Method to deliver remaining liquid in an enteral or other infusion device

A pumping system for delivering a liquid to a patient according to a predetermined therapy protocol, the pumping system comprising:

• a source of the liquid;
• an administration set for carrying the liquid from the source to the patient, the administration set including a tubing segment, upstream tubing communicating from the source to the tubing segment, and downstream tubing communicating from the tubing segment to the patient;
• a pumping mechanism arranged to engage the tubing segment, the pumping mechanism including at least one pumping member, a motor operable to actuate the at least one pumping member to peristaltically deform the tubing segment to force the liquid through the tubing segment in a direction from the upstream tubing toward the downstream tubing, and a motor controller providing control commands to the motor;
• a processor connected to the motor controller;
• at least one sensor associated with the administration set and/or the source for generating an end-of-therapy signal indicating an end-of-therapy condition, wherein the end-of-therapy signal is transmitted to the processor;
• at least one memory module including stored program instructions executable by the processor for operating the motor to control operation of the pumping mechanism;
• and
• a display connected to the processor;
• wherein the stored program instructions include a flush mode routine executable by the processor to operate the pumping mechanism in a flush mode to deliver residual liquid present within the downstream tubing to the patient after the processor receives the end-of-therapy signal;
• wherein execution of the flush mode routine is initiated in response to a user input action;
• wherein the stored program instructions include an end-of-therapy routine executable by the processor to stop operation of the pumping mechanism and provide a prompt for the user input action on the display, wherein the end-of-therapy routine is executed in response to the end-of-therapy signal;
• wherein execution of the flush mode routine delivers no more than a predetermined volume of liquid corresponding to a volume of liquid expected to remain in the downstream tubing after operation of the pumping mechanism is stopped in response to the end-of-therapy signal;
• wherein execution of the flush mode routine delivers a first preprogrammed incremental portion of the predetermined volume of liquid and then automatically pauses operation of the pumping mechanism, wherein delivery of a further preprogrammed incremental portion of the predetermined volume of liquid is initiated in response to another user input action and termination of the flush mode routine is carried out in response to a user input cancellation action.