An electric breast pump utilizes an electric motor to drive a piston vacuum pump to draw a negative pressure or suction up to 250 mm Hg at a flexible collapsible breast cup. The suction cycles between the set maximum and atmospheric under the control of a magnetic valve that is opened and closed by a vacuum sensor. The valve opens and closes a bypass to atmosphere. The speed of the electric motor can be selectively varied to increase the frequency of the suction cycles, which can vary between 20 to 44 cycles per minute. The breast cup collapses during a part of each cycle to simulate the peristaltic action of a suckling infant.

Claims

20 · 2 independent · depth 8

20 granted claims

›1.independentA breast pump for extracting breast milk from a human teat, comprising: a motor; a vacuum pump driven by said motor; a flexible plastic breast cup con…+11

›2.↳ 1The breast pump of claim 1 wherein said motor comprises a manual speed adjustment, selectable by the user.d2

›3.↳ 1The breast pump of claim 1 wherein said vacuum sensor comprises a manually settable maximum suction.d2

›4.↳ 1The breast pump of claim 1 wherein the manually settable maximum suction is adjustable over a range.d2

›5.↳ 1The breast pump of claim 1 wherein said breast cup collapses during maximum suction and recovers when suction is released.d2

›6.↳ 1The breast pump of claim 1 further comprising a collection bottle connected to the breast cup and the tube to the vacuum pump so that the vacuum pump …d2+6

›13.independentA breast pump for extracting milk from a human teat, comprising: a flexible plastic breast cup for placement over a human teat; a vacuum pump having a…+7

›14.↳ 13The breast pump of claim 13 wherein said breast cup collapses during maximum suction and recovers when the suction is released.d2

›15.↳ 13The breast pump of claim 13 wherein said electric motor comprises a manual speed adjustment, selectable by the user.d2

›16.↳ 13The breast pump of claim 13 wherein said vacuum sensor comprises a manually settable maximum suction.d2

›17.↳ 13The breast pump of claim 13 further comprising a collection bottle connected to the breast cup and the tube so that the vacuum pump draws a suction in…d2+3

Classifications

3 codes

USPC · US Patent Classification

604/74604/118604/73

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2.5 y

903 days filing → grant

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Corrine McDermott

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