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Completed

NCT Number: NCT02719548

Impact of Breast Shield Designs on Dynamics of Breast Pumping

A prospective, randomized, 2-phase/crossover, single center premarket feasibility study. In phase I the comfort will be assessed, the occurence and types of adverse events will be recorded and the assessment how and if the different breast shield designs interact with the lacting breast during pumping. Phase II takes place at home; assessment of adverse events will be recorded and the assessment how the subjects perceives the comfort of the soft edge breast shield during mid term use at home.

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Key information

Conditions

Lactation Behavior Breast Feeding Feeding Behavior

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

Female

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Medela AG

Baar, Canton of Zug, 6340, Switzerland

About this study

This is a prospective, randomized, 2 phase/crossover, single center premarket feasibility study enrolling a total of 15 subjects. Follow up visit will be after 14 days.

The study will be divided in two phases.

The objectives of phase 1 are:

  • assessment of Comfort (subjective)
  • occurrence and types of adverse events
  • to assess if and how the different designs (shapes and soft edge) of the three provided breast shields interacts with the lactating breast during pumping, with regards to:
  • The influence of nipple size, diameter and length (measured before pumping)
  • Maximum comfortable vacuum selected by participant (mmHg)
  • Actual vacuum generated in the tunnel of the breast shields in relation to the vacuum level indicator of the breast pump (mmHg)
  • Characteristics of nipple movement in the tunnel during pumping
  • Amount of tissue entering the tunnel at maximum applied vacuum (mm)
  • Amount of tissue entering the tunnel at minimum applied vacuum (mm)
  • Space between breast and shield (mm)

The objectives of phase 2 are

  • to assess how the participants perceive the comfort of the soft-edge breast shield during mid term use at home
  • to assess which adverse events occur

Study procedures - Phase 1 The participant will be invited for a pumping session (3 times 2 minutes of expression) at Medela Headquarters. The CE-marked Freestyle breast pump and its pumpset will be used in the both phases of the study.The participants will be asked to pump 3 times with each of the 3 breast shields in a randomized order. Each pump session (defined as pump start till pump stop) will be short (2 minutes of pumping after milk ejection has occurred), and all three short pumping session will be done on the left side only. All pump session will start with the stimulation mode and change to expression mode as soon as milk flows.

Study procedures - Phase 2 Once the debriefing is finished the participants will be instructed about the Phase 2 (home use) part of the study and its equipment to be used. Study subjects that do not have a Freestyle system in use, a system will be provided. All subjects will be provided with the applicable breast shield types and introduced as well as the new shields will be handed over.

  • the soft-edge breast shield (non CE-marked) and
  • the modified PersonalFit Breast Shield (non CE-marked) This part will start for each participant the day after the phase 1assessment at Medela Headquarters.

Day 1-7 (Evaluation of pumping experience with the modified PersonalFit breast shield) Day 7 (Comfort evaluation of the modified PersonalFit breast shield) Day 8-14 (Evaluation of pumping experience with the soft-edge breast shield) Day 14 (Comfort evaluation of the soft-edge breast shield)

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Female over 18 years
  • The participant agrees to pump or feed the last time a minimum of 3 hours before the start of the pumping sessions (phase 1)
  • The participant agrees to photograph and video record the breast and upper body (no face) as well as to take audio data.
  • Participant agrees to the presence of up to 3 men in the room during the pumping session
  • The participant has been pumping at least 7 times in the week prior to study participation, no matter which electric pumps.
  • The participant has been consistently pumping 10 ml of milk or more per breast, per pumping session prior to study participation.
  • The participant currently use a breast shield size of 24 mm
  • The participant has agreed to pump at least 7 times a week over the next three weeks

Exclusion criteria

  • none

Treatment and study plan

Soft edge oval - Hard oval - Modified PF breast shield

Device

Treatment order:

  • soft-edge oval breast shield
  • Hard oval breast shield
  • modified PersonalFit breast shield

Other names: Group A

Modified PF breast shield - Soft edge oval - Hard oval

Device
  • modified PersonalFit breast shield
  • soft-edge oval breast shield
  • Hard oval breast shield

Other names: Group B

Hard oval - Soft edge oval - Modified PF breast shield

Device
  • Hard oval breast shield
  • soft-edge oval breast shield
  • modified PersonalFit breast shield

Other names: Group C

Primary outcomes

  1. Endpoint Phase 1_Optical analysis via photo: pumping sessions of the nipple and breast will be video recorded from the lateral side view; study set up will be filmed and the audio data taken to document all the information

    Time frame: End of phase I (is defined from the date when moms are coming for Phase I, which takes up to 2 weeks. But the visit itself per mom takes approx. 2hours)

    During all three short pumping sessions the nipple and breast will be video recorded from the lateral side view. The study set up will be filmed and the audio data taken to document all the information e.g. nipple movement in the tunnel.

  2. Endpoint Phase 1_Retrospective analysis via Video: by changing the shape of the breast shield the form of the breast shield will better suit and conform to the breast shape

    Time frame: End of phase I (is defined from the date when moms are coming for Phase I, which takes up to 2 weeks. But the visit itself per mom takes approx. 2hours)

    It is theorized that by changing the shape of the breast shield the form of the breast shield will better suit and conform to the breast shape, improving comfort, reducing any point compression against the skin surface, and supporting freedom of movement of the nipple in the tunnel.

    During all three short pumping sessions the nipple and breast will be video recorded from the lateral side view. The study set up will be filmed and the audio data taken to document all the information e.g. nipple movement in the tunnel.

    Retrospective analysis will be undertaken of the recorded videos. The videos will be analyzed using software for a Desktop Ruler. Characteristics of nipple movement in the tunnel during pumping/Amount of tissue entering the tunnel at max.applied vacuum(mm)/Amount of tissue entering the tunnel at min.applied vacuum(mm)/Space between breast and shield(mm)

  3. Endpoint Phase 1_ Questionnaire: After pumping with all 3 breast shields participants will be asked questions about comfort perception, handling experience and the sensation per shield.

    Time frame: End of phase I (is defined from the date when moms are coming for Phase I, which takes up to 2 weeks. But the visit itself per mom takes approx. 2hours)

    After pumping with all 3 breast shields participants will be asked questions about comfort perception, handling experience and the sensation per shield.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Endpoint Phase 2_Pump log and questionnaires: will be asked to document each breast milk expression in the pump log.A questionnaire needs to be completed by the end of each week for the used breast shield

    Time frame: End of phase II (Phase II takes place for 2 weeks at moms home; the end is defined as 4 weeks after end of phase I)

    Participants will be asked to document each breast milk expression in the pump log. The final entries can be compared for both shields, e.g. comparison of max.vacuum comfort (mmHg); milk outcome in mm.

    A questionnaire needs to be completed by the end of each week for the used breast shield as well.

  2. Endpoint Phase 2_Collection of AEs, if any: To assess which adverse events occurred during the home-test by completing the AE form

    Time frame: End of phase II (Phase II takes place for 2 weeks at moms home; the end is defined as 4 weeks after end of phase I)

    • To assess which adverse events occurred during the home-test by completing the AE form

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Medela AG

Industry

Registry information

Acronym: BSD

Important dates

Study start
2016
Primary completion
2016
Study completion
2016
First posted
Mar 25, 2016
Registry last updated
Feb 10, 2020

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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