Enteral feeding apparatus having a feeding set

An enteral feeding apparatus comprising:

• a pump system including a bearing surface, a platen and a retainer mounted on the platen, the retainer having a first engagement member;
• and
• a feeding set including a cassette and a lumen attached to the cassette, the lumen having a peristalsis loop for extending around the bearing surface, the cassette having a second engagement member adapted for engagement with the first engagement member of the retainer to thereby secure the cassette to the pump system, the lumen being in tension when the peristalsis loop is extended around the bearing surface and the first and second engagement members are engaged, the second engagement member of the cassette being biased into engagement with the first engagement member of the retainer by the tension on the lumen, wherein the second engagement member has a snap-fit engagement with the first engagement member.

A feeding set for use with an enteral feeding apparatus having a pump system, the feeding set comprising:

• a cassette including an engagement member for engaging the pump system;
• a lumen attached to the cassette, the lumen having a peristalsis loop for extending around a portion of the pump system, the lumen being in tension when the peristalsis loop is extended around the portion of the pump system and the engagement member of the cassette is engaged with the pump system such that the engagement member of the cassette is biased into engagement with the pump system by the tension on the lumen, wherein the engagement member of the cassette comprises a sloped wall.

A feeding set for use with an enteral feeding apparatus having a pump system, the feeding set comprising:

• a cassette including an engagement member for engaging the pump system;
• a lumen attached to the cassette, the lumen having a peristalsis loop for extending around a portion of the pump system, the lumen being in tension when the peristalsis loop is extended around the portion of the pump system and the engagement member of the cassette is engaged with the pump system such that the engagement member of the cassette is biased into engagement with the pump system by the tension on the lumen, wherein the engagement member of the cassette is adapted for snap-fit connection with the pump system.

A method of connecting a feeding set to a pump system of an enteral feeding apparatus, the method comprising:

• looping a peristalsis loop of a lumen of the feeding set around a bearing surface of the pump system;
• pulling the lumen to apply a tension thereto;
• connecting a first engagement member of the pump system with a second engagement member formed on a cassette of the feeding set while the lumen is under tension to thereby secure the feeding set to the pump system, the lumen being in tension when the peristalsis loop is extended around the bearing surface and the first and second engagement members are engaged to thereby bias the second engagement member into engagement with the first engagement member.

A peristaltic pump system comprising:

• a pump body having a base, and a retainer mounted on the base, the retainer having a first engagement member;
• a feeding set comprising a cassette and tubing attached to the cassette, the tubing being in tension upon connection of the cassette to the pump system, the cassette having a second engagement member adapted for positioning beneath the first engagement member of the retainer to inhibit disconnection of the cassette from the pump system when the tubing is under tension, the second engagement member of the cassette being biased into position beneath the first engagement member of the retainer by the tension in the tubing.