How do I give food into the MiniONE® using a gravity drip bag (bolus)?

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  • Be sure to check out the Quick Care™ section for all of our great educational videos about the MiniONE®.
  • Feed in an upright position and remain upright for at least 30 minutes after feeding is complete.
  • WARNING: This device has the potential to misconnect with small bore connectors of other healthcare applications. Only use this device to connect to compatible enteral devices. Do not use for non-enteral applications.
  1. Gather the following supplies: Formula, clean container for measuring/holding the formula, gravity feeding bag, feed set, irrigating syringe, water for flushing the tube, and a place to hang/mount your gravity bag (for example, an IV pole). The equipment that you need will vary depending on the feeding method prescribed by your health care provider.
  2. Wash your hands with soap and water. Rinse and dry them well.
  3. Shake the formula and wipe the top of the container with a clean, damp towel before opening. Pour the amount of formula prescribed for one feed into a clean container (for example, you could use a measuring cup). If you do not use all of the formula, cover the open container, record the date and time, and store it in the refrigerator. Throw away formula that is more than 24 hours old. Do not mix new formula with old formula. There is always a chance it will spoil.
  4. Prime the tubing: Attach the gravity bag tubing to the feed set and clamp one or both tubes. Pour the prescribed amount of formula into the feeding bag, carefully squeeze the air out of the bag and close it. Hang the gravity feeding bag in a secure location, such as on an IV pole. To prime the tubing, unclamp the feed set and slowly open the roller clamp on the gravity bag tubing. Allow the formula to flow until it reaches the end of the feed set. Close the pinch clamp when priming is complete. Priming the feeding sets removes air from the tubing and prevents it from being pumped into the stomach.
  5. Connect the primed AMT feed set to the Glow Green™ port on the MiniONE®. To connect the feed set to the button, line up the black line on the feed set connector with the black line on the button feeding port. Press the feed set connector into the button. Turn 3/4 to the right (clockwise) to lock the feeding set in place.
  6. To begin feeding: Unclamp the feed set and allow the formula to slowly flow into the stomach. You can control the feeding rate by adjusting the roller clamp. Open the roller clamp to increase the rate of feeding; close the roller clamp to decrease/slow the rate of feeding.
  7. When feeding is complete, clamp off all extension tubing. Disconnect the feed set from the gravity bag tubing. Do not disconnect the feed set from your MiniONE®.
  8. With the feed set still attached to the MiniONE®, use a syringe to flush water through the feed set and the device (5-10 ml for children, 10-20ml for adults, or amount recommended by your healthcare provider). Close the clamp on the feed set (to prevent leaking) and disconnect the feed set from the MiniONE®. To remove the feed set, hold the button in place and twist the feeding connector a 3/4 turn to the left (counterclockwise) until the black line on the feed set is lined up with the black line on the button. When the black markers are aligned, gently remove the feed set from the button. Be sure to close the safety strap to keep the inside of the button clean.
  9. The feed set should be washed with soap and water and rinsed well. Hang the feed set so that both ends are down; for example, over the side of a dish rack. Once the feed set is completely dry, you can store it in a clean, air-tight container. Never use a dishwasher for cleaning the feeding set.