Infinity pump for tube feeding

Hi, I'm Helen and I'm going to walk you through how to administer formula using the Infinity Pump. 

This method is used when you need to infuse a specific volume of formula over a specific amount of time. 

There are 6 steps you'll need to follow and you can jump to each of them at any time using the chapters below. 

Step 1: Getting started 

Let's start by making sure you've got all your supplies ready to go. Formula container at room temperature and the amount and type prescribed by your doctor, a large clean glass filled with tap or drinking water at room temperature, syringe, Infinity pump, feeding bag, your clean tube feeding instruction mat, also known as the tin mat, plus paper towels or a clean dish towel and a clean work area. 

Also, you may have seen nurses wearing gloves in the hospital when administering your feeding, but you don't need to do this at home. Just washing your hands is enough. 

Think of it like washing your hands before you sit down to eat dinner. Use soap, warm water for at least 20 seconds and dry with a clean towel. To help keep your feeding tube clean and to prevent clogging, you'll want to flush it with room temperature water before and after each feeding, and before and after you flush medication down your tube. 

Step 2: Flushing your tube 

So let's begin with the first flushing. Take your glass of water, making sure it's at room temperature. Then take your syringe with its plunger still in place and put the tip into the water. Pull back on the plunger to draw the water into the syringe, using the amount of water prescribed by your doctor. Then, remove the syringe from the glass. 

If you don't know how much water to use, call us and we'll confirm your prescription. Next, you'll want to pinch, clamp or fold over part of the feeding tube to stop any liquid flowing out of your port. 

Then, open the feeding port and connect the syringe tip to the port. Unfold or unclamp the feeding tube and gently push the syringe plunger down to flush the water through your tube. When you're done, remove the syringe and close the port. Now you can get the formula and tubing ready, before you use the pump 

Step 3: Priming and loading  

First, shake your container formula well and then open it up and add the formula to the bag and the amount you have been instructed to use, close the cap securely. Then you'll insert the cassette, which is attached to the feeding bag tubing, into the pump. 

To do this, gently open the pump door, stretch the teal loop around the pump wheel, then insert the cassette into the receptacle. The tubing should extend through the right side of the pump, close the pump door and you should hear a Click to know it's in place. 

Press and hold the on off key for two seconds to turn the pump on. The pump will run a self test and the display will show the rate that was programmed the last time the pump was used. Next, take the protective cover off the end of the pump tubing. Now you will need to prime the pump to remove air from the tubing. So press and hold the prime key until formula reaches the end of the tubing. 

You should see a few drops come out of the end of the tubing. 

Step 4: Running the pump 

Now you're ready to program the pump. Remember the rate is how fast and the dose is how much. 

As an example, a rate may be 60 ML an hour with a dose of 1000 MLS. 

Next, hang the feeding bag so the bottom of the bag is at or above the level of the pump door. 

Make sure you see rate in the bottom left corner of the screen. Now use the plus and minus key to set the prescribed rate. Then press the Rate Dose key to display the dose. Make sure you see Dose in the bottom left corner of the screen. Then use the plus and minus keys again to set the prescribed dose. 

To program a continuous dose, press the Rate Dose key twice to display dose and hold the plus key until the display reads INF. Connect the tip of the feeding set to your feeding tube and then press the Run Pause key to start the pump. 

The INF dose setting is not recommended when administering breast milk, reconstituted powder formulas, or blenderized formulas.  

When the feeding is done, press the On Off key for two seconds to turn the pump off.  

Step 5: Flushing your tube 

Once the feeding is done, it's important to flush your tube for a second time. To do this, you will follow the same steps as earlier. Refill your glass of water if needed, making sure it's at room temperature. Then take your syringe and place the tip into the water. Pull back on the plunger to draw the water into the syringe using the amount of water prescribed by your doctor. Then remove the syringe from the glass. Next, you'll want to pinch, clamp or fold over part of your feeding tube to stop any flow. Open the end of your feeding tube port, then connect the syringe tip to the port. 

Unfold or unclamp the feeding tube and gently push the syringe plunger down to flush the water through your tube. When you're done, remove the syringe and close the port.  

Step 6: Cleanup and disposal  

Now your final step is clean up. If your formula container is empty, you can toss it into the recycle bin or trash, depending on the instructions. And you can cover and store any unused formula in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. You should also throw away your feeding bag after 24 hours of use. This may all seem a bit overwhelming at first, but once you do this a few times, you'll feel more comfortable. 

And remember, as a Coram patient, our team is here for you 24 hours a day, seven days a week. 

If you'd like to learn more, visit the Resource Center on our website at Coramhc.com and watch our Getting Started with Your Feeding Tube video. 

Thank you for watching today.