U.S. patent application number 16/585818 was filed with the patent office on 2022-02-24 for method of operating an enteral feeding pump.
This patent application is currently assigned to KPR U.S., LLC. The applicant listed for this patent is James HARR. Invention is credited to James HARR.
Application Number | 20220054362 16/585818 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000006136175 |
Filed Date | 2022-02-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20220054362 |
Kind Code |
A2 |
HARR; James |
February 24, 2022 |
METHOD OF OPERATING AN ENTERAL FEEDING PUMP
Abstract
A feeding set for use with a peristaltic enteral feeding pump to
deliver nutritional liquid fluid to a patient includes a container
having nutritional liquid. A conduit assembly includes tubing
placeable in fluid communication with the container and adapted for
mounting on the enteral feeding pump. The tubing provides a fluid
pathway for delivering the nutritional liquid from the container to
a patient when the tubing is mounted on the enteral feeding pump.
An identification member is mounted on the conduit assembly and has
at least one characteristic of a nutritional liquid associated with
the feeding set represented by the identification member. The
identification member is positioned on the conduit assembly so as
to permit automatic identification by the enteral feeding pump of
the at least one characteristic of the nutritional liquid upon
mounting the conduit assembly on the enteral feeding pump.
Inventors: |
HARR; James; (Wentzville,
MO) |
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Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
HARR; James |
Wentzville |
MO |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
KPR U.S., LLC
Mansfield
MA
|
Prior
Publication: |
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Document Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20200085696 A1 |
March 19, 2020 |
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|
Family ID: |
1000006136175 |
Appl. No.: |
16/585818 |
Filed: |
September 27, 2019 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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15805895 |
Oct 1, 2019 |
10426709 |
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16585818 |
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14494993 |
Dec 28, 2017 |
9852263 |
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15805895 |
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61881590 |
Sep 24, 2013 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61J 2200/76 20130101;
A61M 2205/14 20130101; Y10T 29/49117 20150115; G16H 40/63 20180101;
A61J 15/0076 20150501; G16H 20/60 20180101; A61M 2205/60 20130101;
A61M 5/14232 20130101; A61M 2205/6054 20130101; A61J 2205/60
20130101 |
International
Class: |
A61J 15/00 20060101
A61J015/00; G16H 40/63 20060101 G16H040/63; A61M 5/142 20060101
A61M005/142; G16H 20/60 20060101 G16H020/60 |
Claims
1. A feeding set for use with a feeding pump to deliver nutritional
liquid to a patient, the administration feeding set comprising: a
container having the nutritional liquid; tubing in fluid
communication with the container and being adapted for mounting on
the enteral feeding pump, the tubing providing a fluid pathway for
delivering the nutritional liquid from the container to the
patient; and an identification member representative of the
nutritional liquid in the container, the identification member
configured to permit identification by the enteral feeding pump of
at least one characteristic of the nutritional liquid upon mounting
of the identification member on the enteral feeding pump.
2. The feeding set as set forth in claim 1, further including a
cassette connected to the tubing.
3. The feeding set as set forth in claim 2, wherein the
identification member is mounted on the cassette.
4. The feeding set as set forth in claim 3, wherein the
identification member comprises one or more magnets arranged to
represent the nutritional liquid in the container.
5. The feeding set as set forth in claim 1, wherein the at least
one characteristic comprises nutritional liquid type.
6. The feeding set as set forth in claim 1, wherein the at least
one characteristic comprises a viscosity of the nutritional
liquid.
7. The feeding set as set forth in claim 1, wherein the at least
one characteristic comprises a caloric content of the nutritional
liquid.
8. The feeding set as set forth in claim 1 wherein a family of
nutritional liquids associated with the feeding set is represented
by the identification member.
9. The feeding set as set forth in claim 1, wherein the enteral
feeding pump includes a reader configured to read the
identification member in representation of the nutritional liquid
and provide association of the at least one characteristic of the
nutritional liquid with the feeding set.
10. The feeding set in combination with the enteral feeding pump as
set forth in claim 9, wherein the enteral feeding pump
automatically determines a flow rate for delivering fluid through
the tubing based on the at least one characteristic of the
nutritional liquid identified by the enteral feeding pump upon
mounting on the enteral feeding pump.
11. The feeding set in combination with the enteral feeding pump as
set forth in claim 10, wherein the enteral feeding pump
automatically initiates a compliance operation whereby the
apparatus monitors a volume of fluid and a number of calories
delivered to the patient through the tubing upon mounting on the
enteral feeding pump.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application claims priority to U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 14/494,993, filed Sep. 24, 2014, which claims
the benefit of U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 61/881,590,
entitled Feeding Set and Enteral Feeding Pump, filed Sep. 24, 2013,
the complete disclosures of each are incorporated herein by
reference for all purposes.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates generally to pumps used to deliver
fluids to patients by way of a pump set, and more particularly to
use of an identification member with an enteral feeding pump to
provide a pump operating profile based on the information in the
identification member.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Administering fluids to a patient via a patient's nose,
mouth, or abdomen is known. Fluids can be delivered to the patient
by gravity flow or at a controlled rate of delivery by utilizing a
flow control apparatus, such as a peristaltic pump through a
feeding set. The feeding apparatus for administering fluids to the
patient typically has a housing that includes at least one motor
operatively coupled to a mechanism that is engaged with a feeding
set by progressively compressing a tubing of the feeding set to
drive the fluid through the tubing at the controlled rate. In
typical rotary peristaltic pumps, the motor is connected to a shaft
that rotatably drives a pump rotor. The rotating pump rotor engages
the tubing of the feeding set, pinching off a portion of the tubing
and pushing the feeding fluid forward from the pinch point, toward
the patient. In this manner, a peristaltic action that is created
by the rotation of the rotor drives fluid through the tubing. Such
enteral feeding pumps deliver feeding fluids of differing
formulation, each of which may have differing characteristics, such
as viscosity, nutritional value, caloric content, and other
characteristics, which may result in variations in flow
behavior.
SUMMARY
[0004] Aspects of the present invention generally relate to an
enteral feeding system used to deliver enteral fluids to a patient
and, particularly, to a feeding set for use in the feeding system
having a representation regarding nutritional liquid associated
with the feeding set.
[0005] In a first aspect, a feeding set for use with an enteral
feeding pump to deliver nutritional liquid fluid to a patient
generally comprises a container having nutritional liquid. A
conduit assembly includes tubing placeable in fluid communication
with the container and adapted for mounting on the enteral feeding
pump. The tubing provides a fluid pathway for delivering the
nutritional liquid from the container to a patient when the tubing
is mounted on the enteral feeding pump. An identification member is
mounted on the conduit assembly and has at least one characteristic
of a nutritional liquid associated with the feeding set represented
by the identification member. The identification member is
positioned on the conduit assembly to permit automatic
identification by the enteral feeding pump of the at least one
characteristic of the nutritional liquid upon mounting the conduit
assembly on the enteral feeding pump.
[0006] In said first aspect, the conduit assembly may include a
cassette connected to the tubing.
[0007] In said first aspect, the identification member can be
mounted on the cassette.
[0008] In said first aspect, the identification member can comprise
one or more magnets arranged to represent the nutritional liquid in
the container.
[0009] In said first aspect, the at least one characteristic can
comprise the nutritional liquid type.
[0010] In said first aspect, the at least one characteristic can
comprise a viscosity of the nutritional liquid.
[0011] In said first aspect, the at least one characteristic can
comprise a caloric content of the nutritional liquid.
[0012] In said first aspect, a family of nutritional liquids
associated with the feeding set can be represented by the
identification member.
[0013] In said first aspect in combination with the enteral feeding
pump, the enteral feeding pump can include a reader for reading the
identification member to identify, which can be automatic, the at
least one characteristic of the nutritional liquid associated with
the feeding set upon mounting the conduit assembly on the enteral
feeding pump.
[0014] In said first aspect, the enteral feeding pump can
determine, which can be automatic, a flow rate for delivering fluid
through the tubing based on the at least one characteristic of the
nutritional liquid identified by the enteral feeding pump upon
mounting the conduit assembly on the enteral feeding pump.
[0015] In said first aspect, the enteral feeding pump can
automatically initiate a compliance operation whereby the apparatus
monitors a volume of fluid and a number of calories delivered to
the patient through the tubing upon mounting the conduit assembly
on the enteral feeding pump.
[0016] In a second aspect, an enteral feeding pump for use with a
nutritional liquid feeding set to deliver nutritional liquid
through the feeding set generally comprises a housing capable of
receiving at least a portion of the feeding set. A pumping device
can be mounted in the housing and configured to act on the feeding
set to produce fluid flow in the feeding set when the feeding set
is received by the housing. A processor can be operatively
connected to the pumping device. A reader can be operatively
connected to the processor and can be configured to read the
feeding set to facilitate identification of at least one
characteristic of the nutritional liquid associated with the
feeding set upon engagement of the feeding set with the housing.
The processor can be programmed to automatically identify the at
least one characteristic upon engagement of the feeding set with
the housing.
[0017] In said second aspect, the processor can be programmed to
select and display a library subset from a library of nutritional
liquids stored in memory of the pump. The library subset can be
associated with the feeding set engaged with the housing.
[0018] In said second aspect, the processor can be programmed to
automatically determine a flow rate for delivering fluid through
the feeding set based on the identified at least one characteristic
of the nutritional liquid associated with the feeding set upon
engagement of the feeding set with the housing.
[0019] In said second aspect, the processor can be programmed to
initiate, automatically, a compliance operation whereby the pump
monitors a volume of fluid and a number of calories delivered to
the patient through the feeding set upon engagement of the feeding
set with the housing.
[0020] In a further aspect, a method of providing an enteral
feeding pump for use with a nutritional liquid feeding set
configured to deliver nutritional liquid from a container through
the feeding set comprises mounting a pumping device onto a housing
of the pump, the pumping device configured to act on the feeding
set to produce fluid flow in the feeding set during operation
thereof; disposing a reader on the housing, the reader configured
to read the feeding set to identify at least one characteristic of
the nutritional liquid associated with the feeding set; and
operatively connecting a processor to the reader, wherein the
processor is configured to identify the at least one characteristic
upon operational engagement of the feeding set with the
housing.
[0021] In said further aspect, the method can further comprise
providing the feeding set, wherein the feeding set comprises an
identification member and tubing in fluid communication with the
container, wherein the identification member is associated with the
nutritional liquid in the container.
[0022] In said further aspect, the at least one characteristic can
comprise at least one of a viscosity of the nutritional liquid and
a caloric content of the nutritional liquid.
[0023] In said further aspect, a family of nutritional liquids
associated with the feeding set is represented by the
identification member.
[0024] In said further aspect, the method can further comprise
operably connecting a memory to the processor, the memory
configurable to include the at least one characteristic of the
nutritional liquid to be associated with the feeding set.
[0025] In said further aspect, the method can further comprise
providing instructions on non-transitory memory that are executable
by the processor, the instructions comprising identifying the at
least one characteristic of the nutritional liquid associated with
the feeding set based on a representation from an identification
member on the feeding set; and operating the pump at a flow rate to
achieve a target feeding rate based on the at least one
characteristic.
[0026] In a still further aspect, a non-transitory
computer-readable medium is disclosed. The computer-readable medium
includes computer-executable instructions for a method of operating
a feeding pump with a feeding set having tubing fluidly connected
to a container for containing a nutritional liquid to be delivered
to a patient when the feeding set is operably mounted on the
feeding pump, the feeding set further comprising an identification
member readable by a reader on the feeding pump, wherein the
identification member provides a representation of nutritional
liquid. The method comprises identifying at least one
characteristic of the nutritional liquid associated with the
feeding set based on a representation from the identification
member on the feeding set; and operating the pump at a flow rate to
achieve a target feeding rate based on the at least one
characteristic. In such still further aspect, the method can
further comprise associating the representation from the
identification member to one or more nutritional liquids in a
library stored in a memory in the pump and identify the at least
one characteristic of the nutritional liquid.
[0027] Other features will be in part apparent and in part pointed
out hereinafter.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0028] Aspects of the present invention generally relate to an
enteral feeding system used to deliver enteral fluids to a patient
and, particularly, to a feeding set for use in the feeding system
that represents a nutritional liquid associated with the feeding
set.
[0029] FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration showing a perspective
view of an enteral feeding pump and a fragmentary portion of a
feeding set received on the pump, in accordance with one or more
aspects disclosed herein;
[0030] FIG. 2 is schematic illustration showing the pump and
feeding set of FIG. 1, with a cassette housing of the feeding set
removed;
[0031] FIG. 3 is schematic illustration showing the pump of FIG. 1,
with the feeding set removed;
[0032] FIG. 4 is a block diagram schematically illustrating the
feeding set loaded on the pump;
[0033] FIG. 5 is a diagram of an embodiment of a mounting member
and identification members of the feeding set and further
illustrating a related reader device; and
[0034] FIG. 6 is a flow chart of a software subsystem illustrating
a process used to detect and identify a formula associated with a
feeding set adapted to be loaded to a feeding pump, which may be
implemented in accordance with one or more aspects disclosed
herein.
[0035] Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding
parts throughout the drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0036] Referring now to the exemplary embodiment schematically
illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, an enteral feeding pump is generally
indicated at 1. The pump 1 may comprise a housing 3 that is
constructed to allow a feeding set 5 to be mounted to the housing.
Optionally, the housing 3 may comprise a recess 7 (FIG. 3) for
receiving a cassette 9 of the feeding set 5 to load the feeding set
on the pump. The feeding set 5 can comprise tubing indicated
generally at 11 that provides a fluidic pathway between a bag 12 of
nutritional liquid (broadly, "a container") and a patient (FIG. 1).
The bag 12 is shown schematically in FIG. 1. The cassette 9 may
facilitate mounting the tubing 11 for engaging the tubing with the
pump 1 when received in the recess 7. The cassette 9 and feeding
set 5 may be broadly considered a conduit assembly.
[0037] The feeding set 5 may comprise a mounting member (FIG. 2) in
direct communication with the tubing 11 and one or more
identification members 15 on the mounting member. At least one
identification member 15 may permit identification of at least one
characteristic of a nutritional liquid associated with the feeding
set upon engagement of the mounting member 13 to the pump 1. The
mounting member 13 may also assist in the loading of the feeding
set 5 on the pump 1. However, the mounting member 13 may be omitted
and the identification member(s) 15 may be used to load the feeding
set 5 to the pump 1. The pump may further include a reader 17
(FIGS. 4 and 5) that detects engagement of at least one of the
mounting member 13 and the identification member(s) 15 with the
pump.
[0038] Depending on the desired feeding regime, feeding sets of
different constructions can be used with the pump 1. An effective
flow rate for the pump 1 can depend on a resistance of the tubing
of the feeding set and the fluid being delivered through the
feeding set. The pump 1 can be configured to recognize
automatically the type of feeding set installed and a nutritional
liquid associated with the feeding set, and alter or tailor
operation of the pump to accommodate the characteristics of the
feeding set and nutritional liquid. In particular, a flow rate for
delivering fluid associated with the loaded feeding set 5 can be
automatically customized by retrieving identification information
or data represented by the identification member 15 indicating at
least one of the type of feeding set, the associated nutritional
liquid, and/or characteristics of the nutritional liquid pertaining
to delivering the liquid through the feeding set. Such technical
feature can advantageously effect delivery of the nutritional
liquid to the patient by reducing the likelihood against an
inappropriate or erroneous delivery protocol. For example, a
feeding set having an identification member can provide a
representation of the nutritional liquid in the container connected
thereto to the pump which in turn can automatically deliver the
nutritional liquid according to a predetermined protocol or
schedule, which reduces the likelihood of erroneously delivering
the nutritional liquid at a different delivery protocol or
schedule.
[0039] As used herein, the term "load" means that the tubing 11 is
engaged with the pump 1 so that the feeding set 5 is ready for
operation with the pump to deliver fluid to a patient. It will be
appreciated that the term "housing," as used herein, may include
many forms of supporting structures including, without limitation,
multi-part structures and structures that do not enclose or house
the working components of the pump 1.
[0040] The pump 1 may include a user interface 19 with a display
screen indicated at 21 on the front of the housing that is capable
of displaying information about the status and operation of the
pump. The pump 1 can further comprise buttons 23 and light emitting
diodes 25 on the housing 3 for use with the display screen 21 to
facilitate exchanging information, such as providing and obtaining
information, between the pump 1 and a user. Various user interfaces
for displaying information to the user and receiving user input may
be implemented. Any of the various configurations of the user
interface can involve utilizing one or more graphical display
subcomponents. As an example, the display screen 21 may be a
graphical user interface having a touch screen by which the user
can provide the input information. In other embodiments, the user
interface can be a tethered component that can be used to provide
input information, provide operating information pertaining to the
flow control apparatus, or both.
[0041] Referring to FIGS. 2-4, the pump 1 may include a pump motor
27 (FIG. 4) located in the housing 3. A pump rotor 29 may be
mounted on a rotatable shaft 31 and rotated by the motor 27. In one
embodiment, the pump rotor 29 includes an inner disk 39, an outer
disk 41, and preferably a plurality of rollers 43 mounted between
the inner and outer disks rotatable about their longitudinal axes
relative to the disks. In the exemplarily illustrated embodiment,
the pump motor 27, rotatable shaft 31 and pump rotor 29 may broadly
be considered a pumping device. The rollers 43 may engage the
feeding set 5 for moving fluid through the feeding set.
[0042] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the mounting member 13 is
configured to engage mount 45 of the pump 1 when loading the
feeding set 5 on the pump such that the reader 17 may detect the
presence of the identification member 15 attached to the mounting
member 13. The reader 17 may be disposed on, in, or near the mount
45 to detect the presence of the identification member 15. In the
illustrated embodiment, identification member 15 comprises a first
identification component 15A and a second identification component
15B. Any number of identification components is envisioned. The
reader 17 may comprise a pair of reader devices 17A, 17B that
detect the identification components 15A, 15B, respectively. It
will be understood that the number of reader devices 17 may be the
same as the number of identification components 15. The
identification components 15A, 15B may be magnetic components or,
in the alternative, magnetically susceptible metallic components
capable of detection by reader devices 17A, 17B, respectively
without requiring direct physical contact with the reader. The
reader devices 17A, 17B may preferably be Hall-effect sensors or
other types of proximity sensors that are positioned near the mount
45 such that the reader devices 17A, 17B can detect the presence of
the identification components 15A, 15B when the mounting member 13
is engaged to the mount or at least the magnetic field of any of
the one or more identification components. Other types of readers
may be used. For example, the readers may rely on optically
identifying any of the one or more identification components. The
identification member 15 can be mounted directly on the cassette 9
and the reader 17 can be positioned to detect the presence of the
identification member on the cassette when the cassette is received
in the recess 7 of the pump 1.
[0043] Upon engagement of the mounting member 13 to the mount 45,
reader devices 17A, 17B may be capable of identifying
identification data represented by the number and position of the
identification components 15A, 15B. In particular, the attachment
of one or more identification components 15A, 15B to the mounting
member 13 provides a means for allowing software subsystem 47 (FIG.
4) to identify information related to a nutritional liquid
associated with the feeding set 5 loaded on the pump 1. Referring
to FIG. 5, the mounting member 11 may have one or more
identification components 15A, 15B (two are shown in FIG. 5)
attached thereto in accordance with an identification scheme that
permits software subsystem 47 to identify at least one
characteristic of the nutritional liquid associated with the
feeding set 5 loaded on the pump 1. In order to identify the at
least one characteristic of the nutritional liquid, a processor
such as microprocessor 49 may be operatively associated with memory
51 containing one or more identification schemes for identifying
different characteristics of the nutritional liquid. The memory 51
may also contain a library of nutritional liquids associated with
various types of cassettes and feeding sets for use with the pump
1. The identification scheme may involve utilizing the relative
positional interaction of any or all the readers as identifiably
associated with a corresponding identification component. Thus, for
example, in a reader assembly having an arrangement of two reader
components, if a first reader component proximally detects the
presence of an appropriate first identification component and a
second reader component proximally detects the presence of an
appropriate second identification component, the identification
member provides a first representation of a first nutritional
liquid, or family of nutritional liquids. Further, if the first
reader component proximally detects the presence of an appropriate
first identification component and the second reader component
fails to detect the proximal presence of an appropriate second
identification component, the identification member provides a
representation of a different nutritional liquid, or family of
nutritional liquids. Accordingly, the processor can thus associate
the corresponding nutritional liquid through the respective
representation from corresponding identification member to at least
one characteristic of the liquid. The reader may be implemented
with three or more components.
[0044] The at least one characteristic may include at least any one
or more of a brand or brand name of the nutritional liquid to be
delivered through the feeding set 5, and may include at least one
or more data associated parameters such as but not limited to
nutritional liquid type, caloric intake requirement, fat intake
requirement, protein intake requirement, mineral intake
requirement, vitamin intake requirement, and a patient group
associated with the nutritional liquid. The at least one
characteristic may also include at least one data parameter
pertaining to at least one of a viscosity, an osmolality, a
digestibility, a caloric content, a protein content, a sugar
content, a fat content, fiber content, a free water content, a
carbohydrate content, a cholesterol content, an amino acid content,
a vitamin content, a mineral content, a nitrogen content, a sodium
content, a potassium content, a chloride content, a calcium
content, a magnesium content, an electrolyte content, and a
nutritional requirement of the nutritional liquid.
[0045] The at least one characteristic may also include a family of
nutritional liquids associated with the feeding set 5. The family
of nutritional liquids may be a subset of nutritional liquids
within the library of nutritional liquids stored in the memory 51,
such as nutritional liquids available from a particular provider.
By representing a characteristic of the nutritional liquid
associated with the feeding set 5 with the number and position of
the identification components 15A, 15B, the user is not required to
scroll through a large database of formulas. Instead, the subset of
the full library of formulas is displayed on the display screen 21
from which the user may select the nutritional liquid that will be
delivered.
[0046] FIG. 6 illustrates a sequence of steps software subsystem 47
may execute through microprocessor 49 to recognize and incorporate
the at least one characteristic of the nutritional liquid
associated with the feeding set 5 loaded to the pump 1. At decision
point 318, software subsystem 47 may determine whether a feeding
set 5 is loaded to the pump 1 by detecting engagement of the
mounting member 13 to the pump. In particular, the microprocessor
49 may monitor a signal from the reader devices 17A, 17B indicating
identification components 15A, 15B are engaged to the pump 1. If
the feeding set 5 is not loaded, then the pump 1 remains
inoperative, at step 320. However, if the feeding set 5 is loaded
to the pump 1, at 324 the microprocessor 49 may determine the at
least one characteristic of the nutritional liquid associated with
the feeding set 5 by detecting the location and number of
identification components 15 detected by the reader 17. Each
different characteristic may have a predetermined number and
location of identification components attached to the mounting
member 13.
[0047] For example, at decision point 324, if reader 17 detects
both identification component 15A and 15B, the software subsystem
47 may identify a first characteristic of the nutritional liquid
associated with the feeding set 5. If the reader 17 detects only
identification component 15B, the software subsystem 47 may
identify a second characteristic of the nutritional liquid
different from the first characteristic. If the reader 17 detects
only identification component 15A, the software subsystem 47 may
identify a third characteristic of the nutritional liquid different
from the first and second characteristics. Any number of
identification components and reader devices may be used to
identify any number of characteristics of a nutritional liquid
associated with the feeding set 5. Other types of identification
members can be used, including without limitation, members of
differing shapes and emitting different electromagnetic
signals.
[0048] Once software subsystem 47 identifies the at least one
characteristic of the nutritional liquid associated with the
feeding set 5 loaded to the pump 1, the microprocessor 49 may
adjust the flow rate of the pump 1 to achieve a target feeding rate
specific to the feeding set 5 loaded to the pump and the
nutritional liquid associated with the feeding set. Thus, software
subsystem 47 is able to not only detect that the feeding set 5 is
loaded, but also determine and implement nutritional liquid data to
automatically control fluid flow through the feeding set upon
loading the feeding set to the pump 1.
[0049] Referring to FIGS. 4 and 6, the memory 51 can store a set of
instructions 53 for determining a flow rate for the pump 1 based on
the at least one characteristic of the nutritional liquid
represented by identification components 15 and retrieved by the
microprocessor 49. In order to control the flow rate of the pump 1,
at 326, the microprocessor 49 retrieves from the memory 51 the set
of instructions 53 for implementing the information data
represented by the identification components 15. At 328, the
microprocessor 49 may apply the data to the set of instruction in
the memory 51 to determine a flow rate of the pump 1. At 330, the
microprocessor 49 may adjust the motor output to produce the flow
rate determined at 328 to achieve a target-feeding rate. For
example, by knowing the viscosity of the nutritional liquid the
amount of rotation may be altered to assure the correct quantity of
nutritional liquid is delivered.
[0050] Upon determining the operating flow rate, at 332, the
microprocessor 49 can send instructions to monitor the pumping
parameters and intermittently, continuously, or continually adjust
the instantaneous operating flow rate for the pump 1 to achieve the
target-feeding rate. The microprocessor 49 may keep track of the
volume of feeding fluid delivered to the patient, and the number of
calories delivered to the patient. Other feeding parameters, such
as but not limited to elapsed time, remaining time, and fat content
delivered, may also be monitored and optionally displayed through,
for example, the user interface 19. Compliance monitoring can be
performed by comparing the monitored pumping parameters (e.g.,
volume of fluid delivered, number of calories delivered, etc.) to
target pumping parameters to assess whether the target pumping
parameters are being met and/or a prescribed treatment regimen is
being followed. Results of the compliance monitoring can be stored
in the memory 51 for review by the clinician. The data can also be
stored in the memory 51 for wireless data mining, service modules,
and/or asset tracking purposes.
[0051] It is to be understood that in the described embodiment, the
software subsystem 47, the microprocessor and memory 51 may be
broadly considered "a control circuit." These components may be
individually considered "a control circuit." Moreover, other types
of control circuits may be used within the scope of the present
invention.
[0052] The memory 51 can comprise one or more non-volatile memory
components, e.g., ROM, PROM, EPROM, EEPROM, and flash memory. In
other configurations, other types of non-volatile memory components
can be utilized in addition to or instead of the non-volatile
memory components such as but not limited to removable or portable
data storage devices, such as hard disk drives, optical disk,
magnetic tape, holographic memory, and memory cards. Alternatively
or in addition, memory 51 can comprise one or more volatile memory
components such as but not limited to random access memory (RAM),
dynamic random access memory (DRAM), and static random access
memory (SRAM).
[0053] Embodiments of the invention may be described in the general
context of computer-executable instructions, such as program
modules, executed by one or more computers or other devices. The
computer-executable instructions may be organized into one or more
computer-executable components or modules including, but not
limited to, routines, programs, objects, components, and data
structures that perform particular tasks or implement particular
abstract data types. Aspects of the invention may be implemented
with any number and organization of such components or modules. For
example, aspects of the invention are not limited to the specific
computer-executable instructions or the specific components or
modules illustrated in the figures and described herein. Other
embodiments of the invention may include different
computer-executable instructions or components having more or less
functionality than illustrated and described.
[0054] Further, the order of execution or performance of the
operations in embodiments of the invention illustrated and
described herein is not essential, unless otherwise specified. That
is, the operations may be performed in any order, unless otherwise
specified, and embodiments of the invention may include additional
or fewer operations than those disclosed herein. For example, it is
contemplated that executing or performing a particular operation
before, contemporaneously with, or after another operation is
within the scope of aspects of the invention.
[0055] In operation, the microprocessor 49 executes
computer-executable instructions such as those illustrated in the
figures to implement aspects of the invention. Aspects of the
invention may also be practiced in distributed computing
environments where tasks are performed by remote processing devices
linked through a communications network. In a distributed computing
environment, program modules may be located in both local and
remote computer storage media including memory storage devices.
[0056] Further aspects of the invention can pertain to methods
related to facilitating use of enteral feeding pumps. For example,
the method can comprise, in accordance with one or more
embodiments, providing a conduit assembly including tubing fluidly
connectable to a container wherein the tubing can be adapted for
mounting on the enteral feeding pump to provide a fluid pathway for
delivering nutritional liquid from the container to a patient when
the tubing; and providing an identification member associated with
the conduit assembly, which can be mountable on the conduit
assembly, having information regarding at least one characteristic
of a nutritional liquid associable with the feeding set. In some
cases, the method can involve positioning the identification member
on the conduit assembly so as to permit acquisition of the
information and identification by the enteral feeding pump of the
at least one characteristic of the nutritional liquid upon mounting
the conduit assembly on the enteral feeding pump.
[0057] Still further aspects can pertain to revising the library or
at least a portion of the stored information of the library of
formula. For example, the enteral feed pump can have at least one
user interface that can be utilized to enter or update the library
information. In some cases, the enteral feeding pump can have a
data port that can facilitate data transfer from an external device
to the memory device in the pump that stores the library
information. For example, the enteral feeding pump can have a USB
port configured through the controller to transfer data from an
external device to replace at least a portion of the memory of the
pump. An alternative configuration can involve utilizing wired
Ethernet local area networks based on, for example, the IEEE 802.3
standard to effect the transfer. In still other cases, the enteral
feeding pump can be in wireless communication with a remote device
having updated library information. In such an exemplary
architecture, data transfer from the remote device can be effected
through wireless communication in accordance with any commercially
utilized protocols such as but not limited to any one or more of
cellular data transmission and wireless radio such as Wi-Fi based
on any of the IEEE 802.11 standards. Preferable configurations can
further involve transmitting, wired or wirelessly at least a
portion of the library in encrypted form. Such aspects can be
particularly advantageous when utilized to tailor the feeding rate
based on the fluid to be delivered and patient or user needs. For
example, a particular predetermined delivery protocol may be
implemented for a patient and updated upon the discretion of a
caregiver from a remote facility or location. Thus, such a feature
can advantageously further assure or at least increase the
likelihood of utilizing a predetermined delivery protocol with a
nutritional liquid.
[0058] Further embodiments may implemented to utilize a remote
facility to provide the predetermined protocol. For example, in a
feeding pump connected to the remote facility, the pump may
identify the representation of the nutritional liquid and transmit
such information to the remote facility. In response, the remote
facility may then receive the representation information and
establish a predetermined delivery protocol from a database, and
transmit a predetermined delivery protocol to achieve one or more
treatment targets based, at least partially, on the received
representation information.
[0059] Other operations may be implemented including, for example,
identifying the frequency of nutritional liquid delivery, the
amount of nutritional liquid delivered, and the type of nutritional
liquid delivered, which, in turn, can facilitate any one or more of
asset tracking, e.g., determining whether a patient has used or
consumed a sufficient amount of nutritional liquid, or type of
nutritional liquid, whether the patient has any of such nutritional
liquid remaining, or type of nutritional liquid remaining, and
whether the patient requires additional nutritional liquid at the
patient's location.
[0060] When introducing elements of the present invention or the
preferred embodiments(s) thereof, the articles "a", "an", "the" and
"said" are intended to mean that there are one or more of the
elements. The terms "comprising", "including" and "having" are
intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional
elements other than the listed elements.
[0061] In view of the above, it will be seen that the several
objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous
results attained.
[0062] As various changes could be made in the above constructions
and methods without departing from the scope of the invention, it
is intended that all matter contained in the above description and
shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as
illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
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