Patent ID: 6579258
Filing Date: 2003-06-17
Classification: A61M

Abstract:
A flexible resilient breast pump insert adapted to fit into a rigid funnel portion of a vacuum generating breast pump operable to generate a negative pressure, the insert comprising a mouth portion having an open end shaped to receive and contact the areola of a woman's breast and an inner portion of reduced size to receive the woman's nipple and having a wall with an inner and outer surface, connection means around the mouth portion to connect said mouth portion to a rigid breast pump funnel portion to form a pressure tight seal therewith, the mouth portion having a wall with an inner surface adapted to contact the woman's areola around the nipple and an outer surface with at least one recess formed therein, the thickness of the wall of the mouth portion in the region of the or each recess being less than that of the remainder of the mouth portion and means operable to connect the or each recess with the source of negative pressure, characterised in that, at least one additional recess is formed in the outer surface of the inner portion, the thickness of the wall of the inner portion in the region of the or each additional recess being less than the remainder of the inner portion; said means operable to connect the or each recess with the source of negative pressure also being operable to connect the or each additional recess with the source of negative pressure whereby, in use, the or each region of reduced wall thickness in the mouth and inner portion is deformed and deflected into contact with the inner surface of the rigid funnel portion of the breast pump in response to a negative pressure applied to the outer surface of the wall of said mouth and inner portion thereby massaging the areola and nipple region of the breast and stimulating the lactation of milk from the nipple.