Abstract: A pharmaceutical container having a body defining a chamber therein. The body includes a first end portion and a second end portion. A terminal end is included on the second end portion. A plug is positioned in the chamber defined by the body such that the plug is spaced from the terminal end. The plug and the body define a first chamber portion of the chamber between the plug and the first end portion of the body. The plug and the body define a second chamber portion of the chamber between the plug and the terminal end of the second end portion. The plug substantially fluidly seals the second chamber portion from the first chamber portion. The body is frangible at a position on the second end portion between the plug and the terminal end.

Abstract: A tubing connector has first and second tubular legs joined together to provide a continuous fluid pathway therethrough with the fluid pathway having a bend of about 78 to 102 degrees therein. A foreshortened retention tab extends laterally from the tubing connector at about the bend in a direction opposed to the second leg of the tubing connector. A handle extends from the tubing connector at about a right angle to both the first and second legs and the retention tab. The tubing connector may be employed as a component of a fluid delivery set used with a pump for enteral or parenteral feeding of a patient.

Abstract: A pad for transmitting acoustical waves between an ultrasound probe and a target surface. The pad includes a first layer having a first porous portion which defines first layer pores therethrough. The first layer pores have a first layer pore dimension. The pad further includes a second layer having a first porous portion which defines second layer pores therethrough. The second layer pores have a second layer pore dimension. The second layer is attached to the first layer to define a space therebetween. The first porous portion of the first layer overlies the first porous portion of said second layer. An ultrasound couplant is disposed in the space defined between the first and second layers. The ultrasound couplant has a molecule size that is less than or substantially equal to the first layer pore dimension and less than or substantially equal to the second layer pore dimension.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling a flow parameter of a pump. The pump includes a pumping device for pumping fluid, the pumping device having at least one flow parameter. The pump further includes a control coupled to the pumping device and a control panel having a plurality of controls operable by a human. The control is programmable by operation of the plurality of controls, thereby allowing a human to program the at least one flow parameter of said pumping device by operation of the plurality of controls. The control has a lock that can be activated by operation of at least two of the plurality of controls. Upon activation, the lock prevents the alteration of the at least one flow parameter. The method includes the step of providing the pump of the present invention, programming the at least one flow parameter by operating the plurality of controls, and activating the lock by operating at least two of the plurality of controls.

Abstract: An apparatus is useful for dye marking a liquid enteral nutritional product during delivery thereof from a supply container to a feeding tube delivering the nutritional product to the gastrointestinal tract of a patient. A formulation chamber, such as a drip chamber, is connectable to the supply container. At least one sustained release reservoir containing a physiologically acceptable marker dye is positioned within the formulation chamber, or if not, is included as part of a kit. The sustained release reservoir may be in the form of a coated tablet, osmotically driven device, coated capsule, microencapsulated microspheres, agglomerated molecular sieving material, or chopped hollow fibers having permeable walls. A liquid communication means connects the formulation chamber to the feeding tube of a patient. The marker dye may be a colorant dye or a fluorescing dye or a mixture thereof.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for modifying a liquid enteral nutritional product during delivery thereof from a supply to a feeding tube delivering the modified liquid enteral nutritional product to the gastrointestinal tract of a patient. At least one beneficial agent not in controlled release dosage form in a useful, dose unit, amount, is disposed within a formulation chamber so as to be taken up in a liquid enteral nutritional product traversing the formulation chamber while feeding the modified nutritional product into the gastrointestinal tract of a patient. The beneficial additive(s) are selected from nutrients, medicaments, probiotics, or diagnostic agents, or mixtures thereof, each in a dosage form that is dispersible in the medium of the liquid enteral nutritional product in less than two hours.

Abstract: A multi-layer coextrusion blow molded plastic container adapted to be filled with a light-sensitive low acid liquid nutritional product and which container has a multilayer wall, of which at least three layers contain at least 1% but not more than 8% by weight of titanium dioxide, said titanium dioxide being responsible for reducing the extent of light transmission through said container by at least 99%.

Abstract: A method for dye marking a liquid enteral nutritional product during delivery thereof from a supply container to a feeding tube delivering the nutritional product to the gastrointestinal tract of a patient includes the steps of: (1) providing apparatus such as a formulation chamber, e.g., a drip chamber, connectable to the supply container, with at least one sustained release reservoir containing a physiologically acceptable and dispersible marker dye positioned within the formulation chamber, and, liquid communication means connecting the formulation chamber to the feeding tube of a patient; (2) providing a supply container containing the nutritional product; (3) connecting the formulation chamber to the supply container and the liquid commmunication means to the feeding tube; and (4) flowing the dye-marked nutritional product through the apparatus and into the feeding tube.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for modifying a liquid enteral nutritional product during delivery thereof from a supply container to a feeding tube delivering the nutritional product to the gastrointestinal tract of a patient. During enteral tube feeding the nutritional product passes through a formulation chamber, e.g., a drip chamber, having located therein at least one controlled release dosage form unit containing at least one beneficial agent. The beneficial agent may be selected from nutrients, medicaments, probiotics, or diagnostic agents or mixtures thereof, and any such together with a physiologically acceptable marker dye in controlled release dosage form and/or the same or different additional beneficial agent not in controlled release dosage form. Controlled release dosage forms may be of a conventional sustained release type or an osmotically driven delivery device.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for modifying a liquid enteral nutritional product during delivery thereof from a supply thereof, such as a hangable container, to a feeding tube delivering the liquid enteral nutritional product to the gastrointestinal tract of a patient. The apparatus has at least one formulation chamber, such as a drip chamber, with at least one controlled release dosage form unit in the form of a coated tablet, osmotically driven device, coated capsule, microencapsulated microspheres, agglomerated molecular sieving type material, or a quantity of fine hollow permeable fibers located therein. The controlled release dosage form unit or units contain at least one beneficial agent selected from nutrients, medicaments, probiotics, or diagnostic agents or mixtures thereof, to any of which a physiologically acceptable marker dye in controlled release dosage form and/or the same or different beneficial agent not in controlled release dosage form may be added.

Abstract: An ambulatory infusion and/or KVO (keep vein open) system (12, 18) has a gas-pressurized bladder arrangement (12) including a gas barrier associated therewith. The system includes a flexible bag of solution (13) inserted in a sleeve portion (36) of the bladder arrangement (12). Internal gas pressure which is developed within the bladder arrangement by a selectively initiated chemical reaction exerts a continuing pressure against the solution bag (13) to cause the solution to flow therefrom. A tubing set (18) of the system includes a flow restrictor (24) which is sized for minimal flow rates for indwelling catheter patency maintenance.

Abstract: A system is provided for accommodating the use of a syringe pump to inject a liquid agent into a patient from a vial having an internal chamber occluded at one end by a stopper located in the chamber to sealingly engage the vial and slide within the chamber. The system includes a plunger having a bearing end to be engaged by a movable pushing member of the syringe pump and having a drive end adapted to engage the stopper. A hollow piercing needle is mounted to the plunger to be connected in fluid communication with the patient and has a piercing end to penetrate the stopper. The needle moves with the plunger and stopper relative to the chamber as the liquid is discharged from the vial.

Abstract: Apparatus for adding a beneficial agent to a liquid for drinking during oral administration includes a support structure extending transversely across an imperforate walled zone such as the upper end or neck of a bottle or vessel, or of a funnel-like adapter attached to the top of the vessel, with a retention pocket with liquid penetrable walls held by the support structure and comprising at least one beneficial agent secured therein whereby the beneficial agent is taken up in the liquid for drinking during or just prior to oral administration. The beneficial agent may be in either or both of controlled release dosage form or non-controlled release dosage form and may be one or more of nutrients, medicaments, probiotics, electrolytes, rehydration solutions and diagnostic agents, to which a flavoring agent may be added.

Abstract: A lid for a container designed to contain powder or granular materials includes a lip on an interior or bottom surface of the lid for selectively attaching a scoop. The lip is resiliently deformable when an edge of the scoop is pressed against it. This deforming creates an interference fit, thereby securing the scoop to the undersurface of the lid. When the scoop is to be used, it can be easily removed from the lid without the need for rooting and searching within the container for the lid.

Abstract: An adapter system is provided for a capping machine. A first adapter is mounted on the capping machine spindle. A second adapter carries the capping head and is axially movable on the first adapter. The second adapter is urged with an axial capping load to an extended position relative to the first adapter. The spindle can be moved to a second position while rotating to engage the cap with the container and move the first adapter axially toward the second adapter. A travel stop can be provided to impose a higher, initial load on the cap when the cap thread initially engages the container thread. After the initial engagement, the rotating spindle effects continued threaded engagement of the cap which, owing to the helical thread engagement, moves downwardly on the container thread under a lower axial capping load. The travel stop can also be omitted to provide a single axial capping load.