US6277092B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for altering composition of nutritional product during enteral tube feeding
Assignee: Abbott Laboratories
•
Filing: 1998-02-27
•
Granted: 2001-08-21
•
Expires: 2018-02-27
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for modifying a liquid enteral nutritional product. The apparatus includes a chamber having an inlet and an outlet. The inlet of the chamber is constructed to be fluidly connected to a supply container containing a liquid enteral nutritional. The chamber defines an interior space. The apparatus further includes a retainer disposed in the interior space defined by the chamber. The retainer is constructed to receive one or more dosage form units of beneficial agent therein. The apparatus further includes at least one dosage form unit of beneficial agent retained by the retainer.
Inventors
- 👤 Rhonda L. Cole
- 👤 Ronita K. Geckle
- 👤 Terrence B. Mazer
- 👤 Frank A. Murawski
- 👤 Carl J. Piontek
- 👤 Gregory James Stephens
- 👤 Joseph E. Walton
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 09:54
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61M; A61M5/00; A61M5/007; A61J; A61J15/00; A61J15/0026; A61M31/00; A61M31/002; A61M5/14; A61M5/1407; A61M5/1409; A61J15/0069
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
108 words
An apparatus for modifying a liquid enteral nutritional product, the apparatus comprising: a chamber having an inlet and an outlet, said inlet constructed to be fluidly connected to a supply container containing a liquid enteral nutritional product, said chamber defining an interior space; a retainer freely disposed in said interior space defined by said chamber, said retainer including a first support member and at least one second support member extending from the first support member to support at least one dosage form unit of beneficial agent thereon within the interior space of the chamber; and at least one dosage form unit of beneficial agent retained by said retainer.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
108 words
An apparatus for modifying a liquid enteral nutritional product, the apparatus comprising: a chamber having an inlet and an outlet, said inlet constructed to be fluidly connected to a supply container containing a liquid enteral nutritional product, said chamber defining an interior space; a retainer freely disposed in said interior space defined by said chamber, said retainer including a first support member and at least one second support member extending from the first support member to support at least one dosage form unit of beneficial agent thereon within the interior space of the chamber; and at least one dosage form unit of beneficial agent retained by said retainer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
50 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said retainer includes a plurality of second support members extending from said first support member, said plurality of second support members being spaced one from another such that one or more dosage form units of beneficial agent can be retained therebetween.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said first support member is semi-circular in cross-section.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said second support member has at least one aperture defined therethrough.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said chamber has an opened first end, said apparatus further comprising a cap constructed to be connected to the first end of the chamber to prevent egress of said retainer from said chamber.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
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 chamber.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said chamber is a drip chamber of a feeding set.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the second support member extends from the first support member at an angle less than 90 degrees.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the retainer is made of a substantially transparent material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the retainer further includes a cover constructed to capture the at least one dosage unit within the retainer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus in accordance with claim 10 , wherein the cover is hingedly attached to the first support member.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
175 words
A method for modifying a liquid enteral nutritional product, the method comprising the steps of: providing an apparatus including a chamber having an inlet and an outlet, said inlet constructed to be fluidly connected to a supply container containing a liquid enteral nutritional product, said chamber defining an interior space, and a retainer constructed to be positioned freely in said chamber, said retainer including a first support member and at least one second support member extending from the first support member to support at least one dosage form unit of beneficial agent thereon within the interior space of the chamber; placing at least one dosage form unit of beneficial agent on the second support member of said retainer; positioning said retainer with the at least one dosage form unit of beneficial agent in said interior space defined by said chamber; connecting the inlet of said chamber to a supply container containing a liquid enteral nutritional product; and flowing said liquid enteral nutritional product from said supply container through said interior space defined by said chamber.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
175 words
A method for modifying a liquid enteral nutritional product, the method comprising the steps of: providing an apparatus including a chamber having an inlet and an outlet, said inlet constructed to be fluidly connected to a supply container containing a liquid enteral nutritional product, said chamber defining an interior space, and a retainer constructed to be positioned freely in said chamber, said retainer including a first support member and at least one second support member extending from the first support member to support at least one dosage form unit of beneficial agent thereon within the interior space of the chamber; placing at least one dosage form unit of beneficial agent on the second support member of said retainer; positioning said retainer with the at least one dosage form unit of beneficial agent in said interior space defined by said chamber; connecting the inlet of said chamber to a supply container containing a liquid enteral nutritional product; and flowing said liquid enteral nutritional product from said supply container through said interior space defined by said chamber.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
162 words
A method for modifying a liquid enteral nutritional product, the method comprising the steps of: providing an apparatus including a chamber having an inlet and an outlet, said chamber defining an interior space, and a retainer constructed to be disposed freely in said interior space defined by said chamber, said retainer constructed to support one or more dosage form units of beneficial agent within the interior space of the chamber; providing at least one dosage form unit of at least one beneficial agent; placing said at least one dosage form unit of beneficial agent in said retainer; positioning said retainer with said at least one dosage form unit of beneficial agent in said interior space defined by said chamber; providing a supply container containing a liquid enteral nutritional product; fluidly connecting said inlet of said chamber in fluid connection with said supply container; and flowing said liquid enteral nutritional product from said supply container through said interior space defined by said chamber.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
162 words
A method for modifying a liquid enteral nutritional product, the method comprising the steps of: providing an apparatus including a chamber having an inlet and an outlet, said chamber defining an interior space, and a retainer constructed to be disposed freely in said interior space defined by said chamber, said retainer constructed to support one or more dosage form units of beneficial agent within the interior space of the chamber; providing at least one dosage form unit of at least one beneficial agent; placing said at least one dosage form unit of beneficial agent in said retainer; positioning said retainer with said at least one dosage form unit of beneficial agent in said interior space defined by said chamber; providing a supply container containing a liquid enteral nutritional product; fluidly connecting said inlet of said chamber in fluid connection with said supply container; and flowing said liquid enteral nutritional product from said supply container through said interior space defined by said chamber.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4093105A
Cited
US4511353A
Cited
US5069671A
Cited
US4644856A
Cited
EP0151371A1
Cited
US4511351A
Cited
US4695272A
Cited
US5531734A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-08-20 | 2005-02-19 | 2005-08-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-08-20 | 2009-02-19 | 2009-08-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-08-20 | 2013-02-19 | 2013-08-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |