Neater Powered Drinker User manual

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Made in the UK by:
Neater Solutions Ltd
12 Burlington Road
Buxton
Derbyshire
SK17 9AL
Tel: [phone]
Email: [email protected]
December 2020

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Description
The Neater Powered Drinker has been developed for
people who find it difficult to use a conventional cup or
straw; or even a conventional Neater Drinker with a non-
return valve straw. Users include people with cerebral
palsy with impaired lip closure and people with motor
neurone disease who have difficulty sucking liquid up a
straw.
A remote switch is pressed by the user to pump small
measures of liquid up a flexible tube to their mouth. The
unit is programmable to ensure the amount of liquid in
each cycle is right for the user. It prevents immediate
repeat of the pumping cycle ensuring a pause time for the
user to swallow. Any device such as this has the potential
to cause choking. For this reason, it is only recommended
for use by each individual after an assessment by a
Speech and Language Therapist.
The Neater Powered Drinker enables people to drink
liquids and puréed foods when they want to. It may have
benefits other than hydration and nutrition - such as
reducing the need for drugs that help expel air from
people’s stomachs.
Safety
•Read all instructions carefully before use and particularly before making any adjustments. Incorrect
use and adjustment could damage the unit and/or make its use dangerous in some way.
•The Neater Powered Drinker should only be used for drinking consumable liquids.
•It should not be used by people with swallowing difficulties or who are liable to choke, except under
the supervision of a trained Speech and Language Therapist.
•Liquid pumped into the user’s mouth could in some cases enter their lungs without causing a choking
reflex. It is therefore essential that the Neater Powered Drinker is approved for use in each case by a
trained Speech and Language Therapist.
•Drinks should not be scalding hot.
•Clean all parts before use especially the flexible tubing and check that no cracks have appeared in the
tubing.
•Take care not to stick the straw in your eye or into the back of your throat.
•The switches supplied should only be used with the unit.
•Neater Powered Drinkers are designed to comply with the essential requirements of the Medical
Devices Directive Class 1 (Medical Devices Regulation (EU) 2017/745 of the European Parliament and
of the Council of April 2017).

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Tube clamp
Lever
Lift to open tube clamp to
load tubing.
Push down to hold tubing
against pump head before
operating pump.
Peg
Grips tubing to prevent it
being pulled through by
the pump
Output socket
For controlling
external devices
Switch socket
Suitable for standard
switches with 3.5mm jack
plug
Power/battery charge socket
Only use the 12V DC power supply supplied with the unit.
The display flashes “c” when charging is required.
Charging overnight is recommended though the unit can be used whilst charging.
A red LED glows inside when external power is plugged in.
A green LED glows inside when the batteries are charging and goes out when fully charged.
If the green LED flashes, a reset is required (battery protection from over-discharge):
Ensure the Battery Switch is On. Then use a pin through the small hole next to the display to
briefly press the reset button. Contact your Neater dealer if a new battery pack is required.
Display shows
programme number,
pump cycle symbols,
priming symbols
C = please charge battery
DISPLAY GOES OUT AFTER A
WHILE TO SAVE BATTERY POWER.
To wake up the unit, tap the plug-
in switch or switch off and on
battery or external power.
Black programming buttons
To change programme:
(ensure display is lit)
1. Push and hold top button
until “-“appears
2. Select number
(higher=longer pumping
time) with middle button
3. Push top button to confirm
choice
Red pump-priming button
To fill tubing with liquid at
start:
(ensure display is lit)
1. Push and hold until
flashing “P”
2. Let go of the button
briefly
3. Push again and hold to
prime pump until liquid is
near the top of the tube.
You can let go and push again
as long as “P” is still flashing
(it will time-out after a few
seconds)
Adjusting screws
(factory set to suit
precision tubing)
Pump head
Display
millilitres
approx
1
2
2
3
3
4
4
6
5
8
6
11
Battery On/Off
Switch off when not in
use to save battery. (Still
works on external power.)
.

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to user’s mouth
•Load the flexible tubing as shown
•Tuck the tubing (drink container end) behind the peg (stops slipping)
•Push the lever down to clamp the tube
(Only use precision tubing supplied by Neater Solutions –SIL60-4.8x1.6 platinum-cured)
•Ensure tubing sits in the bottom of
the container to ensure no air
bubbles.
•If the motor runs but liquid is not
pumped, try swapping which end of
the straw is in the cup and which
end is at the user's mouth!
A calibrated container can be used
to monitor fluid intake.
Puréed food or thickened drinks of a custard consistency can be pumped.
Water must be pumped through using the unit itself in pump priming mode immediately afterwards to clear
the tubing before cleaning.
Take care to avoid spillages into the pump. To remove the straw, lift it out rather than pulling it through the
pump.
from
container
to
mouth

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Bendy Arm
Clip in flexible tubing.
Bend to a convenient
position for the user. AVOID
SHARP BENDS and DO NOT
pull hard on the bendy arm
as this can damage it.
Operation
1. Push and hold the external switch until the unit starts to pump.
2. The amount of liquid pumped depends upon the programme number selected.
3. There is then a waiting period during which the unit will not pump again.
The unit will not pump again if the switch has been held continuously –you have to release and push
again.
The programming is designed to minimise the risk of pumping too much liquid at one time.
Nevertheless, there is always a risk of choking and it is strongly recommended that the device should
only be used if it has been assessed as safe to use for each individual by a Speech and Language
Therapist.
External Switch
The standard switch is
very light and can be
positioned wherever
convenient; perhaps
with Velcro
Cleaning
•Always rinse flexible tubing out and clean before use and immediately after use.
•Use sterilising solution and rinse thoroughly.
•If puréed food or thickened drinks have been pumped, water must be pumped through using the unit
itself in pump priming mode immediately afterwards to clear the tubing before cleaning.
•A Tube Cleaning Brush is available (ND-SC)
•Other parts of the unit can be wiped clean; rinsing off any detergent used.
•Some chemicals may attack the plastic casing.
•Do not immerse the unit in water.
Disposal –RoHS and WEEE
This equipment is exempt from the RoHS directive (as medical devices) as long as it is used to assist people
with disabilities. Under the WEEE directive it should not be disposed of in the normal waste stream but be
placed with separate collection for electrical and electronic equipment (or returned to Neater Solutions
Limited). Producer Registration Number: WEE/GB0074UR/PRO

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