Abstract: A colostrum collection system includes a breast cup, an intermediate reservoir, a syringe attached below the intermediate reservoir, and a vacuum pump drawing vacuum from the breast cup and syringe, through the intermediate reservoir. The vacuum pump maintains vacuum throughout a vacuum pump cycle, but varies the level of the vacuum between a low vacuum and a high vacuum. During high vacuum, the colostrum is drawn from the breast and into the intermediate reservoir, and air is drawn from the syringe creating reduced air pressure in the syringe. During low vacuum, the colostrum is drawn into the syringe by the reduced air pressure in the syringe.

Abstract: A cap and rigid bottle converts an expressed milk syringe from an open system to a closed system. The cap is in fluid communication between a breast pump and breast cup. The rigid bottle is attached to the bottom of the cap and the syringe is captured inside the bottom under the cap in a sealed environment. The pump provides varying positive vacuum to the cap and through the cap to the breast cup. Milk is drawn by the vacuum into the cap and flows by gravity down into the syringe. A passage between the interior of the syringe and the interior of the bottle equalizes pressure and allows the syringe to fill while maintaining a closed system, allowing a piston in the syringe to remain stationary. The closed system protects a mother's milk being pumped into a milk collecting syringe from air born contaminants.

Abstract: A programmable electric breast pump system includes a vacuum pump pneumatically coupled to breast cups and a vacuum relief valve bypassing the vacuum pump. A controller receives command input from a vacuum level selector and a vacuum rate selector, and feedback from a pressure sensor measuring vacuum in the breast cups. In response, the controller cycles the relief valve between minimum and maximum vacuum setpoints to create a periodic vacuum pulse in the breast cups. By adjusting the vacuum min/max levels and vacuum rate, a user may change the strength of the pulse after let-down, or synchronize the frequency of the pulse with the natural refractory time of a lactating breast.

Abstract: A breast pump with a speed, a maximum vacuum, and a minimum vacuum combined with a selectively collapsing breast cup mimics the action of a suckling infant. The speed and maximum vacuum are user selectable to adjust the pump to the particular user. The breast cup is made of a flexible material with a thickness designed to first collapse around the areola area of a breast to mimic an action of a suckling infant.

Abstract: A programmable electric breast pump system includes a vacuum pump pneumatically coupled to breast cups and a vacuum relief valve bypassing the vacuum pump. A controller receives command input from a vacuum level selector and a vacuum rate selector, and feedback from a pressure sensor measuring vacuum in the breast cups. In response, the controller cycles the relief valve between minimum and maximum vacuum setpoints to create a periodic vacuum pulse in the breast cups. By adjusting the vacuum min/max levels and vacuum rate, a user may change the strength of the pulse after let-down, or synchronize the frequency of the pulse with the natural refractory time of a lactating breast.

Abstract: A vacuum control system controls the amount of time that pressure is applied to a breast and the amount of time no pressure is applied to the breast, independent of the vacuum level. The amount of time that pressure is applied to a breast and the amount of vacuum applied to the breast cups can be varied by the user. A disposable biological filter isolates the pump from the breast cups. The biological filter is packaged in a housing that has an O-ring push-in connector to connect the collection system to the pump. The vacuum applied to the breast cups is monitored. The control system maintains the vacuum at a level set by the user. A second higher level is used as a safety threshold. The control system shuts down the pump when this higher level is sensed. The breast cup is constructed to provide a controlled collapse when vacuum is applied to mimic the suckling of an infant.