• 专利附录
  • 专利说明
  • 权利要求
  • 类似技术
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    • 专利摘要:
    PISTON PUMP WITH VARIABLE STORAGE. The invention comprises a breast pump apparatus comprising a vacuum pump and a variable volume storage volume coupled in fluid communication. The apparatus also includes a breast receiving portion coupled to the vacuum pump and to the storage volume so that the vacuum pump is operated to generate a negative pressure in the breast receiving portion to stimulate the expressing of milk, and the negative pressure generated in the breast receiving portion can be controlled by controlling the volume of the storage.
    公开号:BR112013001819B1
    申请号:R112013001819-4
    申请日:2011-07-22
    公开日:2020-12-08
    发明作者:Franciscus Jozef Bosman；Johannes Willem Tack；Egbert Van De Veen；Pieter Johannes Bax；Bernardo Arnoldus Mulder
    申请人:Koninklijke Philips N.V；
    IPC主号:
    专利说明:

    FIELD OF THE INVENTION
    The present invention relates to a pump apparatus for use in a breast pump device used to express milk from the mother's breast and, more particularly, to a pump apparatus which includes a variable storage volume. HISTORY OF THE INVENTION
    Breast pumps are devices that are designed to express breast milk from a mother to a storage container, such as a bottle, to allow the mother to feed the baby with breast milk at a later or more convenient time. The breast pumps generally comprise a portion of funnel to receive the woman's breast and a vacuum chamber coupled to each other, and a vacuum pump operated to repeatedly generate a reduced pressure in the vacuum chamber and thus create a reduced pressure in the funnel to encourage the mother's breast to express milk into the funnel that must be collected in the storage container connected to the vacuum chamber / funnel. In said breast pump devices, the vacuum pump can typically comprise an alternating-motion piston or an alternating-motion elastic membrane.
    A breast pump device comprising an alternating-motion elastic membrane for generating a vacuum is known from US 2001/038799, for example. US 2009/099511 discloses the use of a pump mechanism with a manually operable handle to effect the vacuum. Both breast pump devices known in US 2001/038799 and US 2009/099511 include a mechanism for regulating the vacuum inside the funnel of the device, in particular, the minimum and maximum vacuum levels, at which the mechanism comprises a valve-type construction that performs a sealing function in one position and allows air to escape in another position.
    WO 2005/067997 also discloses the use of a pump mechanism with a handle to effect the vacuum, in which the handle is connected to a piston which is adapted to perform an alternating movement within the breast pump device. The flexible membranes are arranged in the funnel of the device and inflate during the operation to massage the breast that is present inside the funnel.
    Known breast pumps can include control means to allow the depth of pressure generated by the vacuum pump inside the vacuum chamber and, therefore, in the breast funnel, to be regulated. Said known control means comprise the variation of the reciprocating piston / elastic membrane stroke, which requires that the motor that drives the piston / elastic membrane and the transmission between the motor and the piston / elastic membrane be able to operate an alternating way - specifically, operating in two directions to allow the course of alternating movement of the piston / elastic membrane to be varied. The construction of said mechanism, which includes an engine and transmission configured for operation in two directions in an alternating way, as well as an engine control system to control said configuration of the mechanism, is complex and, therefore, results in a cost of relatively high production. In addition, the alternating movement of the engine and transmission is not very efficient, which leads to an increase in energy consumption, and such mechanisms can also lead to accelerated wear of the mechanical components. In addition, engines that are capable of operating in two directions are more expensive than those that are capable of operating in only one direction.
    It would be advantageous to provide a pump apparatus suitable for use in a breast pump device that would substantially alleviate or overcome the problems mentioned above. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
    Thus, the present invention provides a breast pump apparatus which comprises a vacuum pump operable for the generation of at least negative pressure in a closed volume, a breast receiving portion configured to breastfeed a woman from which oil should be extracted, and a volume of storage, where the volume of the storage is coupled to the vacuum pump and the breast receiving portion so that, when in use, the vacuum pump is operable to generate at least a negative pressure in the storage volume and in the portion of reception of the breast, and in which the volume of the storage is variable so that, when in use, the depth of pressure in the portion of reception of the breast generated by the vacuum pump, that is, the amplitude of the negative pressure generated in the portion of reception of the breast, can be controlled by controlling the volume of the storage. With a breast pump apparatus of the invention, the magnitude of the pressure variations created by the pump and experienced in the breast can be controlled with the volume variation of the volume of the storage. Thus, the vacuum pump does not necessarily provide pressure depth control and thus, if the vacuum pump is powered by an engine, the breast pump device may comprise a unidirectional motor and transmission that are operable in one direction constant and continuous once in use, thus avoiding the disadvantages of the known systems described above.
    The breast pump apparatus can additionally comprise a diaphragm chamber and a flexible diaphragm mounted inside the diaphragm chamber, which separates the diaphragm chamber on a closed side which is in fluid communication with the vacuum pump and the storage volume. , and an open side that is in fluid communication with the receiving portion of the breast. In such an embodiment, the vacuum pump, the storage volume and the closed side of the diaphragm chamber in fluid communication with each other can form a closed pneumatic system. Also in such an embodiment, pressure variations generated on the closed side of the diaphragm chamber can cause the elastic diaphragm to deviate and thus transmit pressure variations to the open side of the diaphragm chamber and to the breast receiving portion .
    Alternatively, the breast receiving portion, the storage volume and the vacuum pump can be in fluid communication with each other. In such an embodiment, when in use, when a mother's breast is received at the breast receiving portion and an air tight seal is made with it, the vacuum pump, the storage volume and the breast receiving portion can be together form a closed pneumatic system.
    The pump can comprise a piston, or it can comprise an elastic membrane mounted inside a support. The pump can be operated with the engine running to generate a negative pressure inside the breast receiving portion and / or the closed pneumatic system. In the event that the pump comprises a piston within a piston holder, the piston may be movable, when in use, over a constant fixed travel distance. The motor can be a DC motor, or a switched electronic motor. In addition, the invention is not limited to the type of vacuum pump above, and many other known pump types can be used, such as a manually operated pump (for example, operated by a manually operated level or other driver), a balloon pump, gear pump, bellows type pump, gerotor, lobe pump or resonant linear actuator pump.
    The volume of the storage can comprise a variable volume chamber, and the variable volume chamber can comprise a piston holder and a piston inside the piston holder, and the volume of the storage volume can be varied with the movement of the piston with the piston support.
    The pump can be configured to generate a substantially constant negative pressure, and such pressure can be generated inside the closed pneumatic system and the storage volume piston can be configured to reciprocate inside the piston holder, to vary cyclically. pressure in the breast receiving portion and / or within the closed pneumatic system. Therefore, the movement of the piston can determine the frequency of pressure variation in the breast receiving portion and / or inside the closed pneumatic system.
    The piston of the storage volume can be driven by a motor through a transmission, and said transmission can comprise an eccentric element / cam, and the motor can be a unidirectional motor, so that the piston can be movable along a fixed travel distance.
    Alternatively, the variable volume chamber can comprise a support having a movable wall portion, and the volume of the storage volume can be varied with the movement of the movable wall portion in relation to the support.
    The vacuum pump can be configured to cyclically generate a negative pressure variation in the breast receiving portion and / or inside the closed pneumatic system, and the movable wall of the variable volume chamber can be controllable to determine the amplitude of the variations negative pressure generated in the breast receiving portion and / or inside the closed pneumatic system. Thus, the pump can control the frequency of pressure variation inside the closed pneumatic system.
    The movable wall portion can be movable by means of a motor coupled to a piston through, for example, a cam or cam element. Alternatively, the motor can move the wall portion through another coupling configuration, such as a worm gear to transform the rotational movement of the motor shaft into a translational movement of the movable wall.
    The variable volume chamber of the storage volume may include a first "leak" valve to allow ambient air to enter the variable volume chamber if the pressure inside it falls below a predetermined negative pressure limit. In addition, the volume of the storage may include an "overpressure" valve to allow air inside the variable volume chamber to escape into the atmosphere if the pressure inside it rises above a predetermined upper pressure limit - the limit of which predetermined upper pressure can be atmospheric pressure.
    As another alternative, the storage volume can comprise a plurality of fixed volume chambers, each in fluid communication with the vacuum pump and / or with the pneumatic system closed via a respective valve and the volume of the storage volume in communication. fluid with the pump and / or the volume of the closed pneumatic system can be varied with the selective opening or closing of each valve independently of the other valves, so that the fixed volume chambers can be selectively closed, or be in fluid communication with the vacuum pump and / or the closed pneumatic system.
    Each of the fixed volume chambers can have a different volume for each of the other fixed volume chambers. The pump can be configured to cyclically generate a negative pressure variation in the breast receiving portion and / or inside the closed pneumatic system and the valves of the fixed volume chambers can be independently controlled to determine the amplitude of the variations in pressure. negative pressure generated in the breast receiving portion and / or inside the closed pneumatic system.
    The breast pump device may additionally comprise a pressure sensor in fluid communication with the volume of the storage and / or inside the closed pneumatic system and a controller coupled to the pressure sensor and the storage volume, and the volume of the storage volume. storage and / or the closed pneumatic system can be varied depending on a perceived pressure.
    The breast pump apparatus can be configured so that the pressure variations experienced in the breast receiving portion vary within the range of 0 mbar pressure to -330 mbar pressure in relation to atmospheric pressure. However, the invention is not limited to an apparatus configured to operate within this pressure range and many other pressure ranges may exist within the scope of the invention, such as a smaller or greater pressure range, an interval that varies between two negative pressures , or a pressure range that varies between a negative pressure as a lower pressure range final value and a positive pressure - that is, a pressure above atmospheric pressure - as a higher pressure range final value.
    The vacuum pump can be driven by a motor which can be a unidirectional motor, and the piston (s) of the vacuum pump and / or the storage volume can be configured to be (in) ) operated (s) over a constant travel distance. The piston or each one can be driven by a motor through a coupling that converts the rotation movement of the motor shaft into the translational movement of the piston. Such a coupling may comprise an eccentric / meat element. A reduction gear can be provided in a transmission between the engine and the piston to slow the reciprocating movement of the piston in relation to the rotation speed of the motor shaft that drives the piston.
    The present invention also provides a method of controlling a breast pump apparatus as described above, the method comprises the operation of the vacuum pump to generate at least a negative pressure in the volume of the storage and in the receiving portion of the breast and the control of the pressure depth in the breast receiving portion, that is, the amplitude of the negative pressure generated in the breast receiving portion, through the control of the variable storage volume. The variation of the storage volume can vary the total volume of the closed pneumatic system.
    The volume of the storage can comprise a variable volume chamber and the pressure in the breast receiving portion can be varied by controlling the volume of the variable volume chamber. The total volume of the closed pneumatic system can be varied by controlling the volume of the variable volume chamber.
    Alternatively, the storage volume may comprise a plurality of fixed volume chambers in fluid communication with the vacuum pump and / or with the pneumatic system closed via a respective valve and the method may additionally comprise a variation of the total volume of the volume of the storage in fluid communication with the vacuum pump, and / or a variation of the volume of the closed pneumatic system, through the selective opening or closing of each valve independently of the other valves, so that each of the fixed volume chambers is selectively closed, or is in fluid communication with the vacuum pump and / or the closed pneumatic system. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
    The realizations of the present invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to Figures 2 to 4 of the accompanying drawings, in which:
    Figure 1 shows a schematic view of a known breast pump configuration.
    Figure 2 shows a schematic view of a breast pump configuration of a first embodiment of the invention.
    Figures 3a to 3c show schematic views of three variations of a breast pump configuration of a second embodiment of the invention; and
    Figure 4 shows a schematic view of a breast pump configuration of a third embodiment of the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ACHIEVEMENTS
    Referring now to Figure 1, a configuration of a known breast pump apparatus 1 is shown schematically, and comprises a motor 2 coupled to a piston 3 by means of a transmission (not shown) which converts the rotational movement of motor 2 reciprocating movement of piston 3, so that the piston retracts the distance of the "S" stroke back and forth. Said suitable transmission may comprise an eccentric rotating element or cam. The piston 3 is coupled pneumatically to a diaphragm chamber 4 in which a flexible spring diaphragm 5 separates one side of the closed piston 4a from the chamber 4 from an open side 4b of the chamber 4. The chamber 3a of the piston 3, the closed side 4a of the diaphragm chamber 4 and connection duct 6 together form a closed pneumatic system "Po".
    Open side 4b of chamber 4 is in fluid communication with a portion of funnel 7 that is open to the outside atmosphere, and open side 4b of chamber 4 also includes a valve 8. In use, a bottle (not shown) is attachable to chamber 4 through valve 8 for collecting milk which is extracted from the mother's breast to the open side 4b of chamber 4 and which flowed through valve 8.
    In use, a mother places the breast in the portion of funnel 7 that makes an air-tight seal with it, which closes the portion of funnel 7 from the outside atmosphere. The bottle (not shown) is attached to chamber 4 through valve 8 which forms a closed space between the open side 4b of chamber 4 and the bottle. The user then activates motor 2 to drive piston 3 back and forth. The reciprocating movement of the piston 3 causes the cyclic pressure alternation within the closed pneumatic system Po, which includes the closed side 4a of the chamber 4, which causes the diaphragm 5 to deviate back and forth. This, in turn, causes the pressure inside the open side 4b of the chamber 4 and thus also inside the funnel portion 7 to alternate between ambient pressure and a reduced pressure level below atmospheric pressure, thus stimulating the automatic reflex in the mother's breast, causing the milk to be extracted on the open side 4b of the chamber 4, from where it flows through the valve 8 into the bottle. Valve 8 is a one-way valve and only allows the flow to flow towards the inside of the bottle, in order to maximize the pressure difference generated on the open side 4b of the chamber 4 and the funnel portion 7 during the operation of the breast pump 1.
    It can be said that the alternation of pressure variations in the apparatus described above is caused by the reciprocating piston 3, and that the amplitude of the pressure difference, that is, the size of the pressure difference between the maximum and minimum pressure levels in the closed pneumatic system Po, it is dictated by the length of the stroke "S" traveled by piston 3.
    It can also be said that the closed pneumatic system Po comprises a substantially fixed volume, variable only with the deviation of the elastic diaphragm 5 and the movement of the piston 3. Therefore, the only way to be able to vary the depth of pressure generated inside the closed pneumatic system Po is the change in piston stroke distance "S". In order for this to be possible, engine 2 and transmission (not shown) must be reversible - that is, operable in both forward and backward directions. This is because a motor that drives a piston, for example, by an eccentric cam in only one direction would not be able to allow the piston stroke to be changed. Therefore, the requirement for a reversible engine and a correspondingly reversible transmission leads to the inherent disadvantages described above of a complex system, with high manufacturing cost, energy inefficiency that leads to increased energy consumption, accelerated wear of mechanical components and of a more expensive engine.
    A configuration of a breast pump apparatus 11 of a first embodiment of the invention is shown schematically in Figure 2 as the known breast pump configuration shown in Figure 1 and comprises a motor 12 coupled to a piston 13 by means of a transmission ( not shown) that converts the rotational movement of motor 2 into reciprocating movement of piston 13 over the distance of the "S" stroke. Motor 12 is a unidirectional motor operable to rotate in one direction only. The piston 13 includes a piston chamber 13a which is pneumatically coupled to a closed side 14a of the diaphragm chamber 14 via a connecting duct 16 and a flexible spring diaphragm 15 separates one side of the closed piston 14a from the chamber 14 from an open side 14b.
    The open side 14b of chamber 14 is in fluid communication with a funnel portion 17 that is open to the outside atmosphere and also includes a valve 18 so that, when in use, a bottle (not shown) is attachable to chamber 14 via from valve 18 to collect milk extracted from the mother's breast to the open side 14b of chamber 14, which flowed through valve 18.
    The first embodiment of the invention 11 differs from the known breast pump configuration in which a variable volume storage chamber 19 (hereinafter referred to as a "storage chamber") is arranged in the connecting duct 16 between the piston 13 and the diaphragm chamber 14 , so that the chamber 13a of the piston 13, the storage chamber 19, the closed side 14a of the diaphragm chamber 14 and the connecting duct 16 together form a closed pneumatic system "Pi". In addition, the storage chamber 19 has a movable wall 20, so that the volume of the storage chamber 19 can be varied. The movable wall 20 is coupled to a driver 21 to effect the movement of the movable wall 20. In the shown embodiment, the driver 21 comprises a second motor 22 connected to the movable wall 20 via a transmission 23. The transmission 23 can comprise any suitable coupling , for example, a worm gear arrangement can be used. However, the driver 21 used to move the movable wall 20 is not limited to this particular arrangement and other mechanisms can be used within the scope of the invention. For example, the movable wall 20 can be moved by a second piston coupled to a second motor. The storage chamber 19 also includes a leak valve 24 and an overpressure valve 25. In use, the leak valve 24 is configured to allow ambient air to pass into the storage chamber 19 if the pressure inside it drops below of a predetermined minimum pressure value. Likewise, the overpressure valve 25 is configured to allow air inside the storage chamber 19 to pass out of the storage chamber 19 into the atmosphere if the pressure in it exceeds a predetermined maximum pressure value, for example, atmospheric pressure .
    In this first embodiment of the invention, the "closed" pneumatic system Pi is defined as "closed" due to the fact that both the leak valve 24 and the overpressure valve 25 in the storage chamber 19 "close" the pneumatic system Px from the atmosphere environment, despite the fact that they are operable under certain conditions (described below) to allow air to enter or escape from the pneumatic system, for maintaining the pressure range achieved inside the closed pneumatic system Pi which remains adjusted to the ideal range of values for milk extraction.
    The operation of the breast pump apparatus 11 of the first embodiment of the invention will now be described. The mother places the breast in the funnel portion 17, which makes an air tight seal with it, and attaches a milk collection bottle (not shown) to the diaphragm chamber 14 over valve 18. The engine 12 is then started and piston 13 is driven to alternate back and forth along the fixed travel distance S, while engine 12 rotates in the single direction. The reciprocating movement of piston 13 causes pressure variations within the closed pneumatic system Px. The closed pneumatic system Pi is close to atmospheric pressure when piston 13 is in position "A" inside the chamber of piston 13a, and the closed pneumatic system Pi is at a negative pressure below atmospheric pressure when piston 13 is at "B" position inside piston chamber 13a. The alternating pressure on the closed side 14a of the diaphragm chamber 14 causes the diaphragm 15 to deviate back and forth while the pressure alternates. This, in turn, creates pressure variations on the open side 14b of the chamber 14 and thus on the funnel portion 17, which induces the automatic reflex in the mother's breast to cause the breast to express milk. In use, the pressure in the breast can vary in an operating range from about 0 ("minimum" pressure) to -330 mbar pressure in relation to atmospheric pressure, for the automatic induction of the mother's breast milk. However, the invention is not limited to an apparatus configured to operate within this pressure range, and many other pressure ranges may exist within the scope of the invention, such as a smaller or greater pressure range, an interval that varies between two pressures negative pressure, or a pressure range that varies between a negative pressure as a lower pressure range end value and a positive pressure - that is, a pressure above atmospheric pressure - as a higher pressure range end value.
    In the first embodiment of the invention described above, the speed of movement of piston 13 determines the frequency of pressure variations within the closed pneumatic system PT and thus within the funnel 17. The "vacuum depth" - that is, the amplitude of the pressure variation or the magnitude of the negative pressure created inside the closed pneumatic system Pi - depends on the total volume of the closed pneumatic system Pi. This is because the magnitude of the negative pressure generated in the closed pneumatic system Pi while piston 13 moves along the stroke distance S from position A to position B is dependent on the proportion of the stroke volume of the piston from position A to position B (the "displacement") in relation to the total volume of the closed side 14a of the diaphragm chamber 14, of the storage chamber 19 and of the connection duct 16. For example, if the total volume of the closed side 14a of the diaphragm chamber 14 , the storage chamber 19 and the connection duct 16 are similar or slightly larger than the piston displacement 13, so the proportional increase in the volume of the closed pneumatic system Pi as the piston moves from position A to position B will be greater. Thus, the density of air in the closed pneumatic system Pi would greatly reduce (that is, the number of gas molecules in the closed pneumatic system Pi would be distributed within a relatively much larger total volume), thereby significantly reducing the pressure of the closed pneumatic system Px. On the other hand, if the total volume of the closed side 14a of the diaphragm chamber 14, of the storage chamber 19 and of the connection duct 16 are much larger than the piston displacement 13, then the proportional increase in the volume of the closed pneumatic system Pi as the piston moves from position A to position B it will be very small. Thus, the density of the air in the closed pneumatic system Px would only reduce by a small amount (ie the number of gas molecules in the closed pneumatic system Pi would be distributed within a total volume only slightly larger), thus only significantly reducing the pressure of the closed pneumatic system Px.
    Since the volume of the storage chamber 19 can be changed by the movement of the movable wall 20 by the driver 21, the volume of the closed pneumatic system Px is variable. Therefore, the vacuum depth generated by the device can be varied by controlling the volume of the storage chamber 19. If the vacuum depth should be reduced, the volume of the closed pneumatic system Px is increased by increasing the volume of the storage chamber. storer 19. This is done by operating the actuator 21, so that the second motor 22 and the transmission 23 move the movable wall 20 to the outside, which expands the storeroom 19. The volume increase of the closed pneumatic system Pi means that the pressure variations generated in the closed pneumatic system Pi while the piston 13 moves between the ends of its movement range are less pronounced (that is, since the piston displacement 13 is smaller in relation to the total volume of the piston) closed side 14a of diaphragm chamber 14, storage chamber 19 and connection duct 16). Therefore, the elastic diaphragm 15 is deflected by a correspondingly smaller amount and, thus, the size of the pressure variations created in the funnel 17 is correspondingly smaller.
    Conversely, if the vacuum depth is to be increased, the volume of the closed pneumatic system Pi is reduced by operating the actuator 21, so that the second motor 22 and the transmission 23 move the movable wall 20 inwards, which reduces the storage chamber 19. The reduced volume of the closed pneumatic system Pi means that the pressure variations generated in it while the piston 13 moves between the ends of its movement range are more pronounced (that is, since the displacement of the piston 13 is larger in relation to the total volume of the closed side 14a of the diaphragm chamber 14, of the storage chamber 19 of the connection duct 16). Therefore, the elastic diaphragm 15 is deflected by a correspondingly greater degree, and thus the size of the pressure variations created in the funnel 17 is correspondingly greater.
    It can be said that since the pneumatic system Pi is a closed system (that is, it is not freely open to the atmosphere), then when the volume of the storage chamber 19 increases, the minimum pressure in the closed pneumatic system Px goes, thus, decrease, so that it is then below the desired higher pressure range value (for example, atmospheric pressure) when piston 13 is in position "A". Correspondingly, the maximum negative pressure achieved when the piston is in the "B" position will be reduced to a level that is less than the desired lower pressure range value. To avoid this "negative displacement" in excess of the minimum pressure after the volume storage chamber 19 is increased as described above, when the negative pressure in the closed pneumatic system Pi exceeds a predetermined maximum negative pressure as the piston 13 moves in towards position B, the leak valve 24 is configured to allow ambient air to enter the storage chamber 19, so that the pressure in the closed pneumatic system Pi remains at a predetermined negative pressure level when piston 13 is in position B, and which corresponds to a higher desired pressure range value (for example, close to atmospheric pressure) within the closed pneumatic system Pi when the piston is in position "A". However, the leak valve 24 is configured so that the normal operation of the pump does not pass the ambient air into the storage chamber 19 through it, thus maintaining the pneumatic system Pi as a "closed" system in normal operation. . The leak valve 24 also comprises an airway restriction configured so that the leak into the storage chamber 19 occurs in a controlled manner.
    On the other hand, when the volume of the storage chamber 19 is reduced when a user wishes to increase the vacuum depth generated, as described above, since the pneumatic system Pi is a closed system, the minimum pressure in it will increase, so which is above the desired higher pressure range value (for example, atmospheric pressure) when piston 13 is in position "A" and, correspondingly, the maximum negative pressure reached when the piston is in position "B" will not reach a level negative pressure value of the desired lower pressure range value. To prevent this "positive displacement" of the minimum pressure after the volume of the storage chamber 19 is reduced as described above, when the pressure in the closed pneumatic system Px exceeds a predetermined larger pressure interval value (for example, atmospheric pressure) a As piston 13 moves to position A, the overpressure valve 25 allows air to pass from the inside of the storage chamber 19 into the atmosphere, so that the pressure in the closed pneumatic system Pi remains at the pressure level. predetermined maximum (for example, atmospheric pressure) when the piston is in the "A" position. However, the leak valve 25 is configured so that the normal operation of the pump does not exhaust air out of the storage chamber 19 through it, thus maintaining the pneumatic system Pi as a "closed" system in normal operation.
    As mentioned above, although the operating range is described as being between 0 (atmospheric pressure) and a predetermined negative pressure, the scope of the invention is intended that the operating pressure range can be between a negative pressure in the smallest part and the pressure, and a positive pressure (that is, a pressure above atmospheric pressure) at the upper end of the pressure range. In such an embodiment, the overpressure valve 25 is configured to allow only air to escape into the ambient atmosphere when a pressure above the desired positive pressure is reached within the closed pneumatic system Pi.
    Within the scope of the invention, it is intended that the driver 21 can be controlled automatically, or can be configured manually. For example, a user can select one of a series of predetermined operating configurations on a user input unit 26 that corresponds to a given vacuum depth, and a controller 27 can control the second motor 22 to position the movable wall 20 to reach a volume of the storage chamber 19 corresponding to the configuration selected by the user. Alternatively, the storage chamber 19 can include a pressure sensor 28 connected to a controller 27 (as shown in dashed lines in Figure 2), and controller 27 can also control the second motor 22 to position the movable wall 20 to achieve a corresponding storage chamber volume 19 depending on the vacuum depth detected inside the storage chamber 19 and the desired configuration. As another alternative and simplified realization (not shown), the actuator 21 can be entirely controlled manually and simply be a lever or similar device mechanically coupled to the movable wall 20 in which a lever position selected by the user corresponds to one in a series of predetermined positions of the movable wall 20 corresponding to a desired vacuum depth. In such an embodiment, the mechanical coupling between the lever and the movable wall can comprise any suitable known arrangement, for example, an eccentric / cam gear or worm.
    An alternative breast pump apparatus 31 of a second embodiment of the invention is shown schematically as the three variations in Figures 3a to 3c and, as with the breast pump apparatus 11 of the first embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 2, all Variations of the second embodiment comprise a unidirectional motor 32 coupled to a piston 33 via a transmission (not shown) which converts the rotational movement of motor 32 into reciprocating movement of piston 33 over a fixed travel distance "S". The piston 33 includes a piston chamber 33a which is pneumatically coupled to a closed side 34a of a diaphragm chamber 34 through a connection duct 36. A flexible spring diaphragm 35 separates the side of the closed piston 34a from the chamber 34 of an open side 34b that is in fluid communication with a funnel portion 37 that is open to the outside atmosphere. The open side 34b of the chamber 34 also includes a valve 38 to allow the collected milk to flow into a bottle (not shown) coupled to the chamber 34.
    The second embodiment of the invention 31 differs from the first embodiment in the absence of a single chamber of the variable volume storage 19. In contrast, duct 36 includes a plurality of discrete fixed volume storage volumes 39a to 39d (referred to here as "volumes of storage ") in selective fluid communication with duct 36. Each volume of storage 39a-d is coupled to the duct through a respective valve 40a to 40d, so that each volume of storage 39a-d can be independently disconnected from being in communication fluid with duct 36 with the closing of the respective valve 40a-d, or be in fluid communication with duct 36 with the respective valve 40a-d open.
    The chamber 33a of the piston 33, the volumes of the storage 39a-d that are in fluid communication with the duct 36, the closed side 34a of the diaphragm chamber 34 and the connection duct 36 itself together form a closed pneumatic system "P2" • Each of the 40a-d valves is independently controllable, so that any of the volumes of the 39a-d storage can be closed from the closed pneumatic system P2 by turning off the respective valve (s) 40a-d , or may be in fluid communication with the closed pneumatic system P2 with the opening of the respective valve (s) 40a-d.
    The volume of each of the volumes of storage 3 9a-d is advantageously configured so that each has twice the volume of the previous one. In other words, in terms of units of arbitrary volume range, the first volume of store 39a has a volume range of 1 unit, the second volume of store 39b has a volume range of 2 units, the third volume of store 3 9c has a volume range of 4 units and the fourth volume of storage 39d has a volume range of 8 units. Using this configuration, the volume of the closed pneumatic system P2 can be varied over a range of 0 volume units to 15 volume units in discrete increments of a single volume unit. For example, 0 volume unit requires all valves 40a- d to be closed, 15 volume units require all valves 40a-d to be open, and for example, 6 volume units require valves 40a, 40d of the first and fourth volumes of the storage unit 3 9a, 3 9d (of 1 and 8 volume units, respectively) are closed, and the valves 40b, 40c of the second and third volumes of the storage unit 39b, 39c (of 2 and 4 units volume, respectively) are open.
    The operation of the breast pump apparatus 31 of the second embodiment of the invention will now be described. The mother places the breast in the funnel portion 37, which makes an air tight seal with it, and attaches a milk collection bottle (not shown) to the diaphragm chamber 34 over valve 38. The engine 32 is then started and the piston 33 is moved to alternate back and forth along the fixed travel distance S, while the engine 32 rotates in the single direction. The reciprocating movement of piston 33 causes pressure variations within the closed pneumatic system P2. The closed pneumatic system P2 is at a higher desired pressure range value (for example, close to atmospheric pressure) when piston 33 is in position "A" inside piston chamber 33a and closed pneumatic system P2 is in a desired lower pressure range value of a negative pressure below atmospheric pressure when piston 33 is in position "B" inside piston chamber 33a. The alternating pressure on the closed side 34a of the diaphragm chamber 34 causes the diaphragm 35 to deviate back and forth as the pressure alternates. This, in turn, creates pressure variations on the open side 34b of the chamber 34 and thus on the funnel portion 37, which induces the automatic reflex in the mother's breast to cause the breast to express milk. In use, the pressure in the breast can vary in an operating range from about 0 ("minimum" pressure) to -330 mbar pressure in relation to atmospheric pressure, for the automatic induction of the mother's breast milk. However, the invention is not limited to an apparatus configured to operate within this pressure range, and many other pressure ranges may exist within the scope of the invention, such as a smaller or greater pressure range, an interval that varies between two pressures negative pressure, or a pressure range that varies between a negative pressure as a lower pressure range end value and a positive pressure - that is, a pressure above atmospheric pressure - as a higher pressure range end value.
    In the second embodiment of the invention described above, the speed of movement of piston 33 determines the frequency of pressure variations within the closed pneumatic system P2 and thus within the funnel 37. The "vacuum depth" - that is, the amplitude of the pressure variation or the magnitude of the negative pressure created within the closed pneumatic system P2 - depends on the total volume of the closed pneumatic system P2 (for the same reasons explained above in connection with the first embodiment of the invention). Therefore, the vacuum depth generated by the device can be controlled by varying the volume of the closed pneumatic system P2 by controlling the valves 40a-d, so that one or more volumes of the storage 3 9a-d are in fluid communication, or are closed from the closed pneumatic system P2.
    If the vacuum depth is to be reduced, the volume of the closed pneumatic system P2 increases by opening one or more of the valves 40a-d, so that the respective volume (s) of the storage unit 3 9a-d is ( are included in the closed pneumatic system P2. The increase in volume of the closed pneumatic system P2 proportional to the displacement of the piston 33 means that the pressure variations generated in the closed pneumatic system P2 when the piston 33 moves between the ends of its movement range are less pronounced, for the reasons described above. Therefore, the elastic diaphragm 35 is deflected by a correspondingly smaller amount and, thus, the size of the pressure variations created in the funnel 37 is correspondingly smaller.
    Conversely, if the vacuum depth is to be increased, the volume of the closed pneumatic system P2 decreases by closing one or more of the valves 40a-d, so that the respective volume (s) of the storage 39a -d is (are) closed from the closed pneumatic system P2. The reduced volume of the closed pneumatic system P2 in relation to the displacement of the piston 33 means that the pressure variations generated in the closed pneumatic system P2 when the piston 33 moves between the ends of its range of motion result are less pronounced. Therefore, the elastic diaphragm 35 is deflected by a correspondingly greater degree and, thus, the size of the pressure variations created in the funnel 37 is correspondingly greater.
    Within the scope of the invention, it is intended that valves 40a-d can be controlled automatically, or can be configured manually. For example, in a first variation of the second embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 3a, a user can select one of a series of predetermined operating configurations in a user input unit 41 corresponding to a given vacuum depth, and a controller 42 you can control each of the valves 40a-d to obtain the total desired volume of the closed pneumatic system P2 by including part of the volume (s) of the storage 3 9a-d inside the closed pneumatic system P2 and shutdown other volumes of storage 3 9a-d of the closed pneumatic system P2 depending on the configuration selected by the user.
    In a second alternative variation of the second embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 3b, connection duct 36 (which is always part of the closed pneumatic system P2) can include a pressure sensor 43 connected to controller 42, and controller 42 can also control each of the valves 40a-d to achieve a total volume of the closed pneumatic system P2 depending on the vacuum depth detected within the closed pneumatic system P2 and a desired predetermined configuration maintained within the controller 42.
    As another alternative, and simplified, the third variation of the second embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 3c, the valves 40a-d can be entirely controlled manually by a manual actuator 45, in which the position of the actuator selected by the user corresponds to one of a series of predetermined valve opening / closing configurations 40a-d to achieve a desired vacuum depth.
    In order to avoid sudden changes in the vacuum level in the second embodiment of the invention described above, it would be desirable for the opening or closing of the valves 40a-d of the storage volumes 399-d to be synchronized with the stroke point of the piston S in the which pressure in the closed pneumatic system P2 is within the desired higher pressure range value (eg zero / atmospheric pressure). This would be advantageously at the extreme point inward of the piston movement indicated in position "A". Therefore, if a valve 40a-d is closed at this time, the pressure inside the volume of the storage unit 39a-d which is then sealed from the rest of the closed pneumatic system P2 would be at a desired higher pressure range value (for example, zero / atmospheric pressure) and, once the respective valve 40a-d is closed, the pressure inside the sealed volume of the 39a-d storage would remain at this level until the valve 40a-d is opened again. In addition, as mentioned above, if the valve (s) 40a-d is opened only in sync when piston 33 is in a position such that the pressure in the closed pneumatic system P2 is at the value greater desired pressure variation (for example, zero / atmospheric pressure), opening valve 40a-d leaves the respective storage volume 39a-d in fluid communication with the rest of the closed pneumatic system P2 again, and would not cause any pressure fluctuation since the volume of the 39a-de storer of the closed pneumatic system P2 would be at the same pressure at the moment (i.e., the desired higher pressure interval value, for example, zero / atmospheric pressure). This synchronization of valve opening 40a-d could be achieved with the use of a pressure sensor 43 located in duct 36, as shown in Figure 3b, coupled to controller 42 which is connected to valve 40a-d, and which is configured only to open / close valves 40a-d when the pressure detected in duct 36 is within the desired higher pressure range value (for example, zero / atmospheric pressure). Alternatively, the same controller 42 that is connected to valve 40a-de configured to open / close it could be coupled to an alternative sensor 44 mounted on the motor shaft 32 (as shown in solid lines in Figure 3a) or on the piston 33 (as shown in dashed lines in Figure 3a), so that valves 40a-d are opened / closed only when the position of the motor shaft or the position of the piston stroke corresponds to a point at which the pressure in the pneumatic system closed P2 is at the desired higher pressure variation value (for example, zero / atmospheric pressure).
    Although the respective volumes of each of the storage volumes 39a-d are described in the second exemplary embodiment of the above invention as being of increasing doubling volume range, the invention is not limited to this configuration, and the plurality of storage volumes 3 9a-d can be of different relative volume ranges, for example, they could all be the same, or they could be different in alternative volume ranges in relation to each other, in addition to that described above.
    Another alternative breast pump configuration 51 of a third embodiment of the invention is shown schematically in Figure 4 and, as with the breast pump configuration 11 of the first embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 2, it comprises a unidirectional motor 52 coupled to a first piston 53 via a transmission (not shown) which converts the rotational motion of motor 52 into reciprocating motion of the first piston 53 over a fixed travel distance "S". Piston 53 includes a piston chamber 53a that is pneumatically coupled to a closed side 54a of a diaphragm chamber 54 through a connecting duct 56, and a flexible spring diaphragm 55 separates one side of the closed piston 54a from chamber 54 from a open side 54b. An intermediate variable volume storage chamber 59 (hereinafter referred to as a "storage chamber") is arranged between the first piston 53 and the diaphragm chamber 54 in the connecting duct 56, so that the chamber 53a of the piston 53, the diaphragm 59, closed side 54a of diaphragm chamber 54 and connecting duct 56 together form a closed pneumatic system "P3".
    The open side 54b of the diaphragm chamber 54 is in fluid communication with a funnel portion 57 that is open to the outside atmosphere, and also includes a valve 58 so that when in use, a bottle (not shown) is attachable to the chamber 54 through valve 58 to collect milk extracted from the mother's breast to the open side 54b of chamber 54, which flowed through valve 58.
    The third embodiment of the invention 51 is different from the breast pump configuration of the first embodiment of the invention in relation to the storage chamber 59 which comprises a piston chamber with a second piston 60 of reciprocating motion in it, so that the volume of the chamber of the storage 5 9 can be varied. The second piston 60 is coupled to a driver 61 to effect its movement. In the shown embodiment, the drive 61 comprises a second motor 62 connected to the second piston 60 via a transmission 63. The transmission 63 can comprise any suitable coupling to translate the rotation drive of the second motor 62 into reciprocating motion of the second piston 60 as, for example, a fleshy or eccentric member. The second piston 60 moves over a fixed travel distance F inside the storage chamber 59. In addition to the above, the first piston chamber 53a includes a one-way outlet valve 64 that can be operated to allow air to escape from the first piston chamber 53a, but which prevents air from passing from the ambient atmosphere to the first piston chamber 53a.
    The operation of the breast pump apparatus 51 of the third embodiment of the invention will now be described. The mother places the breast in the funnel portion 57, which makes an air tight seal with it, and attaches a milk collection bottle (not shown) to the diaphragm chamber 54 over valve 58. The engine 52 is then started and the first piston 53 is caused to alternate back and forth along the fixed travel distance S, while the engine 52 rotates in the single direction.
    The configuration of the engine 52 and the first piston 53 of the third embodiment 51 of the invention differs from the corresponding configuration of the first and second embodiment of the invention described above with respect to the reciprocating movement of the first piston 53 not causing cyclical variation of pressure fluctuations in the closed pneumatic system P3. Instead, the first piston 53 alternates back and forth much faster than the speed at which pressure fluctuation cycles are required in the breast. Since the first piston moves quickly from its fully extended position "B" to its fully retracted position "A", the briefly located pressure increase causes outlet valve 64 to open and air inside the first chamber of the piston 53a passes out of it through outlet valve 64. Then, once the first piston 53 moves in the opposite direction, outlet valve 64 is forced to close, and thus a vacuum is generated in the first piston chamber 53a and thus, also in the closed pneumatic system P3. The process described above is then repeated so that the rapidly repeated alternating action of the first piston 53 generates a substantially constant minimum negative pressure within the closed pneumatic system P3. The speed at which the first piston 53 alternates the movement determines the "vacuum depth" constant of the minimum negative pressure generated inside the closed pneumatic system P3.
    Since the minimum negative pressure constant is created as described above inside the closed pneumatic system P3z, the alternating pressure cycles are then generated by varying the volume of the storage chamber 59 through the movement of the second piston 60. Thus, the second engine 62 is fed to alternately drive the second piston 60, and the volume of the closed pneumatic system P3 increases and decreases as the second piston 60 alternates between the ends of its movement range. Thus, the frequency of changing the pressure / vacuum cycles within the closed pneumatic system P3 is dictated by the speed with which the second piston 60 alternates. Since the second piston 60 is only activated to determine the frequency of pressure fluctuations, and not the magnitude / amplitude of pressure fluctuations, the second motor 62 is a unidirectional motor and does not need to be operable in two directions, and the stroke F of the second piston 60 is constant. Thus, the disadvantages of the engines and two-way transmissions described above are avoided.
    As with the first and second embodiments of the invention described above, the level of alternating pressure generated on the closed side 54a of the diaphragm chamber 54 causes the diaphragm 55 to deviate back and forth as the pressure alternates. This, in turn, creates pressure variations on the open side 54b of the chamber 54 and thus on the funnel portion 57, which induces the automatic reflex in the mother's breast to cause the breast to express milk. In use, the pressure in the breast can vary in an operating range close to 0 ("minimum" pressure) to -330 mbar pressure in relation to atmospheric pressure, for the automatic induction of the mother's breast milk. However, the invention is not limited to an apparatus configured to operate within this pressure range, and many other pressure ranges may exist within the scope of the invention, such as a smaller or greater pressure range, an interval that varies between two pressures negative pressure, or a pressure range that varies between a negative pressure as a lower pressure range end value and a positive pressure - that is, a pressure above atmospheric pressure - as a higher pressure range end value.
    It can be said, from the description above, that the maximum and minimum pressures achieved inside the closed pneumatic system P3 are determined by the minimum negative pressure depth generated by the first piston 53. Therefore, so that the pressure inside the system closed pneumatic P3 varies within the desired range throughout the cycles, frequency is dictated by the second piston 60, a pressure sensor 65 is provided in the storage volume 59 and is connected to a controller 66. Controller 66 is also connected to the first motor 52, and controls the speed of the first motor 52 depending on the pressure levels detected inside the storage volume 59. For example, if the detected negative pressure range reached inside the storage volume 59 (and thus inside closed pneumatic system P3 as a whole) is too much of a negative pressure, controller 66 controls the speed of the first motor 52 so that it is reduced, re thus reducing the minimum negative pressure depth within the closed pneumatic system P3 and therefore also reducing the depth of negative pressure reached over the interval of alternating pressure cycles within the closed pneumatic system P3.
    Conversely, if the negative pressure range detected within the storage volume 59 is insufficient, controller 66 controls that the speed of the first motor 52 is increased, thereby increasing the minimum negative pressure depth inside the closed pneumatic system P3 and therefore, also increasing the depth of negative pressure reached over the interval of the alternating pressure cycles within the closed pneumatic system P3.
    Although in the third embodiment of the invention described above the pressure sensor 65 is located in the storage chamber 59 for the detection of pressure inside the closed pneumatic system P3, the sensor may alternatively be located inside the open side 54b of the pressure chamber. diaphragm 54, for detecting pressure variations resulting from deviation of diaphragm 55, and controlling the speed of the first motor 52 depending on whether the negative pressure variation on the open side 54b of the diaphragm chamber 54 satisfies predetermined criteria.
    All exemplary embodiments of the invention described above comprise a diaphragm chamber that includes an elastic diaphragm that separates the chamber on two sides, one side closed in fluid communication with the vacuum pump and the chamber / volume of the store, and one side open in fluid communication with the breast receiving funnel portion. In said embodiments, the funnel portion is thus not in fluid communication with the chamber / volume of the storage, and the closed pneumatic system includes only the closed side of the diaphragm chamber, the storage chamber / volume, the vacuum pump and the connection duct. However, the scope of the invention is that the breast pump apparatus may not include a diaphragm chamber with a diaphragm that separates the breast receiving funnel portion from the chamber / volume of the storage and the vacuum pump. In said alternative embodiments (not shown) within the scope of the invention, the funnel portion can be coupled through the duct in direct fluid communication with the chamber / volume of the store. Alternatively, an intermediate chamber can be provided between the duct and the funnel-like portion of the chamber without a diaphragm in it, in order to facilitate the collection of the expressed milk, but the funnel would additionally be in fluid communication with the chamber / volume of the store and the pump vacuum. Thus, the negative pressure generated by the vacuum pump and controlled by the storage chamber / volume acts directly on the breast in the funnel portion, without being transmitted to a closed space separated by the elastic diaphragm. In such embodiments, the closed pneumatic system is formed when the mother places the breast in the funnel portion, thus closing the opening, and the closed pneumatic system comprises the vacuum pump, the duct, the chamber / volume of the storage, and the portion funnel and, if provided, the intermediate chamber.
    In the specific exemplary embodiments of the invention described above, the vacuum pump is shown and described as an reciprocating piston pump. However, as mentioned above, other types of pumps can be employed within the scope of the invention as a source of vacuum. For example, the vacuum pump could comprise a membrane pump that comprises an engine connected to a small piston, and the piston is coupled to a membrane. A pump chamber on the other side of the piston is closed by a membrane and is connected to the variable storage volume through a first valve. The execution of the engine operates the piston to deflect the diaphragm in a first direction to increase the volume of the pump chamber and, thus, extract the air from the storage volume trapped by the first valve. The piston then deflects the diaphragm in the opposite direction, which reduces the volume of the pump chamber. This closes the first valve, but opens a second valve in the pump chamber to allow air to be expelled into the ambient atmosphere. This process is repeated once the piston alternates, thus creating a vacuum in the trapped volume.
    Another type of pump that can be used within the scope of the present invention is a disk pump. It is similar to the membrane pump described above, but instead of being driven by a motor and a piston, the driver comprises an ultrasonic disk driven by piezoelectric drives.
    It can be said that all embodiments of the invention comprise a vacuum pump to create negative pressure inside the breast pump apparatus, but that control over the negative pressure fluctuations experienced in the breast can be achieved by varying the volume of the storage volume, regardless of the vacuum pump. This functionality allows the vacuum control function to be achieved in a breast pump device with a simpler, more robust and cheaper design.
    Throughout the description, the term "vacuum" is used to describe any negative pressure - that is, a pressure below atmospheric pressure - and does not necessarily mean "vacuum" as a total absence of gas molecules in a given space - that is , does not necessarily mean an absolute vacuum. Likewise, the term "vacuum pump" is used to describe a pump device capable of producing negative pressure in a closed system, not necessarily a pump operable to fully evacuate a closed system to create an absolute vacuum.
    Although the claims have been formulated in this application for particular combinations of features, it should be understood that the scope of the disclosure of the present invention also includes any new features or any combination of new features disclosed here explicitly or implicitly, or any generalization of them, be they related or not to the same invention as presently claimed in any of the claims, and whether or not they alleviate any or all of the same technical problems, as does the present invention. The claimants notify here that new claims can be made for said features and / or combinations of said features during the judgment of this application or any other application derived therefrom.
    权利要求:
    Claims (7)
    [0001]
    1. TIRA LEITE PUMP EQUIPMENT (11,31, 51), comprising: a vacuum pump (13, 33, 53) operable to generate at least a negative pressure in a closed volume; a breast receiving portion (17,37,57) configured to receive a woman's breast from which the milk is to be expressed; and a storage volume (19, 39a-d, 59); where the volume of the storage (19, 39a-d, 59) is coupled to the vacuum pump (13, 33, 53) and the breast receiving portion so that, when in use, the vacuum pump is operable for the generation of at least a negative pressure on the volume of the storage and the receiving portion of the breast; and where the volume of the storage is variable so that, when in use, the pressure depth in the breast receiving portion generated by the vacuum pump, that is, the amplitude of the negative pressure generated in the breast receiving portion, can be controlled by controlling the storage volume, and characterized by the storage volume comprising a plurality of fixed volume chambers (39a- d), each in fluid communication with the pump (33) through a respective valve (40a-d) ), and where the volume of the storage volume in fluid communication with the pump (33) can be varied with the selective opening or closing of each valve (40a-d) independently of the other valves, so that the volume chambers fixed (39a-d) can be selectively closed, or be in fluid communication with the pump (33).
    [0002]
    2. TIRA LEITE PUMP EQUIPMENT (31), according to claim 1, characterized in that each of the fixed volume chambers (39a-d) has a different volume for each of the other fixed volume chambers.
    [0003]
    3. TIRA LEITE PUMP EQUIPMENT (31), according to claim 2, characterized in that the pump (33) is configured to cyclically generate a negative pressure variation in the breast receiving portion (37) and the valves (40a-d) ) of the fixed volume chambers (39a-d) are independently controllable for determining the amplitude of the negative pressure variations in the breast receiving portion (37).
    [0004]
    4. TIRA LEITE PUMP EQUIPMENT (11, 31, 51), according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it additionally comprises a pressure sensor (28, 43, 65) in fluid communication with the storage volume ( 19, 39a-d, 59), and a controller (27, 42, 66) coupled to the pressure sensor and the storage volume (19, 39a-d, 59), and where the volume of the storage volume (19 , 39a-d, 59) can be varied depending on a detected pressure.
    [0005]
    5. TIRA LEITE PUMP EQUIPMENT, according to claim 1, characterized in that it additionally comprises a motor (12,32,52), and in which the pump (13,33,53) comprises a reciprocating piston or a pump of membrane driven by the motor.
    [0006]
    6. TIRA LEITE PUMP EQUIPMENT (11, 31, 51), according to claim 1, characterized in that it additionally comprises a diaphragm chamber (14, 34, 54) and a flexible diaphragm (15, 35, 55) mounted on it which separates the diaphragm chamber on a closed side (14a, 34a, 54a) which is in fluid communication with the pump (13, 33, 53) and a storage volume (19, 39, 59) and an open side (14b , 34b, 54b), in which the breast receiving portion (17, 37, 57) is coupled in fluid communication with the open part (14b, 34b, 54b) of the diaphragm chamber, so that the pressure variations generated on the closed side (14a, 34a, 54a) cause the elastic diaphragm to deviate and thus transmit pressure variations to the open side (14b, 34b, 54b) and to the breast receiving portion (17, 37, 57).
    [0007]
    7. METHOD OF CONTROL OF A TIRA LEITE PUMP EQUIPMENT (11, 31, 51), comprising a vacuum pump (13, 33, 53), a breast receiving portion (17, 37, 57) configured to receive the breast of a woman from which the milk is to be expressed, and a variable storage volume (19, 39a-d, 59) coupled to the vacuum pump (13, 33, 53) and the receiving portion of the breast ( 17, 37, 57); the method comprises the operation of the vacuum pump to generate at least a negative pressure in the volume of the storage and in the receiving portion of the breast; and the control of the depth of pressure in the receiving portion of the breast, that is, the amplitude of the negative pressure generated in the receiving portion of the breast, through the control of the variable storage volume, characterized by the storage volume (39a-d) comprising a plurality of fixed volume chambers in fluid communication with the vacuum pump (33) through a respective valve (40a-d), and in which the method further comprises the variation of the total volume of the storage volume in fluid communication with the vacuum pump (33) through the selective opening or closing of each valve independently of the other valves, so that each of the fixed volume chambers can be selectively closed, or be in fluid communication with the vacuum pump (33).
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    同族专利:
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    CN102343116A|2012-02-08|
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    WO2012014135A1|2012-02-02|
    BR112013001819A2|2016-05-31|
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    US20200206401A1|2018-12-29|2020-07-02|Biosense WebsterLtd.|Using Balloon as Damper for Port of a Reciprocating Pump|
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    法律状态:
    2017-04-18| B25D| Requested change of name of applicant approved|Owner name: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V. (NL) |
    2017-05-02| B25G| Requested change of headquarter approved|Owner name: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V. (NL) |
    2018-12-26| B06F| Objections, documents and/or translations needed after an examination request according art. 34 industrial property law|
    2019-10-15| B06U| Preliminary requirement: requests with searches performed by other patent offices: suspension of the patent application procedure|
    2020-09-01| B09A| Decision: intention to grant|
    2020-12-08| B16A| Patent or certificate of addition of invention granted|Free format text: PRAZO DE VALIDADE: 20 (VINTE) ANOS CONTADOS A PARTIR DE 22/07/2011, OBSERVADAS AS CONDICOES LEGAIS. |
    优先权:
    申请号 | 申请日 | 专利标题
    EP10171248A|EP2412392A1|2010-07-29|2010-07-29|Piston pump with variable buffer|
    EP10171248.7|2010-07-29|
    PCT/IB2011/053277|WO2012014135A1|2010-07-29|2011-07-22|Piston pump with variable buffer|
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