HK1213517B - 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 breastplate unit as defined in claim 1.

The Technical Standards

Breast pumps for pumping human breast milk by pressure are well known. On the market, there are manually operated as well as motorized breast pumps. They are either directly or via a vacuum line connected to a breast cap. The breast cap is attached to the breast to be pumped, so that at least the nipple, usually also the areola and the surrounding breast tissue, are tightly enclosed. The breast cap is usually either directly or via a milk pipe connected to a milk bottle, so that pumped milk can flow directly into this bottle.

The known caps are essentially rigid funnels, so that depending on the size of the breast, a different funnel must be chosen. Furthermore, these caps are often used with flexible and soft cap inserts to increase comfort for the mother. Some of these inserts exert a massage effect on the breast to promote milk flow.

US 5 571 084 shows a chest unit with a rigid, semicircular shell and a flexible chest insert arranged in it. The chest insert has a funnel-shaped base and a tubular support fitted to it. The base is placed over a flange of the shell with a circular collar. The support is held fixed in a tubular shell cap.

WO 2011/007140 shows a chest unit with a rigid outer chest cap and a flexible chest cap insert. This insert is also funnel-shaped with a shaped tubular support and is attached to the chest cap at both ends.

WO 2011/037841 describes a breastplate insert with a duck-billed valve.

The Commission has not yet decided whether to initiate proceedings in respect of the aid granted by the French authorities to the French authorities for the construction of a new road in the area of the former Yvelines.

The following shall be considered as a single product:

The invention is intended to create a breastplate unit and a breastplate insert that are optimally adapted to the shape of the breast and that apply the most uniform load or strain to it.

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

The breast cap unit according to the invention for use with a breast pump for pumping human breast milk has a form-stable breast cap and a flexible breast cap insert for insertion into the breast cap. The breast cap has a first open breast cap attached to a breast. The breast cap insert has a first and a second insert defining a longitudinal direction, with the first open breast cap having a circular edge at which the breast cap insert can be moved or attached with the first insert. The breast cap insert extends in the mounted state from the first insert to the breast cap. The second breast cap is essentially in the direction between the first and the second breast cap. The breast cap is in the mounted state from the first insert to the second breast cap. The breast cap is essentially in the direction of the second breast cap. The breast cap is in the mounted position from the first to the second breast cap.

This breast cap fits perfectly to the mother's breast, thanks to the longitudinally moving end of the cap. This adjustment can be further improved by the flexibility and thinness of the cap. Usually, mothers press the cap for fear that the cap is not close enough to the breast, the cap is too tight to the breast. This is not only uncomfortable and painful if used for a long time, but also affects the milk flow. Such excessive pressure is prevented by the breast cap unit of the invention.

Another advantage is that the adaptability of the breastplate allows the same shape and size of the breastplate unit and the breastplate to be used in a wide range of different breast shapes and sizes, which makes it easier for the mother to choose the breastplate unit and reduces the cost of production.

This adaptability to the breast can be increased by the appropriate choice of a breastplate adjacent to the first wearer of the breastplate, which has a support surface to be applied to the breast. For example, this breastplate may be stretched or pre-stretched. Additionally or alternatively, this breastplate may be approximately vertical in the longitudinal direction.

The invention of the breast cap has a tube-shaped support which forms the second insert. This insert can be manufactured inexpensively. It is easy to clean because of its simple shape.

The breast cap insert according to the invention has a first insert and a second insert opposite the first insert in a preferred embodiment, which together define a longitudinal direction. Adjacent to the first insert is a support area formed for the application to the breast. A tubular support is available to accommodate the nipple of the breast. It is shaped at the application area and extends to the second insert. According to the invention, the application area of the application area is formed almost evenly.

The length of the breastplate in the longitudinal direction is one multiple of the length of the area of application in that longitudinal direction.

The almost flat support surface, especially when pre-tensioned in the mounted state, also allows for optimum adaptation to different breast sizes and prevents excessive squeezing by its shape. This is shown here as another invention.

The second rear end may also be fixed to a case which is held in the breast cap and which is adjustable, and which, if fitted, can be easily moved manually to assist attachment to the breast.

In a preferred embodiment, there is also a media train device which transfers an externally applied vacuum to the inside of the breastplate, while preventing the pumped milk from reaching the vacuum source or any vacuum pipes, in which case the second end of the breastplate is preferably connected to the media train device, which forms the above-mentioned housing.

Preferably, the media train is arranged as a whole in a longitudinally movable position relative to the breastplate.

Preferably, the media separator is suspended from the housing by means of the flexible sleeve; in a preferred embodiment, this suspension is achieved by placing a circular sleeve of the sleeve over a flange of the sleeve.

In a preferred embodiment, the breastplate has longitudinally extended guide slits along which the media train device as a whole is movable, thus guiding and limiting movement.

Preferably, the media train shall have a form-stable housing and a media separation membrane mounted within it.

In a preferred embodiment, the breast cap has a rearward opening at its second end, which is opposite to the first end, so that the second end of the breast cap insertion and thus the entire breast cap insertion can be manually moved longitudinally to the breast by access through this rearward opening. This facilitates the placement and adjustment of the breast cap unit to the mother's breast. The breast cap insertion insertion pushes forward out of the breast cap. Depending on the shape, it can even be re-placed.

If a media retractor is available and the second end of the breastplate is connected to this media retractor, the media retractor shall preferably be manually retractable or removable by access via the open second end of the breastplate.

Other embodiments are given in the dependent claims.

The following is a brief description of the drawings:

The following illustrations, which are intended for illustrative purposes only and are not to be interpreted restrictively, describe preferred embodiments of the invention. Figure 1a longitudinal section of a breastplate according to the invention, mounted on a milk collection container, in a first embodiment;Figure 2a longitudinal section of a breastplate with a milk collection container according to Figure 1 when mounted on a breast;Figure 3a longitudinal section of a breastplate according to the invention;Figure 4a perspective representation of the breastplate as shown in Figure 3 from the front;Figure 5a perspective representation of the breastplate as shown in Figure 3 from the rear;Figure 6a longitudinal section of a breastplate according to the invention, mounted on a breastplate in a second breastplate in Figure 9a;Figure 7a;Figure 7a;Figure 7a;Figure 7a;Figure 7a;Figure 7a;Figure 7a;Figure 7a;Figure 7a;Figure 7a;Figure 7a;Figure 7a;Figure 7a;Figure 7a;Figure 7a;Figure 7a;Figure 7a;Figure 7a;Figure 7a;Figure 7a;Figure 7a;Figure 7a;Figure 7a;Figure 7a;Figure 7a;Figure 7a;Figure 7a;Figure 7a;Figure 7a;Figure 7a;Figure 7a;Figure 7a;Figure 7a;Figure 7a;Figure 7a;Figure 7a; 6a;Figure 7a; 6a; 6a; 6a; 7a; 7a; 7a; 7a; 7a; 7a; 7a; 6a; 6a; 6a; 6a; 6a; 6a; 6a; 6a; 6a; 6a; 6a; 6a; 6a; 6a; 6a; 6a; 6a; 6a; 6a; 6a; 6a; 6a; 6a; 6a; 6a

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

Figures 1 and 2 show a first example of a breastplate unit according to the invention, which has a breastplate 2 and a breastplate 3 insert.

The breast cap 2 has a funnel body 20 for the reception of breast B and a tubular support 21 preferably in one piece. The breast cap 2 has a circular, outwardly curving flange 22 at the opposite end of the breast cap 21 which is rigid or at least form-stable. It is preferably made of plastic.

The breast hood 2 is contained in a coupling part 1 .The coupling part 1 has a preferably rigid base 10 with a tubular receptacle for the support 21 of the breast hood 2 .A vacuum connection part 11 is used to connect a manually or motorized vacuum pump .Alternatively or additionally the connection part 11 is used to connect a vacuum line that provides a connection to an external vacuum pump .The vacuum connection part 11 may have an internal windscreen 110 or be otherwise trained.

At an angle to this vacuum connection part 11, there is a container connection part 12 with a milk outlet 14 to connect to a milk collection tank 5. This connection part 12 also has a connecting column 120 or an otherwise suitable connecting device. Inside the connection part 1, here in the hollow of the connection support 120, a valve is preferably placed to limit the dead volume during pumping and to prevent a return flow of the pumped milk. In this example, a neck 13 is mounted on the clutch part 1 to which a valve 4 with a diameter of 40 and a membrane of 42 mm can be attached.

The coupling part 1 and the milk collection tank 5 may also have a different shape. The coupling part 1 may also be part of the breastplate 2, as shown in the example below, which may be a one-piece or multi-piece unit made up of coupling part 1 and breastplate 2.

The breastplate insertion 3 is made of a soft, elastic and flexible material, such as silicone. It has a breastplate 30 with a reception opening 33 to be placed on the breast B and a support 32 in one piece. The reception opening 33 leads from the near-breast end of the insertion 3 through the insertion 32 in a channel to the breast-removal end of the insertion 3. This defines a longitudinal direction a, as shown in Figure 3.

A mounting collar 31 is mounted on a first mounting 34 of mounting 3 facing the thorax, which can be fitted around the flange 22 of the breastplate 2 to enable the mounting 3 to be attached to the breastplate 2.

The support 32 of the breastplate 3 is inserted into the support 21 of the breastplate 2 but is designed in its outer diameter to slide within this support 21 and is therefore not fixed.

In Figure 1 the chest unit is shown in the mounted but unused or not currently in use state, in which there is a circular cavity 6 between chest 2 and chest insert 3 i.e. chest insert 3 or at least chest support 30 and the unmounted part of the support 32 runs parallel to the inner wall of the chest 2 The chest support 30 is approximately or has a funnel shape with a relatively large opening angle α of 100 to 150°. Preferably the chest support 30 is stretched or pre-stretched in the chest insert 2 i.e. it has an unmounted opening angle of 180 to 180° and is mounted on the chest opening angle α of 120 to 180° or in the front opening angle α of the above-mentioned mount.

In particular, but not exclusively, it takes on a funnel shape and/or a concave shape. In the event of excessive pressure, the breastplate insertion 3 moves backwards, i.e. away from the breast B, by pushing the nipple 32 into the entry opening 33; thus, by pressing the breastplate 30 into the breast B, the breastplate 30 deforms and adapts to the shape of the breast B. The pressure is reduced even after the insertion 2 is approached, although the pressure is maintained at the thicker end of the breast 26 as the insertion 3 is attached to the breast 2.

Figures 3 to 5 show a similar type of breastplate insert 3 which is essentially the same as in Figures 1 and 2, with the thoracic support 32 being shorter. In addition, the thoracic support 30 has a smaller wall thickness than the thoracic support 32. The thoracic support 32 is preferably formed almost stable in shape and the thoracic support 30 is membrane-like and thus more flexible and elastic than the thoracic support 32. The thoracic support 30 and the opening 33 are preferably circular. Preferably the thoracic support 30 is fully flattened, with its back side, i.e. the reverse side, also not being particularly long and not being raised.

Figures 6 to 12 show another example of this design, with the same parts bearing the same reference marks as in the first example.

In this embodiment, the breast cap 2 has a casing-like base 25; the breast cap 2 is used to attach to the breast B but also to connect to the milk collection tank; it has a milk connection 28 to connect it to the milk collection tank; the breast cap 2 is preferably rigid or form-stable and is made of plastic.

In the base 25 there is a media tractor 7 which is used to separate the media and to connect it to the breastplate insert 3 and the vacuum pump not shown.

The media trainer 7 shown in Figures 6 to 12 has a housing 70 preferably rigid or form-stable and made of plastic material.

A milk outlet 77 with a back-up valve 8 leads through an outlet 29 of the core 25 into the milk collection tank 5.

The housing 70 of the media train 7 is a chest cap insertion housing 74 which forms an insertion housing for the insertion housing 32 of the insertion 3. The insertion housing 32 of the insertion 3 is held in this insertion 74 in use and is not moved. It is held in a press seat, for example, and can be removed for cleaning or replacement. It can also be connected to the media train 7 in a non-destructive manner. The insertion housing 34 of the insertion 3 is again mounted on the insertion housing 22 of the base 25 of the insertion 2. The insertion housing 3 is preferably mounted in the figures shown in the illustrations 3 to 5 or in the example described above.

The media separator 7 has a media separator 9 for the purpose of separating media. This is held in the housing 70 to move. It forms a pump chamber 90 with the back wall of the housing 70. If a pressure drop is cyclically directed through the vacuum connection 71 into the pump chamber, the media separator 9 moves synchronously to it and transfers the pressure drop into the cavity formed by the breastplate 3 and the breast B. Milk is pumped out. The media membrane 9 prevents the pumped milk from entering the pump chamber 90 and thus reaching the vacuum source. The membrane flows through the 9 front-loaded milk reservoir opening 77 millimetres in the 5 millimeter.

Preferably, the media separator 9 is at least in the un-aligned state in the breast area of the nipple. This minimizes the dead volume T optimally. As shown in Figure 9, the media separator 9 reaches the end of the support 32 of the insert, or almost exactly, in the un-aligned state. 3 In Figure 11, it is shown that the support 32 is measured so that it is filled with the nipple in its entire length with a breast and nipple in the standard size range. However, the separator 9 does not touch the nipple during pumping, but they move in the same direction.

The media center device 7 is movable according to the invention, in particular, it is movable in the base 25 of the breastplate 2. To this end, the base has 25 guide slots 24 into which guide noses 76 of the case 70 intervene. This can be seen, for example, in Figure 8. The media center device 7 can be moved along this slot 24. The slots 24 can run straight or curved. In this example, they are straight. The valve 8 and the milk outlet 77 lead in all positions of the media device 7 to the relative base 25 in the milk container 5, since the opening 29 is larger than the valve and the exit hole 8 is 77.

The rear end of the base 25 facing the chest is open, the media train device 7 can be moved manually through this rear opening 23 and moved here along the slot 24.

Figures 7 and 8 show the chest unit in an unused or currently unused state. The media train device 7 protrudes through the rear opening 23 or is at least in a rear area. The chest support 30 of the 3 operation is relaxed and in this example slightly funnel-shaped.

To use the breastplate unit, the media trainer 7 is pushed forward by hand as shown in Figures 9 and 10. The breastplate 30 of the insertion 3 is stretched forward, pushed forward to the breast B as necessary. The nipple can be optimally absorbed in the intake opening 33. Now, when the manual pressure on the case 70 is released, but the core 25 is still held to the chest by hand, in a brace holder or other device, the case 70 is pushed backwards along the slit 24 and the insertion 3 is placed tightly, but without excessive or distributed pressure on the breast. This can be done by starting from Figure 11.

In this example, the second insert is also movable relative to the chest hood 2, with the shift being done together with the media-separator device 7. Instead of the media-separator device, the second insert can also be held in another part movable relative to the chest hood.

The breastplate unit according to the invention is optimally adapted to the shape of the breast and optimizes the pressure. BEZUGSZEICHENLISTE

1	Kopplungsteil	4	Ventileinheit
10	Grundkörper	40	Ventilkörper
11	Vakuumanschlussteil	42	Ventilmembran
110	Innengewinde
12	Behälteranschlussteil	5	Milchsammelbehälter
120	Anschlussstutzen
13	Hals	6	Hohlraum
14	Milchauslassöffnung
7	Medientrenneinrichtung
70	Gehäuse
2	Brusthaube	71	Vakuumanschluss
20	Trichterkörper	74	Brusthaubeneinsatz-
21	Stutzen	Aufnahme
22	Flansch	76	Führungsnase
23	rückseitige Öffnung	77	Milchauslassöffnung
24	Führungsschlitz
25	Grundkörper	8	Ventil
26	Ende
28	Milchanschlussteil	9	Medientrennmembran
29	Durchführungsöffnung	90	Pumpkammer
3	Brusthaubeneinsatz	B	Brust
30	Brustauflage	T	Totvolumen
31	Befestigungskragen	a	Längsrichtung
32	Stutzen	α	Öffnungswinkel
33	Aufnahmeöffnung		Länge des Brusthaubeneinsatzes
34	erstes Einsatzende
Länge des Auflagebereichs

Claims (11)

1. Breastshield unit for use with a breastpump for expressing human breastmilk by means of underpressure, wherein the breastshield unit has a dimensionally stable breastshield (2) and a flexible breastshield insert (3) for placing in the breastshield (2), wherein the breastshield (2) has a first, open breastshield end for placing on a mother's breast (B), wherein the breastshield insert (3) has a first insert end (34) and a second insert end (32), a breast pad (30) adjoining the first insert end (34) as well as a stub (32), wherein the breast pad (30) comprises a bearing surface for bearing on the mother's breast (B) and a receiving opening (33), wherein the stub (32) is formed integrally on the breast pad (30), wherein the first and second insert ends (34, 32) define a longitudinal direction (a), wherein the first, open breastshield end has a peripheral edge (22), on which the breastshield insert (3) is or can be secured with the first insert end (34), wherein the breastshield insert (3), in the assembled state, extends from this first insert end (34) in the inside of the breastshield (2) to the second insert end (32), and wherein the breastshield insert (3), between the first and second insert ends (34, 32), extends substantially spaced apart from the breastshield (2), wherein, in the assembled state of the breastshield insert (3), the second insert end (32) is displaceable in the longitudinal direction (a) relative to the breastshield (2), characterized in that the breast pad (30) extends approximately perpendicularly with respect to the longitudinal direction (a) prior to the bearing on the mother's breast (B) and is designed approximately flat prior to the bearing on the mother's breast (B).
2. Breastshield unit according to Claim 1, wherein the breast pad (30) is stretched or pretensioned.
3. Breastshield unit according to one of Claims 1 to 2, wherein the breastshield (2) has a rear opening (23) at its second end directed away from the first end, as a result of which the second insert end (32) is manually displaceable in the longitudinal direction (a) towards the mother's breast (B) by access through this rear opening (23).
4. Breastshield unit according to one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the second insert end (32) is connected to a media separation device (7, 9), which transfers an externally applied vacuum into the interior of the breastshield insert (3).
5. Breastshield unit according to Claim 4, wherein the media separation device (7, 9) as a whole is arranged to be movable relative to the breastshield (2) in the longitudinal direction (a).
6. Breastshield unit according to Claim 5, wherein the breastshield (2) has guide slits (24) which extend in the longitudinal direction (a) and along which the media separation device (7, 9) as a whole is movable.
7. Breastshield unit according to one of Claims 4 to 6, wherein the media separation device (7, 9) has a dimensionally stable housing (70) and a media separation membrane (9) arranged movably therein.
8. Breastshield unit according to one of Claims 3 to 6, wherein the breastshield (2) has a rear opening (23) at its second end directed away from the first end, as a result of which the media separation device (7, 9) is manually displaceable towards the breast in the longitudinal direction (a) by access through this rear opening (23).
9. Breastshield unit according to one of Claims 1 to 8, wherein the breastshield insert (3) has a tubular stub (32), which forms the second insert end.
10. Breastshield unit according to one of Claims 1 to 9, wherein the length (L_B) of the breastshield insert (3) in said longitudinal direction is a multiple of the length (L_A) of the bearing area (30) in this longitudinal direction (a).
11. Breastshield unit according to one of Claims 7 to 10, wherein the second insert end (32) is held non-displaceably in the housing (70).