Feed and flush delivery devices are described for use in switching between delivery of enteral feeding fluid and flushing/hydration fluid to a patient, with both fluids being delivered through the same closed system. The delivery devices are simpler, easier to use, and are more cost effective than known prior art valves and control devices. Independent feed and flush lines are typically received by the delivery device, which merges the two lines into a single end delivery line so that either feeding or flushing fluid, but not both at the same time, can be conveyed through the end line, as desired and selected by the user. The delivery device is loaded onto the pumping mechanism of an enteral infusion pump, and can be part of a cassette which is used in combination with a particular brand of infusion pump.

A feeding system for medical patients comprises a storage assembly, dispensing assembly, and extension set including, in part, a reservoir, a pump, a feeding tube, a check valve and an adapter. The reservoir is configured to hold at least one feeding of nutritional substance. The dispensing assembly is connected to the storage assembly and pumps the at least one feeding of nutritional substance from the reservoir to the feeding tube connected to an outlet of the pump. The check valve unit is connected to a second end of the feeding tube by means of a check valve connection point and is configured to allow the flow of nutritional substance in only one direction. The at least one feeding of nutritional substance is passed through the adapter unit connected to the check valve unit.

A metered enteral feeding system for delivering fluids, the metered enteral feeding system including a vented container with contained volume for containing the fluids. The metered enteral feeding system includes a discharge port for discharging the fluid from the contained volume and at least one vent for allowing airflow into the contained volume. The metered enteral feeding system also includes a flow control valve in fluid communication with the discharge port of the vented container. The fluid control valve is adjustable to provide an increased or decreased flowrate therethrough.

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 present specification is directed to systems, devices, and methods of portable enteral pump systems for feeding and/or flushing an ambulatory patient. Embodiments provide an enteral pumping device that may be loaded by a patient from a front and a top side of the pumping device and is therefore more convenient to use. Further, embodiments incorporate a single rotor pump for dual-use purposes of feeding nutrients and flushing fluids to the patient. A pinch valve is placed between the parallel sides of the two tubes to cut off fluid flow when required. At least one sensor is also placed between the rotor pump and an outlet. The sensors are used to detect occlusions and the type of disposables used, among other purposes.

In some embodiments, apparatuses and methods are provided herein useful to provide fluid nutrition and hydration. In one illustrative example, a feeding set for use with a peristaltic enteral feeding pump has sections of flexible tubing or conduit, a dispensing control valve that is in fluid communication with the tubing, and a retention disk. In some configurations, the feeding set has as attachment mechanism, which may be formed by one clips or hooks extending from the dispensing control valve and coupling geometry of the retention disk. By some approaches, the clips or hooks and the coupling geometry are configured to attach the feeding set with the pump, such as by attaching the feeding set to an internal panel of the feeding pump. In operation, the feeding set and pump are used to move fluid nutrition and hydration from a container or bag to the patient in a controlled manner.

A nutrient recycling device is provided that is configured to collect digestive contents from a first opening of a gastrointestinal (GI) tract and recycle and/or return the digestive contents to a second location in a patient's gastrointestinal tract. The device and associated method may find application in patients with a number of complaints, such as short bowel syndrome and/or prior to stoma reversal surgery. The device comprises a bag adapted to receive the digestive contents from a first GI opening, and a pump incorporated with the bag adapted to pump the digestive contents to a second GI location. The pump includes an inlet in fluid communication with the interior of the bag, and an outlet connected to an outlet conduit adapted to provide a flow pathway for the digestive content to flow from the pump to second GI location.

A connector for rotatably coupling an enteral feeding solution supply tube to a circular port of a gastrostomy device wherein the connector comprises a fluid conduit having a first end configured for connection with an orifice defined in the circular port to supply the enteral feeding solution to the gastrostomy device, and a second end configured for connection to the enteral feeding solution supply tube, a pair of arms circumferentially arranged around an outer wall of the first end of the fluid conduit, each arm including a first free end and a second free end, wherein the second free end includes a catch configured to releasably engage with a circumferential rim on the circular port, and a flexible bridge connecting each arm to the first end of the fluid conduit and about which the first and second ends of each arm can be pivoted, wherein the connector is couplable to and decouplable from the circular port by pivoting the first and second ends of each arm at the flexible bridge such that the catch on the second free end of each arm is radially displaced into engagement or out of engagement with the rim.

An enteral feeding pump is provided for mounting a tubing set. The enteral feeding pump comprises a base having an outer side. A rotor is supported on the outer side of the base for engaging a tube section of a tubing set. A tubing set platform is provided on the outer side of the base and defines a pair of tube retainer locks. At least one tube retainer lock comprises an elongated channel for receiving a tube retainer defined by a retainer body and a pair of laterally opposing retainer tabs, tab rest surfaces located on laterally opposing sides of the channel, and tab retention surfaces spaced from the tab rest surfaces and defining elongated slots extending in a longitudinal direction parallel to the elongated channel. The elongated slots each include an entrance end for receiving a retainer tab and a longitudinally opposing inner end.

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 monogiycerides 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.