Additive tube for enteral nutrition apparatus
First Claim
1. A device for adding living cells of a probiotic microorganism to a liquid enteral nutrition product dispensed from an enteral container, said enteral nutrition product being administered to a patient through tubing, said device comprising:
- (a) a liquid impermeable additive tube having an open bore, said bore being surrounded by an inner tube wall and extending from an open upper end of the tube to an open lower end of the tube;
(b) a hollow adaptor at the upper open end for connecting the additive tube to tubing attached to the enteral container;
(c) a hollow adaptor at the lower open end of the additive tube for connecting the additive tube to tubing leading to the patient;
(d) a coating material on a portion of the inner tube wall, said coating material selected from the group consisting of oils and waxes and holding a suspension of the living cells within the open bore adherent to the inner tube wall; and
(e) a flexible, essentially water vapor tight envelope enclosing the tube for long-term storage and to protect the living cells of the probiotic microorganism from moisture;
wherein the living cells of the probiotic microorganism may be removed from the inner tube wall and mixed with the liquid enteral nutrition product by allowing the liquid to flow from the enteral container flow through the tubing connected to the additive tube and through the open bore to the patient.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An additive tube containing a selected material, such as bacterial cells or other additive, for addition a liquid enteral nutrition product dispensed from an enteral bag or bottle. Additive tubes are separately packaged to reduce exposure of the additive that is within the additive tube to water and oxygen. Adapters on each end of the additive tube enable attachment of the additive tube to tubing of the enteral nutrition system (the delivery line, other tubes, and enteral bag or bottle) just prior to use with a patient.
13 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A device for adding living cells of a probiotic microorganism to a liquid enteral nutrition product dispensed from an enteral container, said enteral nutrition product being administered to a patient through tubing, said device comprising:
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(a) a liquid impermeable additive tube having an open bore, said bore being surrounded by an inner tube wall and extending from an open upper end of the tube to an open lower end of the tube;
(b) a hollow adaptor at the upper open end for connecting the additive tube to tubing attached to the enteral container;
(c) a hollow adaptor at the lower open end of the additive tube for connecting the additive tube to tubing leading to the patient;
(d) a coating material on a portion of the inner tube wall, said coating material selected from the group consisting of oils and waxes and holding a suspension of the living cells within the open bore adherent to the inner tube wall; and
(e) a flexible, essentially water vapor tight envelope enclosing the tube for long-term storage and to protect the living cells of the probiotic microorganism from moisture;
wherein the living cells of the probiotic microorganism may be removed from the inner tube wall and mixed with the liquid enteral nutrition product by allowing the liquid to flow from the enteral container flow through the tubing connected to the additive tube and through the open bore to the patient. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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14. A method of making a device for dispensing a living cells of a probiotic microorganism into a liquid enteral nutrition product dispensed from an enteral container, said enteral nutrition product being administered to a patient through tubing, comprising:
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(a) providing a liquid impermeable additive tube having an open bore, said bore being surrounded by an inner tube wall and extending from an open upper end of the tube to an open lower end of the tube, and a hollow adapter at each end of the additive tube;
(b) coating a portion of the inner tube wall within the open bore with a coating material selected from the group consisting of oils and waxes and holding a suspension of the living cells of the probiotic microorganism so that the coating material containing the living cells of the probiotic microorganism adheres to the inner tube wall; and
(c) providing a flexible, essentially water vapor tight envelope enclosing the tube for long-term storage and to protect the living cells of the probiotic microorganism from moisture;
wherein the living cells of the probiotic microorganism may be removed from the inner tube wall and mixed with the liquid enteral nutrition product by allowing the liquid to flow from the enteral container flow through the tubing connected to the additive tube and through the open bore to the patient.
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Specification