Enteral feeding warming system

An enteral feeding warming system comprising:

• an electric pump configured to pump feeding fluid from a storage source at a flow rate of between approximately 0.25 millimeters per minute and approximately 1 millimeter per minute;
• an enteral feeding warming device comprising:
• a housing having:
• first and second mating clamshell housing sections connected by a hinge mechanism, the first housing section having exterior walls defining an internal heating chamber, each housing section having at least one complementary magnet for releasably retaining the housing sections in a closed configuration;
• and
• a mount connected to one of the housing sections for mounting the enteral feeding warming device on a support;
• a channel formed in one of the exterior walls of the first housing section, the channel having a straight entry section, a first partial turn, six complete straight sections and five complete turns alternating with each other to form a back-and-forth pattern, a second partial turn, and a straight exit section in that order, the straight entry section and the straight exit section each being shorter than the complete straight sections, the partial turns each forming an effective angle of greater than 90 degrees and less than 180 degrees, the complete turns each forming effective angles of greater than 0 degrees and less than 90 degrees and each including a primary region and two secondary regions curving in a direction opposite the primary region, the channel having a substantially semi-circular cross section with a diameter of between 0.06 inches and 0.16 inches and an effective length of between 12 inches and 16 inches for receiving an enteral feeding tube having an outer surface, a first end for receiving feeding fluid from a storage device, and a second end for administering the feeding fluid to a patient at a fluid flow rate of between approximately 0.25 milliliters per minute and approximately 1 milliliter per minute, the channel being configured to contact the enteral feeding tube at least 180 degrees around the outer surface of the enteral feeding tube without an air gap between the channel and the enteral feeding tube so that heat is transferred directly from the warming device to the enteral feeding tube, the primary region and the two secondary regions being cooperatively configured to retain the enteral feeding tube in the channel;
• a silicone pad heating element positioned within the internal heating chamber of the first housing section and configured to heat the channel for warming the feeding fluid in the enteral feeding tube;
• a thermistor temperature sensor for sensing an internal temperature of the enteral feeding warming device;
• a power switch for turning on and turning off the enteral feeding warming device;
• a controller for controlling operation of the heating element based on the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor such that the feeding fluid administered from the second end of the feeding tube is warmed to a temperature between 90 degrees and 103 degrees Fahrenheit;
• a heat spreader positioned within the internal heating chamber of the first housing section for uniformly spreading heat from the heating element so that the heating element does not warm air in the housing to a temperature greater than 103 degrees Fahrenheit so that the fluid is gradually warmed through the entire length of the channel;
• and
• a display configured to indicate the internal temperature of the enteral feeding warming device and information related to operation of the enteral feeding warming device, the information including:
• a power status, a heating status, a ready status, an error, a warning, a time, a time counter, and a user instruction.