Medela Holding Ag

Mario Rigert

Erich Pfenniger

André Schlienger

Peter Vischer

Etienne Furrer

Bernhard Emmenegger

Therese Naef

Britta Pukall

Armin Felber

Timothy D Killinger

Daniela Käppeli

Marcel Muther

Leon Robert Mitoulas

Alex Stutz

Martin Thüring

Beda Weber

David Cho

Sebastian Höner

Jahi Gist

Michael N Larsson

Deanna Gilbert

René Fischer

Peter Hartmann

Andre Schlienger

Carmelo Piscitello

Marco Steiner

Sebastian HÖNER

Peter Edwin Hartmann

Sebastian Honer

Rene Fischer

Daniela Kappeli

Michael Larsson

An apparatus comprising a baby bottle () and a bottle top attachment () coupled to the baby bottle () and having a connector () for a breast pump. The apparatus is characterized in that the bottle top attachment () includes a measuring head () with a reservoir () for breast milk and in that the measuring head () includes a sensor unit that is associated with the volume of the reservoir () and that enables determining a parameter of the milk expressed into the baby bottle.

Baby bottle with bottle top attachment

A breast shield unit of a breast pump for expressing human breastmilk includes a breast shield () to be placed onto a mother's breast, a breastmilk collection container () for receiving expressed breastmilk, an adapter () for connecting the breast shield () to the breastmilk collection container () and a valve head (). A breastmilk channel extends from the breast shield () into the breastmilk collection container () through the adapter () and the valve head (). The valve head () includes a valve () which closes and opens the breastmilk channel during the pumping action, wherein a fill level sensor () for measuring a fill level of the breastmilk collection container () is arranged in the valve head (). The breast shield unit according to the invention facilitates a fill level measurement without a structural change of the breast shield and breastmilk collection container. Moreover, it facilitates data interchange with external information storage and/or information processing units.

Breast shield unit

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 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 mechanical fluid pressure modification valve, or 'MFLP-valve', is set forth. The MFLP-valve can be actuated upon movement of a movable pressure system member of a medical pressure system reaching a selected position. Additionally, the MFLP-valve can be actuated based on a pressure condition of the system. When the MFLP-valve unseals, a pressure differential between a pressure chamber and a volume outside of the chamber can be relieved. Disengagement of the movable pressure system member from the MFLP-valve can enable the MFLP-valve to re-seal. The MFLP-valve may include a flag that indicates the position of the movable pressure system member. The MFLP-valve may be provided in a diaphragm-type pressure source.

MFLP-valve for a pressure source

A breast shield unit of a breast pump for expressing human breastmilk comprises a breast shield to be placed onto a mother's breast, a breastmilk collection container for receiving expressed breastmilk, an adapter for connecting the breast shield to the breastmilk collection container and a valve head. A breastmilk channel extends from the breast shield into the breastmilk collection container through the adapter and the valve head. The valve head includes a valve which closes and opens the breastmilk channel during the pumping action, wherein a fill level sensor for measuring a fill level of the breastmilk collection container is arranged in the valve head. The breast shield unit according to the invention facilitates a fill level measurement without a structural change of the breast shield and breastmilk collection container. Moreover, it facilitates data interchange with external information storage and/or information processing units.

Breastshield unit

A breast pump for pumping human breast milk has a flexible pumping membrane and a stiff cap, which can be fitted onto said pumping membrane, this resulting in the formation of a pumping chamber for generating a negative pressure. The cap can be, or is, connected to a breast-shield unit via a suction line. The pumping membrane has an encircling collar with a step and a laterally projecting protrusion. The cap has, on its inner side, an encircling abutment region and also at least one form-fitting element, which is spaced apart from the encircling abutment region and establishes a form fit with the protrusion of the pumping membrane. The cap is positioned with a snap fit on the pumping membrane. In the abutment region (), it establishes a joint frictional fit with a step of the pumping membrane and thus forms a seal. The snap-fit positioning of the cap on the pumping membrane is sufficient for the cap to be retained with sealing action on the pumping membrane.

Breast pump and cap for same

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.

An adapter for a breast shield of a breast pump for pumping human breast milk has a chamber having a first opening leading to the breast shield and a second opening remote from the breast shield. The adapter also has a flexible media separation diaphragm, which is accommodated in the chamber and separates the chamber into a pump-side and a breast-shield-side area. The chamber tapers toward the breast-shield-side opening. The chamber has the shape of a spherical dome which is cut off in the tapering area thereof. The media separation diaphragm likewise has substantially the shape of a flattened spherical dome having a flat top side, wherein the flat top side of the media separation diaphragm faces the breast-shield-side opening of the chamber. The adapter permits a minimum pressure drop over the media separation diaphragm and ensures a reliable return to the original shape of the media separation diaphragm.

Adapter with media separating diaphragm for a breast shield

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.

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.

Growing community of inventors

Buchrain, Switzerland

Mario Rigert