Abstract:
A system for abating noise during expression of human breast milk includes a noise abatement device and a breast milk expression pump. The noise abatement device may comprise a container configured to receive the breast milk expression pump, the container configured to abate noise generated by the breast milk expression pump disposed within the container. The noise abatement container may comprise one or more sound-absorbing materials or geometries. When the pump is positioned in the noise abatement container, noise from the pump is abated while the pump is operating.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/021,604, filed Jul. 7, 2014 (Attorney Docket No. 44936-707.101), the full disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
         [0002]    The present application is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/221,113, filed Mar. 20, 2014 [Attorney Docket No. 44936-703.201], U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/616,557, filed on Feb. 6, 2015 [Attorney Docket No. 44936-704.201], U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/021,601, filed on Jul. 7, 2014 [Attorney Docket No. 44936-705.101], U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/021,597, filed on Jul. 7, 2014 [Attorney Docket No. 44936-706.101], and U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/028,219, filed on Jul. 23, 2014 [Attorney Docket No. 44936-708.101], the full disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0004]    The present invention generally relates to medical devices and methods, and more particularly relates to devices and methods for expression and collection of human breast milk, and even more particularly relates to abatement of noise during expression of human breast milk. 
         [0005]    The exemplary embodiments disclosed herein are preferably directed to expression of human breast milk and noise abatement during the expression, but one of skill in the art will appreciate that this is not intended to be limiting and that the devices, systems and methods disclosed herein may be used in other applications. 
         [0006]    Breast pumps are commonly used to collect breast milk in order to allow mothers to continue breastfeeding while apart from their children. Currently, there are two primary types of breast pumps: manually-actuated devices, which are small, but inefficient and tiring to use; and electrically-powered devices, which are efficient, but large and bulky. These can be noisy. Newer pumps have been proposed that use hydraulically activated mechanisms for creating a pressure differential, or other actuation mechanisms have been proposed, and are promising but they also may create unwanted noise. The noise can make breast pumping an uncomfortable experience for the user. Therefore, it would also be desirable to provide devices and methods that can be used with any milk expression device to help abate the noise. At least some of these objectives will be satisfied by the devices and methods disclosed below. 
         [0007]    2. Description of the Background Art 
         [0008]    The following US patents are related to expression and collection of human breast milk: U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,673,036; 6,749,582; 6,840,918; 6,887,210; 7,875,000; 8,118,772; and 8,216,179. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    The present invention generally relates to medical devices, systems and methods, and more particularly relates to devices, systems and methods for expression and collection of human breast milk, and even more particularly relates to abatement of noise during expression and collection of human milk. 
         [0010]    In a first aspect of the present invention, a system for abating noise during expression of breast milk comprises a noise abatement device and a breast milk expression pump. The noise abatement device is configured to contain the pump, and to abate noise from the pump while the pump is operating and disposed in the noise abatement device. 
         [0011]    The noise abatement device may comprise a container having an opening to receive the breast milk expression pump. The container may comprise a resilient material that expands to fit the pump. Alternatively or in combination, the container may be sized to fit the pump, wherein the container may comprise upper hinges, lower hinges, left side hinges, and right side hinges, each of the hinges configured to articulate and thereby open or close the opening of the container to accommodate the breast milk expression pump. 
         [0012]    The container may comprise one or more walls configured to absorb sound generated by the breast milk expression pump disposed within the container. The one or more walls may be fabricated from one or more sound-absorbing materials, and/or may comprise one or more structures inside the container that are patterned to absorb reflection of sound. The one or more walls may comprise an inner layer and an outer layer. The inner layer may comprise a compliant absorbing material, and the outer layer may comprise a material that is denser than the inner layer of material, wherein the outer layer is configured to absorb sound waves that are dissipated into the inner layer. The inner layer and the outer layer may be formed from sound-absorbing foam constructed with one or more sound-absorbing geometries. The outer surface of the one or more walls comprises a decorative material. 
         [0000]    In another aspect of the present invention, a method for abating noise during expression of human breast milk comprises disposing a breast milk expression pump in a noise abatement device, wherein the noise abatement device is configured to abate noise from the breast milk expression pump when the breast milk expression pump is disposed within the noise abatement device. The method further comprises operating the breast milk expression pump, and abating noise from the breast milk expression pump with the noise abatement device while the breast milk expression pump is operating. 
         [0013]    The noise abatement device may comprise a container having an opening, and disposing a breast milk expression pump in a noise abatement device may comprise inserting the breast milk expression pump into the opening of the container. The method may further comprise adjusting a configuration of the container to accommodate the breast milk expression pump. Adjusting the configuration of the container may comprise articulating one or more hinges of the container so as to adjust a size or a shape of the container to fit the breast milk expression pump. Alternatively or in combination, the container may comprise a resilient material, and adjusting the configuration of the container may comprise expanding the container to adjust a size or a shape of the container to fit the breast milk expression pump. 
         [0014]    These and other embodiments are described in further detail in the following description related to the appended drawing figures. 
       INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE 
       [0015]    All publications, patents, and patent applications mentioned in this specification are herein incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication, patent, or patent application was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]    The novel features of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. A better understanding of the features and advantages of the present invention will be obtained by reference to the following detailed description that sets forth illustrative embodiments, in which the principles of the invention are utilized, and the accompanying drawings of which: 
           [0017]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a pumping device. 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a pumping device. 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  is a cross-section of an exemplary embodiment of a pumping device. 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of an actuatable assembly coupled to a driving mechanism. 
           [0021]      FIGS. 5A-5B  illustrate an exemplary embodiment of an actuatable assembly coupled to a pendant unit. 
           [0022]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of a breast interface. 
           [0023]      FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of another exemplary embodiment of a breast interface. 
           [0024]      FIG. 8A  is a cross-sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of an integrated valve in an open position. 
           [0025]      FIG. 8B  is a cross-sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of an integrated valve in a closed position. 
           [0026]      FIG. 9A  is a cross-sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of integrated sensors within a breast interface. 
           [0027]      FIG. 9B  is a cross-sectional view of another exemplary embodiment of integrated sensors within a breast interface. 
           [0028]      FIG. 10  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a pendant unit and a mobile device. 
           [0029]      FIG. 11  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a pendant unit in communication with a mobile device. 
           [0030]      FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of a breast interface with a mechanical deformable member. 
           [0031]      FIG. 13  is a cross-sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of a mechanical driver for a mechanical deformable member. 
           [0032]      FIG. 14  is a graph illustrating the pump performance of an exemplary embodiment compared to a commercial device. 
           [0033]      FIG. 15  is a graph illustrating the pumping efficiency of an exemplary embodiment compared to a commercial device. 
           [0034]      FIGS. 16A-16B  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a noise abatement device. 
           [0035]      FIGS. 17A-17B  illustrates another exemplary embodiment of a noise abatement device. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0036]    Specific embodiments of the disclosed devices and methods will now be described with reference to the drawings. Nothing in this detailed description is intended to imply that any particular component, feature, or step is essential to the invention. One of skill in the art will appreciate that various features or steps may be substituted or combined with one another. 
         [0037]    The present invention will be described in relation to the expression and collection of breast milk and abatement of noise during expression of breast milk. However, one of skill in the art will appreciate that this is not intended to be limiting, and the devices, systems, and methods disclosed herein may be used in any number of other applications which may or may not involve expression of breast milk. For example, the devices, systems and methods described herein may be used to create and deliver a pressure differential to a patient, such as in the treatment of sleep apnea. Thus abatement of noise during treatment of sleep apnea is also contemplated. 
         [0038]      FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Pumping device  100  includes breast interfaces  105 , a tube  110 , and a controller or pendant unit  115  operatively coupled to breast interfaces  105  through tube  110 . Breast interfaces  105  include resilient and conformable flanges  120 , for engaging and creating a fluid seal against the breasts, and collection vessels  125 . The device may optionally only have a single breast interface. Pendant unit  115  houses the power source and drive mechanism for pumping device  100 , and also contains hardware for various functions, such as controlling pumping device  100 , milk production quantification, and communication with other devices. Tube  110  transmits suitable energy inputs, such as mechanical energy inputs, from pendant unit  115  over a long distance to breast interfaces  105 . Breast interfaces  105  convert the energy inputs into vacuum pressure against the breasts in a highly efficient manner, resulting in the expression of milk into collection vessels  125 . 
         [0039]    One of skill in the art will appreciate that components and features of this exemplary embodiment can be combined or substituted with components and features of any of the embodiments of the present invention as described below. Similarly, components and features of other embodiments disclosed herein may be substituted or combined with one another. 
         [0040]    Hydraulic Pumping Device 
         [0041]    Hydraulic or pneumatic systems can reduce pumping force requirements, and therefore also reduce the size of the pumping device, while maintaining high pumping efficiency. In a preferred embodiment, the pumping device can utilize a hydraulic or pneumatic pumping device to generate a pressure differential against the breast for the expression and collection of milk. 
         [0042]    Exemplary hydraulic pumping devices are depicted in  FIGS. 2 and 3 .  FIG. 2  illustrates a pumping device  150  with a syringe  155  fluidly coupled to breast interface  160  by tube  165 . Syringe  155  is coupled to tube  165  through a three-way valve  170 . Breast interface  160  contains an exit port  175 . The syringe  155  drives a fluid  180  contained within tube  165  against or away from a flexible member contained within breast interface  160  to create the pressure differential necessary for milk expression from the breast. 
         [0043]      FIG. 3  illustrates another embodiment of a pumping device  200 . The actuatable assembly  205  includes an assembly housing  210 , a driving element  215 , radial seals  220 , and a shaft  222 . Driving element  215  is operatively coupled to a pendant unit, such as pendant unit  115 , through shaft  222 . The tube  225  contains a fluid  230  and is fluidly coupled to the actuatable assembly  205  and the breast interface  235 . The breast interface  235  consists of an interface housing  240 , a flexible membrane  245 , a reservoir  250 , a sealing element  255 , an expression area  260 , and a drain port  265 . The sealing element  255  includes deformable portion  270 . The drain port  265  is coupled to a collection vessel  275  and includes a flap valve  280 . 
         [0044]    Actuatable assembly  205  displaces fluid  230  contained within tube  225 , which can be a flexible line. Fluid  230  occupies reservoir  250  within breast interface  235  and is coupled with flexible membrane  245 . Flexible membrane  245  transmits vacuum pressure from fluid  230  to the deformable portion  270  of sealing element  255 . When a breast is engaged into and fluidly sealed with breast interface  235  by sealing element  255 , displacement of the actuatable element  215  produces substantial vacuum pressure against the breast through flexible membrane  245  and deformable portion  270 , resulting in the expression of breast milk into expression area  260 . The expressed milk drains through drain port  265  into collection vessel  275 . Drain port  265  is configured with a flap valve  280  to provide passage of milk while maintaining vacuum pressure in expression area  260 . 
         [0045]    The fluid for the hydraulic pumping device can be any suitable fluid, such as an incompressible fluid. In many embodiments, the incompressible fluid can be water or oil. Alternatively, the fluid can be any suitable gas, such as air. Suitable incompressible fluids and gases for hydraulic systems are known to those of skill in the art. 
         [0046]    One of skill in the art will appreciate that components and features of any of the exemplary embodiments of the hydraulic pumping device can be combined or substituted with components and features of any of the embodiments of the present invention as described herein. 
         [0047]    Actuation Mechanism 
         [0048]    Many actuation mechanisms known to those of skill in the art can be utilized for the actuatable assembly  205 . Actuatable assembly  205  can be a piston assembly, a pump such as a diaphragm pump, or any other suitable actuation mechanism. The optimal configuration for actuatable assembly  205  can depend on a number of factors, such as: vacuum requirements; size, power, and other needs of the pumping device  200 ; and the properties of the fluid  230 , such as viscosity, biocompatibility, and fluid life requirements. 
         [0049]      FIG. 3  illustrates an exemplary embodiment in which actuatable assembly  205  is a piston assembly and driving element  215  is a piston. Actuatable assembly  205  includes radial seals  220 , such as  0 -rings, sealing against assembly housing  210  to prevent undesired egress of fluid  230  and to enable driving of fluid  230 . 
         [0050]      FIG. 4  illustrates another exemplary embodiment of an actuatable assembly  300  including a pair of pistons  305 . 
         [0051]    In preferred embodiments, the actuatable assembly includes a driving element powered by a suitable driving mechanism, such as a driving mechanism residing in pendant unit  115 . Many driving mechanisms are known to those of skill in the art. For instance, the driving element, such as driving element  215 , may be actuated electromechanically by a motor, or manually by a suitable user-operated interface, such as a lever. Various drive modalities known to those of skill in the art can be used. In particular, implementation of the exemplary hydraulic pumping devices as described herein enables the use of suitable drive modalities such as direct drive and solenoids, owing to the reduced force requirements of hydraulic systems. 
         [0052]    Referring now to the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 4 , the pistons  305  include couplings  310  to a crankshaft  315 . The crankshaft  315  is operatively coupled to a motor  320  through a belt drive  325 . The crankshaft  315  drives the pair of pistons  305  with the same stroke timing in order to apply vacuum pressure against both breasts simultaneously, a feature desirable for increased milk production. Alternatively, the crankshaft  315  can drive the pair of pistons  305  with any suitable stroke timing, such as alternating or offset stroke cycles. 
         [0053]    The driving mechanism can be powered by any suitable power source, such as a local battery or an AC adaptor. The driving mechanism can be controlled by hardware, such as onboard electronics located within pendant unit  115 . 
         [0054]      FIG. 5  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of an actuatable assembly  350  that includes releasable coupling  355 . Preferably, actuatable assembly  350  is releasably coupled to a pendant unit  360  and the driving mechanism housed therein. The coupling can be a mechanical coupling or any suitable quick release mechanism known to those of skill in the art. The releasably coupled design allows for flexibility in the configuration and use of the pumping device. For instance, user comfort can be improved through the use of differently sized breast interfaces for compatibility with various breast sizes. Additionally, this feature enables a common pumping device to be used with interchangeable breast interfaces, thus reducing the risk of spreading pathogens. Furthermore, the releasable coupling enables easy replacement of individual parts of the pumping device. 
         [0055]    One of skill in the art will appreciate that components and features of any of the exemplary embodiments of the actuation mechanism can be combined or substituted with components and features of any of the embodiments of the present invention as described herein. 
         [0056]    Flexible Membrane 
         [0057]    In many embodiments such as the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 3 , the flexible membrane  245  is located within breast interface  235  and disposed over at least portion thereof, forming reservoir  250  between the interface housing  240  and the flexible membrane  245 . Preferably, the flexible membrane  245  deforms substantially when subject to the negative pressures created when the fluid  230  is displaced from reservoir  250  by actuatable assembly  205 . The amount of deformation of the flexible membrane  245  can be controlled by many factors, (e.g., wall thickness, durometer, surface area) and can be optimized based on the pumping device (e.g., pump power, vacuum requirements). 
         [0058]      FIG. 6  illustrates an exemplary flexible membrane  370  with a specified thickness and durometer. 
         [0059]      FIG. 7  illustrates another embodiment of flexible membrane  375  with corrugated features  380  for increased surface area. 
         [0060]    Suitable materials for the flexible membrane are known to those of skill in the art. In many embodiments, the flexible membrane can be made of a material designed to expand and contract when subject to pressures from the coupling fluid such as silicone, polyether block amides such as PEBAX, and polychloroprenes such as neoprene. Alternatively, the flexible membrane can be fabricated from a substantially rigid material, such as stainless steel, nitinol, high durometer polymer, or high durometer elastomer. In these embodiments, the rigid material would be designed with stress and/or strain distribution elements to enable the substantial deformation of the flexible membrane without surpassing the yield point of the material. 
         [0061]      FIGS. 8A and 8B  illustrate preferred embodiments of a breast interface  400  in which an exit valve  405  is integrated into the flexible membrane  410  to control the flow of expressed milk through exit port  415 . The exit valve  405  is opened to allow fluid flow when the flexible membrane  410  is relaxed, as shown in  FIG. 8A , and is closed to prevent fluid flow when the flexible membrane  410  is deformed, as shown in  FIG. 8B . The exit valve  405  enables substantial vacuum pressure to be present in expression area  420  during extraction, while allowing milk to drain during the rest phase of the pump stroke. While many conventional breast pump valves function on pressure differentials alone, the exit valve  405  can preferably be configured to also function on the mechanical movement of flexible membrane  410 . Incorporation of an integrated exit valve  405  with mechanical functionality as described herein can improve the sealing of the breast interface  400  during vacuum creation. Furthermore, the implementation of an exit valve integrally formed within the flexible membrane  410  such as exit valve  405  reduces the number of parts to be cleaned. 
         [0062]    One of skill in the art will appreciate that components and features of any of the exemplary embodiments of the flexible membrane can be combined or substituted with components and features of any of the embodiments of the present invention as described herein. 
         [0063]    Milk Collection and Quantification System 
         [0064]    With reference to  FIG. 3 , expressed milk drains through exit port  265  in flexible membrane  245  into a collection vessel  275 . Collection vessel  275  can be any suitable container, such as a bottle or a bag. In many embodiments, collection vessel  275  is removably coupled to flexible membrane  245 . Collection vessel  275  can be coupled directly or remotely via any suitable device such as extension tubing. 
         [0065]    In many instances, it can be desirable to track various data related to milk expression and collection, such as the amount of milk production. Currently, the tracking of milk production is commonly accomplished by manual measurements and record-keeping. Exemplary embodiments of the device described herein may provide digital-based means to automatically measure and track milk production for improved convenience, efficiency, and accuracy. 
         [0066]      FIGS. 9A and 9B  illustrates exemplary embodiments of a breast interface  450  with one or more integrated sensors  455 . Sensors  455  are preferably located in flap valve  460 , but may also be located in exit valve  465 , or any other suitable location for monitoring fluid flow. In a preferred embodiment, at least one sensor  455  is integrated into a valve that is opened by fluid flow and detects the length of time that the valve is opened. The sensor signal can be interrogated to quantify the fluid flow. Suitable sensors are known to those of skill in the art, such as accelerometers, Hall effect sensors, and photodiode/LED sensors. The breast interface can include a single sensor or multiple sensors to quantify milk production. 
         [0067]      FIG. 10  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of pendant unit  500  in which milk expression data is shown on a display screen  505 . In many embodiments, the pendant unit  500  collects, processes, stores, and displays data related to milk expression. Preferably, the pendant unit  500  can transmit the data to a second device, such as a mobile phone  510 . 
         [0068]      FIG. 11  illustrates data transmission  515  between pendant unit  500  and a mobile phone  510 . Suitable methods for communication and data transmission between devices are known to those of skill in the art, such as Bluetooth or near field communication. 
         [0069]    In exemplary embodiments, the pendant unit  500  communicates with a mobile phone  510  to transmit milk expression data, such as expression volume, duration, and date. The mobile phone  510  includes a mobile application to collect and aggregate the expression data and display it in an interactive format. Preferably, the mobile application includes additional features that allow the user to overlay information such as lifestyle choices, diet, and strategies for increasing milk production, in order to facilitate the comparison of such information with milk production statistics. Additionally, the pendant unit  500  can send information about the times of pump usage to the mobile phone  510  so that the mobile application can identify when pumping has occurred and set reminders at desired pumping times. Such reminders can help avoid missed pumping sessions, and thus reduce the incidence of associated complications such as mastitis. 
         [0070]    One of skill in the art will appreciate that components and features of any of the exemplary embodiments of the milk collection and quantification system can be combined or substituted with components and features of any of the embodiments of the present invention as described herein. 
         [0071]    Mechanical Pumping Device 
         [0072]      FIG. 12  illustrates an alternative embodiment of a breast interface  600  in which a mechanical deformable member  605  can be used in place of a flexible membrane. The mechanical deformable member  605  can be constructed from similar techniques as those used for the flexible membrane as described herein. The mechanical deformable member  605  is coupled to a tensile element  610 . In some instances, tensile element  610  is disposed within an axial load absorbing member  615 . The axial load absorbing member  615  is disposed within tube  620 . Preferably, tensile element  610  is concentrically disposed within axial load absorbing member  615  and axial load absorbing member  615  is concentrically disposed within tube  620 . Alternative arrangements of tensile element  610 , axial load absorbing member  615 , and tube  620  can also be used. 
         [0073]      FIG. 13  illustrates the tensile element  610  coupled to driving element  625  of an actuatable assembly  630  within an assembly housing  635 . Driving element  625  is operatively coupled to a driving mechanism, such as a driving mechanism housed within a pendant unit, through shaft  640 . Axial load absorbing member  615  within tube  620  is fixedly coupled to the assembly housing  635 . Displacement of the driving element  625  transmits tensile force through tensile element  610  to the mechanical deforming member  605  to create vacuum pressure against the breast. 
         [0074]    The tensile element  610  can be any suitable device, such as a wire, coil, or rope, and can be made from any suitable material, such as metals, polymers, or elastomers. Axial load absorbing member  615  can be made from any suitable axially stiff materials, such as metals or polymers, and can be configured into any suitable axially stiff geometry, such as a tube or coil. 
         [0075]    One of skill in the art will appreciate that components and features of any of the exemplary embodiments of the mechanical pumping device can be combined or substituted with components and features of any of the embodiments of the present invention as described herein. 
         [0076]    Experimental Data 
         [0077]      FIGS. 14 and 15  illustrate experimental pumping data obtained from a commercial breast pump device and an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The exemplary embodiment utilized an incompressible fluid for pumping and had a maximum hydraulic fluid volume of 4 cc, while the commercial device utilized air for pumping and had a maximum volume of 114 cc. 
         [0078]      FIG. 14  illustrates a graph of the pump performance as quantified by vacuum pressure generated per run. For the exemplary embodiment, pressure measurements were taken for 1 cc, 2 cc, 3 cc, and 4 cc of fluid volume displaced by the pump, with the run number corresponding to the volume in cc. For the commercial device, measurements were taken with the pump set to one of seven equally incremented positions along the vacuum adjustment gauge representing 46 cc, 57 cc, 68 cc, 80 cc, 91 cc, 103 cc, and 114 cc of fluid volume displaced by the pump, respectively, with the run number corresponding to the position number. Curve  700  corresponds to the exemplary embodiment and curve  705  corresponds to the commercial device. The exemplary embodiment generated higher levels of vacuum pressure per displacement volume compared to the commercial device, with maximum vacuum pressures of −240.5 mmHg and −177.9 mmHg, respectively. 
         [0079]      FIG. 15  illustrates a graph of the pump efficiency as measured by the maximum vacuum pressure per maximum volume of fluid displaced, with bar  710  corresponding to the exemplary embodiment and bar  715  corresponding to the commercial device. The exemplary embodiment demonstrated a 42-fold increase in pumping efficiency compared to the commercial device, with efficiencies of −71.1 mmHg/cc and −1.7 mmHg/cc, respectively. 
         [0080]    Noise Abatement 
         [0081]    As previously mentioned, the pumping devices often generate noise that can be loud and uncomfortable to the user during expression of breast milk. Additionally, a quiet device allows more discrete and convenient pumping. Therefore, it can be desirable to provide additional devices and methods that facilitate abatement of noise during expression of milk. The devices, systems and methods for noise abatement that are described below may be used with any of the pumps currently available or disclosed herein. Additionally, the devices, systems and methods described below may be combined with or substituted with any of the other features described herein. 
         [0082]      FIGS. 16A-16B  illustrate an exemplary embodiment of a noise abatement device  1600 . The noise abatement device  1600  includes a container or sack  1604  with an opening  1616  through which the pump device  1602  may be inserted. The container or sack  1604  may be sized to fit the pump device, or it may be fabricated from resilient material that expands to accept the pump, or it may be oversized and fit the pump with room to spare. In this exemplary embodiment, the container  1604  includes upper and lower hinges  1606  and left and right side hinges  1608  that allow the sides of the container to articulate and open or close to accommodate the pump  1602 . The walls  1610  may be fabricated from any number of well-known sound absorbing materials, or they may have structures inside the container that are patterned to prevent or minimize noise by absorbing or preventing reflection of sound such as in an anechoic chamber. The container  1604  includes walls  1610  that preferably have two layers of material, an inner layer of material  1614 , and an outer layer of material  1612 , or an outer liner as seen in  FIG. 16B . 
         [0083]    The outer layer of material  1612  is preferably a dense material and may be described as a high momentum material. This material is typically denser than the compliant absorbing material that forms the inner layer  1614 . When subjected to sound vibrations, the high momentum material absorbs the sound waves, which are dissipated through kinetic energy into the compliant inner layer of material  1614 . In alternative embodiments, the container may be fabricated from flexible materials and thus the hinges may not be required. 
         [0084]      FIG. 17A-17B  illustrate another exemplary embodiment of a sack  1702  in which a pump  1706  may be disposed in order to abate noise. The pump  1706  may be any currently available pump or any of those disclosed herein. The sack has a central opening  1704  sized to accept the pump  1706 . The sack  1702  has an outer wall  1708  which is formed from sound absorbing foam constructed with geometries known in the art that absorb sound. The outer surface of wall  1708  is preferably formed with a decorative material designed to be aesthetically pleasing, and the inner layer  1712  is preferably formed with sound absorbing foam.  FIG. 17B  illustrates a cross-section of the sack wall  1708 . 
         [0085]    One of skill in the art will appreciate the noise abatement container may be independent or integrated into another container such as a bag. 
         [0086]    While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described herein, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that such embodiments are provided by way of example only. Numerous variations, changes, and substitutions will now occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the invention. It should be understood that various alternatives to the embodiments of the invention described herein may be employed in practicing the invention. It is intended that the following claims define the scope of the invention and that methods and structures within the scope of these claims and their equivalents be covered thereby.