Carrier for enteral feeding device

Abstract

A carrier for an enteral feeding device including a pump, enteral feeding containers and tubing. The carrier has a case for holding the enteral feeding pump, and a shoulder strap for carrying the case. The shoulder strap has one or more compartments for holding the one or more enteral feeding containers. The carrier permits a patient to receive nutrition from the enteral feeding device concealed within the carrier while the patient is mobile.

1 . A carrier for carrying an enteral feeding device, said feeding device comprising an enteral feeding pump and one or more enteral feeding containers, said carrier comprising:
 a case for holding the enteral feeding pump;   a shoulder strap for carrying the case; and   said shoulder strap having one or more compartments adapted to hold the enteral feeding containers.   
     
     
         2 . The carrier of  claim 1 , further comprising a suspension device for suspending an enteral feeding container in each compartment of said one or more compartments at a positive head height when the carrier is being worn with the shoulder strap over a shoulder. 
     
     
         3 . The carrier of  claim 1 , wherein said shoulder strap comprises an upper strap portion adapted to be placed over a shoulder and first and second lower strap portions extending down from the upper strap portion to the case, and wherein said one or more compartments are located in at least one of said first and second lower strap portions. 
     
     
         4 . The carrier of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one closure for opening and closing the one or more compartments, said at least one closure being positioned on the shoulder strap so that it faces generally toward a person wearing the strap thereby to conceal the closure. 
     
     
         5 . The carrier of  claim 3 , wherein at least one of said first and second lower strap portions has opposing interior and exterior layers, the opposing interior and exterior layer of at least one lower strap portion defining one compartment of said one or more compartments. 
     
     
         6 . The carrier of  claim 5 , wherein said one compartment opens into an interior of the case. 
     
     
         7 . The carrier of  claim 5 , wherein said at least one lower strap portion has an outlet through which tubing from the enteral feeding pump can pass to a person using the carrier. 
     
     
         8 . The carrier of  7 , wherein said outlet is formed in the interior layer of the at least one lower strap portion. 
     
     
         9 . The carrier of  claim 5 , further comprising a suspension device for suspending an enteral feeding container in said one compartment at a positive head height when the carrier is being worn with the shoulder strap over a shoulder. 
     
     
         10 . The carrier of  claim 3 , wherein the first and second lower strap portions have interior and exterior layers defining first and second compartments, respectively, for holding first and second enteral feeding containers, respectively, and wherein each compartment has a lower end which opens into an interior of the case. 
     
     
         11 . The carrier of  claim 10 , wherein the interior layers of said first and second lower strap portions are integrally connected by a cover portion that extends over a top of the case and functions as a cover of the case. 
     
     
         12 . The carrier of  claim 11 , further comprising a closure extending along the interior layers of the first and second lower strap portions and along said cover portion whereby the first and second compartments and the top of the case may be opened and closed by opening and closing the closure. 
     
     
         13 . The carrier of  claim 1 , wherein said case has a transparent wall portion to allow viewing of an enteral feeding pump inside the case. 
     
     
         14 . The carrier of  claim 13 , further comprising a non-transparent flap on the case movable between an open position for allowing viewing through the transparent wall portion and a closed position covering the transparent portion. 
     
     
         15 . The carrier of  claim 1  in combination with one or more of the following: an enteral feeding pump, one or more enteral feeding containers, and one or more tubes. 
     
     
         16 . A carrier for carrying an enteral feeding device, said feeding device comprising an enteral feeding pump and at least one enteral feeding container, said carrier comprising:
 a case for holding the enteral feeding pump;   a shoulder strap for carrying the case, said shoulder strap comprising an exterior layer on an outward facing side of the strap and an interior layer on an inward facing side of the strap; and   a compartment between said exterior and interior layers of the shoulder strap adapted to hold at least one enteral feeding container, said compartment having a lower end which opens into an interior of the case.   
     
     
         17 . The carrier of  claim 16 , wherein said interior layer of the shoulder strap comprises a cover portion that extends over a top of the case and functions as a cover of the case. 
     
     
         18 . The carrier of  claim 17 , further comprising a zipper closure extending along the interior layer from a location toward the upper end of the compartment to a location across the cover portion of the shoulder strap whereby the compartment and the top of the case may be opened and closed by opening and closing the zipper closure. 
     
     
         19 . The carrier of  claim 16 , wherein said case has a transparent front wall portion to allow viewing of an enteral feeding pump inside the case. 
     
     
         20 . The carrier of  claim 19 , further comprising a non-transparent flap on the case movable between an open position for allowing viewing through said transparent front wall portion and a closed position covering said transparent front wall portion.