Breast pumps

Abstract

An example breast pump system can include: a control unit including a processor and memory, the control unit including an interface to control the breast pump system; a vacuum unit controlled by the control unit, the vacuum unit including pump motors to create suction for pumping milk; a support mechanism located remotely from the control unit; and a member extending between the control unit and the support mechanism, the member being movable to allow the control unit to be repositioned relative to the support mechanism. The memory encodes instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the breast pump system to: select at least a first pump motor from the plurality of pump motors for a first pumping timeframe; and select at least a second pump motor from the plurality of pump motors for a second pumping timeframe.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A breast pump system, comprising:
 a plurality of pump motors, with each of the plurality of pump motors being configured to create suction for pumping milk; and   a controller with a processor and memory, with the memory encoding instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the breast pump system to:
 select at least a first pump motor from the plurality of pump motors for a first pumping timeframe; and 
 select at least a second pump motor from the plurality of pump motors for a second pumping timeframe, wherein the second pumping timeframe starts after the first pumping timeframe ends. 
   
     
     
         22 . The breast pump system of  claim 21 , wherein the memory encodes further instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the breast pump system to iteratively select between the first pump motor and the second pump motor for each subsequent pumping timeframe. 
     
     
         23 . The breast pump system of  claim 21 , wherein the second pumping timeframe starts after one of: a single pumping session by the first pump motor; a malfunction of the first pump motor; and a useful life of the first pump motor. 
     
     
         24 . The breast pump system of  claim 21 , wherein the memory encodes further instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the breast pump system to identify how many pump motors are included in the plurality of pump motors. 
     
     
         25 . The breast pump system of  claim 21 , further comprising a plurality of solenoids, and wherein the memory encodes further instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the breast pump system to select a first solenoid of the plurality of solenoids for the first pumping timeframe and a second solenoid of the plurality of solenoids for the second pumping timeframe. 
     
     
         26 . The breast pump system of  claim 21 , wherein the plurality of pump motors includes at least three pump motors. 
     
     
         27 . The breast pump system of  claim 26 , wherein at least two of the plurality of pump motors of the plurality of pump motors are selected to provide suction during a pump cycle. 
     
     
         28 . The breast pump system of  claim 21 , further comprising a member extending between the plurality of pump motors and the controller. 
     
     
         29 . The breast pump system of  claim 21 , wherein the memory encodes further instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the breast pump system to:
 determine that the first pump motor has reached an end of useful life; and   thereupon, select the second pump motor for pumping.   
     
     
         30 . The breast pump system of  claim 21 , wherein the first pump motor and the second pump motor are manually selectable by a user. 
     
     
         31 . A breast pump system, comprising:
 a first pump motor and a second pump motor, with each of the first pump motor and the second pump motor being configured to create suction for pumping milk; and   a controller with a processor and memory, with the memory encoding instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the breast pump system to:
 select the first pump motor for a first pumping timeframe; and 
 select the second pump motor a second pumping timeframe, wherein the second pumping timeframe starts after the first pumping timeframe ends. 
   
     
     
         32 . The breast pump system of  claim 31 , wherein the memory encodes further instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the breast pump system to iteratively select between the first pump motor and the second pump motor for each subsequent pumping timeframe. 
     
     
         33 . The breast pump system of  claim 31 , wherein the second pumping timeframe starts after one of: a single pumping session by the first pump motor; a malfunction of the first pump motor; and a useful life of the first pump motor. 
     
     
         34 . The breast pump system of  claim 31 , wherein the memory encodes further instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the breast pump system to identify how many pump motors are included. 
     
     
         35 . The breast pump system of  claim 31 , further comprising a plurality of solenoids, and wherein the memory encodes further instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the breast pump system to select a first solenoid of the plurality of solenoids for the first pumping timeframe and a second solenoid of the plurality of solenoids for the second pumping timeframe. 
     
     
         36 . The breast pump system of  claim 31 , wherein the breast pump system includes at least three pump motors. 
     
     
         37 . The breast pump system of  claim 36 , wherein the first pump motor and the second pump motor are selected to provide suction during a pump cycle. 
     
     
         38 . The breast pump system of  claim 31 , further comprising a member extending between the first pump motor and the second pump motor and the controller. 
     
     
         39 . The breast pump system of  claim 31 , wherein the memory encodes further instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the breast pump system to:
 determine that the first pump motor has reached an end of useful life; and   thereupon, select the second pump motor for pumping.   
     
     
         40 . The breast pump system of  claim 31 , wherein the first pump motor and the second pump motor are manually selectable by a user.