Apparatus for altering composition of nutritional product during enteral tube feeding

• US 6,036,669 A
• Filed: 02/27/1998
• Issued: 03/14/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Abbott Laboratories Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Abbott Laboratories Incorporated
• Inventors: Zevchik, Daniel, Mazer, Terrence B., Walton, Joseph E., Kropczynski, John J. Jr., Geckle, Ronita K., Cole, Rhonda L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Coggins, Wynn Wood
• Assistant Examiner(s): Blyveis, Deborah
• Application Number:
  US09/032,070
• Time in Patent Office: 746 Days
• Field of Search: 604/82, 604/83, 604/85, 604/56, 604/403, 604/405, 604/408, 604/409, 604/410, 604/415, 604/416, 604/251, 604/254, 604/255, 604/256, 604/257, 604/258, 604/260, 604/262 , 604/890.1, 604/892.1, 604/8, 604/500, 424/422-424, 424/468-475, 426/540
• US Class Current: 604/83
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 15/00 Feeding-tubes for therapeutic purposes
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 15/0026 Parts, details or accessories for feeding-tubes external tubes from medical containers to a connector outside of the body A61M39/08
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 15/0069 Tubes feeding directly to the intestines, e.g. to the jejunum
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 31/002 Devices for releasing a drug at a continuous and controlled rate for a prolonged period of time artificial gland structures or devices A61F2/022; intra-uterine contraceptive devices A61F6/14; tampons for introducing into the vagina A61F13/20, A61L15/00; suppositories or bougies for intra-vaginal or intra-uterine application A61K9/02; physical forms of medicinal preparations for sustained or differential drug release A61K9/20, A61K9/50
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/007 for contrast media
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1407 Infusion of two or more substances
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/1409 in series, e.g. first substance passing through container holding second substance, e.g. reconstitution systems needle sets A61M5/162

Abstract

An apparatus for modifying a liquid enteral nutritional product. The apparatus includes a feeding set having an inlet and an outlet. The inlet is constructed for fluid connection to a supply container. The feeding set defines an interior space. The apparatus further includes a canister disposed in the interior space defined by the feeding set. The canister includes a wall portion that defines an aperture therethrough. The canister is constructed to receive one or more beneficial agents in an interior chamber defined therein. At least one beneficial agent disposed in the interior chamber defined by the canister.

Claims

1. An apparatus for modifying a liquid enteral nutritional product, said apparatus comprising:

a feeding set having an inlet and an outlet, said inlet constructed to be fluidly connected to a supply container, said feeding set defining an interior space;

a canister positioned in said interior space defined by said feeding set, said canister including a wall defining an interior chamber, said wall having a plurality of apertures defined therein to allow fluid flow of liquid enteral nutritional product through the canister, wherein said wall of said canister includes a first portion having an opening defined therein through which the at least one beneficial agent can be disposed into the canister, and a second portion attached to the first portion to substantially close the opening of the first portion; and

at least one beneficial agent disposed in said interior chamber defined by said wall of said canister.

2. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said feeding set includes a chamber portion, and wherein said canister is disposed in said chamber portion.

3. An apparatus in accordance with claim 2, wherein said chamber portion is a drip chamber.

4. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a supply container of liquid enteral nutritional product provided in fluid communication with the inlet of the feeding set.

5. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of apertures is defined in the second portion of the wall of said canister.

6. A method for modifying a liquid enteral nutritional product during flow thereof from a supply container, the method comprising the steps of:

providing an apparatus including;

a feeding set having an inlet and an outlet, said inlet capable of being fluidly connected to a supply container containing a liquid enteral nutritional product, said feeding set defining an interior space, and

a canister positioned in the interior space of the feeding set, the canister having a wall defining an interior chamber, said wall having a plurality of apertures defined therein to allow fluid flow of liquid enteral nutritional product through the canister, said interior chamber containing at least one beneficial agent, wherein said wall of said canister includes a first portion having an opening defined therein through which the at least one beneficial agent can be disposed into the canister, and a second portion attached to the first portion to substantially close the opening of the first portion;

connecting the inlet of said feeding set to a supply container containing a liquid enteral nutritional product; and

flowing said liquid enteral nutritional product from said supply container through said feeding set, the liquid enteral nutritional product flowing through the canister with the at least one beneficial agent being dispersed therein.

7. A method for modifying a liquid enteral nutritional, the method comprising the steps of:

providing an apparatus including

a feeding set having an inlet and an outlet, said feeding set defining an interior space, and

a canister including a wall portion defining an interior chamber, said wall portion having a plurality of apertures defined therein to allow fluid flow of liquid enteral nutritional product through the canister, said canister constructed to be disposed in said interior space defined by said feeding set, said interior chamber constructed to receive one or more beneficial agents therein, wherein said wall of said canister includes a first portion having an opening defined therein through which the at least one beneficial agent can be disposed into the canister, and a second portion attached to the first portion to substantially close the opening of the first portion;

providing at least one beneficial agent;

placing said at least one beneficial agent in said interior chamber of said canister;

positioning said canister and said at least one beneficial agent in said interior space defined by said feeding set; and

flowing a liquid enteral nutritional product through said feeding set, the liquid enteral nutritional product flowing through the canister with the at least one beneficial agent being dispersed therein.

8. An apparatus in accordance with claim 7, wherein the placing step includes disposing the at least one beneficial agent into the interior chamber of said canister through the opening and then closing the opening with the second portion of the wall portion.

9. An apparatus in accordance with claim 8, wherein at least one of the plurality of apertures is defined in the second portion of the wall of said canister.