Method for yielding maximum expression in breastpumping

Abstract

A method of yielding maximum expression in a breastpump provides a pumping cycle that maintains a minimum level of vacuum within a breast shield chamber (baseline vacuum) throughout at least some, if not all, of a pumping session, while operating the breastpump in a milk expression mode with a sequence having a frequency in the range of about 80 to about 100 cycles per minute.

1 . An improved method for operating a breastpump for the expression of mother's milk, wherein the improvement comprises operating a breastpump assembly during at least some of a pumping session and with a baseline vacuum, while using an expression sequence having a conventional maximum negative pressure at a frequency in the range of about 80 to about 100 cycles per minute, to thereby achieve maximum expression.  
   
   
       2 . The improved method for operating a breastpump of  claim 1  wherein said range is 81 to 99 cycles per minute.  
   
   
       3 . The improved method for operating a breastpump of  claim 1  wherein the minimum vacuum level is within a range of about −20 mmHg to about −60 mmHg, and said conventional maximum negative pressure is in the range of about −150 mmHg to about −250 mmHg.  
   
   
       4 . The improved method for operating a breastpump of  claim 3  wherein said maximum negative pressure is about −200 mmHg.