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JP-2026076388-A - Cap for enteral nutrition container, and method for manufacturing and using the cap.

JP2026076388AJP 2026076388 AJP2026076388 AJP 2026076388AJP-2026076388-A

Abstract

[Problem] This disclosure relates to a cap device for enteral nutrition containers, and to a method for manufacturing and using a cap for enteral nutrition containers. [Solution] A package closure system comprising: a spout 141 extending from a package 131 and having a first connecting element 142; a cap having a flow path and configured to be directly and detachably connected to the first connecting element 142 and having a second connecting element; and an overcap 70 configured to close the flow path of the cap, wherein the second connecting element is configured to connect to the enteral line such that the cap positions the flow path from the spout 141 to the enteral line so as to indirectly connect the spout 141 to the enteral line by the flow path. [Selection Diagram] Figure 11

Inventors

  • アンドレイ， ニコラス
  • ギンツブルク， ジャン‐ダニエル
  • ナシェド， アミル
  • フィリップ， デイヴィッド ステファン

Assignees

  • ソシエテ・デ・プロデュイ・ネスレ・エス・アー

Dates

Publication Date
20260511
Application Date
20260225
Priority Date
20181221

Claims (11)

  1. A package (131) containing a nutritional composition (132), A spout (141) extending from the package and equipped with a first connecting element (142), A cap (10) having flow channels (22, 51) and configured to be directly and detachably connected to the first connecting element, and comprising a second connecting element (13), An overcap (70) configured to close the flow path of the cap, A package closing system comprising, The second connecting element is configured to connect to the enteral line such that the cap indirectly connects the spout to the enteral line through the flow path, and the flow path leads from the spout to the enteral line. The aforementioned second connection element is a connector compliant with ISO 80369-3, The aforementioned overcap is The overcap is provided with a central peg that extends from the closed end of the overcap along the centerline of the overcap toward the open end of the overcap. It is connected to the cap by a hinge and/or connected to the cap by a retaining line. A package closing system having one or more of the following:
  2. The first connecting element comprises a first screw-type connecting element (142), The second connecting element comprises a second screw-type connecting element (13). The system according to claim 1.
  3. The cap is configured to be detachable from the spout. The overcap is configured to be separable from the cap, When the cap is separated from the spout and the overcap is separated from the cap, the overcap, the cap, and the spout maintain a physical connection. The system according to claim 1 or 2.
  4. With additional features to prevent tampering, The tamper-evident element is configured to break when the cap is separated from the spout. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 3.
  5. The aforementioned cap is an integrated connector. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 4.
  6. The aforementioned flow path comprises an upper cavity (51) and a lower cavity (22), The flow limiting unit is located within the flow path and between the upper cavity and the lower cavity. The flow limiting section restricts the flow through the upper cavity in order to adjust the flow characteristics. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 5.
  7. The foil strip is configured to seal the flow path of the cap. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 6.
  8. The foil strip is configured to seal the spout (141). The system according to any one of claims 1 to 7.
  9. The aforementioned cap comprises an upper part (12) and a lower part (11), The upper part comprises one or more additional connecting elements in addition to the second connecting element. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 8.
  10. The aforementioned overcap is equipped with wings for the user to grasp, The system according to any one of claims 1 to 9.
  11. The aforementioned cap comprises an upper part (12) and a lower part (11), The second connecting element comprises a screw-type connecting element, The overcap includes an upper receiving screw configured to be screwed onto the upper part of the cap by engaging with the screw-type connecting element (13). The system according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

Description

[0001] This disclosure generally relates to health and nutrition. More specifically, this disclosure relates to a cap device for enteral nutrition containers, and to a method for manufacturing and using a cap for enteral nutrition containers. [0002] The delivery of nutritional compositions to mammals, such as human patients, who are unable to orally ingest food or other forms of nutrition is often of paramount importance. For example, enteral bottles and containers with nutritional supplement tubes that deliver food directly to the gastrointestinal tract at a point below the mouth are often used to sustain life while a patient is unable to orally ingest food or refuses to do so. During the treatment of acute medical conditions, bottles and containers, nutritional supplement tubes, and other artificial delivery systems and routes can be used temporarily. In the case of chronic medical conditions, such systems and routes can be used as part of a treatment plan that continues for the patient's remaining lifespan. Regardless of the duration of use, these devices often provide the patient with the only means of nutritional supplementation. [0003] Common concerns regarding enteral nutritional supplementation of nutritional compositions are the quality of connection and leakage when connecting the container to the nutritional supplementation device. Some nutritional compositions may be dual-use, and therefore another common concern is providing a container that can be used for both oral and enteral nutrition. A common method of delivering nutritional compositions to patients is to pour the nutritional composition from the container into an open syringe attached to a nutritional supplementation tube. Such a method can be difficult for children or patients with fine motor skills. As a result, the nutritional composition may leak from the open syringe attached to the nutritional supplementation tube. [0004] This disclosure provides advantages and solutions to problems in existing techniques for connecting enteral containers to enteral nutrition tubes. In this regard, the cap may be configured to seal the container and may include an integrated connector configured to connect directly to an enteral nutrition tube. The cap may be configured to be removable for oral intake or to connect directly to an enteral nutrition tube. The methods and devices disclosed herein can provide an easy-to-use, multi-functional cap that can be used with a container. [0005] In one embodiment, the container may include pouches, Gualapack®, Doypack®, Smartflex packages, and/or other containers used to store food, food products, and/or beverages. [0006] In one embodiment, the container may have an integrated connector for direct connection to an enteral nutrition tube. The integrated connector may have an integrated or separate overcap for closing the container. The overcap may be detachably attached to the cap or permanently attached. [0007] In one embodiment, a container equipped with an integrated connector for direct connection to an enteral nutrition tube may eliminate the need for auxiliary medical devices such as adapters or dosing sets. Providing an integrated connector for direct connection to an enteral nutrition tube may be particularly advantageous when using nutritional compositions for bolus nutrition, for example, by eliminating the need for syringes, adapters, and/or dosing sets that may be used with bolus nutrition. [0008] In one embodiment, a container equipped with an integrated connector for direct connection to an enteral nutrition tube can provide a tight connection to the nutrition tube, thereby preventing leakage and allowing the user to squeeze the container to apply pressure, resulting in faster fluid delivery than without pressure. The ability to squeeze the container provides the additional benefit of supplying viscous nutritional compositions that may not be deliverable by conventional gravity-based delivery methods. [0009] In one embodiment, a container equipped with an integrated connector for direct connection to an enteral nutrition tube may also be equipped with a larger alternative spout, separate from or integrated with the integrated connector, which may be used for oral intake of nutritional compositions. [0010] In one embodiment, a container equipped with an integrated connector for direct connection to an enteral nutrition tube can be manufactured cost-effectively by being attached to a standard container. [0011] In one embodiment, the integrated connector is provided with a vent that allows the rigid container to be emptied. [0012] In one embodiment, the integrated connector is provided with a refill opening for refilling a container. The refill opening may be different from the opening configured for attachment to an enteral line and/or for attachment to a container. For example, an integrated connector used in an application for patient hydration may benefit from a second opening for refilling a cont