Enteral Device Industry Phasing Out ‘Legacy’ Enteral Connectors

Manufacturers of enteral devices are phasing out their production of older-style enteral connectors in North America to improve patient safety, a trade group says.

The Global Enteral Device Supplier Association says its members and affiliates in the enteral feeding device market are increasingly converting to ENFit connectors that comply with the International Organization for Standardization’s ISO 80369-3 standard and they are updating their timelines for the phase-out of the older-style devices.

The trade group says the industry’s switch to ENFit connectors will reduce the “risks of potentially fatal medical device misconnections and minimize unintentional disconnections.” And the use of one universal technology should also mitigate supply-chain interruptions for enteral small-bore connectors, the group said.