Abstract: Method and apparatus for restricting the passage of milk beyond a selected place in breast pump apparatus and for protecting the pump from fouling by milk. A barrier to the passage of human milk is disposed in an air passage interconnecting the vacuum pump and a breast-contacting hood or the like for receiving expressed milk. In conventional fashion, operation of a vacuum pump may result in the expression of milk into the hood, where it may be collected. The air being drawn toward the vacuum pump passes through a porous body that is normally substantially permeable to air. The porous body is impermeable to human milk. Accordingly, it serves as a barrier across the vacuum line and protects the pump. When contacted by human milk, the porous body becomes substantially impermeable to air, at least at the point of contact. Depending upon the extent of such contact, the amount of vacuum that reaches the interior of the hood is reduced or eliminated, thereby reducing or eliminating the further expression of milk.

Abstract: A breast milk pump with a hood insert for mechanically stimulating the nipples of a lactating woman. The insert has a nipple frame with openings that are covered by a flexible membrane. The membrane is drawn into the frame to gently massage the nipple area under action by a suction pump for the enhanced expression of milk.

Abstract: A breast shield is described having a dome-shaped shell with an open bottom and an elastic member that extends across the open bottom. The elastic member has an opening through which the breast nipple extends into the interior of the shell. The elastic member serves as a base or mount for the shell which resiliently spaces the shell from contacting the nipple. One embodiment of the shield aids in reinverting a nipple that is inverted.

Abstract: An improved breast pump assembly, including a manually operable breast pump that can be used in a manual mode by hand-driving the breast pump, provides a motor drive unit which is adapted to receive and hold the manually operable piston pump of the breast pump, with a pump drive for reciprocating the piston rod of the piston pump in substantially the same stroke as would occur in optimum manual driving of the breast pump.

Abstract: An electrically-powered breastpump is disclosed that includes a suction bell, battery-operated suction unit, and a receiving container. The pump includes a rotatable valve that directs the suction of the pump in alternating fashion between the suction bell and the receiving container.

Abstract: An improved breastpump has a valve which closes off a path to a milk container in the presence of a negative pressure in the valve, and opens the path when the pressure is removed. The valve consists of a housing and a thin flexible membrane that is removably attached to the valve housing and covers a first opening in the housing through which milk can flow. The thin flexible membrane is preferably circular in shape with a knob formed in its center. The knob fits in a second opening in the housing in a snap-fit. This construction for the membrane assumes that it can never be mounted improperly. Raised bosses in the form of cone-shaped elevations are arranged around the perimeter of the flexible membrane. The cone-shaped bosses reinforce the membrane material and prevent the membrane from being drawn into the first opening.

Abstract: A breastpump is provided with a valve mechanism that closes a collection chamber when a vacuum is applied to a hood member and opens the collection chamber when the vacuum is removed. The valve mechanism is removably attached to the collection chamber for ready cleaning. A baffle in the hood member protects the vacuum line from milk flow. One embodiment of the invention has a connecting sleeve for connecting either a manually driven pneumatic pump or a motor driven pneumatic pump to the hood body to create an intermittent vacuum. A connector is further provided for use with a pair of breastpumps operated simultaneously by a motor driven pneumatic pump. An adjustment piece for decreasing the cross-sectional area of a funnel-shaped hood member is also disclosed for use of the breastpumps with smaller breasts. One type of manually driven piston pump useful with the invention has apertures formed through the pump cylinder wall that are selectively opened and closed for adjustment of the piston pump vacuum.

Abstract: A method for mechanically stimulating the nipples of a pregnant woman for diagnostic and therapeutic effects. A nipple stimulator device is placed over a woman's nipple, and an intermittent reduced pressure is induced in the interior of the apparatus by a pump. An elastic membrane on the stimulator device is drawn inward by the reduced pressure, and in so doing acts to massage the breast nipple and the adjacent breast. A gentle, soft massage of the nipple is thereby provided to yield the desired stimulation to produce hormones, for example, useful in accelerating labor or conducting contraction stress tests in a pregnant woman.

Abstract: A device is disclosed for providing a suckling infant with a liquid diet supplement simultaneously with normal breast feeding. Improvement in suckling in the child and stimulation of the mother's milk supply are thereby encouraged. The device includes a container for holding the supplement and at least one tube communication with the supplement having an end which is positioned adjacent the user's breast nipple. A valve mechanism seats on the container mouth, and is comprised of a valve mount on which a flexible valve member is received. A portion of the valve member covers an aperture formed in the valve mount. The valve member prevents liquid from escaping through the aperture, but allows air to enter the container through the aperture when liquid is removed by suckling. The valve mechanism also permits ready and thorough cleaning of the thin tubing used.