ENTERAL FLUID DELIVERY SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OPEATING THE SAME

• US 20080119822A1
• Filed: 11/17/2006
• Published: 05/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Healthcare Group LP (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Knauper, Christopher A.
• Application Number:
  US11/561,308
• Publication Number:
  US 20080119822A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/516
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 15/00 Feeding-tubes for therapeutic purposes
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 15/0076 Feeding pumps A61M1/00, A61M5/142, A61M25/1018 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/14208 with a programmable infusion control system, characterised by the infusion program
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/14232 Roller pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/16827 controlling delivery of multiple fluids, e.g. sequencing, mixing or via separate flow-paths infusion of multiple fluids without using a controller A61M5/1407

Abstract

An enteral fluid delivery system includes a pump unit that includes a motor coupled to a rotor. The rotor is configured to receive a portion of a pump tube. The motor drives the rotor to pump enteral feed and flush fluids through the pump tube during feed and flush cycles, respectively. A processing unit is operatively connected to the pump unit and controls the pump unit during the feed and flush cycles. The processing unit is programmable to vary a flushing fluid flow rate at which the rotor pumps the flush fluid during a flush cycle. A user interface is operatively connected to the processing unit and enables a user to select between at least two different non-zero flushing fluid flow rates.

Claims

1. An enteral fluid delivery system, comprising:

a pump unit including a motor coupled to a rotor, the rotor being configured to receive a portion of a pump tube, the motor driving the rotor to pump enteral feed and flush fluids through the pump tube during feed and flush cycles, respectively;

a processing unit, operatively connected to the pump unit, controlling the pump unit during the feed and flush cycles, the processing unit being programmable to vary a flushing fluid flow rate at which the rotor pumps the flush fluid during a flush cycle; and

a user interface, operatively connected to the processing unit, enabling a user to select between at least two different non-zero flushing fluid flow rates.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the processing unit varies the flushing fluid flow rate by varying a speed of the motor.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein, during the flush cycle, the processing unit varies a speed of the motor between at least two different motor speeds.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein, during a flush cycle, the processing unit intermittently deactivates the motor such that the motor is stationary during a portion of the flush cycle.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the user interface comprises an option for selecting between the at least two different non-zero flushing fluid flow rates.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the user interface comprises a touch screen including an option for selecting between the at least two different non-zero flushing fluid flow rates.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the user interface enables the user to select between at least two non-zero flushing fluid volumes.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a fluid delivery set including the pump tube, and an inlet coupled in fluid communication with a source of at least one of the enteral feed and flush fluid.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising the pump tube, wherein the pump tube comprises a pair of inlets coupled in fluid communication with sources of the enteral feed and flush fluids.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the motor is coupled to the rotor using a gear assembly.

11. A computer readable medium for use by an enteral fluid delivery system including a user interface, a processing unit, and a pump unit operative to pump enteral feed and flush fluids through a pump tube during feed and flush cycles, respectively, the processing unit operatively connected to the pump unit, the medium comprising:

instructions directing the processing unit to control operation of the pump unit during the feed and flush cycles;

instructions directing the processing unit to vary a flushing fluid flow rate at which the pump unit pumps the flush fluid during a flush cycle; and

instructions directing the processing unit to control the user interface to enable a user to select between at least two different non-zero flushing fluid flow rates.

12. The medium of claim 11, wherein the pump unit includes a motor, the medium further comprising instructions directing the processing unit to vary the flushing fluid flow rate by varying a speed of the motor.

13. The medium of claim 11, wherein the pump unit includes a motor, the medium further comprising instructions directing the processing unit to vary a speed of the motor between at least two different motor speeds during the flush cycle.

14. The medium of claim 11, wherein the pump unit includes a motor, the medium further comprising instructions directing the processing unit to intermittently deactivate the motor during the flush cycle such that the motor is stationary during a portion of the flush cycle.

15. The medium of claim 11, further comprising instructions directing the processing unit to control the user interface to enable the user to select between at least two non-zero flushing fluid volumes.

16. The medium of claim 11, wherein the pump unit includes a motor coupled to a rotor using a gear assembly, the medium further comprising instructions directing the processing unit to adjust the gear assembly to vary the flushing fluid flow rate.

17. A method for operating an enteral fluid delivery system including a user interface and a pump unit operative to pump flush and enteral feed fluids through a pump tube, the method comprising:

pumping an enteral feed fluid through the pump tube to deliver the enteral feed fluid to a patient during a feed cycle;

providing, at the user interface, options to select between at least two different non-zero flushing fluid flow rates, at which the pump unit pumps the flush fluid through the pump tube during a flush cycle; and

pumping the flush fluid through the pump tube at the selected flushing fluid flow rate during the flush cycle.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein pumping the flush fluid through the pump tube at the selected flushing fluid rate comprises operating a motor of the pump unit at at least two different non-zero speeds during the flush cycle.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein pumping the flush fluid through the pump tube at the selected flushing fluid flow rate comprises intermittently deactivating a motor of the pump unit during the flush cycle such that the motor is stationary during a portion of the flush cycle.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein providing, at the user interface, options to select between the at least two different non-zero flushing fluid flow rates further comprises providing a touch screen including the options to select between the at least two different non-zero flushing fluid flow rates.

21. The method of claim 17, further comprising providing, at the user interface, options to select between at least two different non-zero flushing fluid flow volumes.