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 (W) 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.

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.

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 breast pump device (1) comprises an expression kit (2), a vacuum unit (3), and a conduit (5) for establishing an air path between an air outlet (27) of the expression kit (2) and an air inlet (35) of the vacuum unit (3). The expression kit (2) is equipped with a barrier portion (26) for preventing milk leakage from the expression kit (2) towards the hose (5) and the vacuum unit (3). In case some droplets of milk enter the barrier portion (26) and/or drawn through the barrier portion (26) by an ongoing pumping action, aspects of the behavior of the motor (32) for driving the pump (31) are influenced, and the insight that this happens is used for terminating operation of the motor (32) as soon as a too large deviation of one or more operational characteristics of the motor (32) with respect to a reference is found.

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.

A system for infant feeding adapted to mimic an infant's mouthing and suckling during breastfeeding.

A biomechanical breast pump mechanism (1) for expressing breastmilk comprising a biomimetic funnel (2), at least two active actuation areas (23,24) on the funnel (2) and stationary areas (25), the active actuation areas (23,24) being actuatable by a driving mechanism or mechanisms (3) and being configured to replicate the complex functions of the infant's tongue during suckling namely the physical stimulation of the areola (17)/nipple (16); nipple positioning; creating and maintaining low-level baseline vacuum to create air-seal on the breast; generating sub-atmospheric pressure inside the funnel (2); creating and maintaining close-to-zero-air environment in the funnel (2); and control of the vacuum oscillation within predefined ranges coordinated negative and positive actuation (41,42) of one or both actuation areas (23,24) independently or simultaneously.

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

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.