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This page describes products and general use; it is not medical advice.
A feeding tube pump is an electrically powered enteral feeding pump: a device that delivers liquid nutrition through a feeding tube at a set rate and volume instead of by gravity. In the US, the FDA files these devices under product code LZH, “Pump, Infusion, Enteral”, a Class II device. Clinic staff, buyers and students use this page to see what the device is, how the regulator defines it, and how to read a pump specification sheet.
Who uses it: people who receive enteral nutrition through a tube, and the caregivers, nurses and dietitians who run the feeding. Searches for “g tube pump” and “feeding tube machines” describe the same device class.
What a feeding tube pump is
A feeding tube pump, also called an enteral feeding pump or g tube pump, moves formula from a bag or container through a dedicated feeding set and into a feeding tube. For background on the tube itself, see what a feeding tube is.
The FDA classification database (openFDA, checked 2026-10-30) lists product code LZH with the device name “Pump, Infusion, Enteral”, device class 2, under regulation number 880.5725 in the General Hospital specialty. That regulation, 21 CFR 880.5725, covers infusion pumps generally, so an enteral pump shares its legal identification with IV infusion pumps (compare what an IV infusion pump is).
How it is built
21 CFR 880.5725(a) says an infusion pump “may use a piston pump, a roller pump, or a peristaltic pump and may be powered electrically or mechanically”, may use a constant force to push fluid through a narrow tube that sets the flow rate, and “may include means to detect a fault condition, such as air in, or blockage of, the infusion line and to activate an alarm.” The regulation (checked 2026-10-30) says “may” throughout: it describes what a pump can use, not what every pump has.
The Amsino PUGGLE quick reference guide shows one concrete design. A tubing cassette with a silicone loop sits on a rotor under a closing cover, and the screen shows rate, programmed volume, time left and total fed. The feeding set is a separate, pump-specific part; see feeding tube bag types, sizes and connectors for the set side.
Types and examples
The FDA 510(k) database lists clearances under product code LZH. The recent entries below were checked on 2026-10-30. In several of them the pump was cleared together with its own feeding sets.
| 510(k) number | Clearance title (abridged) | Applicant | Decision date |
|---|---|---|---|
| K253558 | Luminoah FLOW Enteral Nutrition System | Luminoah | 2026-04-20 |
| K232205 | Vesco Q Enteral Feeding Pump with Vesco Q bag feed sets (500 mL, 1000 mL), 40 mm screw cap set and ENPlus set | Vesco Medical, LLC | 2023-10-23 |
| K221603 | Kangaroo OMNI Enteral Feeding Pump with 500 mL and 1000 mL feeding sets, ENtelliSet, ENPlus spike set and sets with flush bag | Cardinal Health, LLC | 2022-12-20 |
| K220230 | AMSure Enteral Feeding Pump | Amsino International, Inc. | 2022-11-10 |
| K200051 | PUGGLE Enteral Feeding Pump and Feeding Set | Amsino International, Inc. | 2020-09-25 |
| K153074 | Kangaroo Connect Enteral Feeding Pump with Kangaroo Connect Feeding Sets and Portal | Covidien | 2016-07-06 |
Source: openFDA 510(k) database, product code LZH. A listing shows that the FDA cleared a device; it does not rank products or recommend one.
Specifications that matter: one worked example
Pump specification sheets differ by model. The PUGGLE quick reference guide (Amsino, checked 2026-10-30) is one example of what to look for. These values belong to that model only.
| Specification | PUGGLE value |
|---|---|
| Flow rate range | 1 to 400 mL/h |
| Programmable volume | 1 to 9,999 mL |
| Screen shows | Rate, programmed volume, time left, total fed, clock, battery level |
| Modes and locks | “Lock rate and volume” mode, “Intermittent” mode, keypad lock |
How to choose
The 510(k) titles above show pumps cleared with named feeding sets, so the pump’s own instructions for use are the place to confirm which sets it is cleared to run; the set side is in the feeding tube bag guide. Compare the flow-rate range, programmable volume and alarm behaviour stated in each manufacturer’s instructions. For wider pump purchasing in clinical settings see infusion supplies and pump selection.
Safe use and handling basics
Use of a pump is governed by the manufacturer’s instructions for use. The regulation says a pump may include means to detect air or blockage in the line and sound an alarm (21 CFR 880.5725); blockage in the tube itself is covered in feeding tube clog causes and prevention. Lock features such as the PUGGLE keypad lock exist on some models to guard a programmed rate and volume.
Common mistakes
- Treating one model’s specification as universal. The 1 to 400 mL/h range above is the PUGGLE’s, not a rule for all pumps.
- Assuming an enteral pump and an IV pump are interchangeable. They share a regulation, but the FDA gives enteral pumps their own product code (LZH).
- Mixing pumps and sets by appearance. Clearances name the sets that go with each pump; check the instructions for use.
FAQ
What is a g tube pump?
It is an enteral feeding pump, the device class that the FDA lists as “Pump, Infusion, Enteral”, product code LZH, Class II.
What are feeding tube machines?
The phrase usually means the same device: an electrically powered enteral feeding pump with a dedicated feeding set.
Is a feeding pump the same as gravity feeding?
No. A pump meters delivery mechanically, for example with a rotor and cassette as in the PUGGLE. Gravity feeding relies on the bag and set alone; see the feeding tube bag guide for the sets used.
Is a feeding tube pump a regulated medical device?
Yes. In the US it is Class II under 21 CFR 880.5725, and pumps are cleared through the 510(k) route.
Sources
- FDA openFDA device classification, product code LZH: api.fda.gov/device/classification.json (checked 2026-10-30; index updated 2026-10-19).
- FDA openFDA 510(k) database, product code LZH: api.fda.gov/device/510k.json (checked 2026-10-30).
- 21 CFR 880.5725 Infusion pump: law.cornell.edu (checked 2026-10-30).
- Amsino, PUGGLE Enteral Feeding Pump Quick Reference Guide: quick reference guide PDF (checked 2026-10-30).
