Medela Holding Ag

Erich Pfenniger

Mario Rigert

Peter Vischer

Mark A Luzbetak

Therese Naef

Thomas Albert Sutrina

Britta Pukall

Timothy D Killinger

Patrik Bosshard

Beda Weber

Leon Robert Mitoulas

Alex Stutz

Michael N Larsson

Peter Hartmann

Richard Röllin

Jill M Solberg

Markus Kerschdorfer

Sebastian Höner

Carmelo Piscitello

Stefan Baumann

Claudius Dietzsch

Sebastian HÖNER

A barrier of a vacuum pump prevents contamination from entering a vacuum pump air line. The barrier separates parts of the pump and is moveable between an initial state and a distended state. The barrier is assembled within the pump with a pre-load. When the vacuum source is applied to the barrier, the barrier achieves a distended state and when the vacuum source is released, the barrier incrementally self returns to an initial state. The geometry and material construction of the barrier, along with the pre-load, assists in returning the barrier on its own to the initial state from the distended state.

Self returning contamination barrier

A method for operating a breastpump unit for expression of human breastmilk and various breast shields for use in this method allow a maximum pumping performance and a minimum pumping duration per pumping session. The breast shield has an inner chamber for receiving a nipple of the breast and also at least one outer chamber which at least partially surrounds the nipple. The inner chamber is subjected to a constant pressure and the at least one outer chamber is subjected to a pulsating pressure.

Breast shield

A system for optimizing guide values, particularly in the field of infant feeding with mother's milk and/or in the field of medical drainage, which includes at least one first data set which has at least one first data group assigned to a first target group. The system also has a second data set, with at least one second data group assigned to a second target group. First data of the first target group are stored in the at least one first data group and second data of the second target group are stored in the at least one second data group. A data processing unit is used for processing the first and second data and for output of the guide values to the second target group. The data processing unit is formed in order to receive new data generated on the basis of the output of the guide values to the second target group and on the basis of the use of these guide values in the second target group and in order to convert the first data set on the basis of these new data for the purpose of optimizing future guide values.

System for optimizing guide values

A teat unit has a teat, a securing device for securing the teat on a liquid container, and an air valve, the securing device having a first securing part and a second securing part. The air valve has a first valve part, which is arranged in the first securing part, and a second valve part, which is arranged in the first or in the second securing part. The air valve opens and closes with respect to the second securing part. The valve is preferably a diaphragm valve, and the first valve part is a valve diaphragm. This teat unit functions very reliably even at very small pressure differences between the bottle and the environment. Moreover, the range of function of the various teat units of the same type is relatively narrow, such that different teat units function very similarly and the air valves are actuated at similar pressure differences.

Teat unit

A teat unit for sucking a liquid from a liquid container includes a teat and a flow restrictor with a through-opening. The teat comprises a mouthpiece, with a suction opening, and a main body which is formed integrally on the mouthpiece and widens relative to the mouthpiece. The flow restrictor defines a maximum flow of the liquid passing through the suction opening from the liquid container. According to the invention, the flow restrictor is arranged outside the mouthpiece, and the suction opening has a greater cross-sectional surface area than the through-opening of the flow restrictor. The teat unit permits a feeding action that is as true to nature as possible, since the mouthpiece can be deformed very considerably, without substantially impairing the flow restriction.

A teat unit has a flexible teat, a receiving head and a dimensionally stable base part. The teat is arranged on the receiving head. The receiving head and the base part are connected to each other by a releasable plug connection, and the receiving head has a securing element for securing the teat unit on a drinks container.

A mouthpiece has a bite-off-prevention feature. The mouthpiece has been manufactured from an elastomeric parent material with at least one first component, where a reinforcing component embedded within the parent material forms the bite-off-prevention feature and derives from the same group of substances or group of materials as the first component. The reinforcing component is preferably composed of fibers.

Mouthpiece and process for production

A teat has a main body, a mouthpiece with a suction opening, and at least one milk channel extending from the main body to the suction opening. During use, the mouthpiece has an upper side directed towards a palate of a baby, and a lower side directed towards the baby's tongue. It is designed, on its upper side, with at least two walls, and with at least one air space arranged between said walls. The at least one air space extends separately from the at least one milk channel. The mouthpiece is designed on the upper side in such a way that this at least one air space inflates in the presence of an underpressure. This allows the palate, tongue and teat to interact in a manner that imitates breastfeeding.

Teat

A teat unit has a flexible teat, a receiving head and a dimensionally stable base part. The teat is arranged on the receiving head. The receiving head and the base part are connected to each other by a releasable plug connection, and the receiving head has a securing element for securing the teat unit on a drinks container. This teat unit permits a great many possible configurations of the individual parts and, therefore, an optimization of their individual functions.

A teat for connection to a receiving unit of a drink container has a main body and, adjoining the main body and tapered relative to the main body, a mouthpiece with at least one suction opening and a free end. The teat has a first connector element for connection to the receiving unit, and a second connector element for connection to the receiving unit, and a suction channel. The suction channel extends within the mouthpiece, opens via a first end into the suction opening and is directed via a second end towards the main body. This second end forms the first connector element for a substantially leak-tight connection to the receiving unit. The main body is designed such that it can be turned back towards the free end of the mouthpiece. The teat is designed such that it can be turned back at least a second location. The teat according to the invention can be connected to the feeding bottle in a simple and hygienic manner, is easy to clean and permits a feeding action that is as true to nature as possible.

Growing community of inventors

Ebikon, Switzerland

Erich Pfenniger