Negative pressure transmitter and breast pump device using same

Abstract

The present invention provides a negative pressure generator such as a suction cup, the negative pressure generator comprising a negative pressure transmitter with a shape that remains constant after deformation so that no part of the negative pressure transmitter comes into contact with another member of the negative pressure generator. The negative pressure transmitter (80) includes an opening (81), a closed bottom portion (83), and an intermediate portion (82) connecting the opening to the bottom portion, wherein the intermediate portion includes at least a plurality of rigid portions (84a) that are formed at predetermined intervals so as to inhibit deformation, and flexible portions (86a) that are formed between the plurality of rigid portions and formed from a flexible material.

Claims

1. A breast pump device comprising: a breast disposing portion that is configured to receive a breast portion, such as a breast and a nipple of a subject, disposed therein; a breast pump main body portion that includes a negative pressure generation space; and a negative pressure transmitter that is configured to create a negative pressure in the negative pressure generation space, wherein the negative pressure transmitter is formed of an elastic material to be collapsible and has a roughly columnar shape extending in an axis direction with an inner hollow, having an opening in a substantially circular shape at one end in the axis direction, a closed bottom portion at an other end, and an intermediate portion that connects the opening to the closed bottom portion, the intermediate portion is composed with a plurality of ridge portions and a plurality of flexible portions, wherein the plurality of flexible portions number the same as the plurality of ridge portions and are arranged to alternate with the plurality of ridge portions in a circumferential direction around the axis direction wherein the plurality of ridge portions are formed as ribs protruding along a radial direction based on the axis direction, the plurality of ridge portions having a thickness greater than a thickness of the plurality of flexible portions and configured to inhibit deformation compared to the plurality of flexible portions, a support portion has a circular shape in an axis view that is in the axis direction, and is provided in a central part of the bottom portion to cover the central part wherein the support portion has a larger thickness than a remainder of the bottom portion and is configured to inhibit deformation compared to the remainder of the bottom portion, the plurality of ridge portions extending linearly from the intermediate portion to the bottom portion and connected to the support portion, and when an interior atmosphere of the inner hollow of the negative pressure transmitter is suctioned to be under a negative pressure, the intermediate portion of the negative pressure transmitter is twisted into a spiral shape about the support portion such that the negative pressure of the negative pressure transmitter is transmitted to the negative pressure generation space.

2. The breast pump device according to claim 1, wherein the opening of the negative pressure transmitter has the substantially circular shape, from the axis view, that corresponds to an attachment subject portion to which the opening is attached, the bottom portion has a shape that is different from the substantially circular shape of the opening from the axis view, and the roughly columnar shape of the negative pressure transmitter changes gradually from the opening to the bottom portion such that an outer circumference of the negative pressure transmitter is smoothly connected from the opening to the bottom portion.

3. The breast pump device according to claim 2, wherein the shape of the bottom portion approximates a triangle.

4. The breast pump device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of ridge portions and the plurality of flexible portions of the negative pressure transmitter are formed to extend continuously from the intermediate portion to the bottom portion.

5. The breast pump device according to claim 4, wherein none of the plurality of ridge portions of the negative pressure transmitter extends to the opening.

6. The breast pump device according to claim 5, wherein the plurality of ridge portions protrude inwardly from an inner circumference of the intermediate portion.

7. The breast pump device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of ridge portions protrude inwardly from an inner circumference of the intermediate portion.

8. The breast pump device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of ridge portions are arranged with equal intervals in the circumferential direction.

9. The breast pump device according to claim 1, wherein the bottom portion and the support portion are integrally formed of a similar material.

10. The breast pump device according to claim 9, wherein the intermediate portion and the bottom portion are integrally formed of the similar material.

11. The breast pump device according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate portion and the bottom portion are integrally formed of a similar material.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing main configurations of an electric breast pump including a breast pump that serves as an example of the breast pump device according to the present invention.

(2) FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view of a breast pump main body.

(3) FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view of a cap.

(4) FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing an upper surface of a pumping management device of FIG. 1.

(5) FIG. 5 is a schematic sectional view showing main configurations of a breast disposing portion when a breast is disposed therein, the breast pump main body, a suction cup, and the cap of the electric breast pump shown in FIG. 1.

(6) FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view showing the suction cup.

(7) FIG. 7 is a schematic sectional view taken along an A-A line in FIG. 6.

(8) FIG. 8 is a schematic sectional view taken along a B-B line in FIG. 6.

(9) FIG. 9 is a schematic sectional view taken along a C-C line in FIG. 6.

(10) FIG. 10 is a schematic view showing a configuration on the inside of a bottom portion of FIG. 9 from above.

(11) FIG. 11 is a schematic illustrative view showing the suction cup in a deformed state, for example a shriveled state, after being suctioned by a pump.

(12) FIG. 12 is a schematic view showing a state in which the suction cup is twisted into a spiral shape.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

(13) A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the figures.

(14) Note that the embodiment described below is a preferred specific example of the present invention, and therefore various preferred technical limitations have been applied thereto. In the absence of wording specifically limiting the present invention in the following description, however, the scope of the present invention is not limited to these aspects.

(15) FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing main configurations of an electric breast pump 1 including a breast pump 10 that serves as an example of the breast pump device according to the present invention.

(16) As shown in FIG. 1, the electric breast pump 1 includes the breast pump 10 and a pumping management device 60, the breast pump 10 and the pumping management device 60 being connected by a suction tube 70.

(17) Further, the breast pump 10 includes a breast disposing portion 20, a breast pump main body 40 serving as an example of a breast pump main body portion, a feeding bottle 50, and a cap 30.

(18) The respective configurations will be described below.

(19) (Breast Disposing Portion 20)

(20) As shown in FIG. 1, the breast pump 10 includes the breast disposing portion 20, in which the breast of a mother or the like serving as a user is disposed.

(21) The breast disposing portion 20 has an overall funnel shape and includes an insertion port 21 into which the mother or the like inserts her breast.

(22) Accordingly, an opening part of the insertion port 21 has the largest diameter, and the diameter gradually decreases.

(23) (Breast Pump Main Body 40)

(24) FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view of the breast pump main body 40.

(25) As shown in FIG. 2, a breast disposing portion opening 46 for attaching the breast disposing portion 20 shown in FIG. 1 is formed in the breast pump main body 40.

(26) Further, a suction cup disposing portion 44 in which a first negative pressure space 45 and a suction cup 80 to be described below, which is indicated by a dotted line in FIG. 2, are disposed is formed in a space connected to the breast disposing portion opening 46.

(27) Furthermore, a suction cup opening 47 that serves as an example of an attachment subject portion for inserting the suction cup 80, which serves as an example of a negative pressure transmitter to be described below, is formed in the breast pump main body 40.

(28) Further, as shown in FIG. 2, a check valve 42 is disposed in the breast pump main body 40, and a breast pump main body-side screw portion 43 for screwing in the feeding bottle 50 shown in FIG. 1 is formed in a lower portion of the breast pump main body 40.

(29) The check valve 42 of FIG. 2 is configured so that only an inflow of breast milk from the breast disposing portion opening 46 is allowed to travel to the breast pump main body-side screw portion 43 side, while backflow is impeded.

(30) (Feeding Bottle 50)

(31) As shown in FIG. 1, the feeding bottle 50 is connected detachably to the breast pump main body 40, and the feeding bottle 50 is configured to store breast milk pumped by the breast pump 10 shown in FIG. 1.

(32) Further, a feeding bottle-side screw portion is formed in an opening, not shown in the figures, in an upper portion of the feeding bottle 50, and by screwing the feeding bottle-side screw portion to the breast pump main body-side screw portion 43 shown in FIG. 2, the feeding bottle 50 is attached to the breast pump main body 40.

(33) (Cap 30)

(34) As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the cap 30 is disposed to cover the suction cup opening 47 of the breast pump main body 40.

(35) More specifically, the cap 30 is configured such that when the suction cup 80 is disposed in the suction cup disposing portion 44 shown in FIG. 2, the cap 30 is disposed thereon, and in so doing, the suction cup 80 can be attached to the breast pump main body 40 in an airtight state.

(36) FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view of the cap 30.

(37) As shown in FIG. 3, a suction tube attachment portion 31 is formed on an upper portion thereof, and a through hole is formed in an upper end thereof.

(38) Further, a cap lower portion opening 32 is formed in a lower portion of the cap 30.

(39) As shown in FIG. 3, a space is formed in the interior of the cap 30 so that the through hole in the suction tube attachment portion 31 can communicate with the cap lower portion opening 32.

(40) (Pumping Management Device 60)

(41) The pumping management device 60 shown in FIG. 1 includes in the interior thereof a motor, a pump, and so on, not shown in the figures, and by driving the motor and the pump, an atmosphere is suctioned into the suction tube 70 connected thereto.

(42) More specifically, when the suction cup 80 is disposed in the suction cup disposing portion 44 of the breast pump main body 40 shown in FIG. 2 and covered by the cap 30, as shown in FIG. 1, the atmosphere in the suction cup 80 is suctioned by the suction of the pumping management device 60.

(43) FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing an upper surface of the pumping management device 60 of FIG. 1.

(44) As shown in FIG. 4, various operation input portions 61 such as switches, for example, are disposed on the surface of the pumping management device 60.

(45) Thus, when an operator operates these switches and other various operation input portions 61, operations of the motor and so on can be controlled.

(46) (Configuration of Enclosed Space S in Breast Pump Main Body 10, Pumping Operation, and so on)

(47) FIG. 5 is a schematic sectional view showing the main configurations of the breast disposing portion 20 when a breast is disposed therein, the breast pump main body 40, the suction cup 80, and the cap 30 of the electric breast pump 1 shown in FIG. 1.

(48) As shown in FIG. 5, when the user disposes her breast in the breast disposing portion 20, an enclosed space S is formed by a second negative pressure space 22 and a first negative pressure space 45, which are the parts of the breast disposing portion 20 in which the breast is not disposed.

(49) Hence, when the pumping management device 60 of FIG. 1 is operated such that the atmosphere in the suction cup 80 of FIG. 5 is suctioned through the suction tube 70 and the cap 30 and the suction cup 80 shrivels, the volume of the enclosed space S of FIG. 5 increases in an enclosed state, and a negative pressure state is established in the enclosed space S.

(50) As a result, breast milk is pumped from the breast disposed in the breast disposing portion 20 of FIG. 5.

(51) The breast milk pumped in this manner passes through the check valve 42 when the negative pressure state in the enclosed space S is released, and is stored in the feeding bottle 50 shown in FIG. 1.

(52) Hence, the electric breast pump 1 according to this embodiment is configured such that only the suction tube 70, the cap 30, and the suction cup 80 communicate with the pumping management device 60, which includes electric components and so on, and therefore breast milk inflow or the like into the suction cup 80 does not occur.

(53) As a result, situations in which some of the breast milk is suctioned to the side of the pumping management device 60, which includes electric components and so on, causing a breakdown or the like, can be effectively prevented.

(54) (Suction Cup 80)

(55) Next, the configuration of the suction cup 80 of FIG. 5, which is the main feature of this embodiment, will be described in detail.

(56) FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view showing the suction cup 80.

(57) As shown in FIG. 6, the suction cup 80 has an overall vertically long bag shape with an opening in the upper portion and a closed bottom portion.

(58) The suction cup 80 is formed entirely from a flexible material, for example an elastomer or the like such as silicone rubber, isoprene rubber, or SEBS (styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene).

(59) More specifically, as shown in FIG. 6, an opening 81 is provided in the upper portion, and a closed bottom portion 83 is provided in the lower portion. An intermediate portion 82 is formed between the opening 81 and the bottom portion 83.

(60) As shown in FIG. 6, a substantially circular opening, for example, is formed as the opening 81. Further, a ring-shaped edge portion 81a formed to project outward is formed on a peripheral edge of the opening.

(61) The shape of the opening is formed to correspond to the shape and size of the suction cup opening 47 of the breast pump main body 40 shown in FIG. 2.

(62) In other words, since in this embodiment, the suction cup opening 47 of FIG. 2 is substantially circular, the opening is formed to be substantially circular in accordance therewith and has a similar size (diameter) thereto.

(63) By forming the opening in this shape, when the suction cup 80 is disposed in the suction cup disposing portion 44 of FIG. 2, the shape and size (diameter) of the opening of the suction cup 80 match those of the suction cup disposing portion 44, and therefore the suction cup 80 can be disposed in the suction cup opening 47 without gaps.

(64) Further, by disposing the upper edge portion 81a shown in FIG. 6 appropriately on a breast pump main body upper edge portion 48 shown in FIG. 2 and attaching the cap 30 shown in FIG. 5 so as to sandwich the upper edge portion 81a, a sealing property for keeping the enclosed space S of FIG. 2 in an enclosed state can be improved.

(65) FIG. 7 is a schematic sectional view taken along an A-A line in FIG. 6, FIG. 8 is a schematic sectional view taken along a B-B line in FIG. 6, and FIG. 9 is a schematic sectional view taken along a C-C line in FIG. 6.

(66) As shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, three ribs 84a, 84b, 84c serving as examples of rigid portions that produce an action for inhibiting deformation are formed in a rectilinear shape inside the suction cup 80 so as to extend in a vertical direction in the figure (a longitudinal direction of the suction cup 80) from the intermediate portion 82 to the bottom portion 83 in FIG. 6.

(67) Further, as shown in FIG. 9, a circular support portion 85 serving as a rigid portion that also produces an action for inhibiting deformation is formed in a central part of the inside of the bottom portion 83.

(68) As shown in FIG. 9, the three ribs 84a, 84b, 84c are connected to the support portion 85.

(69) FIG. 10 is a schematic view showing the configuration on the inside of the bottom portion 83 of FIG. 9 from above.

(70) As shown in FIG. 10, in the bottom portion 83, the overall shape differs from the substantially circular shape of the opening and instead is a shape approximating a triangle, for example;

(71) More specifically, parts between the three ribs 84a, 84b, 84c serving as rigid portions form flexible portions 86a, 86b, 86c that deform easily, and these flexible portions 86a etc. are configured to deform, for example to shrivel, easily toward the inside of the suction cup 80.

(72) Therefore, the overall shape approximates a triangle.

(73) Hence, in this embodiment, the opening 81 shown in FIG. 6 is substantially circular and the bottom portion 83 shown in FIG. 10 has a shape approximating a triangle, and therefore the opening 81 and the bottom portion 83 are configured to have completely different shapes.

(74) In other words, in this embodiment, the shape gradually changes from the opening 81 toward the bottom portion 83.

(75) Therefore, in a case where the opening 81 is preferably substantially circular from the point of view of the sealing property and the bottom portion 83 is preferably non-circular from the point of view of ease of deformation, for example shriveling, a shape that meets these requirements can be realized.

(76) Further, the surface of the suction cup 80 according to this embodiment has a smooth shape with no angular portions.

(77) Therefore, when the flexible portions 86a, 86b, 86c of FIG. 10 deform or the like inwardly so as to shrivel as a whole, the deformation thereof is not impeded.

(78) In this embodiment, the bottom portion 83 has a shape approximating a triangle, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and a square or other polygonal shape may be employed instead.

(79) (Example Operation of Electric Breast Pump 1)

(80) An example in which a mother pumps breast milk for an infant using the electric breast pump 1 according to this embodiment will be described below.

(81) First, the mother who is intending to execute breast milk pumping inserts and disposes her breast into the insertion port 21 of the breast disposing portion 20 of the breast pump 10 shown in FIG. 1.

(82) Next, by operating the switches constituting the various operation input portions 61 of FIG. 4, the mother selects the desired operation.

(83) Normally, in the electric breast pump 1, an operation for suctioning and releasing the breast alternately and repeatedly is executed. In this embodiment, for example, the mother selects a setting for aligning the repetition interval with the interval of the pulse.

(84) Hence, the motor and the pump of the pumping management device 60 of FIG. 1 are driven in accordance with the rhythm of the pulse.

(85) First, the pump is driven to perform a suction process.

(86) More specifically, the atmosphere in the suction cup 80 shown in FIG. 5 is suctioned through the suction tube 70 shown in FIG. 1.

(87) Accordingly, the parts corresponding to the flexible portions 86a, 86b, 86c shown in FIG. 10 deform toward the inside of the suction cup 80 so as to shrivel up to dotted line parts shown in FIG. 10, for example.

(88) FIG. 11 is a schematic illustrative view showing the suction cup 80 in a deformed state, for example a shriveled state, after being suctioned by the pump.

(89) In this embodiment, the ribs 84a etc. are provided, and therefore these parts do not shrivel. Hence, only the flexible portions 86a, 86b, 86c formed between the ribs 84a etc. shrivel inwardly as indicated by the dotted lines in FIG. 10.

(90) The initial deformation state shown in FIG. 11 is always the same and does not vary every time suction is performed.

(91) When suction is performed further by operating the pumping management device 60 from the deformation state of FIG. 11, inward shriveling of the flexible portions 86a, 86b, etc. shown in FIG. 11 progresses to the maximum extent, whereby the flexible portions 86a etc. stick to the rectilinearly disposed ribs 84a etc.

(92) When suction is executed even further, the operation advances to the next stage, in which the shriveled flexible portions 86a etc. are twisted into a spiral shape about the support portion 85 of FIG. 10.

(93) FIG. 12 is a schematic view showing a state in which the suction cup 80 is twisted into a spiral shape.

(94) Hence, in this embodiment, the flexible portions 86a etc., which are the first parts of the suction cup 80 to deform, shrivel in response to suction by the pump, whereupon the ribs 84a etc. and the flexible portions 86a etc. are both twisted into a spiral shape. Moreover, the spiral shape is always the same.

(95) Next, when suction by the pump is stopped and released, the suction cup 80 twisted into the spiral shape shown in FIG. 12 returns to the shape shown in FIG. 6 via a reverse process.

(96) Next, when suction by the pump restarts, the suction cup 80 is twisted into the spiral shape shown in FIG. 12 via the same processes as those described above.

(97) Hence, in this embodiment, in contrast to the prior art, the suction cup 80 deforms into a deformation state that can easily be returned to the original state, and as a result, the suction cup 80 always returns to its original shape when suction by the pump is released.

(98) Further, in this embodiment, the flexible portions 86a etc. shrivel along the rectilinear ribs 84a etc. and are then twisted into a spiral shape, and therefore the volume (capacity) of the suction cup 80 can be minimized.

(99) Hence, the enclosed space S in the breast pump main body 40 shown in FIG. 5 can be increased, and as a result, greater negative pressure can be generated.

(100) Further, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the suction cup 80 deforms so as to shrivel in a direction separating from the wall surface of the breast pump main body 40 on the outside of the suction cup 80 and is twisted into a spiral shape while remaining in the same separated state. As a result, a situation in which a part or the like of the suction cup 80 frequently comes into contact with the wall surface or the like of the breast pump main body 40 such that a hole forms therein can be forestalled.

(101) The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment and may be subjected to various modifications within a scope that does not depart from the claims.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

(102) 1 Electric breast pump 20 Breast disposing portion 21 Insertion port 22 Second negative pressure space 30 Cap 31 Suction tube attachment portion 32 Cap lower portion opening 40 Breast pump main body 50 Feeding bottle 40 Breast pump main body 42 Check valve 43 Breast pump main body-side screw portion 44 Suction cup disposing portion 45 First negative pressure space 46 Breast disposing portion opening 47 Suction cup opening 48 Breast pump main body upper edge portion 60 Pumping management device 61 Various operation input portions 70 Suction tube 80 Suction cup 81 Opening 81a Edge portion 82 Intermediate portion 83 Bottom portion 84a, 84b, 84c Ribs 85 Support portion 86a, 86b, 86c Flexible portions S Enclosed space