System and method for managing a supply of breast milk

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9844616-B2
Application number	US-201615149465-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 9, 2016
Priority date	Mar 13, 2013
Publication date	Dec 19, 2017
Grant date	Dec 19, 2017

Abstract

A system is disclosed for managing a supply of breast milk. In one form the system includes a codified container for receiving expressed breast milk. A computing device receives an image of the expressed milk in the codified container. The codification allows for software to recognize the size and type of the container, as well as scale and orientation, to translate the image into an accurate volume. The milk data is then processed and analyzed to produce feedback regarding the pumping session, such as logs, charts, or reminders. In other embodiments, nipple positioning may be analyzed as well.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon instructions executable by a computing device to cause the computing device to perform functions comprising:
analyzing at least one image of a milk collection device, the milk collection device being configured to receive expressed breastmilk;
based on the analyzing, identifying a codification element associated with the milk collection device; and
generating feedback associated with the expressed breastmilk based on the codification element.

2. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the computing device is selected from the group consisting of a smart phone, a tablet, a breastpump and a digital camera, the computing device including a camera capable of taking at least one of an image and a video.

3. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the functions further include developing at least one of real-time performance feedback and troubleshooting.

4. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the functions further include recognizing the size and/or type of container, and the scale and orientation of the container from the image, in order to appropriately translate the visual image(s) into an accurate volume through a combination of milk level and container type information contained in a codification element associated with the milk collection device.

5. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the functions further include real-time performance feedback through video monitoring and analysis of the milk collection including at least one of milk ejections data, flow rate, detection of vacuum settings, changes, cycles, behavior of a nipple, breast or kit subject to the system, color shifts in the milk, nipple positioning, and pumping duration data.

6. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the functions further include recording a video (or series of images) of the collection container via the imaging component.

7. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the computing device is incorporated within a breastpump.

8. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the computing device is configured to communicate with a breastpump.

9. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the functions further comprise using advanced image processing capabilities adapted to determine milk volumes regardless of container orientation.

10. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9 , wherein the advanced image processing capabilities include outputting information regarding quality of the milk such as the quality of the milk including at least one of color, fat content, or blood included therein.

11. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the functions further comprise determining at least one of whether a breastpump kit is configured and attached correctly and provide feedback to the mother and whether components of the kit are performing correctly.

12. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the functions further comprise collecting breastpumping data including information regarding milk ejections; pump duration; flow rate; detection of vacuum settings or changes through the behavior of the nipple, breast or kit; nipple positioning, nipple extension, by application of codification elements and data interpretation in various portions of the breastpump kit.

13. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the functions further comprise downloading the instructions from the computing device.

Assignees

• Medela Holding Ag

Inventors

• Bauer Ryan

Classifications

• A61M2205/50

  with microprocessors or computers · CPC title

• A61M2205/3561

  local, e.g. within room or hospital · CPC title

• A61M2205/52

  with memories providing a history of measured variating parameters of apparatus or patient · CPC title

• G06T7/70

  Determining position or orientation of objects or cameras (camera calibration G06T7/80) · CPC title

• A61M2205/6072

  Bar codes · CPC title