Nutritional formulas comprising long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs) are provided, along with methods and devices for preparing and/or administering nutritional formulas. In some embodiments, a percentage of the LC-PUFAs in the nutritional formula are in the form of monoglycerides and/or free fatty acids. In some embodiments, the nutritional formulas do not comprise added lipase. Also provided are methods for providing nutrition to a subject, methods for improving fat absorption, methods for improving cognitive ability, methods for preventing chronic lung disease, and methods for reducing the length of time a patient requires total parenteral nutrition.

Nutritional formulas comprising long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs) are provided, along with methods and devices for preparing and/or administering nutritional formulas. In some embodiments, a percentage of the LC-PUFAs in the nutritional formula are in the form of monoglycerides and/or free fatty acids. In some embodiments, the nutritional formulas do not comprise added lipase. Also provided are methods for providing nutrition to a subject, methods for improving fat absorption, methods for improving cognitive ability, methods for preventing chronic lung disease, and methods for reducing the length of time a patient requires total parenteral nutrition.

A connector system is configured to fluidly connect a nasogastric tube assembly including a lumen and a tube to a medical device. The system includes a connector including: a fitting configured to provide a fluid-tight connection with the medical device; a neck coupled to the fitting, the neck configured to attach to the nasogastric tube assembly; and a body coupled to the neck, the body configured to provide a fluid-tight connection with the nasogastric tube assembly when at least partially inserted within the lumen; and a first tether including a first fastening region defining a first opening configured to receive the neck, a second fastening region defining a second opening configured to couple to the nasogastric tube assembly, and a link coupling the first fastening region to the second fastening region, the link configured to maintain a fixed distance separating the first fastening region from the second fastening region.

A computer-implemented method of adjusting enteral feeding of a patient by an enteral feeding controller, comprising: computing an estimate of energy expenditure of the patient based on oxygen measurements and carbon dioxide measurements of the patient, computing a target composition and target feeding rate for the enteral feeding according to the computed estimate of energy expenditure, when the target composition and target feeding rate differ from a current enteral feeding composition and feeding rate by a requirement, generating instructions for adjustment, by an enteral feeding controller, of the rate of delivery of the enteral feeding according to the target composition, wherein the receiving the oxygen measurement, receiving the carbon dioxide measurement, and computing the estimate of energy expenditure are performing iteratively for every first time interval, and the generating instructions for adjustment are performed for a second time interval that is larger than the first time interval.

The embodiments disclosed herein relate to catheter assemblies. The catheter assemblies can include a multi-lumen catheter, a junction hub, and extension legs. The catheter assemblies can also include a sheath that includes a membrane that is permeable to one or more gases and impermeable to one or more liquids or solids. The catheter assemblies can be configured to deliver food to a patient through a first lumen, and simultaneously vent or aspirate one or more gases from the patient through a second lumen. The catheter assemblies can also include preformed catheters that assume a non-linear three-dimensional shape when in a relaxed state.

Exemplary embodiments of the disclosure may be drawn to a device having an inlet and a chamber. Immobilized lipase, immobilized protease, and immobilized amylase may be contained within the chamber. The device may also include an outlet, wherein a flow path extends from the inlet, through the chamber, and to the outlet.

A medical pump, comprising: a fluid housing having a plurality of intake openings, sealed by at least one intake valve, and an outlet opening sealed by an outlet valve; a piston which is sealing the fluid housing and connected to a drive mechanism, the drive mechanism pulls the piston to draw fluid from one of the plurality of intake openings and pushes the piston to discharge the fluid into the outlet opening; and a selecting valve enclosing at least two tubes, each providing fluid to one of the plurality of intake openings, wherein the selecting valve closes one of the at least two tubes while opening another of the at least two tubes.

An anti-reflux nasogastric tube includes a tube body and a positioning sleeve. The tube body has a first end and a second end. The first end has an opening. The second end has at least one hole. The opening communicates with the at least one hole through a pipeline. The positioning sleeve is disposed at the opening and has a socket part and an outer edge. The outer edge is located at one end of the socket part. The outer diameter of the outer edge is larger than the inner diameter of the nostril of the human body. Thus, the present invention allows the anti-reflux joints to be stuck in the nasal cavity of the human body by the structure of the positioning sleeve, and does not need to adhere the tube body to the cheek of the human body by adhering, thereby reducing the patient's discomfort and increasing the aesthetic appearance and avoiding inadvertent pulling.

An assembly for attachment to a gastrostomy feeding tube is provided. The assembly comprises a valve connector and an anchor. The valve connector comprises a housing, a conduit traversing the housing from an inlet to an outlet; and a retaining element extending outwardly from the housing. The anchor comprises an anchor housing configured to receive a portion of the valve connector. The anchor housing has a gastrostomy feeding tube attachment feature for attaching the anchor to the feeding tube, and a valve connector retaining feature that defines a retaining space, wherein the retaining space receives the retaining element of the valve connector and is sized to enable rotation of the retaining element and the valve connector relative to the anchor such that the conduit of the valve connector maintains fluid connection with the gastrostomy feeding tube during rotation. Additional assemblies and systems are also provided for other medical devices.

A feeding tube with an inflatable balloon component and at least one of (1) a carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2) sampling line, (2) a suction tube component, (3) a pH sensor, and (4) an electromagnetic sensor is disclosed. A kit containing the feeding tubing and at least one of (1) a carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2) sampling line, (2) a suction tube component, (3) a pH sensor, and (4) an electromagnetic sensor, and a method for intubating a patient to deliver the feeding tube to a desired location for delivering nutrients and/or medication to the patient are also disclosed.