HK1259109B - Breast shield unit - Google Patents

Description

The Commission has also adopted a proposal for a directive on the protection of workers from risks related to exposure to ionising radiation.

The present invention relates to a breast pump sleeve unit for pumping human breast milk.

The Technical Standards

To pump human breast milk, a breast cap is placed on the breast, which is connected to a vacuum pump to supply the breast with a cyclically varying pressure. The pumped milk is pumped through a milk duct from the breast cap into a milk collection tank. To keep the dead volume as small as possible during the pump, a milk duct from the breast cap to the milk tank is usually fitted with a return valve, which opens for the entry of the pumped milk into the milk tank. This return valve is pre-installed on an adapter, which connects the breast cap to the milk collection tank and usually leads to the vacuum pump or a vacuum pump, which can also be connected to the head of the pump or a head adapter, which can be attached to the vacuum pump.

Such a device is known, for example, from WO 2014/161099 A1 where the breastplate unit described has a flow sensor that detects the change in a valve valve of the back-up valve, so that conclusions can be drawn about the flow of milk from the breastplate into the milk collection tank.

US 2016/0082166 A1 reveals an adapter with a sensor for detecting milk production, whereby the sensor communicates via a wireless connection with a mobile data receiver or the milk pump.

WO 2006/003655 A1 shows a breast cap placed on the breast during breastfeeding of a baby.

WO 2009/081313 A1 reveals a chest hood with at least one sensor to optimise and personalise the pumping process.

However, since the caps and milk receptacles can often be used only once or only a few times, they should be manufactured as cost-effectively as possible and/or should be easy to clean.

US 2016/082165 A1 reveals a breast cap with a milk collection tank and a sensor located in the neck of the tank to measure the milk flow.

US 2016/220743 A1 also describes a sensor in a bottleneck that detects the dripping.

US 2015/038945 A1 shows a pump device with a breast cap, a milk collection tank and a suction cup at the bottom of the collection tank.

The following shall be considered as a single product:

It is therefore a task of the invention to create a chest tube unit which is as cost-effective as possible and which nevertheless allows the measurement of the quantity of milk pumped.

This task is solved by a chest unit with the characteristics of claim 1.

The breast pump unit for the purpose of pumping human breast milk according to the invention has a breast cap for attachment to a breast, a milk collection container for the reception of pumped breast milk, an adapter for connecting the breast cap to the milk collection container and a valve head. A milk duct extends from the breast cap through the adapter and through the valve head into the milk collection container. The valve head has a valve that closes and opens the milk duct during pumping, with a filling sensor in the valve head for measuring a filling level of the milk collection container.

The valve head is designed to be used as an accessory in existing breastplate units, which eliminates the need to redesign known breastplate units.

Preferably the milk collection tank is rigid or semi-rigid; preferably it is a milk bottle which, after removal of the valve head, adapter and breast cap, is airtight with a lid; preferably the same bottle can be used as a suction bottle to deliver breast milk to an infant together with a suction cup to be placed in use.

The measurement of the filling level in the milk collection tank gives an accurate measurement of the actual available breast milk. The measurement is preferably carried out during the pumping operation. The filling level is updated preferably in a timely manner during the pumping operation.

The measurement data can be transmitted as raw data or as data already evaluated by an electronic unit integrated in the valve head to an output unit and/or a control and/or a display of the breast pump. In a simple embodiment, the breast pump merely displays this data. In other embodiments, the data are used in addition to or as an alternative to the current or subsequent control of the pump, e.g. to automatically switch from a stimulation to an expression mode or vice versa. In other embodiments, the data are used in addition to or as an alternative to the automatic change of the pump parameters or the patterns of vacuum curves, which is also done for the current and/or subsequent pump operation, depending on the embodiment.

The raw data and/or the evaluated data can also be sent to other recipients, such as a smart device such as a smartphone or another personal device of the mother, which makes it easier for her to record the volume of the milk, even if she cannot see the milk collection tank.

The measurement of the volume of milk pumped can be used to determine the volume of milk pumped, and the volume signal can be used to detect the milk flow.

The filling level sensor is a distance sensor for measuring the distance from a surface of the pumped breast milk in the milk collection tank, i.e. the milk in the tank, in order to measure the filling level in a simple way, without the need to equip the tank with a filling level sensor and without the need to contact the milk by mechanical means.

A particular application for the fullness level sensor is a running time process sensor, also called a TOF sensor (Time of flight sensor).

The distance sensor, in particular the TOF sensor, allows the measurement of the distance from the sensor to the filling height inside the milk collection tank.

If a TOF sensor is used, an optical connection from the sensor to the opposite bottom of the milk collection tank is necessary. Preferably, the TOF sensor is positioned on a longitudinal axis of the milk collection tank. Preferably, this longitudinal axis forms an axis of rotational symmetry of the milk collection tank.

In a simple embodiment, the valve head is equipped with only the filling level sensor, which measures the filling level of the milk in the container as a parameter.

An additional sensor of this type is, for example, a flow sensor, which measures the flow through the valve. This flow sensor is, for example, an optical sensor, which detects a deflection of a valve valve of the valve. Preferably, the sensor is a light barrier, which detects the position of the valve. Preferably, a protruding wing is located on the valve valve for this purpose, which penetrates the light path of the light barrier. Such an influx sensor is revealed, for example, in WO 2014/161099.

This additional flow measurement allows the flow sensor to correct the measurement of the filling level, especially when there is only a small volume of milk in the milk collection tank. This flow sensor can also be used during the movement of the milk collection tank to correct or completely replace the measurements of the filling level sensor, which is inaccurate during this period. It can also be used as a control to determine whether the valve has opened at all or how often and/or when it opens. This information can be used to control the filling level sensor.

Alternatively or additionally, a position sensor is preferably available as an additional sensor, which detects the position of the milk collection tank in three-dimensional space and thus its tip in three-dimensional space. As a position sensor, an acceleration sensor is particularly suitable. The data from the position sensor is preferably used to compensate for the signals from the fill level sensor in the tip of the milk collection tank. The position sensor is preferably used additionally to determine whether the milk collection tank is at all in a position to ensure a meaningful fill level measurement.

The fill level sensor and at least the position sensor, preferably all other sensors, shall preferably be positioned in the valve head in a position fixed to each other.

The signals, also called raw data, from the full-load sensor and, if any, from at least one other sensor, are preferably transmitted directly to external units, such as a chest pump evaluation and control unit or another external evaluation unit.

However, preferably an electronic unit is located in the valve head to process the signals of the fill level sensor, preferably this internal electronic unit also processes the signals of at least one other sensor, if any.

Err1:Expecting ',' delimiter: line 1 column 207 (char 206)

For ease of use, the valve head is preferably wireless externally and without electrical connectors, which facilitates cleaning and allows the valve head to be reused several times.

In one embodiment, the valve head is an integral part of the adapter, in which case the entire adapter may be designed as a valve head, i.e. the additional sensors may be distributed over the adapter and need not be adjacent to the connection to the milk collection tank.

In another embodiment, the valve head is soluble and can be connected to the adapter and/or the milk collection tank.

Preferably the fill level sensor and, if present, at least one other sensor, and if present, the electronic unit, shall be protected against liquid penetration.

Other embodiments are given in the dependent claims.

The following is a brief description of the drawings:

A preferred embodiment of the invention is described below by means of the drawings, which are intended for illustrative purposes only and are not to be interpreted restrictively. Figure 1 a schematic representation of a breastplate unit of the invention when fitted to a breast and Figure 2 a schematic representation of the breastplate unit of Figure 1 in communication with external units.

The following shall be considered as a single unit of account:

Figure 1 shows a breast cap unit of the invention. It has a breast cap 1 for holding a breast B, particularly the nipple. The breast cap 1 is fixed or preferably soluble and connected to an adapter 2, also called a coupling. The adapter 2 can be connected directly to a manually or electrically operated breast pump. It is preferably connected to the breast pump via a vacuum line 3, particularly a silicone tube, as shown here. The breast pump is shown in Figure 2 and is thereby given the reference sign 30.

The adapter has an inner compartment 20 which forms part of a milk channel from the breast cap 1 to a milk collection tank 5 and the milk collection tank 5 is soluble attached to a connecting bracket 21 of the adapter 2.

At the adapter 2 a valve head 4 is fixed or detachable, the valve head 4 being preferably fixed to the adapter 2 at a lower angle, e.g. the valve head 4 is formed individually together with the adapter 2 or connected to it by a plug or screw connection.

The adapter 2 and the valve head 4 are preferably made of a rigid plastic. The milk tank 5 is preferably rigid or semi-rigid. Preferably the milk tank 5 is also made of plastic. It can be transparent, semi-transparent or opaque.

The valve head 4 is preferably protruding into the milk collection tank 5. The valve head 4 has a back-up valve. In this example the valve has a one-way valve 40 . The reference 40' denotes the valve in the open position, the reference 40 in the closed position.

The milk leaving the breast B is marked with the reference sign a, the milk flowing into the valve head 4 which usually falls with b, the milk collecting before the closed valve 40 with c and the milk finally entering the milk collection tank 5 with d. The milk in the milk storage tank 5, i.e. the milk already collected, is marked with the reference sign e. Depending on the design, the valve 40 opens due to the prevailing pressure conditions at each suction cycle or only when sufficient milk has accumulated before the valve c to open this valve.

In the valve valve 40 area, a flow sensor 8 is preferably present, here an optical sensor designed as a light barrier. In the schematic representation shown in Figure 1 it appears to be floating inside the milk collection tank 5 but is also attached to the valve head 4.

Err1:Expecting ',' delimiter: line 1 column 297 (char 296)

In an electronic area 42 of the valve head 4 separated from the milk channel, a fill level sensor 6 is located. The electronic area 42 is preferably formed as a closed chamber. Separation from the rest of the valve head can be done, for example, by a partition 41 . If this is formed slanted, it also facilitates the flow of milk to the valve valve 40.

The filling sensor 6 has a range of 60 which is directed towards the opposite bottom of the milk collection tank 5. The filling sensor 6 is therefore preferably located at the lower front surface of the valve head 4. Preferably the filling sensor 6 is located on the longitudinal median axis of the milk collection tank 5, which preferably simultaneously forms the rotational symmetry axis R of the milk collection tank 5. The filling sensor 6 is preferably a distance sensor, preferably an optical distance sensor and preferably a TOF (time of flight) sensor.

The TOF sensor measures a distance from the sensor surface to the surface of the milk. This distance is converted into volume by a microcontroller of an electronic unit 9 taking into account the bottle geometry. The radiation and thus the detection range 60 of the TOF sensor is usually conical or collimated.

In the electronics area 42, a position sensor 7 is preferably also located, here a motion sensor. This position sensor 7 measures the motion or tip of the valve head 4 and thus of the milk collection tank connected to it via the adapter 2. The signals or data are supplied to the above-mentioned electronic unit 9, in particular to the same microcontroller. They compensate for the signals of the fill level sensor 6 when the milk collection tank 5 tips and thus increase the accuracy of the measurement.

The filling sensor 6 and the position sensor 7 are positioned in relation to each other, i.e. if one sensor is tilted and/or moved, the other sensor is also tilted. Preferably the same applies to the flow sensor 8. The milk collection tank 5 is also positioned in relation to the filling sensor 6 and, if present, the position sensor 7. This is done by connecting it to the adapter 2 and the corresponding connection between the adapter 2 and the valve head 4.

The above-mentioned electronic unit 9 is preferably also located in the electronic area 42 of valve head 4. Preferably it has an energy supply integrated in the valve head 4, in particular an energy storage unit. Preferably no cables or connections are external. Data transmission from the electronic unit 9 to the outside and, if any, also from the outside to the electronic unit 9 is preferably wireless. Energy transmission is also preferably wireless. The electronic area 42 is preferably liquid-tightly insulated from the outside.

The measurements provide the mother, breastfeeding assistants or other experts with information on the quantity of milk pumped. Since the mother cannot necessarily see the milk collection tank 5 during the pumping, it will be possible for her to display this volume of milk on a display of the breast pump 30, on a smart device such as her smartphone or tablet, or on another suitable device. These data can also be made available to the mother via an express unit I on the Internet without further intervention. They can, for example, be stored in a dedicated cloud measurement unit or automatically transmitted by a computer, such as a vacuum pump or other automatically controlled device, such as a vacuum pump, or by a computer to measure the flow rate of the pumping pump and, for example, to optimise the flow of the output.

The breast cap unit and valve head of the invention allow for the measurement of the filling level without changing the structure of the breast cap and milk collection container and allow for data exchange with external information storage and/or information processing units. BEZUGSZEICHENLISTE

1	Brusthaube
9	Elektronikeinheit
2	Adapter	90	Kommunikationsweg
20	Innenraum
21	Anschlussstutzen	B	Mutterbrust
3	Vakuumleitung	a	aus der Mutterbrust austretende Milch
30	Brustpumpe
b	in den Ventilkopf fallende Milch
4	Ventilkopf	c	im Ventilkopf sich sammelnde Milch
40	Ventilklappe
40'	Ventilklappe in geöffneter Stellung	d	aus dem Ventilkopf austretende Milch
41	Trennwand
42	Elektronikbereich	e	im Milchsammelbehälter gesammelte Milch
5	Milchsammelbehälter
P	Drehposition des Milchsammelbehälters im Raum
		6	Füllstandsensor
60	Erfassungsbereich des
Füllstandsensors	I	Internetzugangseinheit
SD	Smart Device
7	Positionssensor	C	Cloud
OD	Andere Einheiten
8	Durchflusssensor
80	Erfassungsbereich des Durchflusssensors	R	Rotationsachse

Claims (14)

1. Breast shield unit of a breast pump for expressing human breastmilk, the breast shield unit comprising a breast shield (1) to be placed onto a mother's breast, a breastmilk collection container (5) for receiving expressed breastmilk, an adapter (2) for connecting the breast shield (1) to the breastmilk collection container (5) and a valve head (4), with a breastmilk channel extending from the breast shield (1) into the breastmilk collection container (5) through the adapter (2) and the valve head (4), and the valve head (4) comprising a valve (40), said valve closing and opening the breastmilk channel during the pumping action, wherein a fill level sensor (6) for measuring a fill level of the breastmilk collection container (5) is arranged in the valve head (4) and characterized in that the fill level sensor (6) is a distance sensor for measuring a distance from a surface of the expressed breastmilk situated in the breastmilk collection container (5).
2. Breast shield unit according to Claim 1, wherein the fill level sensor (6) is a time-of-flight sensor.
3. Breast shield unit according to either of Claims 1 and 2, wherein at least one further sensor (7, 8) is arranged in the valve head (4).
4. Breast shield unit according to Claim 3, wherein one of the at least one further sensors is a flow sensor (8) which measures the flow through the valve (40).
5. Breast shield unit according to Claim 4, wherein the flow sensor (8) is an optical sensor which detects a deflection of a valve flap (40) of the valve.
6. Breast shield unit according to one of Claims 1 to 5, wherein one of the at least one further sensors is a position sensor (7) which detects the position of the breastmilk collection container (5) in three-dimensional space and hence the oblique position thereof in three-dimensional space.
7. Breast shield unit according to Claim 6, wherein the position sensor (7) is an acceleration sensor.
8. Breast shield unit according to either of Claims 6 and 7, wherein the fill level sensor (6) and the position sensor (7) are arranged with fixed positions in relation to one another in the valve head (4).
9. Breast shield unit according to one of Claims 1 to 8, wherein an electronics unit (9) for processing signals from the fill level sensor (6) is arranged in the valve head (4).
10. Breast shield unit according to Claim 9 and at least one of Claims 4 to 8, wherein the electronics unit (9) is embodied to process signals of the at least one further sensor (7, 8).
11. Breast shield unit according to either of Claims 9 and 10, wherein the electronics unit (9) is embodied to interchange data (91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97) with at least one of the following units: a breast pump (30), a "smart device" (SD), such as a smartphone, which is updated from an information technology point of view, an external data processing unit such as a computer (OD), cloud (C), Internet, Internet access unit (I).
12. Breast shield unit according to one of Claims 1 to 11, wherein the valve head (4) is embodied without wires to the outside and, in terms of electronic connectors, without a connector.
13. Breast shield unit according to one of Claims 1 to 12, wherein the valve head (4) is an integral component of the adapter (2).
14. Breast shield unit according to one of Claims 1 to 13, wherein the valve head (4) is detachably connectable to the adapter (2) and/or the breastmilk collection container (5).