EXPRESSION KIT FOR A BREAST PUMP DEVICE

Abstract

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.

Claims

1. Expression kit for a breast pump device for extracting breast milk from a human breast, the expression kit comprising a breast pump body having a first pressure chamber, a second pressure chamber, and a membrane portion separating the first and the second pressure chamber from each other, wherein the first pressure chamber is configured for connection to a pressure unit for generating a pressure in the first pressure chamber, wherein the second pressure chamber comprises a breast-receiving funnel, a milk outlet, and a milk path from the breast-receiving funnel to the milk outlet, wherein the membrane portion is configured to form a barrier between the first and the second pressure chamber for preventing leakage of human breast milk from the second pressure chamber to the first pressure chamber, yet to allow for air exchange between the first and the second pressure chamber, and wherein the membrane portion is hydrophobic and has the shape of a solid sheet having a continuous appearance and being provided with holes which are configured for rendering the sheet permeable to air and impermeable to liquid.

2. Expression kit according to claim 1, wherein the membrane portion is arranged in the breast pump body as an integral part thereof.

3. Expression kit according to claim 1, wherein the membrane portion is located in the breast pump body as a wall portion of the breast pump body.

4. Expression kit according to claim 1, wherein the membrane portion and a portion of the breast pump body directly surrounding the membrane portion constitute one single, continuous piece.

5. Expression kit according to claim 1, wherein the membrane portion is welded to surrounding material of the breast pump body.

6. Expression kit according to claim 1, wherein the entire breast pump body is made of one single plastic material.

7. Expression kit according to claim 1, wherein the holes of the membrane portion are cut holes such as laser cut holes.

8. Expression kit according to claim 1, wherein the holes of the membrane portion have a diameter in a range of 5-60 m.

9. Expression kit according to claim 1, wherein the holes are tapered along at least a portion of the length thereof.

10. Expression kit according to claim 1, wherein the membrane portion comprises a material having a surface tension in a range of 0.015 N/m to 0.035 N/m.

11. Expression kit according to claim 1, wherein the membrane portion comprises a transparent material.

12. Expression kit according to claim 1, wherein the membrane portion comprises polymethylpentene (PMP).

13. Expression kit according to claim 1, wherein the first pressure chamber is configured for receipt and airtight accommodation of a connector of a pressure unit.

14. Expression kit according to claim 1, wherein the first pressure chamber is located at a backside of the breast-receiving funnel.

15. Breast pump device for extracting breast milk from at least one human breast, the breast pump device comprising at least one expression kit according to claim 1, and a pressure unit for generating a pressure in the first pressure chamber of the breast pump body of the expression kit.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] The invention will now be explained in greater detail with reference to the figures, in which equal or similar parts are indicated by the same reference signs, and in which:

[0033] FIG. 1 diagrammatically shows a breast pump device according to the invention, comprising an expression kit and a pressure unit connected to the expression kit through a tube, wherein the expression kit and a connector of the tube are shown in a sectional view, wherein the tube is indicated with dashed lines, and wherein the pressure unit is depicted as a block;

[0034] FIG. 2 diagrammatically shows a sectional perspective view of a portion of the expression kit and the connector of the tube;

[0035] FIG. 3 diagrammatically shows a perspective view of a portion of the expression kit and the connector of the tube, wherein the connector is shown separately from the expression kit; and

[0036] FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate two practical shapes of holes as arranged in a membrane portion that is part of the expression kit, showing a sectional view of a portion of a membrane portion in which a hole is present.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0037] FIGS. 1-3 relate to a breast pump device 1 according to the invention, comprising an expression kit 2 and a pressure unit 3 for generating a pressure cycle during which vacuum is alternately created and released. The expression kit 2 comprises a breast pump body 20 and a milk receptacle 4 which is connectable to the breast pump body 20, e.g. by screwing, thereby closing a lower end of the breast pump body 20. The pressure unit 3 may comprise any suitable means for generating a pressure, and may be an electric vacuum unit, for example, or a manual pressure unit or pump. The pressure unit 3 is connected to the expression kit 2 through a tube 30. Such a configuration allows for a remote arrangement of the pressure unit 3 with respect to the expression kit 2, so that the size of that part of the breast pump device 1 which is to be applied to a user's breast can be kept within reasonable limits. That does not alter the fact that it is possible for the pressure unit 3 to be directly arranged at the expression kit 2, which may especially be useful when the pressure unit 3 is manually driven.

[0038] The breast pump body 20 of the expression kit 2 has a first pressure chamber 21 and a second pressure chamber 22. The first pressure chamber 21 is configured for receiving a connector 31 of the tube 30, the connector 31 being arranged on the tube 30 at an end of the tube 30. The tube 30 may be fixedly connected to the pressure unit 3 at the other end thereof, but it also possible for the tube 30 to be releasably connected to the pressure unit 3 through a suitable connector (not shown).

[0039] It should be noted that the breast pump device 1 can comprise two expression kits 2 for enabling a user of the breast pump device 1 to extract milk from two breasts at the same time, in which case the expression kits 2 can share a common pressure unit 3.

[0040] The second pressure chamber 22 comprises a breast-receiving funnel 23, an aperture acting as a milk outlet 24, and a milk path 25 from the breast-receiving funnel 23 to the milk outlet 24. The breast-receiving funnel 23 is thus in fluid communication with the milk outlet 24 through the milk path 25. Optionally, a one-way valve is arranged at the milk outlet 24, for letting breast milk pass from the second pressure chamber 22 to the milk receptacle 4. The breast-receiving funnel 23 can comprise a massage cushion or the like (not shown) for providing a soft and warm feel to the breast and/or imitating a baby's sucking action. In the shown example, the first pressure chamber 21 is located at a backside of the breast-receiving funnel 23. Within the framework of the invention, other locations of the first pressure chamber 21 are possible, including a location at the milk receptacle 4 in case there is no valve at the milk outlet 24.

[0041] The first pressure chamber 21 and the second pressure chamber 22 are separated at the position of a membrane portion 5, which is located in the breast pump body 20 as a wall portion of the breast pump body 20 in the shown embodiment of the expression kit 2. The membrane portion 5 is realized as a solid sheet being provided with a number of holes 50 having dimensions in the micrometer range. Furthermore, at least at the position of the membrane portion 5, the material of the breast pump body 20 has hydrophobic properties. As a result thereof, the membrane portion 5 is air-permeable and liquid-impermeable. The membrane portion 5 serves for separating the first pressure chamber 21 from the milk path 25 in the second pressure chamber 22, thereby increasing the level of hygiene of the breast pump device 1 and preventing liquid from reaching the tube 30 and possibly also the pressure unit 3, while allowing for air communication between the first pressure chamber 21 and the second pressure chamber 22, at least to such an extent that the breast milk expression functionality of the breast pump device 1 is not hampered, wherein the membrane portion 5 provides a sufficiently low pneumatic restriction to the air flow. For example, a vacuum applied to the first pressure chamber 21 also causes vacuum in the second pressure chamber 22 since air can pass through the membrane portion 5, whereas water and/or breast milk in the second pressure chamber 22 are blocked. Thereby, the membrane portion 5 acts as a hygienic shield. Being hydrophobic may further positively influence bacteria-retention at the membrane portion 5, so that bacteria transfer to the tube 30 and the pressure unit 3 are prevented.

[0042] It is possible for the breast pump body 20 to be equipped with a splash guard (not shown) arranged in the second pressure chamber 22 for shielding the membrane portion 5 from droplets of breast milk. Thereby, such a splash guard can act as a first barrier which avoids that too much breast milk reaches the membrane portion 5. Droplets of breast milk which reach the membrane portion 5 anyway can clear off the membrane portion 5 automatically due to the hydrophobic features of the membrane portion 5.

[0043] The holes 50 of the membrane portion 5 may be arranged according to any suitable pattern. The pattern as can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3 is just one example of many possibilities. The holes 50 may be laser cut holes, which does not alter the fact that during the manufacturing process of the breast pump body 20, other techniques than laser techniques may be put to practice for the purpose of creating the holes 50. The area of the membrane portion 5 can have a substantially circular periphery, as can be seen best in FIGS. 2 and 3.

[0044] Advantageously, the entire breast pump body 20 is made of one single material, preferably a clear plastic material having hydrophobic properties, such as polymethylpentene (PMP) or polypropylene (PP). It is possible for the membrane portion 5 to be provided as an element that is fixedly connected to the surrounding portion of the breast pump body 20, but it is preferred to have a membrane portion 5 which constitutes one single, continuous piece with the directly surrounding portion of the breast pump body 20. In other words, it is preferred if the breast pump body 20 is made as an integral entirety, wherein the membrane portion 5 is not an inserted element or the like, but is simply defined as a wall portion of the breast pump body 20 where a group of holes 50 is present. In such a case, the expression kit 2 is very much user-friendly, as the user does not need to bother about the membrane portion 5 in any way. Contrary to what is known in the art, the membrane portion 5 does not constitute a portion of the breast pump body 20 that is more susceptible to damage than the remainder of the breast pump body 20, which facilitates both use and cleaning of the expression kit 2.

[0045] General operational aspects of the breast pump device 1 will now be mentioned. In the first place, a user makes sure that the expression kit 2 and the pressure unit 3 are properly connected to each other through the tube 30 and the connector 31. Before the pressure unit 3 is activated, the user furthermore needs to take care that the milk receptacle 4 is properly connected to the breast pump body 20, and that the breast to be subjected to a milk extraction process is properly inserted into the breast-receiving funnel 23 of the second pressure chamber 22. In that situation, a breast-receiving end of the second pressure chamber 22 is sealingly closed by the breast, whereas a lower end of the second pressure chamber 22 is sealingly closed by the milk receptacle 4. When, starting from that situation, the pressure unit 3 is activated, a pressure cycle involving generation and release of vacuum is realized in the first pressure chamber 21, as a result of which the breast is subjected to forces which serve for simulating a feeding situation, as a result of which milk supply is induced from the breast, and during which it happens that air is sucked in the first pressure chamber 21 from the second pressure chamber 22 through the holes 50 of the membrane portion 5. A desired pressure profile, i.e. a time-variable pressure, can be applied to the breast taking into account the pneumatic restriction of the membrane portion 5. The breast milk flows from the breast-receiving funnel 23 to the milk receptacle 4 through the milk path 25 and the milk outlet 24, under the influence of gravity and/or the pressure generated by the pressure unit 3.

[0046] The holes 50 of the membrane portion 5 can be of any suitable design, being through holes which are capable of allowing air to pass from one side of the membrane portion 5 to the other. The holes 50 may have a substantially circular periphery, which does not alter the fact that other peripheral shapes are possible as well. FIGS. 4 and 5 serve to illustrate the fact that it is preferred for the holes 50 to have a generally tapered shape, at least along a part of the length thereof. In FIG. 4, an example of a hole 50 which is tapered along the entire length thereof is shown, whereas in FIG. 5, an example of a hole 50 which is partially tapered is shown, the latter hole 50 including a relatively wide tapering portion 51 and a relatively small non-tapering portion 52.

[0047] The fact is that by having holes 50 which are at least partially tapered, pressure losses over the membrane portion 5 are significantly reduced and it is more difficult for liquid to enter the hole. Reducing the number of holes 50 involves facilitating the manufacturing process. An at least partially tapered design of the holes 50 can easily be realized in an injection molding process or a combination of injection molding and laser cutting, for example. The number of holes 50 as compared to a situation in which a diameter of the holes 50 is substantially constant along the length of the holes 50 can be at least 50% less, and it may even be so that the number is reduced with a factor of 10, without a significant increase of the overall size of the membrane portion 5. It may also be so that the thickness of the membrane portion 5 can be reduced. Hence, by having the at least partially tapered design of the holes 50, it is possible to manufacture the membrane portion 5 as a mass product by using standard mass manufacturing techniques such as molding. In this respect, it is noted that the manufacturing process of the hole 50 as shown in FIG. 5 may involve the steps of making a large hole 51 that does not go completely through the material of the membrane portion 5 with a first laser shot, and making a smaller hole 52 with a second laser shot for opening the remaining material of the membrane portion 5 at the bottom of the large hole 51 so as to have a through hole 50 as a result. Alternatively, the hole 50 as shown can also be made through injection molding, possibly combined with laser techniques. In any case, it is also possible for the smaller hole 52 to be provided with a tapered shape.

[0048] It follows from the foregoing that the invention provides a breast pump device 1 and an expression kit 2 for use in the breast pump device 1. The invention is particularly related to the membrane portion 5, which is present at the interface of the first pressure chamber 21 and the second pressure chamber 22 of the breast pump body 20 of the expression kit 2, and which serves as a hygienic shield between the first pressure chamber 21 and the second pressure chamber 22, i.e. between a location of the breast pump device 1 for receiving a user's breast and the pressure unit 3 which is used for generating the pressure which is required for enabling the breast milk expression functionality of the breast pump device 1. According to the invention, the membrane portion 5 has hydrophobic features 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. It is preferred for the membrane portion 5 to be arranged in the breast pump body 20 as an integral part thereof, wherein the membrane portion 5 may be arranged in the breast pump body 20 as a wall portion of the breast pump body 20, in which case it is possible that the breast pump body 20 is an integral entirety in which the membrane portion 5 is defined by an area where the holes 50 are present. Hence, within the framework of the invention, it is possible to have a membrane portion 5 which is in fact nothing more than holes in a rigid plastic portion, which is a very sturdy membrane portion 5 that is hardly susceptible to wear and that can easily be cleaned.

[0049] It will be clear to a person skilled in the art that the scope of the invention is not limited to the examples discussed in the foregoing, but that several amendments and modifications thereof are possible without deviating from the scope of the invention as defined in the attached claims. It is intended that the invention be construed as including all such amendments and modifications insofar they come within the scope of the claims or the equivalents thereof. While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the figures and the description, such illustration and description are to be considered illustrative or exemplary only, and not restrictive. The invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. The drawings are schematic, wherein details that are not required for understanding the invention may have been omitted, and not necessarily to scale.

[0050] Variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by a person skilled in the art in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the figures, the description and the attached claims. In the claims, the word comprising does not exclude other steps or elements, and the indefinite article a or an does not exclude a plurality. Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention.

[0051] Elements and aspects discussed for or in relation with a particular embodiment may be suitably combined with elements and aspects of other embodiments, unless explicitly stated otherwise. Thus, the mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.

[0052] The term comprise as used in this text will be understood by a person skilled in the art as covering the term consist of. Hence, the term comprise may in respect of an embodiment mean consist of, but may in another embodiment mean contain/include at least the defined species and optionally one or more other species.

[0053] For the sake of clarity, it is noted that the term holes as used in this text for indicating that the membrane portion 5 is provided with holes 50 is to be understood as to implicitly refer to through holes, i.e. holes which go all the way through the membrane portion 5, from one side of the membrane portion 5 to the other.