Breast pump assembly

Abstract

Systems and methods for pumping milk from a breast, wherein the milk is expressed from the breast under suction and milk is expulsed from the pumping mechanism to a collection container under positive pressure. In one approach, the breast pump assembly includes a breast adapter and a receptacle configured to cup the breast adapter, and the breast adapter is removable from the receptacle.

That which is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An automated system for controlling pumping cycles to pump milk from a human breast, the system comprising:
 a breast pump assembly shaped to fit within a bra, the breast pump assembly including:   a housing sized to fit within the bra;   a breast adapter configured to contact and form a seal with the breast, the breast adapter being attached to the housing and including a nipple receiving cavity;   a pumping mechanism contained within the housing, the pumping mechanism including a pumping region above the nipple receiving cavity and configured to facilitate creating a suction on the human breast;   a milk collection container attached to the housing; and   a controller contained within the housing.   
     
     
         2 . The automated system of  claim 1 , wherein the breast adapter is visually clear. 
     
     
         3 . The automated system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller automatically changes application of suction from a letdown phase to an expression mode upon sensing letdown. 
     
     
         4 . The automated system of  claim 1 , wherein an operational setting of the automated system is based on time. 
     
     
         5 . The automated system of  claim 1 , further comprising a first driver and a second driver, wherein the first and second drivers are configured in a series arrangement and configured to cooperate to facilitate generating vacuum pressure within the pumping region. 
     
     
         6 . The automated system of  claim 5 , wherein the first drive and the second driver are compression drivers. 
     
     
         7 . The automated system of  claim 1 , further comprising a first piezoelectric device and a second piezoelectric device, the first and second piezoelectric devices each configured as a driver to facilitate stimulating milk letdown and milk extraction. 
     
     
         8 . The automated system of  claim 7 , wherein the first piezoelectric device and the second piezoelectric device are mounted to the breast adapter. 
     
     
         9 . The automated system of  claim 1 , wherein the breast pump defines a generally breast shaped profile. 
     
     
         10 . The automated system of  claim 9 , wherein the collection container forms part of the generally breast shaped profile.