A mechanical fluid pressure modification valve, or “MFLP-valve”, is set forth. The MFLP-valve can be actuated upon movement of a movable pressure system member of a medical pressure system reaching a selected position. Additionally, the MFLP-valve can be actuated based on a pressure condition of the system. When the MFLP-valve unseals, a pressure differential between a pressure chamber and a volume outside of the chamber can be relieved. Disengagement of the movable pressure system member from the MFLP-valve can enable the MFLP-valve to re-seal. The MFLP-valve may include a flag that indicates the position of the movable pressure system member. The MFLP-valve may be provided in a diaphragm-type pressure source.

A breast pump for collecting breast milk having a funnel intended to receive the breast, a housing and a device for producing a negative pressure. The funnel consists of a flexible material and extends into the housing. The device for producing a negative pressure has at least one body that is movable over a portion of the length of the funnel while compressing the funnel.

There is a breastfeeding device having a microprocessor having a memory embedded therein that can be pre-programmed to have a plurality of different sucking cycles interspersed with periodic pauses. These different cycles and pauses allow for an accurate modeling of a woman breastfeeding a child. In addition, this system and process can also result in a pre-programmable breastfeeding pump, which creates a preset time for initialization and a preset schedule of a series of events for breastfeeding over a period of time such as over a 24 hour or 30 hour period of time so that the user can automatically use the breast pump without having to use any of the keys on the keyboard of the device. In at least one embodiment, the device including any software which can be programmed thereon, is configured to mimic or model itself towards a suction pattern of a child.

A breast pump according to the present invention includes a variable pressure generating unit, the variable pressure generating unit including a power driving unit including a stepping motor that is capable of rotating both normally and in reverse, and a negative pressure forming unit that creates a negative pressure state periodically by causing an elastic body to deform in accordance with a cycle period formed by the power driving unit, wherein the negative pressure forming unit is coupled to the expressing unit, and the stepping motor is capable of modifying an amplitude of the cycle period and the cycle period during negative pressure formation as desired. Hence, a suction pressure and a pressure increase/decrease cycle can both be set as desired, and moreover, a breast pump that uses electric power can be constructed compactly.

Systems and methods with variable and customized functionality for pumping milk from a breast and calculating or determining volumes pumped, 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 a pump arrangement (6) for use with a double breast pump device, a first air conduit (65) and a second air conduit (66) have a function in connecting respective expression kits (2, 3) to the pump arrangement (6). Each of the air conduits (65, 66) N is connectable to and disconnectable from a suction side and a discharge side, respectively, of a pump (61) that is included in the pump arrangement (6). Further, the air conduits (65, 66) are connectable to and disconnectable from each other directly through an intermediate switching mechanism (70) arranged between the air conduits (65, 66) at a bypass position with respect to the pump (61), so that it is possible to directly transfer vacuum between the air conduits (65, 66) and to thereby support the functioning of the pump (61) which may be relatively small for that reason.

A system and method for increasing the efficiency of a breast pump device is disclosed. The system includes a breast pump device with a vacuum pump to provide suction force to a flange attached to the breast of a user. The device includes a controller that controls the pump with different modes of pumping operation including a prime mode and a pump mode. The pump device may include a pressure sensor that provides data to a transceiver sending data to an external device. The flange unit may include a substantially circular rim with a layer configured to contact the skin of a user to convey the suction force. The system may include milk containers that include a machine scannable external identification tag.

The invention is a wearable breast pump system including a housing shaped at least in part to fit inside a bra and a piezo air-pump. The piezo air-pump is fitted in the housing and forms part of a closed loop system that drives a separate, deformable diaphragm to generate negative air pressure. The diaphragm is removably mounted on a breast shield.

An apparatus for biomimetic expression of breast milk can comprise a breast interface having an expandable membrane configured to mimic the geometry of an infant's mouth. Various regions of the expandable membrane may be configured to simulate the structure and/or function of various parts of an infant's mouth. The expandable membrane may comprise one or more of a distal sealing region configured to simulate the lips, a superior region configured to simulate the hard palate, an inferior protruding region configured to simulate the gums, an intermediate curved region configured to simulate the tongue, and one or more internal expansion regions configured to simulate the soft palate and the throat. The expandable membrane may have a varying thickness throughout the one or more various regions to enable movement of the regions similar to the movement of the corresponding regions of an infant's mouth during nursing.

A breast pump system is provided with a suction tubing and a milk tubing, wherein the suction tubing and milk tubing each have first and second ends, and comprise a unitary tube structure. The system includes a first connector that has a first portion for coupling to a breast pump and the suction tubing, and a second portion for coupling to a milk bottle and the milk tubing. The system also includes a second connector that has a first portion coupled to a suction port of a breast shield and the suction tubing, and a second portion coupled to a breast milk collecting port and the milk tubing. A breast shield system with a flexible diaphragm and a cover is provided that may be coupled to the breast pump system. A dual suction path filter cartridge is also provided.