A device for dispensing enteral feeding solutions and other therapeutic fluids from penetrable, shape retentive containers comprising a unitary dispensing spike for penetrating a topside panel of such containers which are suspended in an orientation to define an uppermost end and a lowermost end. The dispensing spike of the present invention includes an ambient air vent integrally formed therein. The present invention further includes a fluid visualization chamber which permits a user to determine the volume of fluid within the container.

A compact intravenous fluid delivery system for intravenous injection of fluid into a patient has in one embodiment a spike, for connection to a fluid supply reservoir whose top and bottom define a vertical interval; a fluid metering device for accepting fluid from the reservoir and for displaying the flow of fluid; a fluid cannula for conveying fluid from the spike to the fluid metering device: a fluid delivery tube for conveying the fluid from the metering device to the patient; and a reservoir mounting frame for mounting the fluid supply reservoir in relation to the metering device so that the metering device is substantially contained within the vertical interval defined by the top and bottom of the reservoir. In a preferred embodiment, an intravenous tube having a length greater than 20 cm provides a conduit for passage of fluid from the fluid reservoir to the metering device. The system may include a pump mounted so that the pump and the metering device are both substantially contained within the vertical interval defined by the top and bottom of the reservoir.

An assembly having a puncturing device and a receiving device is provided. The puncturing device has a puncturing element and a blocking element. The puncturing element is joined to a flexible tube and provided with a needle-shaped part. The needle-shaped part has a portion whose cross-section has at least one part set back in relation to a circle circumscribing the cross-section. The receiving device is joined to a sealed container and has a central longitudinal channel which is intended to receive, in a leak-proof manner, the needle-shaped part of the puncturing device. The channel has a portion with a cross-section complementing the portion of the needle-shaped part and a portion intended to cooperate with the blocking element of the puncturing device to form, when the puncturing device is situated in the final position in the receiving device, a leak-proof connection bringing the inside of the container into communication with the feed tube.

A dispensing system comprising a container for containing a liquid to be dispensed, a sprayer comprising a spray head and a handle, and flexible tubing connectable at one of its ends to the container and connected at its other end to the sprayer for conveying liquid from the container to the sprayer. The container has a recess formed in one of its side walls sized and shaped for receiving the sprayer, and connectors for attaching the sprayer to the container with the sprayer received within the recess. The sprayer is detachable from the container for dispensing liquid from the container.