Devices and methods for providing hydrolyzed lipids

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments of the disclosure may be drawn to a device having a vessel configured to contain a source of lipids and a chamber fluidly connected to an outlet of the vessel. The chamber may contain immobilized lipase positioned within a flow path in the chamber along which the lipids flow when released from the vessel into the chamber. The device may also include an outlet through which the lipids flow after passing through the chamber.

1 - 23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . A device comprising:
 a vessel configured to store a flowable lipid;   a chamber including an inlet and an outlet, wherein the chamber is connected to an opening of the vessel, and wherein the chamber contains lipase; and   one of an interface or an output assembly coupled to the chamber, wherein a flow path extends through an opening in the vessel, through the inlet of the chamber, through the outlet of the chamber, and through the interface or the output assembly;   wherein at least one of an outlet of the interface or the outlet assembly or the opening of the vessel is configured to retain the flowable lipid within the vessel prior to use of the device.   
     
     
         25 . The device of  claim 24 , wherein the vessel contains the flowable lipid. 
     
     
         26 . The device of  claim 25 , wherein the flowable lipid includes at least one of an oil, an infant fortifier, docosahexaenoic acid, or arachidonic acid. 
     
     
         27 . The device of  claim 24 , wherein the vessel is removably coupled to the chamber. 
     
     
         28 . The device of  claim 24 , wherein the vessel is prefilled. 
     
     
         29 . The device of  claim 24 , wherein the vessel is refillable. 
     
     
         30 . The device of  claim 24 , wherein the flowable lipid is stored under pressure in the vessel. 
     
     
         31 . The device of  claim 24 , wherein the vessel is compressible. 
     
     
         32 . The device of  claim 31 , further comprising a compression roller configured to compress the vessel. 
     
     
         33 . The device of  claim 24 , wherein the chamber comprises a clear or opaque material. 
     
     
         34 . The device of  claim 24 , wherein the vessel is removably coupled to the chamber. 
     
     
         35 . The device of  claim 34 , wherein at least one of the outlet of the interface or the outlet assembly or the opening of the vessel is sealed prior to use of the device. 
     
     
         36 . The device of  claim 24 , further comprising a valve fluidly coupled to the vessel. 
     
     
         37 . The device of  claim 24 , further comprising a filter coupled to the chamber. 
     
     
         38 . A device comprising:
 a vessel configured to store a flowable lipid;   a chamber including an inlet and an outlet, wherein the chamber is connected to an opening of the vessel, and wherein the chamber contains lipase;   an interface coupled to the chamber, wherein a flow path extends through an opening in the vessel, through the inlet of the chamber, through the outlet of the chamber, and through the interface; and   a connector fluidly coupled to an outlet of the interface, wherein the connector includes:
 a first opening; 
 a second opening; and 
 a connector flow path extending through the connector from the first opening to the second opening. 
   
     
     
         39 . The device of  claim 38 , wherein the first opening of the connector and the second opening of the connector are each configured to fluidly couple to a feeding tube. 
     
     
         40 . The device of  claim 38 , wherein the connector is shaped as a hollow tube, and wherein the outlet of the interface is fluidly connected to a central region of the connector. 
     
     
         41 . The device of  claim 38 , wherein the flowable lipid includes two or more different types of lipids. 
     
     
         42 . The device of  claim 38 , wherein the vessel is compressible. 
     
     
         43 . The device of  claim 38 , wherein the opening of the vessel is configured to transition from a first configuration in which the flowable lipid is retained within the vessel, and a second configuration in which the flowable lipid is permitted to flow out of the opening of the vessel in response to an application of pressure to at least a portion of the vessel. 
     
     
         44 . A method of adding hydrolyzed lipids to a liquid prior to ingestion, the method comprising:
 causing a source of flowable lipid stored in a vessel of a device to flow out of the vessel and through a chamber of the device that contains lipase in order to hydrolyze the flowable lipid by exposing the flowable lipid to the lipase in the chamber; and   outputting the hydrolyzed lipids from the chamber of the device into the liquid prior to ingestion of the liquid.   
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 44 , further comprising filing the vessel with the source of flowable lipid prior to causing the flowable lipid to flow through the chamber. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 44 , further comprising attaching the device to a feeding system prior to passing the flowable lipid through the chamber. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the feeding system is a syringe or container holding a nutritional formula. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 44 , further comprising detaching the vessel from the device, refilling the vessel with the source of flowable lipid, and reattaching the vessel to the device. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the flowable lipid includes two or more different types of lipids.