Apparatus for modifying a liquid enteral nutritional product having a viscosity of at least 3 centipoises

摘要

pparatus for modifying a liquid enteral nutritional product during the feeding thereof comprises a formulation chamber 27 having an inlet and an outlet. The inlet is connected to a supply container 22 containing a liquid enteral nutritional product 33 having a viscosity of at least about 3 centipoises. At least one dose unit of beneficial agent 32 in at least a dosage amount is disposed within the formulation chamber so as to be wetted or immersed in product 33 traversing therethrough from the inlet to the outlet of chamber 27. Each beneficial agent in the dose unit is selected from the group consisting of: nutrients, medicaments, probiotics, diagnostic agents and chemically and physiologically compatible combinations thereof. Each dose unit of beneficial agent is dispersible in the liquid enteral nutritional product. Fluid communication means 54 connects the outlet of chamber 27 to a tube 23 that feeds the modified liquid enteral nutritional product.