This invention relates generally to an improved storage device for infant feed, and most particularly to an improved storage device for the storage of expressed breastmilk.
It is common for mothers who are away from their babies and cannot directly breastfeed their infants to express breastmilk and store it for feeding at a later time. Common means for storing breastmilk are to keep the breastmilk in a container at room temperature, typically for approximately four hours, or to store the breastmilk in a soft side cooler with an ice pack, typically for approximately twenty-four hours. Alternatively, breastmilk may be kept in the refrigerator for approximately five to seven days, stored in a conventional freezer for months, or in a deep freezer for even longer.
Most milk storage guidelines have been compiled from bacterial load research conducted to identify the time and temperature required to prevent bacterial growth in breastmilk. However, other components of breastmilk are affected by these same conditions. For example, an important nutritional quality of breastmilk lays in its n-6 and n-3 long-chain PUFA content. Fatty acids such as these, however, are prone to oxidation over time. The oxidation reactions that take place over time when breastmilk is in contact with the air destroy the vitamins, lipids, and other important compounds.
It is the goal of the present invention to help moms provide optimal conditions for milk storage. Specifically, this invention in one aspect utilizes sub-atmospheric pressure to reduce, or at least slow down, the oxidation reactions in breastmilk in order to preserve vitamins, lipids, and other important compounds in the milk, and includes means to measure that sub-atmospheric pressure, so as to provide indications to the user that the correct container pressure has been obtained and maintained.
Another aspect of the present invention provides for the injection of a layer of gas, such as argon or nitrogen gas, into the milk container. This layer would be in an amount so as to blanket the milk surface, serving to isolate the milk from the atmosphere and thus reduce any harmful oxidation reactions.
In an exemplary embodiment, a storage container for storing infant feed at a reduced pressure is provided that comprises a pressure indicator. The pressure indicator determines a pressure within the storage container and displays that pressure on the container. Thus, a user can easily observe the pressure value within the container. The container would be able to maintain the reduced pressure for at least a temporary timeframe.
In another embodiment, a storage container for infant feed is provided. The infant feed is stored at a sub-atmospheric pressure. The container comprises a member, wherein the member moves in response to an applied vacuum within the container, thus providing a visual indication of the pressure inside the container. The member may be biased to a first position when the container is at equilibrium with the atmosphere, and moveable against the bias in a predetermined manner when the container interior is subjected to a reduced pressure relative to the atmosphere.
These and other aspects, objects, and accomplishments of the present invention will be further understood upon consideration of the following detailed description of certain embodiments, taken in conjunction with the below
a is an illustration in section of an exemplary elastomeric dome to indicate pressure within a container in a first position made in accordance with one aspect of the invention;
b is an illustration of the exemplary elastomeric dome of
a is an illustration in section of an exemplary deformable tube to indicate pressure within a container in a first position made in accordance with one aspect of the invention;
b is an illustration of the exemplary deformable tube of
c is an illustration in section of an exemplary deformable tube to indicate pressure within a container in a first position;
d is an illustration of the exemplary deformable tube of
a illustrates in schematic form and in section, another exemplary bellows gauge to indicate pressure within a container according to yet another embodiment of the present invention;
b illustrates in section an exemplary bellows gauge according to the embodiment of
a illustrates in section an exemplary traversing indicator to indicate pressure within a container according to a further embodiment of the present invention;
b illustrates a top view of the traversing indicator of
c illustrates an alternative traversing indicator according to a modified embodiment of the present invention;
a illustrates in schematic form an exemplary electronic pressure transducer to indicate pressure within a container used in accordance with an aspect of the present invention;
b illustrates in section the electronic pressure transducer of
a illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a container designed for the modification of the atmosphere inside the container; and
b illustrates another exemplary embodiment of a container designed for the modification of the atmosphere inside the container.
When a vacuum is created from a vacuum source, the pressure within the container is altered, and the pressure-indicator mechanism shows the user the current status of the pressure within container 100.
A vacuum is pulled within container 100 using a pip 140, within which is fixed a one-way valve 142. Pip 140 communicates with the container interior, and is designed for use with a vacuum pump that can attach directly to the pip, or through a tube. It is contemplated that a breast pump assembly used to extract the milk could readily be adapted to function as the vacuum pump, including a manually operated pump. Valve 142 may be a duckbill, umbrella, or the like, and is mounted within the pip, allowing air out but not in.
In an alternative embodiment, container 100 may simply have an injection location on one of the walls 110 comprising a one-way valve. Container 100 may also comprise a check valve and a cap, wherein the cap provides an additional seal over the check valve to prevent pressure leakage for long term storage. Container 100 may also comprise a cap to be placed on one-way valve 142 to seal valve 142 closed when the cap is on the valve. Container 100 may be made opaque to ultra-violet light.
Spring 230 is positioned within cavity 240. Plunger 220 is affixed to spring 230. Plunger 220 has a scale 222 comprising a series of number values that correspond to pressure values.
Seals 224 may be present on the sidewalls 226 of the base 219 of plunger 220, to ensure that air from the atmosphere does not leak into the portion of cavity 240 underneath plunger base 219, and ultimately preventing any leaked air from entering the storage container. This is shown as an o-ring type seal 224, seated in an appropriate circular channel of the plunger base 219. Spring 230 may be sized such that the edges of the spring are near the walls that define cavity 240. The bottom of spring 230 rests on the bottom wall 214 of housing 210.
In operation, spring 230 is at a rest position when the pressure within cavity 240 is equal to the pressure of the atmosphere outside of the storage container. At the rest position, plunger 220 extends through top opening 213 and scale 222 shows a value of “0” in-line with the top surface 217 of top wall 212 of housing 210. When a vacuum is applied to cavity 240 through bottom opening 215 from evacuation of the milk container 100, the plunger is pulled against the force of spring 230 toward bottom wall 214. In turn, a new value along sliding scale 222 registers the value of the new pressure within cavity 240. Spring 230 is configured to move a distance that corresponds to a certain pressure increase or decrease, resulting in an accurate reading on the scale 222. When the vacuum is released, spring 230 will naturally return to its rest position (of “0”).
a and 3b illustrate a cross-sectional side view of a housing 300 with an exemplary elastomeric dome 310. Housing 300 has a cavity 320.
b illustrates dome 310 in a second position, now inverted. Line 315 illustrates where arch 314 was in
Thus, a user examining dome 310 on a container can plainly see from examination of the shape of dome 310 whether the pressure within the container has been effectively decreased.
a and 4b illustrate an exemplary deformable tube mechanism 400. Mechanism 400 comprises a deformable tube 430. Deformable tube 430 comprises a first portion 432, a second portion 434, and a third portion 436. First and third portions 432, 436 extend essentially parallel to and preferably abut a top wall 410 of a housing or a container so as to create a seal, preventing air external to the container from entering the container. In the first position illustrated in
In an alternative configuration,
Bellows 530 comprises a top surface 532 and a bottom 534 and contains an elastic element 536 that is convoluted or accordion-like, that expands and contracts axially with changes in pressure. The elastic element 536 in bellows 530 may be made of plastic, brass, phosphor bronze, stainless steel, beryllium-copper, or another metal or material that is biocompatible and capable of returning to a first, or rest, position on its arm in this bellows configuration. Plunger 520 is affixed to the top surface 532 of bellows 530 and extends through top opening 515 as bellows 530 is extended. The bottom 534 of bellows 530 is retained within a slot formed by extensions 550 and bottom wall 514 of housing 510, which seals the bottom to the sidewall, and prevents ingress of air to the container through the mechanism.
Bellows 530 is configured such that it moves a certain distance in relation to a unit of pressure change. Thus when a vacuum is applied to cavity 513, bellows 530 contracts axially in correspondence with the change in pressure, and the affixed plunger 520 moves axially along with bellows 530. Plunger 520 has a scale 522 with number values spaced axially along the plunger. These number values correspond to pressure values. As plunger 520 moves axially in response to the pressure change, the number value corresponding to the pressure within cavity 513 will be displayed at the top surface of top wall 512. Thus, a user can easily see the pressure value within cavity 513.
a and 6b illustrate another exemplary bellows gauge mechanism 600.
b is a cross-sectional side view of housing 610. A cavity or chamber 615 is defined by a top wall 612, a bottom wall 614, a first side wall 618 and a second side wall 619. The bottom 632 of bellows 620 is retained and sealed on extensions 616 on walls 614 and 612.
Bellows 620 expands with an increasing applied vacuum on the interior of the container. A user can view how far bellows 620 has expanded, or thereafter contracted, through opening 613, using the indicator 621 as a marker along the scale 611 of pressure values listed on top wall 612.
a and 7b illustrate an exemplary traversing indicator according to one embodiment of the present invention.
b illustrates a top view of housing 710, showing top wall 712 with window 750 allowing a user to view the pressure value indicated on tag 742.
In an alternative embodiment illustrated in
a illustrates an expanded view of an exemplary electronic pressure transducer used according to one embodiment of the present invention. Pressure transducer 800 is present on a housing 810 and comprises a pressure transducer 820, an electrical connector 830, a microchip 840, and a digital or analog read-out 850. Pressure transducer 820 contains a diaphragm that is deformed when a vacuum is applied through transducer 820. The vacuum is shown by arrow 860. The diaphragm comprises a resistant sensor, which takes a measurement of the diaphragm movement and generates a proportional signal. Electrical connector runs through a wall in housing 810, linking pressure transducer 820 to digital or analog read-out 850. Microchip 840 then converts that measurement to a pressure value. Thus, a user can observe the pressure value of the pressure within a container by looking at digital or analog read-out 850.
b illustrates a portion of the exemplary electronic pressure transducer of
When a vacuum is applied, shown by arrow 960, diaphragm 940 descends axially. As diaphragm 940 descends, ramp 944, which is affixed to or integral with diaphragm 940, moves (downwardly as viewed normally in
a and 10b illustrate methods to store breastmilk under a modified atmosphere which provides a blanketing layer of gas which that will not react with the breastmilk and will minimize the oxidation of air in the breastmilk.
a illustrates a method which may be employed if the blanketing gas has a molecular weight greater than air, such as argon. In this embodiment, a container 1001 is filled to the desired level with breastmilk 1002. Then, a blanketing layer of gas 1003 is injected through a container opening 1004 with an applicator 1005. Applicator 1005 is connected to a container of storage gas 1006, which supplies the gas. After the gas is supplied to container 1001, the applicator 1005 is removed and a container closure 1007 is applied to container 1001.
b illustrates a method which may be employed if the chosen blanketing gas is lighter than air, such as nitrogen for example. In this embodiment, the container 1001 is filled to the desired level with breastmilk 1002. A special closure lid 1007 which incorporates a sealing valve apparatus 1008 is applied to the container. The gas applicator 1005 is inserted into the sealing valve apparatus 1008, and the chosen gas within the container of storage gas 1006 is injected into sealed container 1001. Applicator 1005 is then removed from the sealing valve apparatus 1008 and the breastmilk is ready for storage.
Various exemplary embodiments and methods have been described above. Those skilled in the art will understand, however, that changes and modifications may be made to those examples without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. Additional and/or different features may be present in some embodiments of the present invention.
This application claims priority to U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 61/158,058 filed Mar. 6, 2009, entitled “Improved Storage Device for Infant Feed,” the contents of which are fully incorporated by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61158058 | Mar 2009 | US |