a compression unit coupled to the plurality of pads. The compression unit is configured to cyclically displace the pads radially inwardly against the breast to cause compression of the breast and, following compression of the breast, to permit displacement of the pads radially outwardly from the breast as the breast decompresses.

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.