Enteral feeding pump systems, valve assemblies therefor and fluid flow control methods for same

Abstract

Enteral feeding pump systems valves assemblies therefor and related fluid flow control methods. The system includes a disposable fluid delivery set with an integral peristaltic tube section and an enteral feeding pump. The system may also include a pinching mechanism for regulating the flow of nutrient formula or water out of the fluid delivery set. Also disclosed is a flow selector valve assembly for an enteral feeding pump system, the valve assembly including a tube adapter having two input flexible tubing channels and one output tubing channel and being configured to position the flexible tubing channels in relation with a receiver. The receiver has an eccentric bearing that is moveable between a first position in which neither of the input flexible tubing channels is compressed, and a second position in which the eccentric bearing compresses one of the input flexible tubing channels therein to prevent flow therethrough.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A flow selector valve assembly for an enteral feeding pump system, comprising:
 a disposable tube adapter having first and second input flexible tubing channels and one output tubing channel, wherein the first and second input flexible tubing channels are configured to receive two respective tubes connected to two fluid sources, and wherein the one output tubing channel is configured to receive a tube that connects to a patient feeding tube to provide at least one of fluids and nutrients from at least the two fluid sources;   the disposable tube adapter configured to position the first and second input flexible tubing channels in relation with a receiver, the receiver having a central shaft with an eccentric bearing such that at least a portion of the central shaft is received by and within the disposable tube adapter, the receiver configured to receive the tube adapter with the central shaft positioned between the first and second input flexible tubing channels while the eccentric bearing is in a first position in which neither of the first and second input flexible tubing channels is constricted;   wherein the eccentric bearing is moveable among the first position, a second position rotated 90 degrees clockwise from the first position in which the first flexible input tube is pinched between the eccentric bearing and an opposing wall of the disposable tube adapter to prevent flow therethrough, and a third position rotated 90 degrees counterclockwise from the first position in which the second flexible input tube is pinched between the eccentric bearing and the opposing wall of the disposable tube adapter to prevent flow therethrough.   
     
     
         2 . The flow selector valve assembly of  claim 1 , wherein in the second position, the eccentric bearing is rotated in a first direction towards the first input flexible tubing channel to pinch the first input flexible tubing channel. 
     
     
         3 . The flow selector valve assembly of  claim 2 , wherein in the third position, the eccentric bearing is rotated in a second direction towards the second input flexible tubing channel to pinch the second input flexible tubing channel. 
     
     
         4 . The flow selector valve assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the eccentric bearing is configured to be actuated by a digitally controlled motor within the enteral feeding pump system. 
     
     
         5 . The flow selector valve assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the one output tubing channel is configured to receive an elastomeric peristaltic tube section which further connects to the tube that connects to the patient feeding tube. 
     
     
         6 . The flow selector valve assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first position is at a 12 o'clock orientation. 
     
     
         7 . The flow selector valve assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the second position is selected from the group consisting of a 3 o'clock orientation and a 9 o'clock orientation. 
     
     
         8 . A flow selector valve assembly for an enteral feeding pump system, comprising:
 a disposable tube adapter having first and second input flexible tubing channels and one output tubing channel, wherein the first and second input flexible tubing channels are configured to receive two respective tubes connected to two fluid sources, and wherein the one output tubing channel is configured to receive a tube that connects to a patient feeding tube to provide at least one of fluids and nutrients from at least the two fluid sources;   the disposable tube adapter configured to position the first and second input flexible tubing channels in relation with a receiver, the receiver having a central shaft with an eccentric bearing such that at least a portion of the central shaft is received by and within the disposable tube adapter, the receiver configured to receive the tube adapter with the central shaft positioned between the first and second input flexible tubing channels while the eccentric bearing is in a first position in which neither of the first and second input flexible tubing channels is constricted;   wherein the eccentric bearing is moveable among the first position, a second position rotated 90 degrees clockwise from the first position in which the first flexible input tube is pinched between the eccentric bearing and an opposing wall of the disposable tube adapter to prevent flow therethrough, and a third position rotated 90 degrees counterclockwise from the first position in which the second flexible input tube is pinched between the eccentric bearing and the opposing wall of the disposable tube adapter to prevent flow therethrough;   wherein in the second position, the eccentric bearing is rotated in a first direction towards the first input flexible tubing channel to pinch the first input flexible tubing channel; and   wherein in the third position, the eccentric bearing is rotated in a second direction towards the second input flexible tubing channel to pinch the second input flexible tubing channel.   
     
     
         9 . The flow selector valve assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the eccentric bearing is configured to be actuated by a digitally controlled motor within the enteral feeding pump system. 
     
     
         10 . The flow selector valve assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the one output tubing channel is configured to receive an elastomeric peristaltic tube section which further connects to the tube that connects to the patient feeding tube. 
     
     
         11 . The flow selector valve assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the first position is at a 12 o'clock orientation. 
     
     
         12 . The flow selector valve assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the second position is selected from the group consisting of a 3 o'clock orientation and a 9 o'clock orientation. 
     
     
         13 . A flow selector valve assembly for an enteral feeding pump system, comprising:
 a disposable tube adapter having first and second input flexible tubing channels and one output tubing channel, wherein the first and second input flexible tubing channels are configured to receive two respective tubes connected to two fluid sources, and wherein the one output tubing channel is configured to receive a tube that connects to a patient feeding tube to provide at least one of fluids and nutrients from at least the two fluid sources;   the disposable tube adapter configured to position the first and second input flexible tubing channels in relation with a receiver, the receiver having a central shaft with an eccentric bearing such that at least a portion of the central shaft is received by and within the disposable tube adapter, the receiver configured to receive the tube adapter with the central shaft positioned between the first and second input flexible tubing channels while the eccentric bearing is in a first position in which neither of the first and second input flexible tubing channels is constricted;   wherein the eccentric bearing is moveable between the first position and a second position rotated 90 degrees clockwise from the first position in which the first flexible input tube is pinched between the eccentric bearing and an opposing wall of the disposable tube adapter to prevent flow therethrough.   
     
     
         14 . The flow selector valve assembly of  claim 13 , wherein in the second position, the eccentric bearing is rotated in a first direction towards the first input flexible tubing channel to pinch the first input flexible tubing channel. 
     
     
         15 . The flow selector valve assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the eccentric bearing is further moveable to a third position rotated 90 degrees counterclockwise from the first position in which the second flexible input tube is pinched between the eccentric bearing and the opposing wall of the disposable tube adapter to prevent flow therethrough. 
     
     
         16 . The flow selector valve assembly of  claim 15 , wherein in the third position, the eccentric bearing is rotated in a second direction towards the second input flexible tubing channel to pinch the second input flexible tubing channel. 
     
     
         17 . The flow selector valve assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the eccentric bearing is configured to be actuated by a digitally controlled motor within the enteral feeding pump system. 
     
     
         18 . The flow selector valve assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the one output tubing channel is configured to receive an elastomeric peristaltic tube section which further connects to the tube that connects to the patient feeding tube. 
     
     
         19 . The flow selector valve assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the first position is at a 12 o'clock orientation. 
     
     
         20 . The flow selector valve assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the second position is selected from the group consisting of a 3 o'clock orientation and a 9 o'clock orientation.