Use of carrageenan in an enzyme flush
AssigneeKimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
InventorsSara A. Carney, David William Koenig, Junaid Begawala
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Abstract
The present disclosure is directed to methods and compositions for clearing and cleaning enteral feeding tubes. More particularly, the composition is an ingestible gel composition that comprises enzymes for degrading buildup in enteral feeding tubes, carrageenan, and divalent metal ions or a source thereof. The carrageenan present in the composition stabilizes the enzymes at room temperatures, allowing for long-term storage of the composition. Upon injecting the gelled composition into the feeding tube, body heat from the patient melts the gel, and the enzymes are released to act on debris present in the feeding tube.
Claims17
A method of clearing and cleaning the lumen of a feeding tube, the method comprising injecting an ingestible gel composition into the feeding tube, the ingestible gel composition comprising iota carrageenan, a divalent metal ion or source thereof, and from about 20% (w/v) to about 40% (w/v) of an enzyme for degrading buildup in the tube, wherein the composition has a viscosity of at least about 9,000 centipoise at room temperature, and a viscosity of about 4,000 or less at body temperature.
A method of clearing and cleaning the lumen of a feeding tube, the method comprising injecting an ingestible gel composition into the feeding tube, the ingestible gel composition comprising from about 0.5% (w/v) to about 2.0% (w/v) of iota carrageenan, from about 0.01% (w/v) to about 1.0% (w/v) of a divalent metal ion or source thereof, and from about from about 20% (w/v) to about 40% (w/v) of an enzyme for degrading buildup in the tube.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.