WO2013184004A1

WO2013184004A1 - A method and system of controlling an automatic breast milk pump

Info

Publication number: WO2013184004A1
Application number: PCT/NO2013/050102
Authority: WO
Inventors: Tone FLEISCHER
Original assignee: Mamma Lactans As
Priority date: 2012-06-07
Filing date: 2013-06-07
Publication date: 2013-12-12
Also published as: NO20120664A1; CN103480052A

Abstract

A method and for controlling a breast milk pump system, the breast milk pump comprising at least one pad with corresponding first pump for applying a pressure to the breast and. a vacuum pump for providing a suction Force on said, breast, the method comprising the steps of a) applying a pulsating pressure to said at least one pressure pad, for a time period in the range of 5-10s, and within the same time period applying a pulsating suction force, b) in a second time period, allowing the user to adjust said pressure and vacuum forces.

Description

A METHOD AND SYSTEM OF CONTROLLING AN AUTOMATIC BREAST MILK PUMP

The present invention relates to a system and method of controlling an automatic breast cup, and use of this in accordance with the preamble of the independent claims.

Over the last few years, the number of women who breastfeed their children has been increasing steadily. From a nutritional and psychological standpoint, this is considered to be the best thing for both mother and child.

The most common way of giving the child breast milk is to let the child suck directly from the breast. However, in certain cases it is not practical or possible to let the child suck directly from the breast. Examples of such cases may be: - when the child is premature and is not able to suck,

- when the mother has too little milk,

- when the mother is ill and requires a stronger stimulus,

- medically indicated mastitis, where the mother can not, as a consequence of the treatment, give the milk to the child, and where the breast must be emptied.

For purely practical reasons, it may also be appropriate for others to have the possibility of feeding the child. A number of of solutions are known for providing means for obtaining the milk using different types of pumps. Examples of such solutions are discussed in US7101350, US2005/234400, and WO2005/067997. Koppen form passer ikke med manuell

As is stated in the former patent several physiological and psychological factors influence, and may stop, the milk production. One important factor is the stimulation of the breast in order to start the milk production. The stimulation of the breast includes a total of three components that must be present for the milk production to start: Stimulation of the actual breast, where the greatest stimulus is by the edges of the areola. Here are the so-called "milk lakes", which when pressured will release Oxytocin from the hypophysis. This hormone acts directly on the milk ducts, so that they dilate and open up to be emptied. This happens when the child grips the breast by opening its mouth widely. The jaws and lips will then stimulate the areola, which is situated approximately 2.5 - 3 cm from the base of the nipple.

Stimulation of the actual nipple, through squeezing and massaging. This occurs when the child's tongue and palate envelops the nipple. Tactile stimulation entails a strong stimulus, and thereby hormonal response. The actual sucking, which takes place when the child sucks.

As is clear from the abovementioned publications a number of different breast pumps are known, which consist of a cup or similar that is placed over the breast, a manual or mechanical vacuum pump connected to the cup, which creates an intermittent vacuum in the cup, and a receptacle for the expressed milk. The expressed milk typically flows from the cup and into a receptacle for storage and subsequent use.

From US6273868 there is known a breastfeeding device of the type mentioned by way of introduction, which solves most of the problems of the above described solutions.

The breastfeeding device in accordance with this patent includes a breast cup consisting of a total of three stimulating means, i.e. a first stimulating means for stimulation of the actual nipple. This first stimulating means is connected to a vacuum source having an adjustable vacuum and frequency. Further, the device includes a second and third stimulating means in the form of inflatable pads or cavities in the breast cup, which second and third stimulating means are connected to a pressure source having separately adjustable pressure and frequency. Having a total of three different stimulating means with individual adjustment entails a somewhat complex and costly control mechanism. WO2005/067997 shows a similar solution with a different cup shape having a reduces angle relative to the axis. This shape, however, had the disadvantage that a full breast would not sufficiently enter the cup as the pressure of the manual pump was not sufficient. The invention relates to a system and a method of pumping breast milk by means of the above described breast cup, characterised as presented in the accompanying claims. In the following, the invention will be explained in greater detail by means of examples of embodiments, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figs. 1 and 2 a pump section according to the prior art as discussed in US7101350 Fig. 3-5 illustrates the breast pump according to the invention

Figure 6 is a figure showing pressure and vacuum conditions, respectively, as functions of time when using the breast cup according to the known art. Figure 7 illustrates the startup sequence of the invention according to the known art.

The outer part 1 and the inner part 2 now form a finished breast cup in accordance with the invention. Two cavities have now been formed; a first cavity 15 between the second portion 12 of the inner part 2 and the third portion 5 of the outer part 1, and a second cavity 16 between the first portion 11 of the inner part 2 and the second portion 4 of the outer part 1. Both these cavities 15, 16 communicate with the outside by means of the pipe sockets 6, 7.

By the above described embodiment of the breast cup in accordance with the invention, a total of three areas are provided which will be able to stimulate different parts of the breast. The first portion 11 of the inner part 2, wherein the nipple is located during use, forms the first stimulating area. A vacuum that pulls on the nipple, thereby simulating the suction from a breastfeeding child will constitute stimulation in this portion. The membranes 13, which will give a pulsating stimulus towards the base of the nipple, constitute the second stimulation area. This stimulus simulates the palate and tongue of a breastfeeding child. The third stimulation area is constituted by the membranes 14, which will give a pulsating stimulus towards an area located approximately 1.5 - 3.0 cm from the base of the nipple. This stimulus simulates the lips and jaw/palate of a breastfeeding child.

Figure 3,4,5a,5b illustrates the shape of the suction part of the inventions according to the invention, where the outer part of the cone has a rounded shape so as to enclose the breast. Thus the pressure from the membranes will enclose and increase the hold on the breast. Figure 5a also shows the bottle 20 to be on the cup, while figure 5b illustrates the membrane part adapted to be easily remove for cleaning. Also, the connection points to the pressure and vacuum pumps have been moved to improve the convenience when handling the system.

The following will give a more detailed explanation of how the breast cup is used, with particular reference to fig. 6, which shows how the various parts of the breast cup is subjected to pressure and vacuum as a function of time according to the prior art. When the breast cup is to be used, the connecting means 9 is connected to the vacuum source, while the connecting means 6 and 7 are connected to separate pressure sources. The breast cup is also coupled to a collecting device. The breast cup may now be placed on the breast, and a pulsating vacuum of order of 50 mbar is applied to the first portion 3 for approximately 20 seconds, then going up further to approximately 100 - 150 mbar for the next 10 seconds. At the same time, a pulsating pressure of the order of 50mbar to 450 mbar is applied to the first cavity 15, and then this pressure is reduced while pressurised fluid at a pressure of typically 300 mbar to 500 mbar is supplied to the other cavity 16. The pressures of the first and seconds cavities may be adjusted separately by the user only after approximately 30 seconds after the vacuum in the first portion 3 has been applied. As soon as the expulsion reflex has been initiated, the vacuum of the first portion may be reduced, and the pressure of the cavities is reduced maintained. Then the cycle is repeated, as shown in fig. 7. The cycle time is adjustable, and will typically be variable within the range 1 - 4 seconds. In addition to being able to vary the cycle time, it is obviously also possible to adjust the pressure of the two cavities 15 and 16, as well as the vacuum in the first portion 3, independently of each other. This may for instance be done by using solenoid valves connected to an electronic controller, which also regulates the voltage of the pressure and vacuum pumps, thereby to change the flow. The pressure and the vacuum may be provided through air pumps/compressors or liquid pumps/compressors, which are available equipment on the market and will not be discussed in detail here. Figure 7 illustrates the startup sequence with the pressure applied by the first and second sections 13,14 increasing from 50mbar to approximately 340mbar within the first 5-10 seconds. During the same time window the vacuum is increased from 50 to 180mbar. During this time period the initial stimulation is provided and the milk production is started. At this point the user is not allowed to adjust the pressures. The timing of the pressures and vacuums relative to each other will essentially be the same as in figure 6. The startup period may also be assisted by playing sounds of the child, thus stimulating the milk production, thus the system may include a recorder enabling the recording of the hungry child to help further stimulating the milk production. After this time sequence the vacuum may be release, e.g. down to 130mbar, while the pressures on the membranes will be maintain. However, the system is adapted to let the user adjust the parameters during the second time period.

Thus to summarise the invention relates to a method and system for controlling a breast milk pump system. The breast milk pump comprising at least one pad, specifically the larger pad 14 close to the nipple, with corresponding first pump for applying a pressure to the breast and a vacuum pump for providing a suction force on said breast, the method comprising the steps of

a) applying a pulsating pressure to said at least one pressure pad, for a time period in the range of 5- 10s, and within the same time period applying a pulsating suction force, b) in a second time period, allowing the user to adjust said pressure and vacuum forces.

The first time period is important to stimulate the milk production using both the pressure pad and the vacuum, and during this period the user should not be allowed to alter the sequence as it would reduce the efficiency of the system and method. Testing has shown that it is further advantageous if the the amplitude of the pulsating pressure in said first pad is preferably increased during the first time period, for example from 50mbar to at least 300mbar, while the amplitude of said pulsating vacuum force is increased e.g. from 50mbar to at least 180mbar.

After the first time period the suction force is decrease, e.g. to preferably to 130mbar, but up to 160mbar is also possible, while the pressure at the pads may remain constant. Both may, however, be adjusted by the user during the second time period.

Preferable the breast milk pump system includes a second pressure pad mounted at a chosen second position further from the nipple, also being adapted to apply a pressure to said breast, wherein the applied pressure in said second pressure pad is pulsating at the same frequency as the first pressure pad, shifted a certain amount of time being less than the period between the pulsations. The sequence during the second time periode may then be as illustrated in figure 6, first starting the vaccum force I, then the larger, first pad II and last the smaller second pads III.

The system preferably also has a breast cup for receiving the breast having a mounted in a conical part where the wider end of has a reduced angle relative to the axis so as to enclose the breast. This way the first pads will function to hold the breast inside the cup, not pushing it away. This shape should be adapted according to the suction force of the system so as to allow the breast to fit into place.

Claims

C l a i m s

1.

A method for controlling a breasi milk pom system, the breat milk pump comprising at least one pad (1.4) wi th corresponding first pump for app ymg a pressisre to the breast and a vacuum pump for providing a suction force on said breast, the method comprising the steps of

c) applying a pulsating pressure to said at least one pressure pad, for time period in -the range of 5^» 10s₅ and within the same time pe iod applying a pulsating suction force.

d) in a second time period, allowing the user to adjust said pressure and vacuum forces.

Method according to claim 1 , wherein the amplitude of said pulsating pressure in said first pad is increased .from e,g. 50mbaf to at least 30Gmbar within said first time period.

Method according: to claim: I. wherein the amplitude of said pulsating vacuum force is increased from e.g. SOmba to at least_. ISOmbar within said first time period.

4.

Method according to claim 3, wherein the suction force is decrease within said second- time period, e.g. to approximately BOmbar.

5.

Method according to claim 1 , wherein ^'the breast milk pump system includes a second pressure pad mounted on. the opposite side of said breast, also being adapted to apply a. pressure to said breast, wherein the applied pressure in said second pressure pad is pulsating at. the same frequency as the first pressure pad, shifted a certain amount of time being less than the period between the pulsations. s

6.

System for controlling a breast milk pump system, comprising at least one pad with corresponding first pump for applying a pressur to the breast and a vacuum pump for providing a suction force on said breast, wherem the first pressure pad is adapted to apply a pulsating pressure to said at least one pressure pad, for a time period in the range of 5- Gs, and within the same time period applying a pulsating suction force, and a user interface allowing the user to adjust said pressure and vacuum forces within a second time period. 7.

System according to claim 6, wherein the amplitude of said pulsating pressure in said first pad is increased from e.g. SOmbar to at least 3O0mbar within said first time period.

8.

System according to claim 6, wherein the amplitude of said pulsating vacuum force is increased .from e.g. SOmbar to at least 1 SOmbar within said first time period.

9.

Syste according to clai 8, wherein the suction force is decrease within said second time period, e.g. to approximately 130mbar.

10.

System according to claim 6 comprising a second pressure pad mounted on the opposite side of said breast, also being adapted to app ly a pressure to sa id breast, wh erein the applied pressure in said second pressure pad is pulsating at the same frequency as the first pressure pad, shifted a certain amount..of time being less than the period between the pulsations.

1 1.

System according to claim 6, wherein the pad is moimted in a conical part, the wider end of which having a reduced angle relative tot he axis so as to enclose the breast.