DEVICE AND METHOD FOR HANDLING HUMAN BREAST MILK

Abstract

A device for collecting human breast milk is provided. The device may include at least one evacuated container capable of connecting to at least one first container that is configured to receive expressed human breast milk. The at least one evacuated container mat be connected to the least one first container by a flow unit permitting communication of human breast milk from the first container to the evacuated container. Further provided are methods of collecting breast milk.

Claims

1.-49. (canceled)

50. A device for collecting human breast milk, the device comprising at least one evacuated container having means to connect to at least one first container capable of receiving expressed human breast milk, wherein said means is optionally a flow unit permitting communication of human breast milk from the first container to the evacuated container.

51. The device according to claim 50, further comprising a filtering unit.

52. The device according to claim 50, wherein the first container, the evacuated container or both comprise at least one additive.

53. The device according to claim 52, wherein the at least one additive is selected from the group consisting of a filtration-aid agent, a homogenizing agent, a quantification aid, a preservative, a food fortifier and a therapeutic agent.

54. The device according to claim 52, wherein the at least one additive is a food grade additive.

55. The device according to claim 50, wherein the first container is adapted to hold and/or receive milk during or after breast milk expression.

56. The device according to claim 50, wherein at least part of the first container has a conical shape, a funnel-like shape, a hemisphere shape, a cylinder shape.

57. The device according to claim 50, wherein the flow unit is integrated or connected into at least part of the first container or into at least part of the evacuated container.

58. The device according to claim 50, for use in infant feeding.

59. The device according to claim 50, for use in human milk analysis.

60. A method for collecting human breast milk, the method comprising: (a) providing human breast milk in at least part of a first container of a device according to claim 50 and (b) allowing at least part of the human breast milk to flow into at least one evacuated container.

61. The method according to claim 60, wherein the human breast milk is provided into at least part of a first container during or after a milk expression process.

62. The method according to claim 61, wherein the milk expression process is manual process or using a breast pump.

63. The method according to claim 60, wherein the human breast milk is provided into at least part of a first container from a reservoir of human breast milk.

64. The method according to claim 60, wherein the flow of human breast milk from the first container into at least one evacuated container is by vacuum force.

65. The method according to claim 60, wherein the flow of human breast milk from the first container into at least one evacuated container is enabled by a flow unit.

66. The method according to claim 60, wherein the flow of human breast milk from the first container into at least one evacuated container is through a filtering unit.

67. The method according to claim 60, further comprising infant feeding.

68. The method according to claim 60, further comprising feeding an infant by connecting the evacuated container to a gavage feeding system.

69. The method according to claim 60, comprising subjecting the milk sample to human milk analysis.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0134] In order to better understand the subject matter that is disclosed herein and to exemplify how it may be carried out in practice, embodiments will now be described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0135] FIGS. 1A to 1D show a schematic representation of a first container in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.

[0136] FIG. 2 shows a schematic representation of a flow unit in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.

[0137] FIG. 3 shows a schematic representation of a device according with some embodiments suitable for manual expression milk.

[0138] FIG. 4 shows a schematic representation of a device according with some embodiments suitable for milk pump expression.

[0139] FIG. 5 shows a schematic representation of a device according with some embodiments suitable for milk reservoirs.

[0140] FIG. 6 shows a schematic representation of a device according with some embodiments.

[0141] FIGS. 7A to 7C show a schematic representation of an evacuated container in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

NON-LIMITING EXAMPLES

Example 1

[0142] A mother to a NICU hospitalized premature infant is expressing 30 ml of milk manually at home or in the medical facility into a first container to be transferred to a vacuum tube. Mother needs to divide the milk into 4 different tubes, three portions of 8 ml portions for direct gavage feeding of her pre-term baby, and one portion of 2 ml tube for macronutrient testing to ensure adequate caloric intake.

[0143] Evacuated tube that will be used for Feeding is pre-filled with powdered human milk fortifiers or medicine and the evacuated test tube is pre filled with sample preservatives and stabilizers. The evacuated sample tubes are inserted by the mother into the transfer device and the milk is forced into the evacuated tubes (by vacuum force) until pre-fixed volumes are filled in each tube.

[0144] Filled tubes (collected milk samples) are removed from the transfer device and are remained sealed and ready for direct use (feeding or testing, or can be stored in the fridge or freezer for future use/testing). For feeding, tubes are connected to the gavage feeding tubing adaptor and the rate of feeding is determined by the air flow rate into the tube.