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An apparatus for use in extracting milk from a human breast includes a pliant receiving member having an inner receiving portion sized to receive the human breast and an adjacent inner connecting portion defining an opening extending therethrough. The receiving member has an inner surface defining a

An apparatus for use in extracting milk from a human breast includes a pliant receiving member having an inner receiving portion sized to receive the human breast and an adjacent inner connecting portion defining an opening extending therethrough. The receiving member has an inner surface defining a recess located in the inner receiving portion and a passageway extending from the recess to the opening to provide fluid communication between the recess and the opening during use. The passageway provides fluid communication between the recess and the opening such that negative pressure can be generated between the recess and the breast.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. An apparatus for use in extracting milk from a human breast, the apparatus comprising: a pliant receiving member having an inner receiving portion sized to receive a human breast and an adjacent inner connecting portion defining an opening extending therethrough, the receivin

What is claimed is: 1. An apparatus for use in extracting milk from a human breast, the apparatus comprising: a pliant receiving member having an inner receiving portion sized to receive a human breast and an adjacent inner connecting portion defining an opening extending therethrough, the receiving member having an inner surface adapted to contact at least a portion of the human breast, the inner surface including a recess located in the inner receiving portion and a passageway having a length extending from the recess to the opening to provide fluid communication between the recess and the opening during use; wherein the passageway includes a width smaller than a width of the recess along its length, and provides fluid communication between the recess and the opening such that negative pressure can be developed within the recess at the breast; a rigid outer member connected to the receiving member, the outer member defining an outer opening through which the inner connecting portion of the receiving member extends; wherein the rigid outer member has an outer receiving portion sized and configured to receive the inner receiving portion of the receiving member; and wherein the receiving member includes a peripheral passageway to inhibit negative pressure from being generated between the outer member and the receiving member. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein, in response to the negative pressure generated between the recess and breast, the recess of the receiving member is configured to deform in a direction toward the breast and to recover upon removal of negative pressure. 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the passageway comprises an open channel defined by the inner surface, the channel being configured to provide the passageway between the breast and the channel in use. 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the receiving portion of the receiving member is conical in shape. 5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the connecting portion is tubular in shape. 6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the connecting portion includes a throat of reduced inner diameter. 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the passageway extends from an end of the throat to the recess. 8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the inner surface defines multiple, spaced-apart recesses located in the inner receiving portion and an associated passageway extending from each recess to the opening to provide fluid communication between the associated recess and the opening during use. 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein, in use, each passageway provides fluid communication between the associated recess and the opening such that negative pressure can be generated between the associated recess and breast. 10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein, in response to the negative pressure generated between the associated recess and breast, the associated recess of the receiving member is configured to deform in a direction toward the breast. 11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein each passageway comprises an open channel defined by the inner surface, the channels being configured to provide the passageway between the breast and the channel in use. 12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein an outer surface of the receiving member defines an outer recess positioned between adjacent recesses defined by the inner surface. 13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the outer surface of the receiving member defines multiple outer recesses, each outer recess positioned between adjacent recesses defined by the inner surface. 14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the rigid outer member includes a tubular portion defining the outer opening through which the inner connecting portion of the receiving member extends. 15. The apparatus of claim 14 comprising a ledge extending outwardly from an outer surface of the receiving member at the connecting portion. 16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein an end surface of the outer member at the tubular portion contacts the ledge to inhibit movement of the outer member relative to the receiving member during use. 17. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a conduit permanently connected to the receiving member. 18. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a conduit releasably connected to the receiving member. 19. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a pump fluidly connected to the pliant receiving member. 20. An apparatus for use in extracting milk from a human breast, the apparatus comprising: a pliant receiving member having an inner receiving portion sized to receive a human breast and an adjacent inner connecting portion defining an opening extending therethrough, the receiving member having an inner surface defining a recess located in the inner receiving portion and a raised rib extending outwardly from the inner surface within the recess; the receiving member having a wall thickness in the recess that is relatively thinner around the rib than in a region of the receiving member surrounding the recess. 21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the rib is configured to apply pressure to the breast during use. 22. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the inner surface defines a passageway extending from the recess to the opening to provide fluid communication between the recess and the opening during use. 23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein, in use, the passageway provides fluid communication between the recess and the opening such that negative pressure can be generated between the recess and breast. 24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein, in response to the negative pressure generated between the recess and breast, the recess of the receiving member is configured to deform in a direction toward the breast. 25. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the passageway comprises an open channel defined by the inner surface, the channel being configured to provide the passageway between the breast and the channel in use. 26. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the inner surface defines multiple, spaced-apart recesses located in the inner receiving portion. 27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the receiving member includes multiple raised ribs extending from the inner surface. 28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein each raised rib is located within an associated recess. 29. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the inner surface of the receiving member defines associated passageways extending from a respective recess to the opening to provide fluid communication between the associated recess and the opening during use. 30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein, in use, each passageway provides fluid communication between the associated recess and the opening such that negative pressure can be generated between the associated recess and breast. 31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein, in response to the negative pressure generated between the associated recess and breast, the associated recess of the receiving member is configured to deform in a direction toward the breast. 32. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein each passageway comprises an open channel defined by the inner surface, the channels being configured to provide the passageway between the breast and the channel in use. 33. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein an outer surface of the receiving member defines an outer recess positioned between adjacent recesses defined by the inner surface. 34. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the outer surface of the receiving member defines multiple outer recesses, each outer recess positioned between adjacent recesses defined by the inner surface. 35. The apparatus of claim 20 further comprising a rigid outer member connected to the receiving member, the outer member defining an outer opening through which the inner connecting portion of the receiving member extends. 36. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the rigid outer member has an outer receiving portion sized and configured to receive the inner receiving portion of the receiving member. 37. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the rigid outer member includes a cylindrical portion defining the outer opening through which the inner connecting portion of the receiving member extends. 38. The apparatus of claim 35 comprising a ledge extending outwardly from an outer surface of the receiving member at the connecting portion. 39. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein an end surface of the outer member at the cylindrical portion contacts the ledge to inhibit movement of the outer member relative to the receiving member. 40. The apparatus of claim 20 further comprising a conduit permanently connected to the receiving member. 41. The apparatus of claim 20 further comprising a conduit releasably connected to the receiving member. 42. The apparatus of claim 20 further comprising a pump fluidly connected to the pliant receiving member. 43. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the receiving portion of the receiving member is conical in shape. 44. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the connecting portion is cylindrical in shape.