Patent ID: 6673036
Filing Date: 2004-01-06
Classification: A61M

Abstract:
A receptacle bulkhead for a portable pumping device for drawing milk from a human breast, the pumping device having a milk receptacle and a vacuum source for applying suction to a hood configured to receive the breast, the receptacle bulkhead configured to separately connect the vacuum source and the hood to the milk receptacle, the bulkhead having a housing definingan internal chamber; a milk inlet conduit providing communication between the hood and the internal chamber, the milk inlet conduit extending from one side of the internal chamber with the portable pumping device in an upright position for normal use, such that entering milk tends to flow along a lower side of the conduit; a milk outlet providing communication between the internal chamber and the milk receptacle, the milk outlet disposed at a lower end of the internal chamber with the portable pumping device in said upright position; and a vacuum port providing communication between the vacuum source and the internal chamber through a vacuum inlet passage within the receptacle bulkhead, the vacuum inlet passage extending a distance along the milk inlet conduit and separated from the lower side of the conduit, such that with the pumping device in its upright position milk entering from the hood will tend to avoid the vacuum inlet passage and, with the pumping device in a sideways position with the milk inlet conduit extending upward, milk from the receptacle will be inhibited from entering the vacuum inlet passage.