Abstract:
A breast pump convertible between a single breast pump mode and a double breast pump mode. The breast pump includes a pump and a conduit assembly coupled to the pump and at least one breast shield. The breast pump is operable to convert between the single breast pump mode and the double breast pump mode while maintaining substantially the same vacuum level applied to one of the breasts.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/144,873 filed on Jul. 15, 2011, which is a 35 U.S.C. § 371 application of PCT Application No. PCT/US2010/021316 filed on Jan. 18, 2010, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/145,461 filed on Jan. 16, 2009, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Nursing mothers frequently use mechanized pumps to express milk from their breasts for bottle-feeding their infant children. Nursing mothers want a mechanized pump that provides comfort, efficiency, ease of use (including portability) and discretion. Some such pumps are manually operated, in that the pumping action is motivated by reciprocating a piston or lever by hand, or compressing a flexible bulb. Often the pump lever is located directly on a structure that must be held against the breast while the lever is reciprocated. Other such pumps are electrically operated, and are generally considered less fatiguing than manual pumps. Between uses, careful cleaning is required to keep the pump components that come in contact with breast milk sanitary. 
         [0003]    Pumped milk must typically be refrigerated if it will not be immediately consumed. It is common to store such milk in sanitized bottles or bags. Improvements to pump constructions and pumping methods are desired, for comfortable and sanitary use 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    In one embodiment, the invention provides a double breast pump operable to convert to a single breast pump with the application of vacuum on the breast in the single mode being substantially the same as the application of vacuum on one of the breasts in the double mode. 
         [0005]    In one embodiment, the present invention provides a breast pump comprising a pump, and a conduit assembly in fluid communication with the pump and a breast shield. The conduit assembly includes a first connector having a first port, a second port, and a third port, the first port in fluid communication with the pump and the second port; a second connector having a fourth port, a fifth port, a sixth port, a seventh port, and an eighth port; the fifth port in fluid communication with the second port, the sixth port, and the seventh port; the fourth port in fluid communication with the third port and the eighth port; and the sixth port in fluid communication with the seventh port and the breast shield. 
         [0006]    In another embodiment, the present invention provides a method of converting between a single breast pump and a double breast pump. The method comprises connecting a conduit assembly to a pump, where the conduit assembly includes a first connector having a first port, a second port, and a third port, the first port in fluid communication with the pump and the second port; a second connector having a fourth port, a fifth port, a sixth port, a seventh port, and an eighth port; the fifth port in fluid communication with the second port, the sixth port, and the seventh port; a first conduit in fluid communication with the sixth port and a first breast shield; and a second conduit having a first end in fluid communication with the seventh port and a second end. The method further includes selecting one of a double breast pump mode by connecting the second end of the second conduit to a second breast shield and blocking the eighth port and a single breast pump mode by connecting the second end of the second conduit to the eighth port, and activating the pump to alternate between a first cycle and a second cycle to express fluid from at least one breast. 
         [0007]    In yet another embodiment, the present invention provides a method of operating a breast pump. The method comprises activating a motor in communication with a pump, initiating a first cycle of the pump to apply a vacuum to a breast, activating a solenoid valve to initiate a second cycle of the pump to release the vacuum applied to the breast, stopping the motor just prior to activating the solenoid valve to allow the vacuum to stop increasing, and transmitting air to the breast after the solenoid valve is activated to at least partially release the vacuum applied to the breast. 
         [0008]    Other aspects of the invention will become apparent by consideration of the detailed description and accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a single breast pump according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a double breast pump according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a housing of the breast pumps illustrated in  FIGS. 1-2 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a block diagram of components supported by the housing illustrated in  FIG. 3 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a block diagram of components supported by the housing illustrated in  FIG. 3  according to another construction of the invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 6A  is a schematic view of fluid flow during a vacuum cycle of the double breast pump illustrated in  FIG. 2 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 6B  is a schematic view of fluid flow during a release cycle of the double breast pump illustrated in  FIG. 2 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 7A  is a schematic view of fluid flow during a vacuum cycle of the single breast pump illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 7B  is a schematic view of fluid flow during a release cycle of the single breast pump illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 8  is a block diagram of a conduit assembly according to another construction of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0019]    Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. Unless specified or limited otherwise, the terms “mounted,” “connected,” “supported,” and “coupled” and variations thereof are used broadly and encompass both direct and indirect mountings, connections, supports, and couplings. 
         [0020]    Although directional references, such as upper, lower, downward, upward, rearward, bottom, front, rear, etc., may be made herein in describing the drawings, these references are made relative to the drawings (as normally viewed) for convenience. These directions are not intended to be taken literally or limit the present invention in any form. In addition, terms such as “first,” “second,” and “third” are used herein for purposes of description and are not intended to indicate or imply relative importance or significance. 
         [0021]      FIG. 1  illustrates a single breast pump  10  according to an embodiment of the present invention, and  FIG. 2  illustrates a double breast pump  14  according to an embodiment of the present invention. The breast pumps  10 ,  14  include a housing  18  for supporting various components configured to operate the breast pumps  10 ,  14 . The housing  18 , further illustrated in  FIGS. 3-4 , supports a plurality of pumps  22  and a motor  26  connected to each of the pumps  22  and operable to control activation of the pumps  22 . The housing  18  also supports a plurality of conduits  30  connected to an output port  34  of each of the pumps  22  and a 3-way conduit connector  38  joining the conduits  30  to a single conduit  42 . The housing  18  also supports a solenoid valve  46  connected to the conduit  42  and is operable to control the fluid flow in the conduits  30 ,  42 . The housing  18  also can include one or more batteries operable to provide power to the motor  26 . 
         [0022]    The housing  18  also includes an input port  50  configured to receive a conduit assembly  54  (discussed further below) and a display  58  operable to indicate whether the breast pump  10 ,  14  is powered and the pumping mode of the breast pump  10 ,  14 . The housing  18  also includes a plurality of actuators  62  operable to control an amount of vacuum generated by one or more of the pumps  22  and applied to the breast. 
         [0023]    The breast pumps  10 ,  14  include a cradle  66  having a recess  70  configured to receive and support the housing  18 . The cradle  66  can include one or more batteries with suitable circuitry operable to provide power to the motor  26 . In other constructions, the cradle  66  can include circuitry operable to transfer power from a standard outlet to the motor  26 . In other constructions, the cradle  66  can include both the circuitry and the one or more batteries in order to power the motor  26 . The cradle  66  can include a connector positioned within the recess  70  and configured to mate with a corresponding connector on the housing  18  where power is transferred from the cradle  66  to the housing  18 . 
         [0024]    In an alternative construction illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the housing  18  can support the components described above in an alternative arrangement. As illustrated, the housing  18  can support a first pump  74 , a second pump  78 , and a motor  82  connected to each of the pumps  74 ,  78  and is operable to control activation of the pumps  74 ,  78 . The housing  18  also can support a first conduit  86  connected to an output port  90  of the first pump  74  and a second conduit  94  connected to an output port  98  of the second pump  78 . A distal end of the first conduit  86  and a distal end of the second conduit  94  are connected to and in fluid communication with a connector  102  at a first input  106  and a second input  110 , respectively. The connector  102  includes a first output  114  and a second output  118  in fluid communication with a conduit  122  and a conduit  126 , respectively. The housing  18  can further support a solenoid valve  130  connected to the connector  102  and operable to independently control the fluid flow between the first pump  74  and the conduit  122  and between the second pump  78  and the conduit  126 . In this construction, the housing  18  can include two input ports  50 . 
         [0025]    The breast pump  10  includes a breast shield  134  in communication with the input port  50  on the housing  18  through the conduit assembly  54 . Similarly, the breast pump  14  includes a first breast shield  134  and a second breast shield  138  in communication with the input port  50  on the housing  18  through the conduit assembly  54  to allow the user to double pump. The vacuum developed by one or both of the pumps  22  is applied to a human breast supported in the breast shield  134  and/or the breast shield  138  to expel breast milk from the breast to a container supported by the breast shield  134 ,  138 . 
         [0026]    The conduit assembly  54 , illustrated in  FIGS. 6A-B  and  7 A-B, includes a first connector or adapter  142  connected to the input port  50  on the housing  18 . The first connector  142  includes a first port  146 , a second port  150 , and a third port  154 . The first port  146  is in fluid communication with the input port  50  and the second port  150 . The conduit assembly  54  also includes a second connector  158  having a first port  162 , a second port  166 , a third port  170 , a fourth port  174 , and a fifth port  178 . The second port  166  of the second connector  158  is in fluid communication with the second port  150  of the first connector  142  via a conduit  182 . The first port  162  of the second connector  158  is in fluid communication with the third port  154  of the first connector  142  via a conduit  186  and the fifth port  178  of the second connector  158 . The fifth port  178  is closed with a plug. 
         [0027]    The second port  166  of the second connector  158  also is in fluid communication with the third port  170  and the fourth port  174  of the second connector  158 . The third port  170  and the fourth port  174  are also in fluid communication. The third port  170  is in fluid communication with one of the first breast shield  134  and the second breast shield  138 . The fourth port  174  is in fluid communication with the other of the first breast shield  134  and the second breast shield  138 . 
         [0028]    In the breast pump configuration utilizing the double breast pump  14 , the fluid flow during operation of the breast pump  14  is illustrated in  FIGS. 6A-B .  FIG. 6A  illustrates a pumping or suction cycle of the breast pump  14 . During operation of the pumping cycle, the pump  22  applies a vacuum to the input port  50 , which is then applied to the human breasts supported by the first breast shield  134  and the second breast shield  138  as illustrated in  FIG. 6A . The vacuum is applied to the human breast in the first breast shield  134  via a pathway  190  indicated by the arrows. The pathway  190  is generally defined by the input port  50  on the housing  18 , the first port  146  on the first connector  142 , the second port  150  on the first connector  142 , the conduit  182 , the second port  166  on the second connector  158 , the third port  170  on the second connector  158 , and a conduit  194 . 
         [0029]    The vacuum also is applied to the human breast in the second breast shield  138  via a pathway  198  indicated by the arrows. The pathway  198  is generally defined by the input port  50  on the housing  18 , the first port  146  on the first connector  142 , the second port  150  on the first connector  142 , the conduit  182 , the second port  166  on the second connector  158 , the fourth port  174  on the second connector  158 , and a conduit  202 . 
         [0030]      FIG. 6B  illustrates a release cycle of the breast pump  14 . During the release cycle, the solenoid valve  46  opens to release the vacuum. When the solenoid valve  46  opens to release the pressure, the motor  26  stops to allow the pressure to stop increasing. Alternatively, when the solenoid valve  46  opens, the motor  26  stops to conserve electrical power and to provide a smoother pressure curve. When the solenoid valve  46  opens, air travels through the conduit assembly  54  that at least partially releases the vacuum applied to the breasts supported by the first breast shield  134  and the second breast shield  138 . The air travels to the first breast shield  134  via a pathway  206  generally defined by the input port  50  on the housing  18 , the first port  146  on the first connector  142 , the second port  150  on the first connector  142 , the conduit  182 , the second port  166  on the second connector  158 , the third port  170  on the second connector  158 , and the conduit  194 . The air travels to the second breast shield  138  via a pathway  210  generally defined by the input port  50  on the housing  18 , the first port  146  on the first connector  142 , the second port  150  on the first connector  142 , the conduit  182 , the second port  166  on the second connector  158 , the fourth port  174  on the second connector  158 , and the conduit  202 . 
         [0031]    A user of the double breast pump  14  can convert to the single pump  10  configuration by disconnecting one of the breast shields  134 ,  138 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 7A-B , the second breast shield  138  has been disconnected, but the first breast shield  134  could also be disconnected in lieu of the second breast shield  138 . To convert to the single pump configuration, the conduit  202  is disconnected from the second breast shield  138  and is positioned within the fifth port  178  (after removing the plug in the fifth port  178 ) of the second connector  158 . This conversion adds conduit length to the volume of fluid being evacuated from the first breast shield  134  during a vacuum cycle such that the vacuum applied to the breast supported by the first breast shield  134  is reduced or comparable to what the user feels at the same breast in the double pump configuration. 
         [0032]    In the breast pump configuration utilizing the single breast pump  10 , the fluid flow during operation of the breast pump  10  is illustrated in  FIG. 7A-B .  FIG. 7A  illustrates a pumping or suction cycle of the breast pump  10 . During operation of the pumping cycle, the pump  22  applies a vacuum to the input port  50 , which is then applied to the human breast supported by the first breast shield  134  as illustrated in  FIG. 7A . The vacuum is applied to the human breast in the first breast shield  134  via a pathway  214  indicated by the arrows. The pathway  214  is generally defined by the input port  50  on the housing  18 , the first port  146  on the first connector  142 , the second port  150  on the first connector  142 , the conduit  182 , the second port  166  on the second connector  158 , the third port  170  on the second connector  158 , and the conduit  194 . The pathway  214  also includes a pathway  218  defined by third port  154  of the first connector  142 , the conduit  186 , the first port  162  on the second connector  158 , the fifth port  178  on the second connector  158 , the conduit  202 , and the fourth port  174  on the second connector. The pathway  218  merges with the pathway  214  between the third port  170  and the fourth port  174  on the second connector  158 . 
         [0033]      FIG. 7B  illustrates a release cycle of the breast pump  10 . During the release cycle, the solenoid valve  46  opens to release the vacuum. When the solenoid valve  46  opens to release the pressure, the motor  26  stops to allow the pressure to stop increasing. Alternatively, when the solenoid valve  46  opens, the motor  26  stops to conserve electrical power and to provide a smoother pressure curve. When the solenoid valve  46  opens, air travels through the conduit assembly  54  to the first breast shield  134  via a pathway  222  generally defined by the input port  50  on the housing  18 , the first port  146  on the first connector  142 , the second port  150  on the first connector  142 , the conduit  182 , the second port  166  on the second connector  158 , the third port  170  on the second connector  158 , and the conduit  194 . The pathway  222  also includes a pathway  226  defined by third port  154  of the first connector  142 , the conduit  186 , the first port  162  on the second connector  158 , the fifth port  178  on the second connector  158 , the conduit  202 , and the fourth port  174  on the second connector. The pathway  226  merges with the pathway  222  between the third port  170  and the fourth port  174  on the second connector  158 . 
         [0034]      FIG. 8  illustrates a conduit assembly  230  according to an alternative construction. The conduit assembly  230  includes a first connector  234  in fluid communication with the input port  50  on the housing  18 . The first connector  234  includes a first port  238 , a second port  242 , and a third port  246 . The first port  238  is in fluid communication with the third port  246  and the input port  50 . The conduit assembly  230  also includes a second connector  250  having a first port  254 , a second port  258 , a third port  262 , and a fourth port  266 . The first port  254  of the second connector  250  is in fluid communication with the third port  246  of the first connector  234  via a conduit  270 . The second port  258  of the second connector  250  is in fluid communication with the second port  242  of the first connector  234  via a conduit  274  and the third port  262  of the second connector  250 . The third port  262  is closed with a plug. 
         [0035]    The conduit assembly  230  also includes a third connector  278  having a first port  282 , a second port  286 , and a third port  290 . The first port  282  of the third connector  278  is in fluid communication with the fourth port  266  of the second connector  250  via a conduit  294 , the second port  286 , and the third port  290 . The second port  286  of the third connector is in fluid communication with the first breast shield  134  via a conduit  298 , and the third port  290  of the third connector  278  is in fluid communication with the second breast shield  138  via a conduit  302 . 
         [0036]    When converting from a double pump configuration to a single pump configuration, the user removes the plug in the third port  262  of the second connector  250 , removes one of the conduits  298 ,  302 , and positions the removed conduit  298 ,  302  into the third port  262  of the second connector  250 . 
         [0037]    Other suitable configurations of the conduit assembly  54  are also contemplated by the present invention. The embodiments described above and illustrated in the figures are presented by way of example only and are not intended as a limitation upon the concepts and principles of the present invention. As such, it will be appreciated by one having ordinary skill in the art that various changes in the elements and their configuration and arrangement are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
         [0038]    Various features and advantages of the invention are set forth in the following claims.