Nipple selection apparatus and method

A nipple selection apparatus includes a breast pump that includes a breast receiving housing, a suction device in fluid connection with the housing and a pressure gauge that is in fluid connection with the housing and is adapted for measuring the pressure within the housing. The gauge provides a relative measurement of the force required to extract milk from a mother's breast. A nipple for a bottle may then be selected that has a flow rate corresponding to the relative measurement.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to breast pump and nipple devices and more particularly pertains to a new breast pump and nipple device for aiding a mother in determining the relative negative pressure, or suction force, required to extract milk from a breast in order to select a bottle nipple having a flow rate corresponding to that negative pressure.

2. Description of the Prior Art

The use of breast pump and nipple devices is known in the prior art. U.S. Pat. No. 2,542,505 describes a device for stimulating a breast for removing breast milk therefrom. Another type of breast pump and nipple device is U.S. Pat. No. 5,049,126 having a suction device and a plurality of nipple stimulations inserts for increasing flow of milk from a breast. A nipple device is found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,108,686 and includes a device and method adapted for replicating a human nipple for use during nursing. A generally conventional breast pump assembly is found in U.S. Pat. Design No. 313,103.

While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the need remains for a device that not only is capable of pumping breast milk from a mother, but is also able to measure the relative suction, or pressure, required to suction the milk out of the breast. Once that measurement has been determined, a nipple may be chosen that has a flow rate corresponding to that measurement so that an infant will be more comfortable with drinking from a bottle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a breast pump that includes a breast receiving housing, a suction device in fluid connection with the housing and a pressure gauge that is in fluid connection with the housing and is adapted for measuring the pressure within the housing. The gauge provides a relative measurement of the force required to extract milk from a mother's breast. A nipple for a bottle may then be selected that has a flow rate corresponding to the relative measurement.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular toFIGS. 1 through 5thereof, a new breast pump and nipple device embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral10will be described.

As best illustrated inFIGS. 1 through 5, the nipple selection apparatus and method10generally comprises providing a breast pump12that includes a breast receiving housing14that may include a nipple-engaging funnel16. A suction device18is in fluid connection with the housing14. A pressure gauge20is in fluid connection with the housing14and is adapted for measuring the pressure within the housing14. The gauge20provides a relative measurement. A relative measurement is used because while an exact pressure reading may be used, it is preferred that a scale be implemented, such as a scale of 1 to 5 for easy reading by a layperson. An outlet22is fluidly coupled to the housing14and a bottle24is removably coupled to the outlet22. An on/off switch28is electrically coupled to the suction device18.

A plurality of nipples26is provided. Each of the nipples26is removably positionable on a bottle24and each of the nipples26has a variable flow rate at a constant pressure. The pressure to be used will be equal to the suction of a typical infant and may be determined at different ages so that nipples26may be provided for different aged infants as well. The flow rate may be altered by either varying the elasticity and resilience of the nipples26or by altering the size of the openings in the nipples26. Each of the nipples26has a rating corresponding to the flow rate so that each of the nipples26has a different rating. Each of the ratings corresponds to a different relative measurement. Thus, a reading of 1 on the gauge20will correspond to a number 1 rated nipple26. A nipple26is then selected that has a rating corresponding to the relative measurement when milk is extracted from a breast, and thereby a selected nipple defined. The selected nipple26is then positioned on a bottle24in a conventional manner and given to an infant. As the flow rate through the nipple26should be comparable to the flow rate when the infant breastfeeds, the infant will not be easily confused and fussy when switching between direct breastfeeding and bottle-feeding.