APPARATUS FOR ACCUMULATING A FLUID

Abstract

An apparatus for accumulating a fluid, the apparatus including a drain bottle for containing the fluid, a reservoir having an outlet towards the drain bottle, the reservoir and the drain bottle communicating with each other via a valve provided in the outlet, a suction aperture connectable with a suction pump for creating a vacuum in the reservoir, an optical sensing device operably coupled to the reservoir and adjusted to measure the volume of the fluid standing in the reservoir, the optical sensing device comprising a light source and a detector, wherein the light source is configured to emit light towards the reservoir and the detector is configured to detect an intensity of the light emanating from the reservoir, and at least one light directing means for directing the light on its path from the light source to the detector.

Claims

1. An apparatus for accumulating a fluid, the apparatus comprising: a drain bottle for containing the fluid, a reservoir having an outlet towards the drain bottle, the reservoir and the drain bottle communicating with each other via a valve provided in the outlet, a suction aperture connectable with a suction pump for creating a vacuum in the reservoir, an optical sensing device operably coupled to the reservoir and adjusted to measure the volume of the fluid standing in the reservoir (8), the optical sensing device (22) comprising a light source and a detector, wherein the light source is configured to emit light towards the reservoir and the detector is configured to detect an intensity of the light emanating from the reservoir, and at least one light directing means for directing the light on its path from the light source to the detector.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the optical sensing device is configured as a structural unit being detachable from the reservoir.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the optical sensing device is housed by a cap detachably mounted to a bottle top attachment connected to the drain bottle, the reservoir being provided in the bottle top attachment.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light source and the detector are provided at the same level along a milk path (P) in the reservoir.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light source and the detector are spatially separated from a reservoir wall.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a spatial distance (D) between the light source and the detector corresponds at minimum to a width of the reservoir transverse to the milk path (P).

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one light directing means is provided one of at or in a side wall of the reservoir.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one light directing means comprises a reflecting surface.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one light guide element of the light directing means is provided between the light source and the reservoir such that light emitted from the light source is redirected by the light guide element to pass the reservoir wall at an right angle.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein at least one light guide element (20.2) of the light directing means is provided between the reservoir and the detector such that light emanating from the reservoir at a substantially right angle with respect to a reservoir wall is redirected towards the detector.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of light sources are provided in an array, each light source having a different level along the milk path (P), a plurality of detectors are provided in an array, each detector having a different level along the milk path (P), and each of the light sources forms a pair with one of the detectors which is provided at the same level.

12. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein a plurality of light sources are provided in a row transvers to the milk path (P) to face, in a direction essentially parallel to the milk path (P), the light guide element provided between the light source and the reservoir, a plurality of detectors are provided in a row transvers to the milk path (P) to face, in a direction essentially parallel to the milk path (P), the light guide element provided be-tween the reservoir and the detector, the light guide element provided between the light source and the reservoir comprises a plurality of reflecting surfaces arranged in a stair at or in the reservoir wall, each reflecting surface being provided at a different height of the reservoir wall and being assigned to one of the light sources, the light guide element provided between the reservoir and the detector comprises a plurality of reflecting surfaces arranged in a stair at or in the opposite reservoir wall, each reflecting surface being provided at a different height of the opposite reservoir wall and being assigned to one of the detectors, and each of the light sources forms a pair with one of the detectors which is provided at the same level in a direction transvers to the milk path (P).

13. An apparatus for accumulating a fluid, the apparatus comprising: a drain bottle for containing the fluid; a reservoir having an outlet towards the drain bottle; a valve for a fluidic communication between the reservoir and the drain bottle through the outlet; a suction aperture connectable with a suction pump for creating a vacuum in the reservoir; an optical sensing device operably coupled to the reservoir and adjusted to measure a volume of the fluid standing in the reservoir, the optical sensing device comprising a light source and a detector, wherein the light source is configured to emit light towards the reservoir and the detector is configured to detect an intensity of the light emanating from the reservoir; and at least one light directing means for directing the light on a path from the light source to the detector.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the optical sensing device is configured as a structural unit being detachable from the reservoir and wherein the optical sensing device is housed by a cap detachably mounted to a bottle top attachment connected to the drain bottle, the reservoir being provided in the bottle top attachment.

15. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the light source and the detector are provided at the same level along a milk path (P) in the reservoir.

16. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the at least one light directing means is provided one of at or in a side wall of the reservoir.

17. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the at least one light directing means comprises a reflecting surface.

18. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein at least one light guide element of the light directing means is provided between the light source and the reservoir such that light emitted from the light source is redirected by the light guide element to pass the reservoir wall at an right angle.

19. An apparatus for accumulating breast milk, the apparatus comprising: a drain bottle for containing the milk; a bottle top attachment with an interface for connecting a breast interface for creating a fluid seal against a breast, the bottle top attachment being detachably mounted to an opening of the drain bottle and having a reservoir with an outlet towards the drain bottle; a valve for a fluidic communication between the reservoir and the drain bottle through the outlet; a suction aperture connectable with a suction pump for creating a vacuum in the reservoir; an optical sensing device operably coupled to the reservoir and adjusted to measure a volume of milk standing in the reservoir, the optical sensing device comprising a light source and a detector, wherein the light source is configured to emit light towards the reservoir and the detector is configured to detect an intensity of the light emanating from the reservoir; and at least one light directing means for directing the light on a path from the light source to the detector.

20. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein at least one light guide element of the light directing means is provided between the light source and the reservoir such that light emitted from the light source is redirected by the light guide element to pass the reservoir wall at a substantially right angle.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

[0039] FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the embodiment connected with a breast interface,

[0040] FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the embodiment,

[0041] FIG. 3 illustrates another side view of the embodiment,

[0042] FIG. 4 illustrates a cross-sectional view according to cutting line A-A in FIG. 3,

[0043] FIG. 5 illustrates another side view of the embodiment,

[0044] FIG. 6 illustrates a cross-sectional view according to cutting line B-B in FIG. 5,

[0045] FIG. 7 illustrates a cross-sectional view according to cutting line C-C in FIG. 5, and

[0046] FIG. 8 illustrates schematically a cross-section through the reservoir transvers to the milk path in a top view onto the reservoir bottom.

[0047] FIG. 1 illustrates an apparatus 2 for accumulating a fluid, the apparatus 2 comprising a drain bottle 4 for containing the fluid and a bottle top attachment 6 screwed onto a bottleneck of the drain bottle 4. A reservoir 8 is provided inside the bottle top attachment 6, wherein the reservoir 8 has an outlet 10 towards the drain bottle 4 and wherein the reservoir 8 and the drain bottle 4 communicate with each other via a valve 12 provided in the outlet 10 (cf. FIG. 2). The bottle top attachment 6 has a collar 7, which is screwed to the drain bottle and connected to an upper housing portion 9 of the bottle top attachment 6 by laserwelding.

[0048] The bottle top attachment 6 is provided with a suction aperture 14 connectable with a suction pump for creating a vacuum in the reservoir 8, and a port 16 that is connected—in FIG. 1—to a breast interface 18 for creating a fluid seal against a breast. Inside the bottle top attachment 6, there is provided a membrane 20 interacting with the suction pump via suction aperture 14 for creating a vacuum in a bottle top attachment chamber including the reservoir. Further, the membrane 20 forms a media separation for air sucked by the suction pump and milk extracted at the breast interface (cf. FIG. 4).

[0049] An optical sensing device 22 is covered by a cap 24 which is detachably mounted on the bottle top attachment 6. The optical sensing device 22 is operably coupled to the reservoir 8 and adjusted to measure the volume of the fluid standing in the reservoir 8. Further, the optical sensing device 22 comprises light sources 26 and detectors 28, wherein the light sources 26 are configured to emit light towards the reservoir 8 and the detectors 28 are configured to detect an intensity of the light emanating from the reservoir 8. Light directing means include a first light guide element 30 provided at a side wall of the reservoir 8 that has a square cross-section in this embodiment, the first light guide element 30 directing light coming from the light sources 26 towards the reservoir 8 (cf. FIG. 8). Light directing means further include a second light guide element 32 provided at the opposite side wall of the reservoir 8 for directing light emanating from the reservoir 8 towards the detectors 28. Each of the light guide elements 30, 32 comprises a reflecting surface 34, 36 which forms an angle of 45° with a reservoir wall 38, 40. In the top view onto the reservoir bottom as displayed in FIG. 8, the light paths between the light sources 26 and the detectors 28 have a U-shape.

[0050] The light sources 26 and the detectors 28 are provided at the same level along the milk path through the reservoir. Usually, the apparatus 2 is held in an upright position such that milk is passing through the reservoir in an essentially vertical direction. Thus, usually, pairs of light sources 26 and detectors 28 are provided at the same vertical level.

[0051] The valve 12 provided in the outlet 10 usually remains closed as long as a suction force of the suction pump is maintained. In case that accumulated milk forms a milk column in the reservoir and light emitted from a light source 26 passes through the milk column on its way to a detector 28, light will be absorbed or scattered by the milk column. Thus, the intensity of light detected by the detector 28 will be lower in this case compared to a case where less milk is accumulated in the reservoir and a milk column does not reach the level of the light source 26 and the detector 28.

[0052] The optical sensing device 22 is configured as a structural unit housed by the cap 24 and detachable from the reservoir 8 together with the cap 24. The cap 24 is releasably locked to the bottle top attachment 6 in this embodiment. Accordingly, the optical sensing device 22 and the bottle top attachment 6 comprising the reservoir 8 can be cleaned separately. Further, the cap 24 protects the optical sensing device 22 from damages and stray light.

[0053] A cover 42 is provided to spatially separate the reservoir walls from the light sources 26 and the detectors 28 and to prevent light entering the reservoir 8 without passing through the first light guide element 30.

[0054] FIG. 2 illustrates that the membrane 20 in the bottle top attachment 6 separates an air suction chamber 44 communicating with a suction pump and a milk suction chamber 46 which includes the reservoir 8, the milk suction chamber 46 communicating with the drain bottle 4 via the valve 12 provided in the outlet 10 of the reservoir 8 and with the breast via breast interface 18 connectable to the port 16. The vacuum created by the suction pump in the air suction chamber 44 creates a negative pressure (suction force) in the milk suction chamber 46 acting on the breast. In an upright position of the apparatus 2, the port 16 comprises an inclined lower surface 48. A top end of the reservoir 8 is located right next to the inclined surface 48, wherein an opening 50 towards the reservoir 8 is provided between the membrane 20 and the inclined surface 48. In the upright position of the apparatus 2, the milk path P extends in an essentially vertical direction. The milk path P extends between the opening 50 of the reservoir 8 and a bottom surface 51 of the reservoir 8. Depending on the orientation, in which the apparatus 2 is held, the milk path P may not be parallel to the vertical axis.

[0055] In the essentially upright position shown in FIG. 2, the outlet 10 of the reservoir 8 towards the drain bottle 4 is provided in a side wall of the reservoir in the lower left corner of the reservoir 8. The valve 12 provided in the outlet 10 according to this embodiment is a flap valve which opens towards the central longitudinal axis of the apparatus 2. The optical sensing device 22 is provided next to the side wall of the reservoir 8 opposite to the side wall comprising the outlet 10.

[0056] The optical sensing device 22 comprises a plurality of light sources 26 and detectors 28 which are arranged in two arrays extending along the milk path P, wherein each light source 26 forms a pair with a detector 28 provided at the same level along the milk path P. Between each pair, a light path 52 is formed having a U-shape with two flanks 54 and a base 56. The base 56 of the light paths 52 crosses the reservoir 8 orthogonally to the milk path P, wherein each base 56 passes through the central longitudinal axis of reservoir 8 and wherein each base 56 of the light paths 52 crosses the reservoir at a different level along the milk path P. Thus, by comparing the intensity measured by the different detectors 28, one can determine how much light was absorbed at the different levels along the path P. Accordingly, by knowing the geometry of the reservoir 8 and knowing the height of the milk column reaching a certain level along the milk path P determined by the optical sensing device 22, one can determine the milk volume contained in the reservoir 8.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0057] 2 apparatus [0058] 4 drain bottle [0059] 6 bottle top attachment [0060] 7 collar [0061] 8 reservoir [0062] 9 upper housing part [0063] 10 outlet [0064] 12 valve [0065] 14 suction aperture [0066] 16 port [0067] 18 breast interface [0068] 20 membrane [0069] 22 optical sensing device [0070] 24 cap [0071] 26 light source [0072] 28 detector [0073] 30 first light guide element [0074] 32 second light guide element [0075] 34, 36 reflecting surface [0076] 38, 40 reservoir wall [0077] 42 cover [0078] 44 air suction chamber [0079] 46 milk suction chamber [0080] 48 inclined surface [0081] 50 reservoir opening [0082] 51 bottom surface of the reservoir [0083] 52 U-shaped light path [0084] 54 flanks of U-shaped light path [0085] 56 base of U-shaped light path [0086] D spatial distance between the light source and the detector of one pair [0087] P milk path