Breast milk collector for collecting milk from mother's breast

Abstract

The utility model relates to a breast milk collector which is used for collecting milk from breasts of a mother. A passive breast milk collector (10) for collecting milk from a mother's breast is provided. The breast milk collector comprises a container (11). The breast milk collector may be attached to the breast such that at least a portion of the breast can withstand negative pressure generated after compression of the container. The container is compressible along a compression axis (CD) to enable generation of a negative pressure. The container is partially delimited by a wall portion (11A), such as a rigid wall portion, coupled to an elastically deformable assembly (11B; 12, 13, 14, 15) are provided. The container may be compressed by displacement of the wall portion along the compression axis against a restoring force of an elastically deformable assembly that is deformed during displacement of the wall portion.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to a breast milk collector, also known as a passive breast milk collector, and a method for connecting the breast milk collector to the breast. Background Technology

[0002] The best source of nutrition for infants is human milk provided by breastfeeding mothers. The World Health Organization recommends breastfeeding for at least one year, ideally longer. However, mothers often return to work after only a few weeks or months. To provide the best nutrition for their babies, mothers express milk using a breast pump. The expressed milk can be stored and fed to the baby later by the mother and / or someone else.

[0003] Recently, there has been a trend towards wearable passive breast milk collectors for collecting leaked breast milk. These wearable passive breast milk collectors can be used in the presence of the baby. When the baby begins to suckle, nipple stimulation triggers the milk ejection reflex (MER) in both breasts. The breast milk collector then collects milk from the mother's other breast via passive, continuous negative pressure (in other words, partial vacuum).

[0004] Such breast milk collectors can be formed as compressible milk containers that can be pressed inwards against the mother's body to provide maintaining pressure and a basic vacuum for enhanced milk extraction. Commercially available breast milk collectors tend to have a soft silicone shell that can be compressed and positioned on the breast by the user. The shape and elastic characteristics of the shell can determine the pressure distribution / behavior of the breast milk collector during extraction. In particular, the material properties, wall thickness, and shape of the silicone shell can determine the spring constant of the shell, which, combined with the effective surface on which the spring force acts, is responsible for the negative pressure generated by the breast milk collector. Utility Model Content

[0005] Laboratory analysis of currently available breast milk collectors indicates that the negative pressure achievable when using such collectors tends to be less dependent on the force with which the user compresses the soft shell, for example, when the soft shell is placed on the breast and compressed to provide negative pressure for most of the working window of the device. Furthermore, the compressibility of the soft shell in currently available breast milk collectors has been found to present difficulties in providing user-friendly negative pressure regulation, such as enabling the user to maintain or restore the initial negative pressure provided at the start of milk collection. It should be noted in this regard that the breast milk received in the collector tends to gradually decrease the pressure during use.

[0006] Therefore, users may not be able to manipulate or adapt to the pressure distribution behavior of currently available breast milk collectors. It is desirable to design a breast milk collector that facilitates negative pressure adjustment, taking into account that users may have different sensitivities and preferences regarding the negative pressure exerted on their breasts when using a breast milk collector.

[0007] This invention is defined by the embodiments listed prior to the claims.

[0008] According to one aspect of the present invention, a breast milk collector is provided for collecting milk from a mother's breast, the breast milk collector comprising a container partially defined by a wall portion, the breast milk collector being attachable to the breast such that at least a portion of the breast can withstand negative pressure generated after the wall portion is displaced to compress the container, wherein the wall portion is coupled to an elastically deformable assembly, the wall portion being displaceable along a compression axis to deform the elastically deformable assembly and compress the container, wherein the wall portion is less prone to deformation along the compression axis than the elastically deformable assembly under forces oriented along the compression axis.

[0009] A breast milk collector can be considered a passive breast milk collector, which receives milk while the mother's other breast is actively stimulated by variable / alternating pressure provided by feeding an infant or a breast pump.

[0010] By compressing the container through displacement of the container's wall portion and the associated deformation of the elastically deformable components connected to the wall portion, negative pressure, such as a partial vacuum, can be generated within the container of the breast milk collector. This negative pressure can facilitate the drainage of milk from the breast connected to the breast milk collector.

[0011] This compression of the container results in the creation of a negative pressure (e.g., a partial vacuum) within the container. As explained in more detail below, the restoring force acts to return the container to its normal / uncompressed shape relative to the volume of air displaced during compression. Therefore, air is scarce, and thus the container is under negative pressure.

[0012] The spring force, or restoring force, of the deformable component balances the pressure difference between the inside and outside of the compression container—in other words, the force generated by atmospheric pressure. This means that the achievable negative pressure within the compression container is partially influenced by the spring force of the deformable component.

[0013] This invention is partly based on the understanding that negative pressure within a container can be better controlled by employing a wall portion that, when subjected to a force oriented along the compression axis, deforms less along the compression axis than the elastically deformable component. Thus, the negative pressure can be determined primarily by selecting the spring force of the elastically deformable component and the area of ​​the non-deformable and, in some embodiments, rigid wall portion acted upon by the elastically deformable component.

[0014] This force can be applied, for example, by the user's fingers (one or more) along the compression axis to compress the container.

[0015] In some embodiments, the resiliently deformable component can be configured to adjust the spring force of the resiliently deformable component, which resists displacement of the wall portion along the compression axis. This spring force adjustment allows for regulation of the negative pressure within the compression container. Adjustment of the spring force enables the maintenance of a desired negative pressure within the compression container, for example, to compensate for a decrease in the pressure difference between the inside and outside of the compression chamber during use due to milk discharge from the breast.

[0016] Alternatively, or in addition to spring force adjustment, the wall portion can be configured to adjust the wall portion area acted upon by the elastically deformable component. The negative pressure in the compression vessel can be approximated as the spring force divided by the wall portion area acted upon by the spring force. Therefore, adjusting the wall portion area can provide a way to regulate negative pressure.

[0017] In some embodiments, the breast milk collector includes a rigid chassis for supporting the container.

[0018] In some embodiments, a rigid chassis, such as a hardened shell or frame, is configured to support the container and a removable breast milk collection container, such as a disposable milk bag. Alternatively, the container itself may be configured as a breast milk collection container, such as a breast milk collection bottle or a disposable milk bag.

[0019] In some embodiments, the container can be detached from a rigid chassis, such as from a rigid shell or frame.

[0020] This removability can facilitate cleaning of the container and / or rigid chassis. In embodiments where the container itself is configured as a breast milk collection container, this removability can also facilitate the storage of breast milk collected in the container.

[0021] In some embodiments, the breast milk collector includes a lever coupled to a chassis, wherein the lever is arranged to apply resistance to a wall portion against displacement of the wall portion along a compression axis. The rigidity of the chassis, such as a rigid housing or frame, allows the lever to apply resistance to the wall portion.

[0022] The lever can be pivotally connected to the chassis, for example, where resistance is applied to the wall portion via pivoting of the lever toward, for example, an abutment portion.

[0023] In some embodiments, the lever is arranged to pull or push a wall portion toward or against a stop that prevents displacement of the wall portion during the expansion of the container. In this embodiment, the lever can be moved, for example, bent, to compress the container, thereby forcing air out of the container. When the lever is released, stresses in the lever, such as bending stresses, can pull at the wall portion.

[0024] Initially, because the wall sections, which are not easily deformed during the compression of the container, maintain the rigidity of their shape, the lever could be pulled over a relatively large area of ​​the wall sections.

[0025] However, during milk collection, the container can gradually expand, thereby reducing the stress in the lever. When a wall section (e.g., part of the chassis) is prevented from moving further by a stopper, the effective area for lever pulling decreases. Together with the reduced lever stress due to the reduced pulling force, a relatively constant vacuum pressure can be maintained within the container.

[0026] Therefore, the reduction in tension can be balanced with the reduction in the effective pulling area until the displacement stops.

[0027] By using different levers, levers of different materials or thicknesses, or by using leaf springs, pressure specific to the mother can be obtained. The proper expansion of a container, such as by the unfolding of parts of the container, can be achieved, for example, by varying the thickness of the material forming the container.

[0028] In some embodiments, the resiliently deformable component includes a spring.

[0029] This type of spring facilitates control of negative pressure in the compression container because the spring force can be selected, and in some embodiments, it can be selected by the user during use of the breast milk collector.

[0030] In some embodiments, the spring includes, for example, a constant force spring.

[0031] The constant spring force provided by this constant force spring can help control negative pressure in a compression container.

[0032] The wall portion can be displaced along the compression axis from its initial position, corresponding to the uncompressed state of the container, to its final position reached when the wall portion has reached its maximum displacement.

[0033] A spring, such as a constant-force spring, can be configured such that the spring force when the wall portion is in the initial position is at least 80%, preferably at least 90%, of the spring force when the wall portion is in the final position. This relatively constant spring force can enhance the control of negative pressure in the compression vessel.

[0034] In some embodiments, the spring, such as a constant force spring, is a torsion spring.

[0035] In some embodiments, a spring, such as a constant force and / or torsion spring, is located between the chassis and the lever, wherein the spring is arranged to bias the lever to apply force on the wall portion.

[0036] It should be noted that the aforementioned torsion springs are particularly suitable for bias levers, such as levers pivotally mounted to the chassis, to apply resistance on the wall portion.

[0037] In some embodiments, the spring may be configured to allow selection of the spring force. Selection of the spring force allows for relatively direct adjustment of the negative pressure within the compression vessel.

[0038] In this embodiment, the spring force can be adjustable, for example, by winding and unwinding a strip of torsion spring, such as a steel strip.

[0039] The breast milk collector may include an adjustment mechanism configured to allow the user of the breast milk collector to select the spring force of the spring, for example, by the adjustment mechanism being configured to allow the user to wind and unwind a strip of helical torsion spring.

[0040] In some embodiments, the adjustment mechanism is configured to provide a self-locking selection of the spring force. Therefore, the adjustment mechanism allows a user to select the spring force in a single action and lock the selected spring force until the adjustment mechanism is subsequently used to reselect the spring force.

[0041] In some embodiments, the adjusting mechanism includes a worm gear that can be rotated by a user in a first direction to increase the spring force and in a second direction opposite to the first direction to decrease the spring force. Thus, such a worm gear allows the user to select the spring force by rotating the worm gear, wherein once the rotation is complete, the selected spring force is locked by the worm gear. The selected spring force is locked until the worm gear is subsequently rotated to reselect the spring force.

[0042] In some embodiments, the resiliently deformable component includes resiliently deformable wall sections of the container. Therefore, the wall sections of the container, such as sidewall sections, can be designed to facilitate the resilient deformation of the resiliently deformable component.

[0043] For example, a wall segment may include a folded wall segment.

[0044] In some embodiments, the container is defined by a rigid wall portion for arrangement opposite to the breast and folded sidewall sections extending from the rigid wall portion toward the breast in use. The container in this embodiment can be considered, for example, a bellows-type container.

[0045] In some embodiments, a portion of the container can be switched between being added to a wall portion, thereby increasing the area of ​​the wall portion acted upon by the elastically deformable component, and being removed from a wall portion, thereby reducing the area of ​​the wall portion acted upon by the elastically deformable component. This switching, for example via the unfolding and folding of a portion of the container, allows for relatively direct adjustment of the area of ​​the wall portion acted upon by the elastically deformable component, thereby facilitating the regulation of negative pressure within the compressed container.

[0046] In some embodiments, the breast milk collector includes one or more reinforcing elements arranged to maintain the shape of the container portion when it is added to a wall portion. Thus, the container portion can be fixed in a transitional state, such as an unfolded state, in which the container portion is added to / included in the wall portion acted upon by an elastically deformable component.

[0047] According to another aspect, a method is provided for engaging a breast milk collector with a mother's breast, the breast milk collector including a container partially defined by a wall portion coupled to an elastically deformable assembly, the method comprising: attaching the breast milk collector to the breast; and applying a force along a compression axis to the wall portion to compress the container and thereby provide a negative pressure in the container, the force causing the deformation of the wall portion along the compression axis to be less than the deformation of the elastically deformable assembly along the compression axis.

[0048] This method can be a method of docking a breast milk collector according to any embodiment described herein with a mother's breast.

[0049] This method may not require expressing breast milk from the mother's breast into a milk collector.

[0050] In some embodiments, the method includes adjusting the spring force of the elastically deformable component to adjust the negative pressure.

[0051] Alternatively or additionally, the method includes adjusting the wall portion area of ​​the wall portion acted upon by the elastically deformable component to adjust the negative pressure.

[0052] These and other aspects of the present invention will become apparent and will be explained with reference to one or more embodiments described below. Attached Figure Description

[0053] To better understand this invention and to more clearly illustrate how to implement it, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings by way of example only, wherein:

[0054] Figure 1A A schematic cross-sectional view of a breast milk collector during compression of the container of the breast milk collector, based on an example, is provided.

[0055] Figure 1BProvided Figure 1A A schematic cross-sectional view of a breast milk collector shown, with the container in an inflated state;

[0056] Figure 1C Provided Figure 1A and Figure 1B An external view of the breast milk collector shown;

[0057] Figure 2 Each spring force of the elastically deformable component of the breast milk collector has a negative pressure curve with constant flow rate;

[0058] Figure 3A and Figure 3B A view of a breast milk collector based on another example is provided, where the breast milk collector is in a first configuration;

[0059] Figure 3C and Figure 3D Provided Figure 3A and Figure 3B The breast milk collector shown is in a second configuration, different from the first configuration.

[0060] Figure 4A A schematic cross-sectional view of a breast milk collector according to another example is provided, wherein the container of the breast milk collector is in a compressed state; and

[0061] Figure 4B Provided Figure 4A A schematic cross-sectional view of a breast milk collector is shown, with the container of the breast milk collector in an inflated state.

[0062] Figure 5A A schematic cross-sectional view of a partially concave flexible hemispherical dome simulating a flexible milk container is provided.

[0063] Figure 5B Provided Figure 5A An illustration of the shape of a partially concave flexible milk container, where the horizontal axis shows the distance from the axis of symmetry and the vertical axis shows the height of the walls of the milk container.

[0064] Figure 6A Provides a demonstration of compression Figure 5A A graph showing the force required to form the dome as a function of the degree of compression.

[0065] Figure 6B Provided Figure 5A The effective area of ​​the dome is plotted as a function of the degree of compression.

[0066] Figure 7 It provides illustrations of the effects of different starting pressures, such as when water is continuously supplied to the device to simulate milk collection. Figure 5A The diagram shows the negative pressure in the dome-shaped breast milk collector as a function of time. Detailed Implementation

[0067] This utility model will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0068] It should be understood that while the detailed description and specific examples indicate exemplary embodiments of the apparatus, system, and method, they are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the apparatus, system, and method of the present invention will become better understood from the following description, the appended claims, and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the drawings are merely schematic and not drawn to scale. It should also be understood that in all the drawings, the same reference numerals are used to indicate the same or similar parts.

[0069] A passive breast milk collector is provided for collecting breast milk from a mother's breast. The breast milk collector includes a container. The breast milk collector is attachable to the breast such that at least a portion of the breast can withstand negative pressure generated upon compression of the container. The container is compressible along a compression axis to generate negative pressure. The container is partially defined by a wall portion, such as a rigid wall portion, which is coupled to an elastically deformable assembly. The container can be compressed against a restoring force of the elastically deformable assembly by displacement of the wall portion along the compression axis, the elastically deformable assembly deforming during the displacement of the wall portion.

[0070] Figures 1A to 1C A breast milk collector 10 according to an example is schematically depicted. The breast milk collector 10 includes a container 11 that can be attached to a user's breast BR such that when the container 11 is compressed, at least a portion of the breast BR can be subjected to negative pressure provided within the container 11.

[0071] At least a portion of the breast BR can be received in container 11, or container 11 can be in fluid communication with a cavity in which at least a portion of the breast BR can be received so that it is subjected to negative pressure provided within container 11.

[0072] The container 11 can be compressed along the compression axis CD to provide negative pressure. In particular, the container 11 is partially defined by the wall portion 11A, and force can be applied to the wall portion 11A along the compression axis CD, for example by a user's finger(s) FN, to compress the container 11.

[0073] This compression of container 11 results in a negative pressure, such as a partial vacuum, within container 11. As explained in more detail below, the restoring force acts to return container 11 to its normal / uncompressed shape relative to the volume of air displaced during compression. Therefore, an air shortage and negative pressure exist within container 11. This negative pressure can facilitate the drainage of milk from the breast BR, which is docked to the breast milk collector 10.

[0074] The breast milk collector 10 preferably includes a valve that allows air to escape during compression of the container 11, but prevents air from flowing into the container 11.

[0075] More generally, wall portion 11A is connected to resiliently deformable components 11B, 12, 13, 14, 15. By applying a force oriented along the compression axis, for example along the compression axis CD, to wall portion 11A to compress container 11, wall portion 11A is less prone to deformation along the compression axis CD than resiliently deformable components 11B, 12, 13, 14, 15.

[0076] For example, the wall portion 11A may be stiffer than the elastically deformable components 11B, 12, 13, 14, 15, such that when the wall portion 11A is subjected to a force along the compression axis CD, the elastically deformable components 11B, 12, 13, 14, 15 deform preferentially relative to the elastically deformable components 11B, 12, 13, 14, 15.

[0077] The negative pressure within container 11 can be better controlled by employing a wall portion 11A such that, when subjected to a force along the compression axis CD, for example to compress container 11, the deformation of wall portion 11A along the compression axis CD is less than the deformation of elastically deformable components 11B, 12, 13, 14, 15 along the compression axis CD. Thus, the negative pressure can be determined primarily by selecting the spring force of elastically deformable components 11B, 12, 13, 14, 15 and the area of ​​the less deformable and, in some embodiments, rigid wall portion 11A acted upon by elastically deformable components 11B, 12, 13, 14, 15.

[0078] By at least partly selecting the material and / or thickness of the wall portion 11A, the deformability of the wall portion 11A along the compression axis CD can be made, for example, less compressible than the deformability of the elastically deformable components 11B, 12, 13, 14, and 15.

[0079] The resiliently deformable components 11B; 12, 13, 14, and 15 can be configured in any suitable manner. In some embodiments, such as Figures 1A to 1CAs shown, resiliently deformable components 11B; 12, 13, 14, 15 include resiliently deformable wall sections 11B of container 11, and in some cases may be defined by these wall sections 11B. Therefore, the wall sections 11B of container 11, such as sidewall sections 11B, can be designed to facilitate, or in some cases provide, the resilient deformability of resiliently deformable components 11B; 12, 13, 14, 15.

[0080] Wall section 11B may include, for example, a folded wall section 11B. In some embodiments, such as Figures 1A to 1C As shown, container 11 is defined by a rigid wall portion 11A arranged opposite to the breast BR and a folded sidewall section 11B extending from the rigid wall portion 11A toward the breast BR in use. In this embodiment, container 11 can be considered, for example, a bellows-type container 11.

[0081] In some embodiments, the wall segment 11B is made of the same material as the wall portion 11A, but has a configuration of the wall segment 11B, such as a folded shape, and together with the greater thickness of the wall portion 11A, ensures that the wall portion 11A is less prone to deformation along the compression axis CD than the resiliently deformable assembly 11B 12, 13, 14, 15 that includes the wall segment 11B.

[0082] In other embodiments, the material of wall section 11B is different from the material of wall portion 11A, for example, it is more compressible than the material of wall portion 11A along the compression axis CD.

[0083] The materials used for wall portion 11A and wall segment 11B can be selected from, for example, polymeric materials, such as plastics and / or elastomers. Silicone resin is specifically mentioned as a material for forming wall portion 11A and / or wall segment 11B.

[0084] As an alternative to or in addition to the elastically deformable assembly 11B, 12, 13, 14, 15, which includes the elastically deformable wall section 11B, a spring 15 may be included in the elastically deformable assembly 11B, 12, 13, 14, 15 to resist displacement of the wall portion 11A along the compression axis CD. This spring 15 facilitates control of the negative pressure in the compression container 11 because the spring force of the spring 15 can be selected, for example, by the user during use of the breast milk collector 10, as explained in more detail below.

[0085] Spring 15 can have any suitable design and can be arranged in any suitable manner to resist displacement of wall portion 11A along compression axis CD. In some embodiments, spring 15 comprises, for example, a torsion spring.

[0086] More generally, the spring forces, or restoring forces, of the elastically deformable components 11B, 12, 13, 14, and 15 can balance the forces generated by the gas pressure difference (in other words, atmospheric pressure) between the interior and exterior of the compression container 11. This means that the negative pressure available in the compression container 11 is partially affected by the spring forces of the elastically deformable components 11B, 12, 13, 14, and 15.

[0087] In some embodiments, such as Figures 1A to 1C As shown, spring 15 includes, for example, a constant force spring, such as a constant torque spring 15, which applies a constant force, or at least a substantially constant force, within its range of motion. The constant spring force provided by such a constant force spring 15 can help control the negative pressure in the compression container 11.

[0088] In some embodiments, such as Figures 1A to 1C As shown, the constant force spring 15 is a helical wound torsion spring 15, such as a steel strip spring 15.

[0089] Figure 2 The breast milk collector 10 is provided with an elastically deformable component 11B; each of the spring forces of 12, 13, 14, and 15 has a negative pressure curve with a constant milk inflow rate. Figure 2 This demonstrates how adjusting the spring force allows for the regulation of negative pressure, particularly in a way that is beneficial to the user. Figure 2 The spring force adjustment allows the user to return to the initial negative pressure provided when milk collection begins.

[0090] It should be noted that wall portion 11A can be along the compression axis CD from, for example Figure 1B The initial position corresponding to the uncompressed state of container 11 is moved to the final position reached at the maximum displacement of wall portion 11A.

[0091] Spring 15, such as a constant force spring 15, can be configured such that the spring force of spring 15 when the wall portion 11A is in the initial position is at least 80%, preferably at least 90%, of the spring force of spring 15 when the wall portion 11A is in the compressed position. This relatively constant spring force can enhance the control of negative pressure in the compression container 11.

[0092] In some embodiments, the elastically deformable components 11B, 12, 13, 14, 15 can be configured to adjust the spring force of the elastically deformable components 11B, 12, 13, 14, 15, which resists displacement of the wall portion 11A along the compression axis CD. This spring force adjustment allows for adjustment of the negative pressure in the compression container 11.

[0093] The adjustment of the spring force of the elastically deformable components 11B, 12, 13, 14, and 15 can be implemented in any suitable manner. In some embodiments, such as Figures 1A to 1C As shown, spring 15 can be configured to allow selection of the spring force of spring 15. Selecting the spring force of spring 15 allows for relatively direct adjustment of the negative pressure in the compression container 11.

[0094] In this embodiment, the spring force of spring 15 can be adjusted by winding and unwinding a strip (e.g., a steel strip) of torsion spring 15 in a spiral. See details. Figure 1C The breast milk collector 10 may include an adjustment mechanism 16 configured to allow a user of the breast milk collector 10 to select the spring force of the spring 15. In this embodiment, the adjustment mechanism 16 may be configured to allow the user to wind and unwind the helical winding strip of the torsion spring 15, for example by rotating a knob 17 included in the adjustment mechanism 16.

[0095] In some embodiments, the adjustment mechanism 16 is configured to provide a self-locking selection of the spring force of the spring 15. Therefore, the adjustment mechanism 16 allows a user to select the spring force of the spring 15 in a single action and lock the selected spring force until the adjustment mechanism 16 is subsequently used to reselect the spring force.

[0096] In some embodiments, such as Figure 1C As shown, the adjusting mechanism 16 includes a worm gear that can be rotated by the user in a first direction to increase the spring force and in a second direction opposite to the first direction to decrease the spring force. Therefore, this worm gear allows the user to select the spring force of the spring 15 by rotating it; once the rotation is complete, the selected spring force is locked by the worm gear. The selected spring force is locked until the worm gear is subsequently rotated to reselect the spring force.

[0097] In some embodiments, such as Figures 1A to 1C As shown, the breast milk collector 10 includes a rigid chassis 14 for supporting the container 11. For example, the container 11 itself may be relatively flexible and elastic and is fitted within the chassis 14, such as a rigid shell or frame.

[0098] The chassis 14 can be formed of any suitable rigid material, such as rigid plastic materials, for example, polypropylene.

[0099] A rigid chassis 14, such as a hard shell or frame, can be configured to support the container 11 and a removable breast milk collection container, such as a disposable milk bag. Alternatively, the container 11 itself can be configured as a breast milk collection container, such as a breast milk collection bottle or a disposable milk bag.

[0100] In some embodiments, container 11 is detachable from rigid chassis 14, such as from a rigid shell or frame. This detachability facilitates cleaning of container 11 and / or rigid chassis 14. In embodiments where container 11 is configured as a breast milk collection container, this detachability can also help store breast milk collected in container 11.

[0101] In some embodiments, such as Figures 1A to 1C As shown, the breast milk collector 10 includes a lever 12 coupled to a chassis 14, wherein the lever 12 is arranged to apply resistance to a wall portion 11A against displacement of the wall portion 11A along a compression axis CD. The rigidity of the chassis 14 (e.g., a rigid housing or frame) allows the lever 12 to apply resistance to the wall portion 11A.

[0102] The lever 12 can be arranged to push and pull the container 11 through a gap defined in the chassis 14 (e.g., a rigid shell).

[0103] The lever 12 can be made of any suitable rigid material. In some embodiments, the lever 12 is formed of a plastic material, such as polypropylene.

[0104] like Figure 1A As best shown, lever 12 can be pivotally connected to chassis 14, wherein resistance is applied to wall portion 11A via pivoting of lever 12 toward (e.g., against) wall portion 11A. For this purpose, breast milk collector 10 may include a pivot connector 13, such as a hinge, located between lever 12 and chassis 14.

[0105] In some embodiments, a spring 15, such as a constant force spring 15 and / or a torsion spring 15, is located between the chassis 14 and the lever 12, wherein the spring 15 is arranged to bias the lever 15 to apply resistance on the wall portion 11A. It should be noted that the aforementioned torsion spring 15 may be particularly suited to bias the lever 12, which is pivotally mounted to the chassis 14, to apply resistance on the wall portion 11A.

[0106] In the non-restrictive illustrative examples, and with reference to Figures 1A to 1C The container 11 can be a flexible container 11 having a relatively rigid top wall portion 11A and a relatively rigid bottom wall portion 11D, and a flexible side wall section 11B extending between the top wall portion 11A and the bottom wall portion 11D. Regarding this example, it should be reiterated that the container 11 preferably has a valve that allows air to flow out of the container 11 but prevents air from flowing into the container 11.

[0107] In this non-limiting example, a rigid lever 12 is connected to a chassis 14 via a hinge 13, for example, to hold the rigid outer shell of the container 11 in place, wherein a constant-force torsion spring 15 is attached to the hinge 13 and the lever 12. This spring 15 can be prestressed, for example, by using a worm gear mechanism 16. The lever 12 can be pressed inward. The tension of the torsion spring 15 can be changed by a worm gear adjuster 17, for example, a knob. (Continue to the next section) Figures 1A to 1C The top wall portion 11A of container 11 is attached to lever 12. When lever 12 is pressed, it compresses container 11. When lever 12 is released, constant force torsion spring 15 applies a constant force / torque to lever 12 and the top wall portion 11A of container 11.

[0108] Because the container 11 in this non-limiting example has a rigid top wall portion 11A, the force is transmitted to this top wall portion 11A, which can provide a relatively constant / continuous negative pressure in the container 11. This negative pressure keeps the container 11 attached to the nipple of the breast BR, allowing no air to enter the container 11. As milk begins to flow into the container 11, its volume is slowly filled. However, due to the constant pull of the lever 12, the vacuum in the container 11 can be maintained relatively constant. The vacuum can decrease when the lever 12 reaches its end stop and can no longer be pulled. The lever 12 can be pushed multiple times.

[0109] Because milk flow and comfort can be optimal under specific mother-specific pressures and may even change over many months of breastfeeding, the prestress of spring 15 can be varied. In this non-limiting example, this prestress can be released or increased via the worm gear mechanism 16. More generally, due to the lever 12 and spring 15 mechanism, the negative pressure can be relatively constant and adaptable. This can help optimize comfort and breast milk collection performance.

[0110] It should be noted that the design of the wall portion 11A is not particularly limited in this respect, as long as the wall portion 11A is less deformable along the compression axis CD than the elastically deformable components 11B, 12, 13, 14, 15 connected to the wall portion 11A. In some embodiments (not shown), the wall portion 11A includes, for example, an end defined by a plunger that moves along the cylinder. In this embodiment, the end of the plunger along the compression axis CD is less deformable along the compression axis CD than the elastically deformable components 11B, 12, 13, 14, 15, such as spring 15 or lever springs 12, 15, which resist movement of the plunger end along the compression axis CD.

[0111] In some embodiments, wall portion 11A may be configured to adjust the wall portion area acted upon by the elastically deformable components 11B; 12, 13, 14, 15. The negative pressure in the compression container 11 can be approximated as the spring force divided by the wall portion area acted upon by the spring force. Therefore, adjusting the wall portion area can provide a way to adjust the negative pressure, for example, as an alternative to or in addition to the spring force of the adjustable elastically deformable components 11B; 12, 13, 14, 15.

[0112] This adjustment of the wall area can be implemented in any suitable manner. In some embodiments, and with reference to Figures 3A to 3D The portion 11C of container 11 can be switched between being added to wall portion 11A and thereby increasing the wall portion area acted upon by elastically deformable components 11B; 12, 13, 14, 15, and being removed from wall portion 11A and thereby decreasing the wall portion area acted upon by elastically deformable components 11B; 12, 13, 14, 15.

[0113] exist Figure 3A and Figure 3B In the configuration shown, portion 11C of container 11 is not included in the area of ​​the wall portion acted upon by the elastically deformable components 11B; 12, 13, 14, 15, while Figure 3C and Figure 3D In the configuration shown, portion 11C of container 11 is included in the area of ​​the wall portion acted upon by the elastically deformable components 11B; 12, 13, 14, 15. Figure 3C and Figure 3D The increased wall area in the illustrated configuration can reduce the negative pressure in container 11. This switching, for example via the unfolding and folding of portion 11C of container 11, allows for relatively direct adjustment of the wall area acted upon by the elastically deformable components 11B; 12, 13, 14, 15, and thus facilitates easy adjustment of the negative pressure in the compression container 11.

[0114] It should be noted that switching of part 11C of container 11 can cause a change in the volume of container 11, for example, a volume change of about 10% or greater. It should be noted that the initial volume may be the most important factor for the duration of the milk extraction process. The smaller the volume discharged, the less milk can be extracted.

[0115] In some embodiments, such as Figures 3A to 3DAs shown, the breast milk collector 10 includes one or more reinforcing elements 18 arranged to maintain the shape of the portion 11C of the container 11 when it is added to the wall portion 11A. Therefore, the portion 11C of the container 11 can be fixed in a switching state, such as an unfolded state, in which the portion 11C of the container 11 is added to / included in the wall portion 11A, which is acted upon by elastically deformable components 11B; 12, 13, 14, 15.

[0116] In some embodiments, such as Figure 4A and Figure 4B As shown, lever 12 is arranged to pull wall portion 11A toward stop ST, which prevents displacement of wall portion 11A during expansion of container 11. In this embodiment, lever 12 can move, for example, bend, to compress container 11, thereby forcing air out of container 11. When lever 12 is released, stress in lever 12, such as bending stress, can pull at wall portion 11A.

[0117] Initially, lever 12 can be pulled over a relatively large area of ​​wall portion 11A because the rigidity of the less deformable wall portion 11A maintains its shape during compression of container 11. However, during milk collection, container 11 can gradually expand, thereby relieving stress in lever 12. When wall portion 11A is prevented from moving further by stop ST (e.g., part of chassis 14), the effective area for lever 12 to pull decreases. Together with the reduced lever stress due to the reduced pulling force, a relatively constant vacuum pressure can be maintained within container 11. For this purpose, the reduction in pulling force can be balanced with the reduction in the effective pulling area until displacement stops.

[0118] A mother-specific pressure can be obtained by using different levers 12, levers 12 of different materials or thicknesses, or by using leaf springs and / or springs that are connected to or not connected to each other or not connected to the wall portion 11A. The proper expansion of the container 11, for example via the unfolding of the portions of the container 11, can be achieved, for example, by a change in the thickness of the material forming the container 11.

[0119] This disclosure also provides a method for docking a breast milk collector 10 with a mother's breast (BR). The breast milk collector 10 includes a container 11, which is partially defined by wall portions 11A connected to resiliently deformable components 11B; 12, 13, 14, 15. The breast milk collector 10 can be adapted according to any embodiment described herein, for example, with reference to Figures 1A to 1C , Figures 3A to 3D , Figure 4A and Figure 4BThe method includes attaching a breast milk collector 10 (e.g., its container 11) to the breast BR, and applying force, for example, via a user's finger(s) FN along the compression axis CD to compress the container 11, thereby providing negative pressure within the container 11. This force causes the deformation of the wall portion 11A along the compression axis CD to be less than that of the elastically deformable component 11B; the deformations of 12, 13, 14, and 15 along the compression axis CD are as previously described.

[0120] In some embodiments, the method includes adjusting the spring force of the resiliently deformable components 11B; 12, 13, 14, 15 to adjust the negative pressure, for example by selecting the spring force of the configurable spring 15 included in the resiliently deformable components 11B; 12, 13, 14, 15.

[0121] Alternatively or additionally, the method may include adjusting the wall portion area of ​​the wall portion 11A acted upon by the resiliently deformable components 11B; 12, 13, 14, 15 to adjust the negative pressure, for example by switching between adding a portion 11C of the container 11 to the wall portion 11A and thereby increasing the wall portion area acted upon by the resiliently deformable components 11B; 12, 13, 14, 15, and removing it from the wall portion 11A and thereby decreasing the wall portion area acted upon by the resiliently deformable components 11B; 12, 13, 14, 15.

[0122] Figure 5A A schematic cross-sectional view of a partially concave flexible hemispherical dome simulating a flexible milk container is provided. The figure shows a portion of the internal volume and a portion of the concave area. In this example, the concavity is created using a blunt indenter. In this figure, the indenter is shown in a retracted position after forming the indentation. It should be noted that although a hemispherical dome is shown, for Figures 5 to... Figure 7 The same explanation applies to other shapes, such as two domes that may be partially glued together to form a sphere or a partial sphere.

[0123] Figure 5B Provided Figure 5A An illustration of the shape of a partially concave flexible milk container, where the horizontal axis represents the distance from the axis of symmetry and the vertical axis represents the height of the container's walls. The circle at the apex of the curve shows the effective diameter of the surface involved in generating negative pressure. In the example shown, the dome has been concave from its fully extended shape to a center height of approximately 22 mm. Corresponding to this concavity is a circular area with a radius of 31 mm. Areas corresponding to radii from 31 to 55 mm do not contribute to generating negative pressure because they do not alter their shape. The radial position of the curve apex is a function of the degree of central concavity.

[0124] Figure 6AProvides a demonstration of compression Figure 5A The graph shows the force required to create the dome as a function of the degree of compression. As shown, the relationship between the center indentation and the force required to create the center indentation is nearly linear, with the first linear relationship between 0 and 5 mm and the second linear relationship between 5 and 40 mm.

[0125] Figure 6B Provided Figure 5A The diagram illustrates the effective area of ​​the indented portion of the dome as a function of the degree of compression. Since the force required to create an indentation varies linearly with the degree of indentation, and since the effective area also varies linearly with the degree of indentation, the ratio of force to area, i.e., the resulting negative pressure, is essentially constant. This means that the negative pressure of the device is fixed by its design, and once a user begins using a particular device, she cannot choose the negative pressure that best suits her.

[0126] Figure 7 A graph is provided showing the negative pressure as a function of time for different starting pressures when water is continuously supplied to the device to simulate milk collection. The graph shows that the pressure as a function of time is essentially independent of the selected starting pressure (p1-p4). Between 0 and 200 seconds, the initially compressed sidewalls relax and return to their original shape. This part of the graph corresponds to the case where the flexible container is initially fully compressed. Women using flexible milk containers do not flatten the container against their bodies and use less pressure than this. Therefore, under normal circumstances, women would not operate the flexible milk container under the conditions on the far left of the graph. Between 200 and less than 800 seconds, the still-concave central dome returns to its original shape. During this period, the negative pressure is essentially constant, mainly between approximately -40 and -45 millibars. The temporary drop between 300 and 400 seconds is due to the sudden relaxation of some of the sidewalls. A similar effect occurs at approximately 800 seconds when the last part of the central dome relaxes and 'plops' back to its original shape, causing a brief but sudden drop in pressure. Starting at 800 seconds, the flexible dome had completely returned to its original shape, and the pressure increased linearly as more and more liquid filled the dome.

[0127] Based on a study of the accompanying drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims, those skilled in the art can understand and implement variations of the disclosed embodiments in practicing the claimed invention. In the claims, the word "comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article "a / an" does not exclude a plurality.

[0128] The fact that certain measures are described in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used advantageously.

[0129] If the term “suitable” is used in the claims or description, it should be noted that the term “suitable” is intended to be equivalent to the term “configured as”.

[0130] Any reference numerals in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope.

[0131] Example:

[0132] 1. A breast milk collector (10) for collecting milk from a mother's breast, the breast milk collector comprising a container (11) partially defined by a wall portion (11A), the breast milk collector being attachable to the breast such that at least a portion of the breast can withstand negative pressure generated after the wall portion is displaced to compress the container, wherein the wall portion (11A) is coupled to an elastically deformable assembly (11B; 12, 13, 14, 15), the wall portion being displaceable along a compression axis (CD) to deform the elastically deformable assembly and compress the container, wherein the wall portion is less prone to deformation along the compression axis than the elastically deformable assembly under forces oriented along the compression axis.

[0133] 2. The breast milk collector (10) according to Embodiment 1, wherein the elastically deformable components (11B; 12, 13, 14, 15) can be configured to adjust the spring force of the elastically deformable components, which resists the displacement of the wall portion (11A) along the compression axis (CD).

[0134] 3. The breast milk collector (10) according to Embodiment 1 or Embodiment 2, wherein the wall portion (11A) can be configured to adjust the wall portion area of ​​the wall portion acted upon by the elastically deformable components (11B; 12, 13, 14, 15).

[0135] 4. A breast milk collector (10) according to any one of embodiments 1 to 3 includes a rigid chassis (14) for supporting a container (11) and a lever (12) connected to the chassis, the lever being arranged to apply resistance to a wall portion (11A) against displacement of the wall portion along a compression axis (CD).

[0136] 5. The breast milk collector (10) according to embodiment 4, wherein the lever (12) is arranged to pull or push the wall portion (11A) toward or against the stop (ST), the stop stopping the displacement of the wall portion during the expansion of the container (11).

[0137] 6. The breast milk collector (10) according to Embodiment 4 or Embodiment 5, wherein the resiliently deformable components (11B; 12, 13, 14, 15) include a spring (15) located between the chassis (14) and the lever (12), the spring being arranged to bias the lever (12) to apply resistance on the wall portion (11A).

[0138] 7. The breast milk collector (10) according to Example 6, wherein the spring (15) comprises a constant force spring; and / or wherein the spring comprises a torsion spring.

[0139] 8. A breast milk collector (10) according to Embodiment 6 or Embodiment 7, wherein the wall portion (11A) is movable along the compression axis (CD) from an initial position corresponding to the uncompressed state of the container (11) to a final position reached at the maximum displacement of the wall portion, and the spring (15) is configured such that when the wall portion is in the initial position, the spring force of the spring is at least 80%, preferably at least 90%, of the spring force of the spring when the wall portion is in the final position.

[0140] 9. A breast milk collector (10) according to any one of embodiments 6 to 8, wherein the spring (15) is configured to allow selection of the spring force.

[0141] 10. The breast milk collector (10) according to embodiment 9 includes an adjustment mechanism (16) configured to allow the user of the breast milk collector to select the spring force of the spring (15).

[0142] 11. The breast milk collector (10) according to embodiment 10, wherein the adjusting mechanism (16) is configured to provide a self-locking selection of the spring force of the spring (15); optionally, wherein the adjusting mechanism includes a worm gear that can be rotated by a user in a first direction to increase the spring force of the spring, and can be rotated in a second direction opposite to the first direction to decrease the spring force of the spring.

[0143] 12. A breast milk collector (10) according to any one of embodiments 1 to 11, wherein the resiliently deformable component (11B; 12, 13, 14, 15) includes a resiliently deformable wall section (11B) of the container; optionally, wherein the wall section includes a folded wall section.

[0144] 13. A breast milk collector (10) according to any one of embodiments 1 to 12, wherein a portion (11C) of the container (11) is switchable between being added to the wall portion (11A) and thereby increasing the area of ​​the wall portion acted upon by the elastically deformable components (11B; 12, 13, 14, 15) and being removed from the wall portion and thereby reducing the area of ​​the wall portion acted upon by the elastically deformable components.

[0145] 14. A breast milk collector (10) according to any one of embodiments 1 to 13, wherein the container (11) is configured as a breast milk collection container.

[0146] 15. A method of engaging a breast milk collector (10) with a mother's breast, the breast milk collector comprising a container (11) partially connected to an elastically deformable assembly (11B; 12, 13, 14, 15), the method comprising:

[0147] Attach the breast milk collection device to the breast; and

[0148] A force is applied to the wall portion along the compression axis (CD) to compress the container and thereby provide a negative pressure in the container. This force causes the deformation of the wall portion along the compression axis to be less than the deformation of the elastically deformable component along the compression axis.

Claims

1. A breast milk collector for collecting milk from a mother's breast, characterized in that, The breast milk collector includes a container (11) partially defined by a wall portion (11A). The breast milk collector is attachable to the breast such that at least a portion of the breast can withstand the negative pressure generated after the wall portion is displaced to compress the container. The wall portion (11A) is coupled to a resiliently deformable assembly (11B; 12, 13, 14, 15) displaceable along a compression axis (CD) to deform the resiliently deformable assembly and compress the container. The wall portion is less prone to deformation along the compression axis than the resiliently deformable assembly under forces oriented along the compression axis. The breast milk collector (10) is configured to include at least one of the following features: (i) The resiliently deformable assembly (11B; 12, 13, 14, 15) can be configured to adjust the spring force of the resiliently deformable assembly, the spring force resisting displacement of the wall portion (11A) along the compression axis (CD); and (ii) The wall portion (11A) can be configured to adjust the wall portion area of ​​the wall portion acted upon by the elastically deformable components (11B; 12, 13, 14, 15).

2. The breast milk collector according to claim 1, characterized in that... It includes a rigid chassis (14) for supporting the container (11) and a lever (12) connected to the chassis, the lever being arranged to apply resistance on the wall portion (11A) against displacement of the wall portion along the compression axis (CD).

3. The breast milk collector according to claim 2, characterized in that, The lever (12) is arranged to pull or push the wall portion (11A) toward or against a stop (ST) that prevents displacement of the wall portion during the expansion of the container (11).

4. The breast milk collector according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that, The resiliently deformable assembly (11B; 12, 13, 14, 15) includes a spring (15) located between the chassis (14) and the lever (12), the spring being arranged to bias the lever (12) to apply the resistance on the wall portion (11A).

5. The breast milk collector according to claim 4, characterized in that, The spring (15) includes a constant force spring; and / or the spring includes a torsion spring.

6. The breast milk collector according to claim 5, characterized in that, The wall portion (11A) is capable of moving along the compression axis (CD) from an initial position corresponding to the uncompressed state of the container (11) to a final position reached at the maximum displacement of the wall portion, and the spring (15) is configured such that when the wall portion is in the initial position, the spring force of the spring is at least 80%, preferably at least 90%, of the spring force of the spring when the wall portion is in the final position.

7. The breast milk collector according to any one of claims 5 to 6, characterized in that, The spring (15) can be configured to allow selection of the spring force.

8. The breast milk collector according to claim 7, characterized in that... Includes an adjustment mechanism (16) configured to allow the user of the breast milk collector to select the spring force of the spring (15).

9. The breast milk collector according to claim 8, characterized in that, The adjustment mechanism (16) is configured to provide a self-locking selection of the spring force of the spring (15); optionally, the adjustment mechanism includes a worm gear that can be rotated by a user in a first direction to increase the spring force of the spring, and can be rotated in a second direction opposite to the first direction to decrease the spring force of the spring.

10. The breast milk collector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The resiliently deformable assembly (11B; 12, 13, 14, 15) includes a resiliently deformable wall section of the container; optionally, the wall section includes a folded wall section.

11. The breast milk collector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, A portion (11C) of the container (11) can switch between being added to the wall portion (11A) and thereby increasing the area of ​​the wall portion acted upon by the elastically deformable components (11B; 12, 13, 14, 15) and being removed from the wall portion and thereby decreasing the area of ​​the wall portion acted upon by the elastically deformable components.

12. The breast milk collector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The container (11) is configured as a breast milk collection container.

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