Enteral feeding adapters and methods of using the enteral feeding adapters
AssigneeSociete des Produits Nestle S.A.
InventorSteven Bernard
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An adapter is provided for connecting a container of flowable material, such as enteral feed formula in a laminated paper container, to a feeding tube to enable bolus feeding. The adapter can transfer the flowable material from the container by piercing the container and/or a cover of the container. The adapter can form a fluid-tight friction seal on the container. In some embodiments, the adapter has a reusable tube vent long enough to be positioned in the air gap of the container when the container is inverted by a user.
Claims23
An adapter for fluidly connecting a syringe to a container containing a composition, the syringe coupled to an enteral feeding line, the adapter comprising:
- a body comprising a bottom end that defines an opening and a spike;
- a fluid exit port extending from a top end of the body, the top end facing an opposite direction from the bottom end, the body comprising an internal chamber that fluidly connects the opening to the fluid exit port, the fluid exit port configured to direct the composition to the syringe coupled to the enteral feeding line;
- and
- one or more interface surfaces extending radially from the body, the one or more interface surfaces optionally comprising ribs configured to create a gap between the syringe and a portion of the body between the ribs when the adapter is inserted into the syringe.
A method of providing enteral nutrition from a container, the container comprising a pre-formed hole into an interior of the container, the method comprising:
- connecting an adapter to the container, the connecting of the adapter to the container comprises pressing a spike of the adapter through the pre-formed hole in the container;
- inverting the container with the adapter attached thereto, and optionally the adapter comprises one or more interface surfaces that provide a support for the container to be independently retained in the syringe without user interaction when the container is inverted;
- inserting an end of the adapter opposite from the spike into a syringe, the inserting of the end of the adapter into the syringe fluidly connects the interior of the container to the syringe through (i) an internal chamber of the adapter and (ii) a fluid exit port at the end of the adapter inserted into the syringe;
- and
- directing at least a portion of a composition in the container through the adapter and then through the syringe into an enteral feeding line having a first end attached to the syringe, and a second end of the enteral feeding line is positioned in a patient.
(canceled)
17-18. (canceled)
An adapter for providing enteral nutrition from a container, the adapter comprising:
- a body comprising a bottom end that defines an opening;
- a fluid exit port extending outward from a top end of the body, the top end facing an opposite direction from the bottom end, the body comprising an internal chamber that fluidly connects the opening to the fluid exit port;
- and
- a vent passage extending outward from the top end of the body at a different position than the fluid exit port, the vent passage also extending inward through the internal chamber to a point beyond a bottom end of the body, a bottom end of the vent passage comprises an opening that defines a first spike, and the bottom end of the body defines a second spike.
24-40. (canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.