Patent ID: 6090065
Filing Date: 2000-07-18
Classification: A61M

Abstract:
A new and improved self cycling breast pump comprising, in combination:a nurser bottle with a circular opening formed on a top face thereof, the nurser bottle having a peripheral lip integrally formed about the top opening with a plurality of coaxial threads formed thereon;a suction assembly having an outboard extent with a frusto-conical configuration, the outboard extent having a large opening and a small opening, the suction assembly further having an inboard extent having a cylindrical configuration integrally formed in coaxial relation with the small opening of the outboard extent;a cap assembly including a top face and a periphery integrally formed thereto and depending downwardly therefrom with a plurality of threaded grooves formed in an inner surface thereof, the top face having an aperture formed in a central extent thereof, the cap assembly further including a mounting tube integrally coupled at first end thereof to the top face of the cap assembly and in communication with an interior thereof, the mounting tube adapted to allow frictional coupling of the inboard extent of the suction assembly thereto;a reservoir including an upper extent formed of a bottom face with an aperture formed therein, a cylindrical periphery integrally formed with the bottom face and extending upwardly to define a top opening, a plurality of grooves formed in the periphery adjacent the top opening of the reservoir, and an annular flange formed along the periphery of the reservoir contiguous with the top opening thereof for resting about the peripheral lip of the nurser bottle such that the cap assembly may be threadedly secured to the nurser bottle, the reservoir further including a lower extent formed of a vertically oriented tube integrally coupled to the bottom face of the upper extent about the aperture thereof;a one-way valve adapted to be frictionally coupled to the lower extent of the reservoir for allowing liquid received from the suction assembly to pass therethrough to the nurser bottle;electric pump means adapted to generate a vacuum at an inlet thereof upon the activation thereof;electronic vacuum control means for allowing the manual governing of the level of vacuum generated by the electric pump means;electric vent valve means adapted to vent the vacuum created by the electric pump means upon the activation thereof for releasing said vacuum;manual vent control means adapted to vent the vacuum created by the electric pump means upon the manual activation thereof for releasing said vacuum;electronic vent control means for determining a rate of activation of the electric vent valve means thereby creating a cycling suction at the inlet of the electric pump means; andlow battery indication means coupled to a battery for alerting a user upon an available power of the battery falling below a predetermined level.