Breast pump systems

Abstract

Systems and methods for pumping milk from a breast responsive to a controller, 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.

That which is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A wearable, portable self-powered breast pump system for pumping milk from a breast, comprising:
 a pumping mechanism;   a fluid container configured to directly engage and fit within a bra wherein the fluid container is connected to a suction flow path; and   a flange configured to receive the breast, the flange including a nipple receiving portion and a bottom portion, the bottom portion configured below the nipple receiving portion during use, the nipple receiving portion including a proximal end defining an opening;   wherein the pumping mechanism is associated with the nipple receiving portion and the pumping mechanism is fixed above the nipple receiving portion to create a suction force from the nipple receiving portion, the suction force and the suction path both being above the bottom portion of the flange.   
     
     
         2 . The breast pump system of  claim 1 , wherein the breast pump defines a generally breast shaped profile. 
     
     
         3 . The breast pump system of  claim 2 , wherein the fluid container forms a part of the generally breast shaped profile. 
     
     
         4 . The breast pump system of  claim 1 , further comprising a controller. 
     
     
         5 . The breast pump system of  claim 4 , further comprising a sensor in communication with the controller to provide a control loop that is used to adjust suction pressure. 
     
     
         6 . The breast pump system of  claim 5 , wherein the pumping mechanism includes a flexible member that creates the suction pressure, wherein the control loop is used to adjust a speed of the flexible member to vary or maintain suction pressure. 
     
     
         7 . The breast pump system of  claim 5 , wherein the pumping mechanism includes a flexible member that creates the suction pressure, wherein the control loop is used to adjust a position of the flexible member to vary or maintain suction pressure. 
     
     
         8 . The breast pump system of  claim 7 , wherein a volume of the milk pumped is calculated by assessing the position of the flexible member. 
     
     
         9 . The breast pump system of  claim 8 , wherein pressure changes are assessed by a comparison with positions of the flexible member. 
     
     
         10 . The breast pump system of  claim 7 , wherein the pumping mechanism includes a second flexible member, wherein the control loop is used to adjust a position of the second flexible member to vary or maintain the suction pressure. 
     
     
         11 . The breast pump system of  claim 7 , wherein the pumping mechanism includes a second flexible member, wherein the control loop is used to adjust a speed of the second flexible member to vary or maintain the suction pressure. 
     
     
         12 . The breast pump system of  claim 1 , wherein a volume of milk pumped is calculated by comparing pressure changes. 
     
     
         13 . A wearable, portable self-powered breast pump system for pumping milk from a breast and sized and shaped to fit within a bra, comprising:
 a vacuum pumping flexible member configured to pump the milk from the breast;   a skin contact member configured to contact and form a seal with the breast, the skin contact member including a nipple receiving portion;   a milk collection container having a rigid exterior surface configured to contact the bra; and   a conduit suction path below the vacuum pumping flexible member and above the nipple receiving portion wherein the vacuum pumping flexible member is above the nipple receiving portion to create upward suction.   
     
     
         14 . The breast pump system of  claim 13 , wherein the breast pump system includes a letdown mode and an extraction mode. 
     
     
         15 . The breast pump system of  claim 14 , further comprising a controller, the controller configured to change a vacuum level in the breast pump system to the extraction mode after the milk entering the breast pump system. 
     
     
         16 . The breast pump system of  claim 14 , further comprising a controller, the controller configured to change a pumping magnitude upon a predetermined time. 
     
     
         17 . The breast pump system of  claim 13 , wherein the breast pump system defines a generally breast shape. 
     
     
         18 . The breast pump system of  claim 17 , wherein the collection container forms part of the generally breast shape of the breast pump system. 
     
     
         19 . The breast pump system of  claim 18 , wherein the collection container has a valve.