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US 5,314,405 AGranted
Liquid delivery apparatus
AssigneeScience Incorporated
InventorsMarshall S. Kriesel, Thomas N. Thompson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A self-contained system for the enteral delivery of a nutrient solution from an aseptic package without the intermediate step of emptying the package contents into a traditional flexible bag solution container for delivery by parastalic pump, gravity means or the like. The system of the invention uniquely includes a novel, distendable membrane stored energy source which functions to automatically deliver on demand the premixed solution contained within the package to the patient at a precisely controlled rate.
Claims20
A liquid delivery apparatus comprising:
- (a) a housing having internal walls defining a cavity;
- (b) a support disposed within said housing having a central portion, an edge portion circumscribing said central portion and including a liquid passageway in communication with said cavity of said housing, said liquid passageway having an inlet and an outlet;
- (c) a distendable membrane having a central portion circumscribed by an edge, said central portion spanning said central portion of said support with said edge being disposed in engagement with said edge portion of said support, said distendable membrane being distendable from a first position wherein said central portion is in close proximity with said support to a second position wherein said central portion is in close proximity of said internal walls defining said cavity, said distendable membrane in said second position having internal stresses tending to return it to said position,
- (d) means for sealably encapsulating said housing, said distendable membrane and said support, said means comprising an oxygen impermeable barrier surrounding said housing;
- said barrier comprising a structure made up of materials which cooperate to completely surround and encapsulate said housing in a manner to provide a substantially oxygen impermeable anti-microbial, leak-free aseptic container for containing the liquid to be delivered;
- and
- (e) means for permitting the flow of gases between atmosphere and said cavity of said housing as said distendable membrane moves from said second position to said first position.
4 more elements
A liquid delivery apparatus comprising:
- (a) a porous body, including first and second portions, each said portion comprising:
- (i) internal walls defining a cavity, said cavity being circumscribed by an edge;
- (ii) first and second spaced apart openings in communication with said cavity;
- (b) a firs distendable membrane having a central portion circumscribed by an edge, said central portion spanning the cavity of said first body portion with said edge being disposed in engagement with said edge of said first body portion;
- (c) a second distendable membrane having a central portion circumscribed by an edge, said central portion spanning the cavity in said second body portion with said edge being disposed in engagement with said edge of said second body portion;
- (d) a fluid inlet port disposed within said first opening in said body portion;
- (e) a fluid outlet port disposed within said second opening in said body portions;
- (f) a support member disposed intermediate said first and second distendable membranes, said support member having a fluid passageway in communication with said fluid inlet and outlet ports;
- (g) liquid delivery means in communication with said fluid outlet port for delivering fluid from said apparatus;
- and
- (h) encapsulating means for sealably encapsulating said body, said encapsulating means comprising a laminate structure made up of at least two layers of materials which cooperate to completely surround and encapsulate said housing in a manner to provide a substantially oxygen impermeable anti-microbial, leak-free aseptic container for containing the liquid to be delivered.
8 more elements
An apparatus for enteral feeding of a patient comprising:
- (a) a housing having internal walls defining a cavity;
- (b) a porous body disposed within said housing, said body including first and second portions, each said portion comprising:
- (i) internal walls defining a cavity, said cavity being circumscribed by an edge;
- (ii) first and second spaced apart openings in communication with said cavity;
- (c) a first distendable membrane assembly comprising a plurality of thin films, said assembly having a central portion circumscribed by an edge, said central portion spanning the cavity of said first body portion with said edge being disposed in engagement with said edge of said first body portion,
- (d) a second distendable membrane assembly comprising a plurality of thin films, said assembly having a central potion spanning the cavity in said second body portion with said edge being disposed in engagement with said edge of said second body portion;
- (e) a fluid inlet port disposed within said first opening in said body portions;
- (f) a fluid outlet port disposed within said second opening in said body portions;
- (g) a support member disposed intermediate said first and second distendable membrane assemblies, said support member having a fluid passageway in communication with said first and second membrane assemblies and with said fluid inlet and outlet ports;
- (h) liquid delivery means in communication with said fluid outlet port for delivering fluid to a patient;
- and
- (i) encapsulating means for sealably encapsulating said body, said encapsulating means comprising an outer paper wrap covering an inner metalized wrap which cooperate to completely surround and encapsulate said housing in a manner to provide a substantially oxygen impermeable anti-microbial, leak-free aseptic container for containing the liquid to be delivered.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.