Elastomeric Enteral Feeding Pump and Filling System
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.
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.