Medela Holding Ag

André Schlienger

Etienne Furrer

Mario Rigert

Marcel Muther

Daniela Käppeli

Brian H Silver

Armin Felber

Beda Weber

Bernhard Emmenegger

Daniela Wäckerlin

Gamal Khalil

Deanna Gilbert

René Fischer

Sebastian Höner

Jürg Feller

Marco Steiner

A breastpump for expressing human breastmilk includes a multipart hygiene module having a first part with a flow opening for connecting to a interior, a valve body with at least one valve and a second part with a rigid cup for forming a pump chamber. The valve body is arranged between the first and second part and the hygiene module as a whole is connectable to the housing of the breastpump in a sealing and detachable manner.

Breastpump

A breast shield for a breast pump for expressing human breast milk comprises a rigid base part () with a tubular connection piece () and with a funnel (), which is integrally moulded in one piece thereon and widens away from the connection piece (), for receiving a breast. The breast shield additionally comprises a flexible collar () which is arranged on the funnel () at an end of the funnel () remote from the connection piece () and which is realized to be placed onto the mother's breast. The named end of the funnel () forms a first contact surface () and an end of the collar () which faces the funnel () forms a second contact surface () and they both adjoin one another in an obtuse manner in a circumferential connecting joint (), wherein the connecting joint is a butt joint. The funnel () comprises a first wall thickness () and the collar () comprises a second wall thickness (), wherein said second wall thickness () is approximately the same size as the first wall thickness (). The breast shield according to the invention can be produced in a simple and cost-efficient manner and nevertheless is very comfortable to wear and can be placed in position on the breast in a sealing manner.

Breast shield with a flexible edge

A breast shield for a breast pump for pumping human breast milk, comprising a rigid base part having a tubular connecting piece and a funnel that is integrally formed therewith and that expands away from the connecting piece for accommodating a mother's breast. The breast shield includes a flexible collar, which is arranged on the funnel at the end of the funnel facing away from the connection piece, and which is designed to be placed on the mother's breast. The end of the funnel forms a first contact surface, and an end of the collar facing the funnel forms a second contact surface (), which in a circumferential connecting seam adjoin each other in a blunt way. The funnel has a first wall thickness and the collar has a second wall thickness, wherein said second wall thickness is approximately equal to the first wall thickness. The breast shield can be produced simply and inexpensively, nevertheless allowing a high degree of wearing comfort and a tight fit on the mother's breast.

A breast shield for a breast pump for expressing human breast milk, comprising a funnel for applying to the human mother's breast and a connection part, wherein the funnel widens in the direction of the mother's breast and encloses at least one nipple and one areola surrounding the nipple of the mother's breast. The funnel comprises an end near to the breast, which forms a contact edge for contacting the mother's breast. The breast shield has a through-opening which extends from the end of the funnel near the breast up to the end of the connection part further from the breast, and which serves to apply a negative pressure to the mother's breast and to discharge expressed breast milk. The contact edge of the funnel is formed by a space curve that is not positioned in one plane, wherein the funnel has at least two planes of symmetry. The breast shield permits an application on the mother's breast that is optimally sealing and comfortable for the mother.

Breast shield

A device for expressing human breast milk has a breast shield for bearing against a mother's breast, a vacuum pump for generating a vacuum, a line which connects the vacuum pump to the breast shield and is intended for transmitting the vacuum generated to the breast shield, and a chamber. The line ends on the pump side in a first port of the chamber. The chamber has a second port for connection to a milk collecting container. The two ports in the chamber are connected to each other in terms of fluid communication. During the expressing operation, the line forms a milk line for transporting breast milk expressed in the breast shield to the chamber and from the chamber to the milk collecting container. The pump can be designed to be quiet and small.

Device and method for expressing human breast milk

A breastshield unit for use with a breastpump for expressing human breastmilk using underpressure has a dimensionally stable breastshield and a flexible breastshield insert for placing in the breastshield. The breastshield has a first, open breastshield end for placing on a mother's breast. The breastshield insert has a first insert end and a second insert end which define a longitudinal direction, the first, open breastshield end having a peripheral edge on which the breastshield insert is securable with the first insert end. In the assembled state, the breastshield insert extends from this first insert end through the inside of the breastshield to the second insert end, wherein the breastshield insert, between the first and second insert ends, extends substantially spaced apart from the breastshield. In the assembled state of the breastshield insert, the second insert end is displaceable in the longitudinal direction relative to the breastshield. The breastshield unit adapts optimally to the shape of the mother's breast and optimizes the bearing force.

Breast shield unit

Breastshield connector for a breastpump

A breastshield unit for use with a breastpump for expressing human breastmilk has a breastshield for receiving a mother's breast and a media separation device for transferring a vacuum into the interior of the breastshield. The breastshield has a receiving area for receiving a nipple of the mother's breast. The media separation device has a media separation membrane which, for the purpose of transferring the vacuum, is movable to and fro between two positions. The media separation membrane is located in the receiving area at least in one of the two positions. Despite the integrated media separation, the breastshield unit can be made extremely compact and minimizes the dead volume.

Breast shield unit with media separation

Breastshield for a breastpump

A pumping unit for use in a device for expressing human breast milk comprises a breast shield for resting against a mother's breast and a dimensionally stable or approximately dimensionally stable milk collection container for receiving the expressed mother's milk. The breast shield comprises a first longitudinal center axis, and the milk collection container comprises a second longitudinal center axis, wherein the milk collection container is detachably attachable to the breast shield, and wherein in the attached state of the milk collection container the first longitudinal center axis is arranged at an angle to the second longitudinal center axis. In the attached state the milk collection container is movable relative to the breast shield, and consequently the angle between the first and second longitudinal center axes is variable. The pumping unit according to the invention can be designed in a compact and space-saving manner and is particularly suited to a hands-free arrangement.

Pump unit for expressing milk

A breastshield unit for expressing human breastmilk has a receiving part for receiving a human nipple, an underpressure chamber for applying an under-pressure to the nipple, wherein the receiving part opens into this underpressure chamber, and a membrane for generating an underpressure in the underpressure chamber. The membrane is designed in one or more pieces and at least partially surrounds the receiving part. This breastshield unit permits a separation of media in the area near the breast. It is small and easy to clean and is suitable in particular for use as a hands-free breastshield unit.

Breastshield unit

A breast shield has a tubular connector and a funnel that is integrally formed thereon, and is intended for resting on a mother's breast. The funnel widens toward the free side thereof which faces away from the connector. A passage, which extends continuously from a breast-side end of the funnel as far as a pump-side end, being opposite the breast-side end, of the connector, and serves to apply a vacuum to the mother's breast and for the flowing away of the expressed breast milk. The funnel is of more flexible design than the connector, and the funnel has a main region extending over a substantial part of the length thereof with a first opening angle of the passage, and a breast-side end region with a second opening angle of the passage. When not in use, the first opening angle is smaller than the second opening angle. In use, at least the first opening angle can be enlarged by axial pressure on the breast shield. The breast shield is pleasant to wear and minimizes the dead volume.

Growing community of inventors

Maschwanden, Switzerland

André Schlienger