APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING HUMAN LACTATION

DISPOSITIF ET METHODE DE CONTROLE DE LA LACTATION CHEZ LA FEMME

English Abstract

An apparatus comprising a support having an outer surface and an inner
surface that is shaped to conform substantially to a human female breast and having a
protrusion which extends away from the support and is positioned to align substantially
with and contact a nipple of a human female breast prevents a human female breast from
lactating when placed over the breast. The present invention also provides a method for
controlling human lactation which utilizes the present apparatus and includes the steps of
placing and positioning the apparatus over the breast and applying pressure on the
apparatus sufficient to prevent lactation.

Claims

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WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:
1. An apparatus for the control of human lactation comprising a support
having an outer surface and an inner surface that is shaped to conform substantially to a
human female breast, said inner surface having a protrusion with a nipple-contacting
surface extending away from said support and positioned to align substantially with and
contact a nipple of said human female breast when said apparatus is placed over said
human female breast, whereby said protrusion substantially prevents said human female
breast from lactating.
2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said outer surface is
convex and said inner surface is 15 concave.
3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said protrusion is
substantially the same size as said nipple.
4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein 20 said protrusion is
substantially larger than said nipple.
5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the nipple-contacting
surface of said protrusion is concave.
6. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein 25 said support is
constructed from a flexible material.
7. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said flexible material is
a plastic.
8. An apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a brassiere
having a cup, wherein said support 30 is placed in side the cup of said brassiere.

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9. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said brassiere is a
conventional brassiere.
10. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said brassiere is a
nursing brassiere.
11. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an absorbent
breast pad placed on said inner surface of said support.
12. An apparatus for the control of human lactation comprising a
flexible support having an outer convex surface and an inner concave surface that is
shaped to conform substantially to a human female breast, said inner surface having a
protrusion extending away from said support and positioned to align substantially with and
contact a nipple of said human female breast when said apparatus is placed over said
human female breast, whereby said protrusion substantially prevents said human female
breast from lactating.
13. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein 15 said apparatus further
comprises a brassiere with which said support is integrated.
14. A method for controlling human lactation comprising the steps of:
providing an apparatus comprising a support having an outer surface and an
inner surface that is shaped to conform substantially to a human female breast, said inner
surface having a protrusion with a nipple-contacting surface extending away from said
support and positioned to align substantially with and contact a nipple of said human
female breast when said apparatus is placed over said human female breast, whereby said
protrusion substantially prevent said human female breast from lactating,
placing said apparatus over said breast;
positioning said apparatus to align said protrusion substantially with and
contact said nipple of said breast; and
applying pressure to said apparatus sufficient to prevent said breast from
lactating.

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15. A method according to claim 14, wherein said outer surface is
convex and said inner surface is concave.
16. A method according to claim 14, wherein said protrusion is
substantially the same size as said nipple.
17. A method according to claim 14, wherein said protrusion is
substantially larger than said nipple.
18. A method according to claim 14, wherein the nipple-contacting
surface of said protrusion is concave.
19. A method according to claim 14, wherein said support is constructed
from a flexible material.
20. A method according to claim 19, wherein said flexible material is
plastic.

Description

2127325
APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR
CONTROLLING EIUMAN LACTATION
S FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an appalallls and method for controlling
lactation in human females.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In recent years, breast feeding of newborn babies has seen a re~ulgence in
popularity. Breast feeding is becoming more popular for a variety of reasons relative to
both baby and mother. These advantages include increased protection of the infant from
illness through the development of protective antibodies, decreased risk of developing
childhood cancers, avoiding potential allergies to commercial infant form~ c, and
enhanced jaw, teeth, and speech development, among others. Furthermore, it has been
suggested that nursing mothers have a lower risk of developing breast cancer. Breast
feeding has also been suggested to improve the emotional bond between mother and child.
Although breast feeding is enjoying renewed use, it is not without
disadvantages. The outpouring of milk is known as the "let-down" or "milk-ejection"
reflex. A let-down can occur several times during a feeding. It is well known that the
milk-ejection reflex can be triggered at inapplopliate times by various stimuli. A baby's
crying, for example, may cause let-down in a nursing mother. This can result in let-down
at very inopportune times.
This inapplopl;ate let-down can be particularly 35 problematic for working
mothers who are nursing. Solutions designed to alleviate problems associated with
inappropl;ate let-down include absorbent breast pads or breast shields that operate,
essentially, as a well or reservoir to collect leaking milk. These solutions aredisadvantageous because of the limited capacity of both types of devices as well as the
likelihood that milk will leak into clothing despite their use.
It is also known that nursing mothers can apply direct ples~u~e to the
nipples with the heels of their hands or forearms to temporarily halt leakage. However,
this type of solution likewise presents obvious disadvantages for the nursing mother who is
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working or otherwise in public. Therefore, there continues to be a need for apparatus that
can effectively conkol inopportune lactation in nursing mothers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an al)pa~dlus and method for controlling human
lactation. The al~paldlus compri~es a support having an outer surface and an inner surface
that is shaped to conform subst~nti~lly to a human female breast. The inner surface has a
protrusion which extends away from the support and is positioned to align substantially
with and contact a nipple of a human female breast when the ~pal~lus is placed over the
breast. In this way, the prol~ ion substantially prevents the breast from lactating.
The a~alalus can be used alone or include a brassiere which the support is
either placed into or 30 integrated with (e.g., sewn into). The brassiere can be either a
conventional or nursing brassiere.
The present invention also provides a method for controlling human
lactation which utilizes the present apparatus. The method includes the steps of placing
the apparatus over the breast and applying pressure on the apparatus sufficient to prevent
lactation.
The apparatus and method of the present invention provide a convenient and
effective way to prevent inopportune milk leakage in the nursing mother. The apparatus
can be inexpensively constructed in a variety of shapes from a variety of materials.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an exploded, perspective view of one embodiment of the apparatus
of the present invention and an absorbent breast pad.
FIG. 2 is a front view of an absorbent breast pad.
FIG. 3 is a side view of an absorbent breast pad. FIG. 4 is a perspective
view of the inner surface and protrusion of the present appaldlus.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional side view of FIG. 4 taken along line 5-5.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the outer surface of the support of the
present apparatus.
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2127325
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FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional side view of the present a~pal~lus, including a
brassiere, placed over a human female breast.
FIG. 8 is a is a cross-sectional side view of an alternative embodiment of
the inner surface of the support and protrusion of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 is an exploded, perspective view of one embodiment of the a~paldlus
of the present invention and an absorbent breast pad. Apparatus 1 includes support 2
having an inner surface 3 and an outer surface 5. Inner surface 3 has a protrusion 7 which
extends away from support 2. Referring to FIG. 7, which is a cross-sectional side view of
one embodiment of the present appaldlus, including a brassiere, placed over a human
breast, protrusion 7 is positioned to align substantially with and contact nipple N of human
female breast B. Protrusion 7 operates to depress nipple N, whereby breast B is prevented
from lactating.
Support 2 is shaped to conform substantially to a human female breast.
Support 2 can, for example, be substantially circular with a concave/convex shape covering
a relatively small area of breast B as shown in FIG. 7. Support 2 can also take a variety
of other forms, substantially conforming to larger or smaller areas of breast B. Preferably,
support 2 is constructed in a substantially circular, concave/convex form and having a
radius from about 3 to 5 inches for m~xhllulll comfort and to allow use of the appalalus
on breasts of various sizes. Most preferably, support 2 is shaped such that suc;ion is
created between breast B and appaldlus 1 after al~palalus 1 is placed over breast B. The
suction helps to m~int~in the alignment of app~alus 1 with nipple N.
Support 2 can be made from a variety of flexible m~teri~l~ including
moldable plastic or rubber. Preferably, the support is made from a moldable, flexible
plastic material to allow m;-xi",l-", comfort and ease of manufacture. With reference to
FIGS. 4 and 6, perspective views of the inner and outer sllrf~ces, respectivèly, of
support 2, support 2 can be provided with holes 4 to allow air circulation around the
nipple and areolar region of breast B to prevent local irritation which commonly occurs in
nursing mothers.
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Protrusion 7 can be produced separately and then attached to inner surface 3
or, preferably, integrated with inner surface 3. This preferred embodiment is shown by
FIG. 5, a cross-sectional side view of FIG. 4 taken along line 5-5. Protrusion 7 can be
integrated with inner surface 3 by molding protrusion 7 and support 2 together from the
same material. Protrusion 7 can be made from a variety of materials, as long as the
material is sufficiently rigid to depress nipple N when nipple N is contacted by protrusion
7. Exemplary materials for forming protrusion 7 include any of the rigid plastics
10 known in the art or sufficiently rigidized rubber.
Protrusion 7 can be any shape, so long as it is capable of depressing nipple
N when apparatus 1 is brought into contact with breast B and, in turn, pl~v~llL~ug lactation.
For example, protrusion 7, can be a flattened, planar surface formed in the center of the
inner surface 3 of support 2, as shown by FIG. 8, a cross-sectional side view of an
alternative embodiment of the inner surface of the support and protrusion of the present
invention. Protrusion 7 is preferably cylindrical, having a size approxim~ting a human
female nipple, as shown in FIG. 7. Most preferably, as illustrated by FIGS. 7 and 9,
nipple-contacting surface 8 of protrusion 7 is concave to make the appaldlus more
comfortable for the wearer and aid in keeping apparatus 1 in place.
Preferably, absorbent pad 9 is placed over inner surface 3 to absorb any
small amount of leakage resulting, for example, from mi~lignment of protrusion 7 and
nipple N. This embodiment is illustrated by FIGS. 1 and 7.
As shown by FIG. 7, the above-described appaldLus can be used by placing
it over breast B and applying pressure to the a~aldlus sufficient to depress and, in turn,
prevent milk release by nipple N of breast B. The amount of pressure need not be great
and can normally be produced by the force provided when appalalus 1 further comprises
brassiere 11. Support 2 can be placed inside the cup of brassiere 11 which is then put on
by the lactating woman, as illustrated by FIG. 7. Support 2 can either be manll~lly placed
into or actually integrated with (e.g., sewn into) the cup of the brassiere. Brassiere 11 can
be a conventional or nursing brassiere commonly worn by nursing mothers.
Although the invention has been described in detail, for the purpose of
illustration, it is understood 10 that such detail is for that purpose and variations can be
made therein by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the
invention which is defined by the following claims.
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Representative Drawing