Patent ID: 6497677
Filing Date: 2002-12-24
Classification: A61M

Abstract:
A breast pump having two modes of manual operation, comprising:a hood body for placement over a breast, said hood body having a funnel-shaped portion within which the breast is received; a pump connecting with said funnel-shaped portion, said pump further comprising a reciprocating element, said reciprocating element in communication with a vacuum chamber said reciprocating element moving along an axis, whereby said reciprocating movement generates an alternating pressure in said vacuum chamber which is communicated to the hood body on the breast to effect expression of milk therefrom; a first manually operated mechanism mounted to said breast pump for generating said reciprocating movement of said reciprocating element, said first mechanism having a member that is moved by hand in a direction generally radial to said axis during one stroke of said reciprocating movement, and further said first mechanism being operable by the user using one hand to both operate said first mechanism and to maintain said breast pump in position against her breast; a second mechanism for generating said reciprocating movement of said reciprocating member, whereby said second mechanism moves in a direction generally parallel to said axis during one stroke of said reciprocating movement, and further said second mechanism being sized and shaped to be operable by the user using one hand to operate said second mechanism and another hand to maintain said breast pump in position against her breast; and a container for expressed milk in communication with said funnel-shaped portion, said container being located downstream from said funnel-shaped portion.