Electric breast pump

Abstract

A breast pump comprises a breast cup and a source of positive and vacuum to the breast cup. The pressure and vacuum are set to an initial value for a fixed period of time, and they are nto adjustable by a user. The initial values are selected to allow the breast cup to be repositioned by a user before higher levels of pressure and vacuum are applied.

1 . A breast pump, comprising: 
 a breast cup,    a source of pressure to the breast cup, and    a source of vacuum to the breast cup,    wherein the pressure and the vacuum are set to a first pressure and a first vacuum for a set period of time, and both are not changeable by a user during the set period of time.    
   
   
       2 . The breast pump of  claim 1 , wherein the first pressure and the first vacuum are low enough to permit a user to adjust the breast cup to a desired position on a breast.  
   
   
       3 . The breast pump of  claim 1 , wherein the first pressure and first vacuum are too close to ambient pressure and vacuum to extract milk effectively from a breast.  
   
   
       4 . The breast pump of  claim 1 , wherein the first pressure ranges from 50-110 mm Hg and the first vacuum ranges from 50-150 mm Hg.  
   
   
       5 . The breast pump of  claim 1 , wherein the set period of time is at least 10 seconds.  
   
   
       6 . The breast pump of  claim 1 , wherein the set period of time is at least 20 second.  
   
   
       7 . The breast pump of  claim 1 , wherein the pressure and the vacuum are adjustable to desired levels after the set period of time.  
   
   
       8 . A method of operating a breast pump comprising 
 applying a first pressure and a first vacuum to a breast cup for a set period of time,    wherein the first pressure and the first vacuum are not changeable by a user during the set period of time, and    operating the breast pump at an operating pressure and an operating vacuum after the set period of time has elapsed.    
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the first pressure and the first vacuum are low enough to permit a user to adjust the breast cup to a desired position on a breast.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the first pressure and first vacuum are too close to ambient pressure and vacuum to extract milk effectively from a breast.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the first pressure ranges from 50-110 mm Hg and the first vacuum ranges from 50-150 mm Hg.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the set period of time is at least 10 seconds.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the set period of time is at least 20 seconds.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising adjusting at least one of the operating pressure and/or the operating vacuum to a desired level after the set period of time has elapsed.