US-20260124119-A1 - Elastomeric Enteral Feeding Pump and Filling System

US20260124119A1US 20260124119 A1US20260124119 A1US 20260124119A1US-20260124119-A1

Abstract

A non-electrically driven enteral feeding pump including an expandable elastomeric bladder is provided. The enteral feeding pump include an elastomeric bladder defining a chamber. The elastomeric bladder defines an initial unexpanded state and a maximum expanded state. The pump also includes an inlet port in fluid communication with the chamber, and an outlet port in fluid communication with the chamber. The pump also includes a first fluid delivery tube in fluid communication with the outlet port.

Inventors

Thomas D. MINA
Shane A. Duffy
Donald J. McMichael
Hilton M. Kaplan

Assignees

AVENT, INC.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260507
Application Date: 20251230

Claims (20)

1 . A non-electrically driven enteral feeding pump, the pump comprising: an elastomeric bladder defining a chamber, the elastomeric bladder defining an initial unexpanded state and a maximum expanded state, a pressure within the chamber is less in the initial unexpanded state than the maximum expanded state; an inlet port in fluid communication with the chamber, and an outlet port in fluid communication with the chamber; and a first fluid delivery tube in fluid communication with the outlet port, and controlling a flow rate of fluid delivered by the pump.
2 . The non-electrically driven enteral feeding pump of claim 1 , wherein the elastomeric bladder configured to be inflated above atmospheric pressure at the maximum expanded state.
3 . The non-electrically driven enteral feeding pump of claim 1 , wherein when the elastomeric bladder inflates from the initial unexpanded state to the maximum expanded state, a fill pressure of the elastomeric bladder initially decreases from a crack pressure of the elastomeric bladder and subsequently increases until the elastomeric bladder is in the maximum expanded state.
4 . The non-electrically driven enteral feeding pump of claim 1 , further comprising a central support member extending from a first end to a second end of the pump, wherein the central support member is in communication with the inlet port and the outlet port.
5 . The non-electrically driven enteral feeding pump of claim 4 , wherein the central support member comprises a fill port positioned adjacent the first end and a dispense port positioned adjacent the second end.
6 . The non-electrically driven enteral feeding pump of claim 4 , wherein the outlet port is in fluid communication with a tube which delivers the fluid to a patient.
7 . The non-electrically driven enteral feeding pump of claim 4 , further comprising a first cap coupled to the first end of the central support member and a second cap coupled to the second end of the central support member.
8 . The non-electrically driven enteral feeding pump of claim 7 , further comprising a drip chamber configured to enable a visual indication of flow of liquid from the elastomeric pump.
9 . The non-electrically driven enteral feeding pump of claim 8 , wherein the drip chamber is coupled to the second cap at the second end of the bladder.
10 . The non-electrically driven enteral feeding pump of claim 1 , wherein the elastomeric bladder comprises a plurality of ribs defined along an outer surface of the elastomeric bladder.
11 . The non-electrically driven enteral feeding pump of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of ribs are evenly spaced apart from one another about a circumference of the elastomeric bladder.
12 . The non-electrically driven enteral feeding pump of claim 10 , wherein the ribs and the bladder are formed as an integral component.
13 . The non-electrically driven enteral feeding pump of claim 1 , wherein the elastomeric bladder has a first inner diameter defined at a first end of the bladder and a second inner diameter at a second end of the bladder, and wherein the elastomeric bladder has a midpoint inner diameter that is greater than the first and second inner diameters.
14 . The non-electrically driven enteral feeding pump of claim 1 , wherein the elastomeric bladder comprises a wall thickness that varies along a length of the elastomeric bladder.
15 . The non-electrically driven enteral feeding pump of claim 14 , wherein the wall thickness is tapered from a midpoint of the elastomeric bladder to each of a first end and a second end of the elastomeric bladder.
16 . The non-electrically driven enteral feeding pump of claim 1 , further comprising an indicator provided on an outer layer of the elastomeric bladder, and wherein the indicator is configured to expand or contract in response to the fluid flowing through the pump to indicate the bladder is moving towards the unexpanded state or the expanded state.
17 . The non-electrically driven enteral feeding pump of claim 1 , wherein an initial unexpanded state and a maximum expanded state, a pressure within the chamber is less in the initial unexpanded state than the maximum expanded state.
18 . The non-electrically driven enteral feeding pump of claim 1 , wherein the pump is configured to deliver fluid at a flow rate in a range from about 20 mL/hour to about 300 mL/hour.
19 . The non-electrically driven enteral feeding pump of claim 1 , wherein the first fluid delivery tube is structured to stretch along a length of the first fluid delivery tube and thereby alter the flow rate of the fluid delivered through the first fluid delivery tube.
20 . The non-electrically driven enteral feeding pump of claim 1 , further comprising a belt structured to secure the pump in relation to a patient.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS The present application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 18/663,161, filed on May 14, 2024, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 12,514,790, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 17/389,624, filed on Jul. 30, 2021, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 12,016,825, which are incorporated herein in their entirety by reference thereto. FIELD OF THE INVENTION The subject matter of the present invention relates generally to an elastomeric enteral feeding pump and assembly for filling an elastomeric enteral feeding pump. BACKGROUND There are many issues encountered by enteral feeding pump users today. Users complain of the many alarms, beeps, and other operating noises, as they can significantly impact quality of life, sleep, and ability for the patient to take part in daily activities without feeling stigmatized or isolated. Additionally, when ambulating with the pump, the patient is often required to have a large backpack in which the pump and all other supplies must be placed, making it difficult for tube feeders to be discreet about their condition when in public. Additionally, manually filling a pump via a syringe or other transfer container is often difficult and time-consuming. The pressures required to activate the syringe can cause pain and/or injury to the person filling the pump due to these high pressures. Oftentimes, the total volume required in the pump means that multiple rounds of syringe actuation are required to finish the filling process, which can result in a time-consuming effort. Consequently, there is a need for a discreet, e.g., non-electrically driven, enteral feeding pump that may be easily concealed. In particular, a discreet enteral feeding pump that does not require manual filling would also be useful. SUMMARY Objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the following description, or may be obvious from the description, or may be learned through practice of the invention. The present invention is directed to a non-electrically driven enteral feeding pump. The pump includes: an expandable elastomeric bladder defining a chamber; an inlet port in fluid communication with the chamber, and an outlet port in fluid communication with the chamber; and a first fluid delivery tube. The first fluid delivery tube is configured to be in fluid communication with the chamber via the outlet port. The fluid delivery tube controls the flow rate of fluid delivered by the pump. In one particular embodiment of the enteral feeding pump, the expandable elastomeric bladder can include an outer elastomeric bladder and an inner disposable liner. In another embodiment, the expandable elastomeric bladder can include a body formed from a single layer of inert elastomeric material, wherein the chamber can be defined by an inner wall of the body of the expandable elastomeric bladder. In a further embodiment, the fluid delivery tube can include a connector adapted to be coupled with an enteral feeding port. In an additional embodiment, the pump can be configured to deliver fluid at a flow rate in a range from about 20 mL/hour to about 300 mL/hour. In yet another embodiment, the fluid delivery tube can be integrally coupled with the bladder. In a further embodiment, the enteral feeding pump can further include a set of alternate flow rate fluid delivery tubes, wherein the first fluid delivery tube and at least one alternate flow rate fluid delivery tube of the set can be configured to be interchangeably coupled with the bladder. In still another embodiment, the enteral feeding pump can include a drip chamber, wherein the drip chamber can include at least one transparent window configured to enable a visual indication of flow through the fluid delivery tube. In an additional embodiment, the bladder can include a generally spherical shape. In one more embodiment, the bladder can include a wall having varying thickness. The present invention is further directed to an enteral feeding pump assembly. The assembly includes a non-electrically driven enteral feeding pump comprising an expandable elastomeric bladder defining a chamber, the bladder comprising an inlet port and an outlet port; a first fluid delivery tube, wherein the first fluid delivery tube is configured to be in fluid communication with the chamber via the outlet port; and a peristaltic pump. The peristaltic pump is configured to be operatively coupled to the inlet port of the expandable bladder for transferring fluid from a reservoir external to the expandable bladder into the chamber of the expandable bladder. In one embodiment of the enteral feeding pump assembly, the expandable elastomeric bladder can include an outer elastomeric bladder and an inner disposable liner. In another embodiment, the expandable elastomeric bladder can include a body formed from a single layer of inert elastomeric material, wherein the chamber is defined by an inner wall of the body of the expandable elastomeric bladder. In an additio