Patent ID: 8052635
Filing Date: 2011-11-08
Classification: A61M

Abstract:
1. A breast pump system comprising: a breast cup assembly having: a holder of the breast cup assembly comprising: a collapsible breast cup of the breast cup assembly, the collapsible breast cup made of biocompatible material and having varying thickness to cause the breast cup to collapse in a manner to mimic an action of a suckling infant, the breast cup directly connected to the vacuum source and having an inner surface exposed to vacuum from the vacuum source and an outer surface exposed to atmospheric pressure, the breast cup sequentially comprising: a container connected to the breast cup for collecting breast milk; a vacuum line with a first and second end, the first end being connected to the breast cup to provide the vacuum source; a breast pump having an inlet, the inlet being attached to the second end of the vacuum line for drawing a vacuum in the breast cup, thereby causing milk to be extracted from the breast; and a control circuit controlling a vacuum level provided by the breast pump to the breast cup, the control circuit controlling the breast pump to establish a pumping rate, a maximum vacuum level, and a minimum vacuum level, wherein the vacuum level increases as a function of the pumping rate until the maximum vacuum level is reached, then the vacuum level drops until the vacuum level is less than the minimum vacuum level, and then the vacuum level increases again as a function of the pumping rate until the maximum vacuum level is again reached, thereby mimicking an action of a suckling infant.