Abstract: A pump unit (10) includes a number of pumps (14) each having a port in fluid connection to a combined port (12) of the pump unit. A processing system (16) is connected to each of the pumps (14) for independent actuation of each pump. A user interface (22) allows user actuation of the pump unit according to one or more mode of operation, requiring various different levels of suction or pressure. The processing system (16) determines what number of pumps (14) is required, and selectively actuates pumps in order to generate the required suction or pressure. Particularly preferred applications include breast pumps. Additional aspects of the invention relate to a cyclic pulsed suction profile generated by the device, implementations that detect when a milk extraction set is not properly deployed, and configurations which allow a touch screen to be used as a power-on switch for the device.

Abstract: A breast pump includes a breast shield, a suction module for applying suction to the breast shield, and a controller. In one embodiment, the controller includes a wireless receiver for receiving pumping session descriptions according to which the suction module is operated. A corresponding non-volatile computer-readable storage medium has embodied thereon program code for defining pumping session descriptions and for transmitting the descriptions to the breast pump. In another embodiment, the controller includes a non-volatile memory for storing pumping mode descriptions, each of which includes a suction level, a cycle rate and an orientation, and a user interface for selecting one of the pumping mode descriptions for operating the suction module. In a third embodiment, the breast pump includes a port for reversibly coupling to an external memory for reading and/or writing pumping session descriptions and optionally for powering external devices.