Patent ID: 8137305
Filing Date: 2012-03-20
Classification: A61M

Abstract:
1. A method for cycling vacuum pressure in a breast cup pneumatically coupled to a vacuum pump, the method comprising: running the vacuum pump continuously; bypassing the vacuum pump with a vacuum relief valve; a user manually selecting a vacuum rate using a vacuum rate selector on a housing of the breast pump system; the user manually selecting a minimum vacuum pressure using a vacuum level selector on the housing of the breast pump system; maintaining a breast cup vacuum pressure in the breast cup equal to or greater than the minimum selected vacuum pressure at all times ensuring that sufficient suction is maintained in the breast cup to keep the breast cup in place against the breast during a pumping session; the user manually selecting a maximum vacuum pressure using the vacuum level selector on the housing of the breast pump system; driving the vacuum pump in response to the selected vacuum rate; cycling the vacuum relief valve according to the selected minimum vacuum pressure and the selected maximum vacuum pressure; the user observing the magnitude of felt vacuum in the breast cup during the pumping session and manually adjusting the vacuum level selector to maintain a comfortable level of vacuum during the pumping session; and the user observing the resulting periodic cycling during the pumping session and manually adjusting the vacuum rate selector to maintain a desired pumping rate.