Abstract:
A breast pump includes a breast shield, a suction module for applying suction to the breast shield, and a controller. In one embodiment, the controller includes a wireless receiver for receiving pumping session descriptions according to which the suction module is operated. A corresponding non-volatile computer-readable storage medium has embodied thereon program code for defining pumping session descriptions and for transmitting the descriptions to the breast pump. In another embodiment, the controller includes a non-volatile memory for storing pumping mode descriptions, each of which includes a suction level, a cycle rate and an orientation, and a user interface for selecting one of the pumping mode descriptions for operating the suction module. In a third embodiment, the breast pump includes a port for reversibly coupling to an external memory for reading and/or writing pumping session descriptions and optionally for powering external devices.

Description:
[0001]    This patent application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/837,201, filed Jun. 20, 2013, and from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/862,023, filed Aug. 4, 2013. 
     
    
     FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a breast pump and, more particularly, to a breast pump that receives values of operational parameters from either its own user interface or wirelessly from a remote device, and that associates the parameter values with a specific breast (right vs. left) of a user. 
         [0003]    A breast pump is a mechanical device that extracts milk from the breasts of a lactating woman. 
         [0004]    An electric breast pump is powered by a motor that supplies suction (partial vacuum) through tubing to a breast shield that is fitted over the nipple of the breast from which milk is being extracted. 
         [0005]    In addition to the degree of partial vacuum, another important operating parameter of an electric breast pump is the cycle rate, which ideally is close to the 35-60 per minute rate of a suckling baby. In some high-end electrical breast pumps, such as the Medela Symphony™ breast pump, a higher cycle rate is used to stimulate lactation and a lower cycle rate is used for expression of milk. 
         [0006]    Many high-end breast pumps are configured with manual user interfaces that users use to control the degree of partial vacuum and/or the cycle rate, and with memories for recording the last used degree of partial vacuum and/or cycle rate so that a user does not have to re-calibrate such a device all over again each time she uses the device. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    It would be useful for a breast pump to be configured to be operable wirelessly by a remote device such as a smart phone. A woman&#39;s preferred degree of partial vacuum and cycle rate could be recorded on the remote device and transferred from one such breast pump to another such breast pump. A log of such pumping sessions could be recorded and then transmitted to a lactation consultant. 
         [0008]    Some women are more comfortable with different degrees of partial vacuum and different cycle rates on their right breasts vs. their left breasts. It would be useful for a breast pump (and, if the breast pump is configured for wireless operation, for the remote device) to associate an orientation (defined herein as meaning “right breast” vs. “left breast”) with a recorded pumping session, so that a user could retrieve and re-use the parameter values (degree of partial vacuum and cycle rate) appropriate for the breast that she wants to pump next. 
         [0009]    Therefore, according to the present invention there is provided a breast pump comprising: (a) a breast shield; (b) a suction module for applying suction to said breast shield; and (c) a controller that operates the suction module in accordance with at least one description of a pumping session and that includes at least one of (i) a wireless receiver for receiving the at least one description, and (ii) a transmitter for transmitting the at least one description. 
         [0010]    Furthermore, according to the present invention there is provided a non-volatile computer-readable storage medium having embodied thereon computer-readable code for remote operation of a breast pump, the computer-readable code comprising: (a) program code for defining at least one remote description of a pumping session; and (b) program code for transmitting said at least one remote description to the breast pump. 
         [0011]    Furthermore, according to the present invention there is provided a breast pump comprising: (a) a breast shield; (b) a suction module for applying suction to said breast shield; and (c) a controller that includes: (i) a non-volatile memory for storing at least one description, of a respective pumping mode, that includes a respective suction level, a respective cycle rate and a respective orientation, and (ii) a user interface for selecting one of said at least one description, as stored in said memory, and for instructing said controller to operate said suction module in accordance with said one description. 
         [0012]    Furthermore, according to the present invention there is provided a breast pump including: (a) a breast shield; (b) a suction module for applying suction to the breast shield; (c) a port for reversibly operationally coupling the breast pump to an external memory that is separate from the breast pump; and (d) a controller that operates the suction module in accordance with a description of a pumping session and that also is operative, when the external memory is operationally coupled to the breast pump at the port, to effect at least one operation selected from the group consisting of: (i) reading the description from the external memory, and (ii) writing the description to the external memory. 
         [0013]    A first basic embodiment of a breast pump, according to the present invention, includes a breast shield, a suction module for applying suction to the breast shield, and a controller. The controller includes a wireless receiver for receiving one or more (usually two, one for stimulation and the other for expression) descriptions of a pumping session and/or a wireless transmitter for transmitting such (a) description(s) of a pumping session. The controller operates the suction module in accordance with the description(s). 
         [0014]    Preferably, the controller also includes a memory for storing the description(s). 
         [0015]    Preferably, the breast pump includes two or more breast shields, each such breast shield having a different respective tunnel size. The controller stores, along with each description of a pumping session, an identifier of the breast shield that was used during that pumping session. 
         [0016]    Preferably, the breast pump also includes a user interface for entering the description(s). 
         [0017]    Preferably, each description includes a respective suction level and a respective cycle rate. 
         [0018]    Preferably, the transmitter transmits, along with each description of a pumping session, the duration of that pumping session. 
         [0019]    Preferably, the breast pump includes two breast shields. Most preferably, the controller is operative to operate the suction module to apply suction to both breast shields in accordance with either the same description(s) or in accordance with different respective descriptions. 
         [0020]    A corresponding basic non-volatile computer-readable storage medium has embodied thereon computer-readable code for remote operation of a breast pump. 
         [0021]    The computer-readable code includes program code for defining one or more remote descriptions of pumping sessions and program code for transmitting the remote description(s) to the breast pump. 
         [0022]    Preferably, each remote description includes a respective suction level and a respective cycle rate. Most preferably, one or more of the descriptions also include a creation date and/or an implementation date and/or an orientation (right breast vs. left breast). 
         [0023]    Preferably, the computer-readable code also includes program code for storing each remote description in a non-volatile memory of the device that executes the computer-readable code. 
         [0024]    Preferably, the computer-readable code also includes program code for receiving, from the breast pump, a respective duration of each of at least one pumping session that has been effected by the breast pump in accordance with (one of) the remote description(s). Most preferably, the computer-readable code also includes program code for storing the remote description of each such pumping session, along with the duration of the pumping session, in a non-volatile memory of the device that executes the computer-readable code. 
         [0025]    Preferably, the computer-readable code also includes program code for receiving, from the breast pump, one or more local descriptions of pumping sessions. More preferably, each local description of a pumping session includes a respective duration, a respective suction level, a respective cycle rate and an identifier of the breast shield that was used during the pumping session. Most preferably, each local description also includes a creation date and/or an implementation date and/or an orientation (right breast vs. left breast) and/or a quantity of expressed milk. 
         [0026]    Also more preferably, the computer-readable code also includes program code for storing each such local description in a non-volatile memory of the device that executes the computer-readable code. 
         [0027]    Preferably, the computer-readable code also includes program code for displaying, at the device that executes the computer-readable code, one or more audio files and/or one or more video files. 
         [0028]    A second basic embodiment of a breast pump, according to the present invention, includes a breast shield, a suction module for applying suction to the breast shield, and a controller. The controller includes a non-volatile memory and a user interface. The non-volatile memory is for storing one or more descriptions of pumping modes. Each pumping mode includes a respective suction level, a respective cycle rate and a respective orientation (right breast vs. left breast). The user interface is for selecting (one of) the description(s), as stored in the memory, and for instructing the controller to operate the suction module in accordance with the selected description. 
         [0029]    Preferably, the user interface also is for providing the description(s) to be stored in the memory. 
         [0030]    A third basic embodiment of a breast pump, according to the present invention, includes a breast shield, a suction module for applying suction to the breast shield, a port (such as a USB port) for reversibly operationally coupling the breast pump to a separate external memory, and a controller. The controller operates the suction module in accordance with a description of a pumping session. When the external memory is operationally coupled to the breast pump at the port, the controller is operative to read the description from the memory and/or to write the description to the memory. 
         [0031]    Preferably, the breast pump also includes a user interface for entering the description. 
         [0032]    Preferably, the controller also includes a wireless interface for transmitting and/or receiving the description. 
         [0033]    Preferably, the port is a port, such as a USB port, that is operative to supply electrical power to an external device that is operationally coupled to the port. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0034]    Various embodiments are herein described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0035]      FIG. 1  is a diagram, partly in block form, of a breast pump of the present invention; 
           [0036]      FIG. 2  is a high-level block diagram of a remote device for wireless operation of the breast pump of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0037]      FIG. 3  shows a high-level block diagram of a server, as coupled to the Internet, for providing the app of the present invention to the remote device of  FIG. 2 . 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0038]    The principles and operation of a breast pump according to the present invention may be better understood with reference to the drawings and the accompanying description. 
         [0039]    Referring now to the drawings,  FIG. 1  is a diagram, partially in block form, of a breast pump  10  of the present invention, and  FIG. 2  is a high-level block diagram of a remote device  100  (specifically, a smart phone) that is used for wireless operation of breast pump  10 . 
         [0040]    Breast pump  10  includes a breast shield  12  that is operationally coupled by a coupling portion  14  to a bottle  16  that screws into the base of coupling portion  14  and, via plastic tubing  18 , to a vacuum pump  20 . Coupling portion  14 , plastic tubing  18  and pump  20  are components of a suction module for applying suction to breast shield  12 . A decoupling element (not shown), such as a filter or a diaphragm, at the interface between tubing  18  and pump  20 , blocks milk from being sucked into pump  20 . Breast pump  10  also includes a controller  22  that operates pump  20  to apply partial vacuum, at a certain degree of partial vacuum (also called “suction level” herein) and at a certain cycle rate, to coupling portion  14 , to extract milk from a breast to which breast shield  12  has been fitted. The control of pump  20  by controller  22  is represented symbolically in  FIG. 1  by an arrow  32 . The extracted milk is received into bottle  16 . 
         [0041]    Controller  22  includes a user interface  30  via which the user enters respective values of the two operational parameters (degree of partial vacuum, cycle rate) of the pumping sessions. These values are stored in a non-volatile memory  28 . A “pumping session” may be either a simple pumping session for either the right breast or the left breast, with a single respective value of the degree of partial vacuum and a single respective value of the cycle rate, or a compound pumping session, that consists of two or more consecutive simple pumping sessions. For example, a user could use, in a simple pumping session, the same values of degree of partial vacuum and cycle rate for both stimulation and expression, or could use, in a compound pumping session that includes two simple pumping sessions, one pair of parameter values for stimulation and another pair of parameter values for expression. The “pumping sessions” that are recited in the appended claims are simple pumping sessions. 
         [0042]    The respective parameter values of each simple pumping session, whether an isolated simple pumping session or a member of a compound pumping session, are stored in memory  28 , along with the duration of the simple pumping session. User interface  30  also may be used to retrieve, from memory  28 , the operational parameters of a previous simple or compound pumping session for use in a new pumping session. User interface  30  is of conventional construction, and includes e.g. a touch screen for input and output, and, optionally, one or more buttons, such as an on/off button, for user input. 
         [0043]    Controller  22  is also configured to allow a user to enter, via user interface  30 , an identification of which breast (right or left) she is extracting milk from in a particular pumping session. This identification is stored in memory  28  as part of the description of the pumping session, to give the user the option of later retrieving and using different parameter values for pumping her right breast than for pumping her left breast. 
         [0044]    Controller  22  is also configured to allow a user to enter, after a simple or compound pumping session, the quantity of milk expressed in that session, as determined, e.g., with the help of graduations on the sides of bottle  16 . 
         [0045]    Controller  22  also includes a USB port  34  for operationally interfacing with an external nonvolatile memory such as a flash disk. Controller  22  is configured to both write descriptions of pumping sessions (whose parameters have been provided e.g. via user interface  30 ) to the external memory and to read descriptions of pumping sessions from the external memory. This feature of the present invention enables a user who has determined the parameter values she likes best to share those parameter values among several breast pumps  10 . The external memory also serves as a backup to internal memory  28 . In addition, because a USB port can provide electrical power at 5 V and up to 900 mA, USB port  34  may be used for charging external devices generally. 
         [0046]    Controller  22  also includes a transceiver  24  (i.e. a combined transmitter and receiver) and an antenna  26  for wirelessly receiving values of pumping session operational parameters from a remote device such as a suitably configured smart phone, and for wirelessly transmitting descriptions of the consequent pumping sessions, or of pumping sessions whose parameters have been entered at user interface  30 , to the remote device. 
         [0047]    One of the uses of such a remote device is as an alternative to the external memory that couples to USB port  34 . Other uses of the remote device are described below. 
         [0048]      FIG. 2  is a high-level block diagram of such a remote device, specifically, a smart phone  100 . Smart phone  100  is a conventional smart phone that includes a conventional transceiver  102  and antenna  104  for communicating wirelessly with other suitably equipped devices (including, inter alia, breast pump  10 ), conventional operational circuitry  106 , a conventional user interface  112  (including e.g. a touch screen, a speaker and a microphone), and a conventional non-volatile memory  108  for storing user applications (“apps”), as is known in the art. The aspect of smart phone  100  that is germane to the present invention is that one of those apps is an app  110  for remotely controlling breast pump  10 . App  110  gives smart phone  100  all the functionality of user interface  30  of breast pump  10 . App  110  enables a user of smart phone  100  to enter values of operational parameters for simple or compound pumping sessions; to save, in memory  108  or in a similar memory of smart phone  100  records of pumping sessions (including respective parameter values, respective durations, and, optionally, respective quantities of expressed milk and/or respective breast identifications, as well as creation dates of the parameter values and implementation dates of the pumping sessions), thereby creating a log of pumping sessions; and to retrieve such records so that the parameter values recorded in the records may be re-used or to transmit the records to a lactation consultant. The records may be records of pumping sessions whose parameter values were defined “remotely” at smart phone  100  or whose parameter values were defined “locally” at breast pump  10 . Hence, in some of the appended claims, a pumping session description that includes operational parameters as entered at user interface  30  is called a “local” description and a pumping session description that includes operational parameters as entered at user interface  112  under the control of app  110  is called a “remote” description 
         [0049]    Note that an external memory interfaced to USB port  34  also could be used to maintain a log of pumping sessions. 
         [0050]    App  110  preferably also enables smart phone  100  to be used to entertain the user while she is expressing milk, for example by displaying audio-visual content (stored in audio and/or video files in smart phone  100  as part of app  110  or as part of a different app, or received via transceiver  102 ) at user interface  112  or by playing music (also stored in smart phone  100  as part of app  110  or as part of a different app, or received via transceiver  102 ) at user interface  112 . 
         [0051]    The user of breast pump  10  and smart phone  100  purchases app  110  from a vendor of app  110  in the conventional manner.  FIG. 3  shows a server  200 , coupled to the Internet  204  via a conventional Web interface  202 , that the vendor may use for selling app  210 . Server  200  includes conventional operational circuitry  206  and a non-volatile memory  208  wherein is stored app code  210  of the present invention. A user of breast pump  210  and smart phone  100  who wishes to purchase app  110  and install app  110  in smart phone  100  communicates with server  200  in the conventional manner. In response to a successful purchase request, server  200  sends the code of app  110  to the purchaser in the conventional manner. The app of the present invention is designated by the reference numeral “ 210 ” in  FIG. 3  instead of by the reference numeral “ 110 ” because the code actually stored in server  200  may not be identical to the code that is sent to the purchaser, e.g. for reasons of security. 
         [0052]    Memories  108  and  208  are examples of non-volatile storage media that have embedded thereon computer-readable code for remote operation of a breast pump as described herein. 
         [0053]    Optionally, smart phone  100  is provided with a USB port  114 , to give the user the option of transferring pumping session descriptions between smart phone  100  and breast pump  10  using an external memory such as a flash disk, instead of via transceivers  24  and  102 . 
         [0054]    One of the structural components of breast shield  12  is its tunnel. The partial vacuum created by pump  20  draws the user&#39;s nipple into the tunnel. A woman&#39;s nipples may change in size during the course of nursing, leading her to switch from one breast shield  12  with one tunnel size to another breast shield  12  with another tunnel size. Therefore, preferably, breast pump  10  is provided with several breast shields  10 , each with its own respective tunnel size, and each pumping session record, as stored on breast pump  10  and/or as stored on smart phone  100 , includes an identifier of the breast pump  12  that was used in that pumping session. 
         [0055]      FIG. 1  shows breast pump  10  with a single breast shield  12  operationally coupled to pump  20 . Optionally, breast pump  10  is configured so that two breast shields  12  are operationally coupled simultaneously to pump  20 . Pump  20  then may be used by a user to extract milk from both of her breasts simultaneously. The same values of the operating parameters (suction level and cycle rate) may be used for both breasts. Alternatively, different respective values of the operating parameters may be used for the two breasts. 
         [0056]    To the extent that the appended claims have been drafted without multiple dependencies, this has been done only to accommodate formal requirements in jurisdictions which do not allow such multiple dependencies. It should be noted that all possible combinations of features which would be implied by rendering the claims multiply dependent are explicitly envisaged and should be considered part of the invention. 
         [0057]    While the invention has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, it will be appreciated that many variations, modifications and other applications of the invention may be made. Therefore, the claimed invention as recited in the claims that follow is not limited to the embodiments described herein.